by L L Shelton
Avery turned her attention to Carly, who sat back on her heels. Blood dripped. “Let me see?” Avery said. “You need stitches.”
“Where is she? Did she get the box?”
“No, she dropped it when the Sully attacked her. She ran out.” Avery grabbed an article of clothing off the floor and put pressure on the wound.
“Look in the box. What’s in it?” Carly winced in pain. What could be so crucial that Brittney would hit her?
Avery reached out and pulled the metal box toward them. She clicked the latch, and the top opened. “Holy shit!”
“What? What? Tell me.”
“It’s a shit load of money. There must be twenty thousand here.” Avery closed the lid. “We’ll take it with us in case that bitch comes back. Can you stand?” Carly nodded at the question.
They both froze when Sully walked back into the bedroom. He waddled over to Carly, rubbing his beak in her hand. “Thank you, my friend.” Carly caressed his head. Sully turned and went to his other friend who lay on the floor. He raised his head and let out a loud noise. He leaned over, and with a gentle motion, picked up Cheddar in his mouth before he flew out the window.
Avery’s attention went back to Carly, whose body wobbled from the head injury. “Come on. We need to get you to the hospital.”
Once at the hospital, her body shivered from the cold. Carly never understood why hospitals kept their rooms freezing. Was it a germ thing or torture of the patients? Pulling the covers up to her chin, she heard Avery’s voice slice through the air.
“Stay awake. We need to find out if you have a concussion.”
The words catapulted the headache pounding in her temples. Carly was irritable. She wanted to go to sleep and escape from the relentless throbbing.
“Come on, open your eyes and talk to me,” Avery said. “You want me to rub your temples?”
“Don’t touch me,” Carly barked. Her words were short. Having anyone touch her was the last thing she wanted. Avery included.
Avery swallowed a few times to still the anger that built. She was tired and unable to make sense of what happened. She sat back. “Finding that money was heaven sent. Now you have the money to start up your fishing business. Tony and I can help you get back on your feet.”
“Avery, shut up. Please! Stop talking. Fishing is nothing but a dream. Stop pushing me. You’re just like Brittney, always wanting something from me. Will you just leave? I can’t take you talking anymore.” Carly rolled over and buried her head with the blanket.
The scraping metal of the chair across the floor was the only sign of Avery’s anger, while the light seeping in from the hospital hallway was the only proof the door opened and closed; Avery left and the room became quiet. Finally, there was peace. Carly sighed. The shot for the migraine was making her sleepy — the fight in her retired.
“Can you wake up for me?” Jewel noticed a stir. She looked down at her friend and caught the one eye that remained unswollen peek open. Avery informed her of what happened, and Jewel stayed pissed the entire ride to the hospital. The only satisfaction was that Sully had kicked Brittney’s ass. She knew Carly wouldn’t press charges, though. Carly Hutch was too kind.
“Jewel?” Carly whispered.
“Yes, sweetie. I’m here. They said you could leave. You have a mild concussion. They put ten stitches in the cut, and you need to follow up with your doctor. How’s the headache?” Jewel placed a cold washcloth on Carly’s forehead.
“Better. I think. How did you know I was here?” Carly asked as she tried to sit up. The pain caused her face to twist in misery. She grunted. How could her whole body hurt this bad?
Jewell helped her shift into an upright position adjust the hospital gown that laid off her friend’s shoulder. “Avery called me.”
Carly reached up to touch the bandage on her head. “Oh, god. I was a bitch to her. I was so mean. Jewel, I was in so much pain, and all she wanted was to talk about me fishing again.” She took a sip of water from a cup that Jewel handed her. The cold liquid felt good on her dry throat. It hurt to move her head, but at least it was bearable. “I fucked up.”
“Is it such a bad idea?” Jewel asked while searching for Carly’s clothes.
“To start the business back up?” Carly asked.
“Yes. If Avery will help, why not? What’s there to lose? It’s been almost four years. Stop being scared, be that bold Carly that bought a boat at nineteen. The one that started with nothing and built a successful business. I miss her. If Avery will help, think about it. Either way, you better think of your apology, because that girl is good for you.”
Carly knew Jewel was right; Avery was good for her. She liked her a lot. But it was a huge step to go back into business, especially with a woman she just met and an eighteen-year-old boy. And so what if she was scared? Not one person was walking in her shoes. It didn’t matter. Maybe all the worry was for nothing; the relationship could be over.
21
Lily Ann and Suzy walked into the lawyer’s office with empty boxes, a nod of the head given to the other secretaries as they made their way to her desk. Five years of memories piled into cardboard boxes within minutes. She had given the agency a two-week notice, using the excuse she needed to take care of her family. That wasn’t a lie. She would take care of the family, but with one job. The partners of the group insisted that she leave before the two weeks. Not out of anger, but more out of appreciation for her work. They gave her a check for two weeks’ severance pay and a gift card to a fancy restaurant. Lily Ann admitted, as mundane as the daily routine of a nine-to-five job seemed, she would miss it. She said her goodbyes, and in an instant, that part of her life concluded. She placed the two boxes of memories in the trunk of her car and slammed it closed.
“Now, what do you want to do?” Suzy asked. Her mood over the past few days had changed for the better. She was more like the old Suzy.
“I want to go by the bank to deposit this check. How does a trip to the mall sound? I need to pick up a tie for David. His dance is tonight. And I think the Bailey women need to get their nails done.
Two hours later, the two of them sat with feet emerged in swirling waters of fragrances. Their faces wrapped in warm towels, the two women talked to each other between small holes that exposed only the mouth and nose. The trip to the salon turned into the exclusive spa treatment with manicures, pedicures, and facials. They deserved special treatment. It was seldom Lily Ann treated herself. Small hands rubbed tense muscles until Lily Ann melted into a puddle of goo.
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” Suzy said out of the blue.
“About?” Lily Ann answered in a relaxed voice. She might have fallen asleep.
“What you did to Veronica?”
“I took care of it. There’s no need to worry about Veronica. Family always first.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve come to you.” The regret in Suzy’s voice was steady. “I worry about you, Lily Ann. You stress all the time. I didn’t want to add to it.”
“I always have time for you.” Lily Ann smiled behind the towel. “Want to hear a little secret?”
“That’s a silly question.” Suzy pulled her towel off. The woman massaging her shoulders protested the removal, but Suzy dismissed the worker with a smile.
Lily Ann sensed her sister’s movements and was soon taking her own towel off. She cocked her body at an angle on the chair so she could lean into Suzy. “I ended up on a sort-of date the other night.” Lily Ann smiled like a teenager.
“Sort of? How do you sort of go on a date?” Suzy asked.
“I went to a bar. I was trying to do something other than work. Relax. This woman and I talked, and we spent the evening with each other.”
“Spent the evening?” Suzy wiggled her eyebrows.
Lily Ann busted out laughing. “Not that way. We spent the evening at the bar, we played darts and danced. It was nice.”
“Sounds like you enjoyed yourself. That’s great. About time. Are y
ou seeing her again?” Suzy asked. She was happy for her sister.
“Yes, but there’s a problem.”
“The escorting,” Susy said as a comment more than a question.
“No. She found out about the escorting. She didn’t have a problem with my job. I wouldn’t be mad if she had, but she still insisted on another date.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Suzy asked.
“The woman is Bobby’s teacher.” Lily Ann rolled to her back and closed her eyes for a moment. She peeked at Suzy with one eye, who sat there with her mouth open.
“Ms. Roberts?” Suzy asked. Lily Ann nodded her head, and Suzy exploded in laughter. She folded in half and held her stomach. The woman at her feet jumped back when she drew her legs up. “I ain’t laughing at you.” She busted out in another round of giggles. “Ms. Roberts is hot, but Bobby will have a hissy fit.”
“It’s not like she’s my girlfriend, so calm down. I can’t have a relationship in my line of work.” The tone in her sister’s voice drew the laughter to an end. A relationship was not on the table for Lily Ann. Who wants their girlfriend to have sex with other women? Suzy’s hand touched her forearm, and she raised her eyes to her sister.
“I didn’t mean to laugh. Enjoy the time with her. You never know what might come of it. Don’t overthink. You said it yourself, she was open-minded. So, when is the second date?”
Lily Ann smiled as a tiny chuckle escaped. “I’m so screwed. I invited her to David’s boxing match.”
“Oh, you are screwed. I will help with Bobby control. Sis?”
“Yeah?” Lily Ann’s eyes stared straight ahead in thought.
“She’s a beautiful woman,” Suzy added.
Lily Ann nodded and whispered, “Gorgeous.”
David tapped on the door before he talked through the crack. “Lily Ann?”
“Come on in.” The voice sounded out beyond the door. Lily Ann stood looking down at an arrangement of clothes sprawled out across her bed. She was sorting work clothes from the lawyer’s office, trying to see if any would work for the escort job. She wondered if a client would ask her to role play as a businesswoman. Some outfits worked as general wear, but some needed to get tossed. There was a pile on the bed for Suzy to browse through. The rest would get donated to the DAV. “Ready for the dance?” Lily said as her eyes continued to match wardrobes.
“Can you help me?” David’s voice came from behind her.
She turned around and saw her brother standing handsomely in black slacks and a blue dress shirt for his first dance. A tie dangled in his right hand. Lily Ann dropped the shirt she was holding on the bed and stepped closer. “You look like Daddy.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and held back the threatening tears while she took the necktie from his hand and wrapped it around his neck. As she crisscrossed and looped the material, she talked. “When I was about your age, which would have made you a newborn, Daddy let me tie his dress tie for him every morning before he left for work. I remembered how his cologne smelled after a fresh shave. The perfect lines in his bright red hair, just like yours, from the hair grease he used to slick it down. He never complained about the tie, even though some mornings it was terrible. He left with that crooked thing around his neck.” Lily Ann paused in thought. She pulled the knot tight up to her brother’s neck. “He must have redone it after leaving the house.” Her head shook as if to search for a memory. “I don’t remember the last one I wrapped around his neck.” She bit her bottom lip and brought her eyes up to David’s face. “You’re handsome, just like him. He would be so proud.” Lily Ann cupped the side of his face. She whispered, “Just like I am.”
David’s face lit up as he listened to his sister. “Can I ask you one more thing?” he whispered lower than usual.
“Always,” Lily Ann answered.
“Can you teach me how to slow dance?” By now, a blush spread across his cheeks, his freckles highlighted by the flush of the skin.
Lily Ann smiled. “Let me turn on some music.” A slow tune filled the air. “Place your hands on my waist.” Lily Ann wrapped her arms around his neck. “Come a little closer.” David moved an inch. “Okay, a lot closer. You’re like two feet away. Now sway and move your feet inches at a time around in a circle. Relax. Your shoulders are tense. You can always look at each other, but you can also lay your cheek to her cheek, like this.” Their cheeks touched as they swayed back and forth. “She may lay her head on your shoulder like this.” Lily Ann slipped into the position. She noticed how tall her little brother was getting. He would soon be taller than her.
David smiled. His sister never saw it, but he smiled as they danced to the slow beat of the music. They parted as the song ended. “Thank you. I love you. I best be going.” He turned to walk out after his admission of feelings, but his body got pulled back into a hug.
As they parted, Lily Ann smoothed his fire-engine hair down with her hand. For the first time, he gave no fuss and no complaint about the nurturing gesture, he just smiled. “I love you too, David.”
22
Carly was on deck every day like clockwork, hoping to hear the wheels of the bait cart rumble down the planks of the dock, but over the past few days, no voice yelled the words that gathered fishers. No noise. A few of the men stopped by her boat and complained to Carly that they had to go inland to get the equipment and supplies. Overtime, Carly nodded and agreed with the other workers, in response to their rants of the new girl quitting. She hoped this was not the truth, but every passing day with no cart and no Avery only proved different.
It was Friday, and Carly sat on the deck, waiting for Lily Ann to arrive. She worked on a fishing drag net that got caught in an underwater electrical line. It took a bobcat to deliver the vast netting on Monday. The job earned a good chunk of change and would get added to the money she deposited into the bank thanks to Brittney. She still found it hard to believe she hid twenty-three thousand dollars over the years. Carly hoped the last remaining ties with Brittney were severed.
Sully woke up and squawked as Lily Ann boarded the boat. The sudden noise startled Carly, and she chastised her friend, but soon apologized and tossed a fish his way. He took off in flight to hunt. Cheddar had not been around all week, and Carly worried that all the commotion terrified her friend.
“Hi.” Lily Ann revealed her arrival.
“Watch your step,” Carly warned her, thinking of the netting sprawled over much of the deck.
Lily Ann jumped over the bulky material and sat beside Carly. She got the first sight of her bruised face. “What happened to you? Oh my goodness. Did you fall?” Lily Ann asked while examining the black eye Carly wore and the bandage that covered the side of her forehead.
“A fight with the ex-girlfriend, which caused a breakup with Avery.” Reliving the entire ordeal was not something Carly wanted to revisit.
“What can I do to help?” Lily Ann asked.
“Nothing. I called you to make sure you’re okay after the other night. I hated that you got exposed that way.”
“Oh. It’s fine. It happens. Jewel seemed to understand. That was a surprise.”
“Jewel is my best friend and very open-minded. I’m surprised you knew her.” Carly placed the net down. “Avery understood after I told her about us. But then everything went to shit when my ex showed up here and caused this.” Carly touched her head.
“I’m sorry, especially about the breakup. I know you liked her. So, for today, do you want me to blindfold myself?”
“I still have hope we can work it out. No blindfold today. You were right. I didn’t need to bring someone into my world. Instead, I needed to join the world that I left a long time ago.” Carly placed a few tools up. She spent the last few nights sleepless in turmoil over it all. She concluded, it was Avery that made her happy. She felt alive around her.
Lily Ann placed her hand on Carly’s knee. “I enjoy our time together. You can always call on me.”
Carly straightened her back and turned her head towar
d the entrance of the marina. There it was. The sound of wheels rolled across the wood of the dock. It was faint, but it was there. “Can you please help me?” The words sounded desperate rather than a request. “The cart is coming. Is it Avery?”
Lily Ann searched in the distance. “I don’t see it.”
“I hear it. It’s coming. Please keep watching.”
Lily Ann rubbed Carly’s back. “Breathe for me. I’ll tell you as soon as they come into view.” Just as she turned back to take another look, the shiny metal box appeared. It wasn’t Avery pushing it. “I see it. I’m sorry, it isn’t Avery. That kid Tony’s pushing the box.” Lily Ann heard the air push from Carly’s lungs and felt her shoulders slump.
“Hey, Carly!” Tony screamed from the dock. “How are you doing?” He gave Lily Ann a wave and a nod.
“Okay,” Carly answered. Not a hint of life in her words.
Tony pushed forward after moments of uncomfortable silence. After a few steps, Carly called after him. “Tony, please come back.” Carly waited until she heard him lean on the gate. “Where’s Avery?”
Tony looked in pause. He fought the promise to Avery that he wouldn’t tell Carly anything about her. He couldn’t keep that promise. “She’s loading her car. I left her before coming here. She said she was heading south, maybe Florida.”
Carly sat there numb. She didn’t want to believe it was true. This woman came into her life, and she was about to walk out of it.
“I have to get going. Take care,” Tony said.
“Thanks,” she mumbled.
“She still cares about you. If that means anything,” Tony assured. “Bye, ladies.” Tony’s steps faded into the distance.
Carly turned to Lily Ann as desperation filled her eyes. “Will you—?”
