by S London
"You're not going to tell me?"
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Is she going to be safe?"
"Safe?" He chuckled. "She's already dead, mate."
Thaddeus gave a blank stare. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"Are you sure this is going to work?"
"I'm sure. No one knows anything."
Thaddeus took a deep breath and sighed. “That makes one of us… I’m not sure of anything anymore.”
Theodore cradled his brother’s lifeless beloved in his arms. Thaddeus stroked the cheek of her face one last time and whispered, “I really loved her.” Tears began to fall down Thaddeus’ cheeks as Theodore
carried her body to the Jeep sitting in the driveway.
“Please be careful, Thad, I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you.”
“You mean anything else bad?” Thaddeus scoffed. “Take her away, now, please.” He fell to his knees, weakness taking over his body.
“Look, Thad, I’m sorry. This is hard for all of us to cope with, and especially you. It’s going to be hard, but you’ll be fine, I promise. And Athena will be fine. She is fine now, remember? You saved her.”
Theodore gently placed his brother’s wife into the back of his Jeep, closed the door, and hopped into the driver’s seat.
“Thank you, friend. I really appreciate this.” Thaddeus said quietly as his brother put the Jeep in gear and drove away.
For awhile Thaddeus sat upon the step of his home, wondering where his beloved was now and what she was doing. He wondered if she could hear him and if she could see him, and if she knew what he had done for her. He wondered if she knew he saved her, and if she would be forever linked to him because of it.
The rain began to pour but Thaddeus didn’t notice until the thunder crackled above him. By then he was soaked, the rain had mixed with his tears; his eyes were red and puffy, his cheeks long, his mouth drooped. It was not a good look, not for anybody, but Thaddeus could care less.
Several hours later Theodore returned with an empty Jeep, wearing a new outfit and reeking of aftershave. “Come on, friend. Get your shoes on and let’s go get some food. I know you have nothing in your refrigerator.” Theodore was correct. Thaddeus’ refrigerator, and pantry, too, lacked anything edible.
November, 2006
“Honey, look... I’m sorry I’ve had to spend so much time away from home. I am.” Ben said into the phone. He set his mug of cocoa down on the counter and added three tiny marshmallows to it.
The wind beat itself against the windows, the loose shutter creaking softly. Ben picked the cup up and carefully took a sip, listening to the voice on the other end. His girlfriend of six years had called, crying
about a nightmare, though now three hours later had turned the call into a quest to find out her boyfriend’s whereabouts for the past four nights.
“Honey, I’ll see you soon. When everything is all over and done with, I’ll tell you everything but you know right now it’s not allowed.” He coaxed. Finally she gave up interrogating and he sighed and said, “I love you too. I’ll call you in the morning and we’ll do something, okay?” She agreed and they hung up.
“Crazy lady, your girl is.” Ben said to himself and set the phone on the counter, exchanging it for a handful of cookies from the jar.
“I agree.”
Ben jumped, startled to hear a woman’s voice behind him. He turned and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the brown-eyed girl standing in the doorway. She held two brown paper bags and wore a knee-length trench coat topped with a scarf wrapped tight around her neck. Her hair was a complete mess.
“There’s my pretty girl.” He exclaimed. “I was starting to think you weren’t gonna return.” He kissed her cheek and took the scarf and bags from her.
“Sorry. I didn’t feel like walking in this wind so I called Luis to pick me up.” Christi explained. “Was that Beth again?” she added, watching Ben put away the groceries.
Four months and already Ben was familiar with nearly every inch of the apartment Christi had moved into the day she turned 21. ‘What a lousy birthday. No parents, no brother, no friends.’ She had thought to herself on that day five years ago. ‘At least you have a home – your home. And one day you will meet someone to share it with.’ Dr. Branham had said to her during one of her first therapy sessions.
“She’s claiming to have had another nightmare.” Ben answered and frowned.
“Nightmares? She has nightmares? She has nightmares in the afternoon?” Christi asked. “Is there such a thing as afternoon nightmares? Ooh, maybe they’re napmares. Is that even a word?” She was attempting to lighten the mood.
Ben shrugged and said, “I told her I would call in the morning and that we would do something.”
Christi nodded, smiled, and said, “Take her to lunch or dinner and a movie. Or…” She was about to make more suggestions when Ben walked up to her and embraced her, cutting off her thoughts. She laid her head against his chest and held him close, breathing in the scent of his aftershave and cologne.
“You always smell so good,” she said.
Ben chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “Christina,” he whispered.
Christi looked up. “Yes?” she said. Their eyes met and a moment later, their lips did too.
“Bed - shall we?” Ben whispered in Christi’s ear.
A chill ran down her spine. She knew it was wrong but the feeling of Ben’s breath in her ear and his lips on her neck overpowered all sense of guilt. She jumped up, wrapped her arms and legs around him
and let him carry her around the corner to the bedroom that made up one square of her four-square apartment.
APRIL, 2007
The ad was simple; Short, sweet, and straight to the point.
WANTED:
House-sitter.
May through September.
Pay negotiable.
Please call, anytime.
555-5309
“Branham Residence.” A woman politely answered on the fourth ring.
“Umm… yes, hello… ma'am. I’m calling response to the ad in the paper.” Christi replied, nervously.
“Which one?”
“For the house-sitter?”
“Oh okay. Name please?”
“Christina Stephens.”
“Miss Stephens, would you like to meet for lunch to discuss the ad?” The woman asked quickly.
“Sure.”
“Tomorrow at noon. Sal’s Diner on 93rd.”
“Great. See you then.” Christi beamed and hung up.
For a moment Christi stood pondering what to do. Go shopping? Tanning? Her thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. She set the phone on the counter and walked around the two-seater table that separated her kitchen from the living area. The doorbell buzzed again.
“Coming!” Christi called as she gave a quick glance into the mirror and smoothed out her yet-to-be-brushed hair. She unlocked the two of the three locks, leaving the chain still latched, and opened the door.
A young boy stood on the other side. He wore a dark blue blazer over a white tee that was neatly tucked into a faded pair of jeans. “Hello, Miss. Have you a minute?” He said.
“For you I have several.” Christi answered. “Hang on.” She said and unlatched the chain. “Please come in?”
The young boy looked around then stepped into the apartment and took a seat on the couch, hands folded in his lap. Christi went to the kitchen, pulled two glassed from the cupboard and poured
lemonade into each.
“Would you like some cookies to go with your lemonade?” She asked, carrying the two glasses over to the coffee table.
“No thanks, ma’am.” He took a glass from the table and sipped. His face puckered up and she could see dimples in both his cheeks.
“Is it too sour?” Christi asked, giggling, taking a sip from her own glass. She too puckered up.
* * * * *
“Beth, I really do think
you should not go through with this.” Ben said at the breakfast table that morning. He tapped his finger on top of a box in the classified section of the daily newspaper.
“This,” he continued, “This just does not seem fair. I mean someone might really call this time and honey, look. It’s not the house that needs worrying about. It’s us - you and me and our family. We cannot just take off and let some stranger live in our house. It’s absurd. We…-"
Ben’s lecture was interrupted by the phone ringing shrilly from the office down the hall.
“I’ll get it.” Beth said, jumping up. “Finish your breakfast, dear.” She rushed down the hall, reaching the phone at the end of the third ring. She waited for it to start ringing again, and then picked up the
receiver.
“Branham residence.” Beth said. The caller seemed to hesitate before taking her turn to talk. The ad. Someone was calling about the ad. Beth’s heart began to race, the delight visible in her eyes. She shut the door and sat on the edge of the desk, twirling the phone cord around her petite fingers.
“Christina Stephens.” The woman had said when Beth asked her name. Beth was about to ask more questions when she heard Ben’s footsteps in the hallway, and decided to wrap it up before he walked in.
She quickly asked to meet for lunch, gave a time and place, and hung up just as the door opened and Ben poked his head in.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“Patrick…” Beth lied, easily.
“Oh... is everything okay?” Beth nodded, and took her husband’s outstretched hand. They walked to the kitchen where Ben grabbed his keys off the counter and headed off to work.
Beth cleaned up the breakfast dishes and set them in the drainer to dry and then headed out the door. She had no place to be but staying home alone was not something she wanted to do. Ever.
* * * * *
“Good morning, Miss Stephens.” The cab driver said as Christi climbed into the backseat next to a young man and closed the door.
“Morning, Luis.” Christi said. She smiled and glanced at her seatmate. In the reflection from the window, Christi could vaguely make out the strange man’s features. Several strands of dark hair stuck out beneath his ball cap. A Mets fan, his cap told. His eyes were closed but she guessed them to be brown. His face lay against his hand but she could see his square jaw and thin lips. She guessed him to be in his early twenties, probably passed out from a night of partying.
Her gaze then fell to the shiny pendant hanging from a chain around his neck. She couldn’t make out what it was but the idea of a guy wearing a necklace amused her and before she could stop it, a giggle
escaped her parted lips. She put her hand to her mouth and quickly turned away.
“There’s something I don’t hear too often anymore.” The cab driver announced. He looked at Christi in the rear view mirror and chuckled. “Good to know you still have the ability to laugh, Miss Stephens.” He chuckled again. “I sure do miss it.” He said, turning his attention back to the road.
Christi nodded in agreement and turned her gaze to the pedestrians on the street.
“So, you are looking’ to get a job down at Sal’s?” Luis asked, having noticed how put together Christi was.
“Nah. I’m going to see a lady about a house.” Christi answered. “I’m…” She was about to explain when the man next to her stirred and mumbled something. Christi turned to look at him and saw he now had his head laid back against the seat and was staring right at her. His eyes were brown, just as she had guessed. Brown and hypnotic, she couldn’t break eye contact with him.
‘Who is this?’ she thought to herself.
* * * * *
“I’ve seen you around. Never had the chance… or well, to be more honest, never had the courage… to say hello.” A tall skinny man with long brown and gray hair and a thick brown and gray beard said,
leaning onto the counter.
Christi forced a smile and glanced at the man beside her, avoiding eye contact. “Really.” She said without any emotion, continuing to sip her iced cappuccino.
“Didn’t think you would give me the time of day, you being a pretty girl and all, and me… well, look at me.” He said and chortled.
Christi’s attention remained on the magazine she had opened in front of her. ‘You thought right’ she thought to herself. She faked a laugh and rolled her eyes. He must not have noticed, or just didn’t care,
because he helped himself to the seat next to her and tapped the counter to get the attention of the waitress pouring coffee into the cup held out by an elderly woman at the other end of the counter.
“Can I get you something?” she asked, turning around. She faked a smile like all good waitresses learn to do and took his order.
“That’s one amazing woman right there, you know? Always smiling; always polite.”
The man said, watching the waitress pass the order slip to the short-order cook behind the half wall separating the kitchen from the rest of the diner. “Never talks though.”
“She’s working. She’s busy.” Christi said flatly.
“Too busy for a hello?”
“That’s what her smile is for.”
The man chuckled heartily. “That’s one fine hello then.” He said and chuckled some more.
“Hmm…” Christi murmured, uninterested.
“You talk this much to everyone?” He joked to the waitress when she brought his order to him a few minutes later.
“I’m too busy to stand around and chat.” She replied to him, as polite as possible, and walked away to tend to some customers at a nearby table.
“So, looks like it’s just me and you, honey.” He said, winking at Christi
“Name’s not honey.” She snapped.
“Sorry. What is it?”
“Amber.” Christi fibbed convincingly.
“Mm… love it.”
Christi scrunched her eyebrows and rolled her eyes again. “Okay, look. I don’t mean to sound rude or anything, but I’m supposed to meet someone here. It’s very important, so could you please let me relax
alone before they come?”
The man stood in complete shock, eyes wide and face tight. For a moment, Christi felt a sense of fear, but it was erased several moments later when his face softened and he apologized.
“I meant no harm, ma’am.” He said and took his plate and drink to an empty table by the window.
“Finally.” She sighed, relieved.
The waitress returned and Christi ordered another iced cappuccino. She could never get enough of Sal’s special blend.
“Thank God he left.” The waitress said, setting the beverage down in front of Christi, taking away the old one. She flashed a quick smile and was about to say something else when two elderly men called to her for an order.
“Miss Stephens?”
Christi jumped, startled to hear someone behind her calling her name. She turned slowly, first with her head to see who was there. A woman, dressed as if she’d just walked off the page of a glamor
magazine, stood there, clutching her handbag, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
“Miss Stephens?” the woman with the matching shoes and bag said.
Christi nodded. “Yes?” she said, slightly raising an eyebrow.
The woman let out a sigh of relief and held out a shaky hand. Christi noticed how perfectly manicured her nails were. French. Probably had her toes done up too, Christi thought. “Hi, I’m Beth.” The woman said, almost in an unsure tone.
“Beth?” Christi repeated, taking the woman’s hand into her own. They shook a hello and looked each other up and down. “I don’t know any Beths.”
Beth smiled, letting go of Christi’s hand. “Well, that’s why I introduced myself.” She said. She appeared to be nervous, which for some reason amused Christi
Christi smiled too, wondering if her calmness was making Beth more nervous. “Would you like to sit? I could use some female company. There’s a c
razy guy lingering around here - he’s making me feel
a bit uneasy really.”
Beth nodded, understanding, and took a seat next to Christi “I’m sure he’s harmless. Or will be after he gets pepper spray in his face.” She smiled again, appearing to loosen up a little. Christi smiled too.
“So I guess I should have properly introduced myself.” Beth said, folding her hands on the counter in front of her.
“You’re not really Beth?”
Beth smiled again. “I’m really Beth,” she assured. “I just should have added that I’m the woman you spoke to on the telephone.”
She paused, looking intently at Christi
“About the ad,” she added, “Mrs. Branham.” The nervousness seemed to creep back the moment she spoke those words.
Christi breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh,” she said. “You’re early.”
“You too.”
They smiled again, both silent for several moments.
“I’m always here around this time.” Christi volunteered, feeling the need to explain. “I have school then I come here for lunch and then…” she stopped mid-sentence, almost saying too much.
Beth’s eyes widened. She seemed to perk up, to be holding her breath.
“And then back to school, and work.” Christi fibbed.
“Every day?” Beth asked.
Christi nodded. “It’s a good thing I live in the city. It’s late when I get off work but that’s just when the city is waking up. Coming to life.”
She smiled and Beth nodded her agreement, smiling too. “That’s how I grew up. A city girl day and night. Always out and about, but not anymore.”
“Grew out of it?”
“I suppose you could say that.” Beth said. “I got married… and moved out to the beach.”
“Ooh.” Christi chuckled. “That’s probably the only thing that could get me to move away.”
“Marriage?” Beth raised an eyebrow.
Christi chuckled. “No, the beach.”
