Chapter 3
A drama-filled first day it was but alas it was over. Lovely strode home in the company of her newfound acquaintances, too soon to call friends she reasoned. Ashley walking quite closely with Evans, as did Charlie to lovely leaving Marcus who didn't seem to mind.
After some minutes of ambling, the boys were taking a different road, leaving lovely in the company of Ashley. As they waved goodbye the girls glanced at each other and burst into a faint giggle, realizing they were finally alone.
Lovely stared at Marcus's striking profile as it became distant. Out of the three, Ashley only managed to bag the least eye-catching.
Evans was a colored chap. Jovial and lanky and whatever he lacked in physique, he made up for it with a witty sense of humor. Ashley probably laughed away her heart.
"Jeez, I was starting to think they planned to escort us all the way" Lovely jested.
"Boys will be boys and it's obvious you intrigue a certain someone whose name needs no mention." Ashley teased.
"Who? Charlie?" She retorted "C'mon we just met, its pretty normal to be I'm the new girl," she argued, trying to convince Ashley but both knew that wasn't all there was.
"I still have a few questions by the way," Lovely uttered in an effort to change the subject. "You can understand I'm pretty shaken up by the sudden discovery that a girl that looks exactly like me is missing, how is she like?"
Ashley sighed.
"Where do I start? Delilah is my best friend. We've been close since our first day in high school. She's got a beautiful singing voice, always talked about moving to California to be a pop star; she is also part of the church's choir too."
"Really?" Lovely gasped.
"Yeah," Ashley answered. "Delilah is kind-hearted and loved by everyone, that's why I'm finding it hard to believe anyone would want to hurt her. And she wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye. I'm sure about that too." She paused to look at her friend. "Lovely I'm really glad you're here, the past few weeks have been traumatic for me."
"It sure has," Lovely responded weakly with a distance in her eyes. Ashley couldn't understand her sudden mood swing.
"What's wrong? Does it have to do with why you had to move to Willcox?"
As they went, Lovely explained the difficult spot her family was in. They really were in troubled waters, barely hanging on. Ashley could do nothing but try to comfort her disheartened friend. Why did she say such like she was the only one with problems, she pondered, noting how ignorant her earlier remark was.
Lovely tried to brush off her melancholy as Ashley announced Delilah's home was close. The last thing she needed was any more unsolicited pity. They walked past the picket fence and hedge of flowering shrubs that looked as though they had not been trimmed for a while with a lawn that wasn't any different.
Ashley dinged the doorbell but it seemed as though no one was home till they heard a friendly voice coming from inside.
"Good heavens, I'm coming," The voice dragged weakly. This little gesture made their gaze meet with alike thoughts they couldn't say. The Abrams were the only figure in Delilah's life after her mom passed away giving birth to Alex, her stepbrother with her dad never in the picture.
"So have you heard from any of your friends back in the city?" Ashley asked rather meekly
"What friends?" those entitled brats had cut her off the minute her spiral began. Hanging with her was social suicide one had commented.
"Lilah!" A little greasy kid echoed, pacing out as Mrs. Abrams creaked open the door and hugged lovely's knees before she could utter another word. She couldn't decide what to say, looking to Ashley, a silent cry for help. It dawned on her now, making lovely tag along wasn't particularly her best idea.
"Li-Lilah, is that you darling?" Mrs. Abrams stuttered as she adjusted her glasses.
"No Mrs. Abrams, this is lovely, a friend from school, she's new in town." Ashley interrupted with a smile intended to make the moment any less awkward. Lovely who struggled to free herself from Alex's embrace followed suit.
"Oh, is that so? Well, it's nice to meet you, dear." She said in Lovely's direction with a hint of disappointment. "Well don't just stand there, do come in." She urged, opening her door a little wider.
The girls walked in with Alex, held by his hand. This decent home was rightly Illuminated In such a way that heightened the aesthetics of artworks and antiques that were all around giving them a glossy effect. Being married to an Arts professor did have its perks. Ashley looked at her friend and wasn't surprised by the dazzled look on her face. You really get that look only the first few hundred times, she thought.
"How has Willcox been treating you, fairly I hope?" She continued. "This old town isn't what it used to be.
"It's being delightful so far Ma'am" lovely purred.
"Ashley It's you, nice of you to drop by." Mr. Abrams squeezed out, his hand resting on the stair knob after being forced down by the harmless muddle at the door. He was an old well-built chap, brisk for his age it would seem.
"I see you brought a friend, Lovely, is it? He continued more welcoming this time; he had been listening.
"Yes sir, delighted to meet you." She blurted.
"I wish we could have met under simpler circumstances." He sighed, now walking away from them.
"Any News on Lilah?" Ashley inquired.
"None I'm afraid, I wish I had better news, I'm on my way to meet with the sheriff." He announced as he wore a coat. Lovely could feel the energy of the room hit a decline. "Do make your selves at home." He uttered, before walking out the door.
"Well girls that leaves you with me. What can I get you?" Mrs. Abrams said turning away.
"Oh, thank you ma'am but we won't be staying long, no need go through the trouble on our behalf." Ashley insisted.
She did not appear to have heard Ashley or if she had, she took no notice as she whisked off to the kitchen in a fret. She was a plump, rosy, and comfortable-looking old lady with silver hair but anyone with a good pair of eyes could tell she was emotionally wrecked.
"Mind if we check out Delilah's room, while we wait?"
"The sheriff already did; I wonder what good that would do." Her voice cracked from the kitchen. She didn't object to their inauspicious venture, however.
They hurried up the stairs and made their way to Lilah's room both uncertain about what they were actually in search of. Laying by the nightstand was an object that caught Lovely's attention. It was a small framed picture of Delilah and her little brother Alex, posing close to the salty waters of the beach. It was like looking at one of her photos. The resemblance was too candid, almost bizarre even to Lovely.
"Uhm, Ash, what are you hoping to find up here?"
"I don't know, whatever can explain her disappearance. Evans mentioned something about a subtle hint I may have missed." She said frisking through Lilah's pillows.
Lovely could not see the point in this but helped anyway. Going through the wardrobe of a girl she had never met. Her day could not get any more bizarre, she thought.
After an hour of fruitless search, the girls were starting to give up.
"Ashley, Mrs. Abrams could be right, maybe there's nothing to find here." Lovely faltered. "At least you tried?"
"I guess I did," muttered Ashley.
"Perhaps the sheriff may have come up with something, we'll find out tomorrow," Lovely echoed trying to lift Ashley's spirit as they both were exiting the room.
"Wait! There's still one place we haven't gone through" gesturing to the trash can underneath the reading desk.
"Ashley, you can't possibly be--"
Off she went unfolding squeezed papers sheets and cuttings before lovely could finish.
Lovely sat on the bed starring around, waiting on detective Ashley to satisfy her curiosity. It looked as though the trash hadn't been taken out for quite some time, one venture she wasn't keen on exploring.
"Lovely come take a look at this," She retorted after a couple of minutes.
Lovely Jolted out of bed hoping a major clue had been found only to be made more confused.
"Look, this isn't Lilah's handwriting. What's this doing in here?"
"What are we looking at here? It's just a bunch of numbers and characters"
"I don't know but I think she-"
"Ashley it's pretty obvious we're getting desperate." She consoled cutting her off.
"Girls," They heard a distant call.
"Whatever you say," Ashley said under her breath, tucking the piece of paper under her jeans as they quickly put Lilah's room in order.
*****
Lovely strolled home along the sidewalk alone by herself. Ashley had gotten to her stop a few minutes ago with her new home in a distant view. She couldn't help but ruminate on the events of the day with Ashley digging through the trash being the highlight of it all. She giggled humored by the recall. She thought of the delightful brownies Mrs. Abrams had made earlier, wondering how anyone could pull off such a treat in such crippling conditions.
As Lovely approach the house, she noticed her mom and uncle chattering in front of a taxi and its driver loading bags in the truck.
"Lovely! Thank goodness you're here; I was starting to think I'd miss you." Maya said cupping her daughter's cheeks in her palms.
"Mom? What's happening, are we moving?" She echoed with panic in her voice.
"No dear, just me. I'm heading back to the city. Your father's appeal is in a few months and I need to be by his side, helping out his defense."
"And you couldn't have told me sooner? Way to go mom" forcing a chuckle.
"I'm sorry dear; there wasn't any easy way of telling you this. You'll be fine, you have your uncle here with you and I promise I'll call every day to check on you".
Lovely too in her feelings to say another word hugged her mom.
"We'll get through this, I promise," Maya whispered, as she kissed her daughter on the hair.
"I have to be off now or I'll miss the train." Maya released her daughter and highlighted the taxi and they were in motion almost immediately the door closed shut.
Lovely could barely hold back the tear in her eyes as she watched her mom speed off, feeling lonelier than ever. Was this feeling for the time being or had it come to stay?