"...and this nurse Imogen, she's an absolute beauty that one. No one's made me laugh as loud since I saw your me-maw try and flirt up the mayor's grandson. Poor boy was scarred for life. " he wiped a stray tear from his eye.
He took a forkful of spaghetti and shakily brought it to his mouth. I took his hand in mine and shovelled it into his mouth. The corners of his mouth turned up as he ate. I loved seeing him talk endlessly like this as he ate his dinner. The nurses said no one could get him to eat until I got here. It was like him to be stubborn and for a moment, it felt like old times.
He was curious why I was having dinner with him and not with Becca and Ally but I just made something up about Ally being at a party at her friend's house and Becca having a hot date. It wasn't far from the truth really. Ally was probably celebrating with the remainder of the WES cast at the beach house, and Becca was probably swindling some other innocent, rolling in the dough, bluestocking. But right now, dad was all that mattered to me.
"So, tell me more about this nurse," I asked him nudging his shoulder. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had a thing for her."
He was quiet. I could tell he was thinking carefully about what he was going to say. If he admitted it, I'd be hurt. No need to lie about it. I cared about mom more than anyone could imagine, and I didn't want some gold-digger replacing her and stealing him away completely. It was a juvenile way of thinking but I just couldn't help the thought of losing my dad. Not again.
"You know I'd never do that to you and Ally, Aspen. You know that right?" he said cupping my hand with his. "I know you two loved your mom. I loved her too but, I don't think any of us are ready to move that far ahead."
"Hey, dad. Moving on is hard for all of us but don't let that nip your chance at romance in the bud. This is a place of second chances remember?" I managed a smile.
"Sure kiddo," he laughed. "Now I know you didn't bring this spaghetti for exhibition, pass me the salt."
The walk home was dull and quiet, save for a few dogs barking in the distance and the music playing in my head. Night had fallen and the stars were shining in the inky moonless sky. It was a cold night and I'd irresponsibly left my jacket at home. I rubbed the goosebumps forming on my arms, regretting wearing a tank top to work. The wind was blowing and a few cars sped past, stopping at the red lights. One blatant red sports car sped past, swerving around the cars and running the light, two police cruisers tailing it sirens wailing, annoyingly. Just another Friday night in Pepper Pot.
I sighed turning a corner. The streetlights on our streets were dimmer, flickering form time to time from lack of maintenance. I waved to Mrs. Mahoney as she yanked on her bulldog's chain trying to rein him in. Mr. Krabsky was rocking on his chair out front, snoring softly, smoke pipe in his mouth until his wife pulled him by the ear back in.
A gentle padding behind me snapped me out of my trance. Was I being followed?
I quickened my step but the footfalls behind me increased in pace. I held my breath pushing myself forward. I fought the rising panic, accelerating my breathing and clogging my lungs. My house was right around the corner, all I need to do was get to the house, get in and lock the doors behind me. But the more I walked towards my street, the more the irking sensation of being pursued crept over me. I turned around but there was no one in sight. I swallowed hard.
Paranoid. The word rang in my head as I slowed my pace and relaxed a little. I laughed at myself. What was I thinking? This was the safest neighbourhood in town, or at least I thought so...Where was the security van usually parked out across the mini-mart?
I turned a corner but bumped into someone and gasped.
"Hey boss, I found the pretty one." he said and grabbed my shoulders.
"Let go of me!" I yelled.
He clamped a muscly hand over my mouth and coiled a burly arm around me. He stank of cigars, alcohol and sweat and being in his embrace was only crippling my nose. I squirmed but that only made the man tighten his hold. Two more men slinked out of the shadows and the one following me stood before me, facedown.
He approached me and took my chin in his long, spindly, fingers, looking at my face. His impassive, murky eyes were heavy-lidded and bloodshot and from the acrid stench of smoke on his breath, I could put two and two together why. He ran a dirty, yellowed fingernail along my jawline, unblinking, knotting my stomach as I strained to move away from him. I supressed a shiver as his nail went down my jaw to my neck.
"Beautiful," he said. "Just like Daphne."
I felt a jerk in my nerves at the name.
"What the hell do you know about my mother you freak!" I screamed.
"A lot more than you know my dear," he chuckled.
"What're you going to do to me?" I tried to hide the quake in my voice but I was failing.
"To you?" he stepped back. "Absolutely nothing. But give a message to your aunt and tell her her old pals are back in town. We're just aching for a visit."
He brandished his nails.
"And tell her she's buying lunch tomorrow." he said. "If she doesn't show up, then...I'll have to scar your pretty little face."
He inched closer.
"We wouldn't want that now, would we?"
He snapped the fingers of his other hand and the guy released me. I gasped for air and swept back my hair from my clammy face. Looking up, they were nowhere to be seen, like they'd melted away into the night.