by Susie Gayle
He looks me up and down in my black suit. “Funeral?”
I nod.
He looks away and asks, “You thought I had something to do with this, didn’t you?”
I nod again. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Yeah. I hate to say it, but it all worked out for the—”
“Don’t,” I cut him off. “Don’t you dare say that. Look, I asked you once before to just stop doing what you’re doing. Now I’m asking again. I know you think that it’s all for the best, but I really need you to consider if it’s right for the town.”
“The town is exactly why I’m doing it,” he says plainly. “It’s all I think about.”
“Yeah, but don’t you see? By trying to make Seaview Rock a perfect place, you’re making it something ugly at the same time.”
He shrugs. “Or maybe the ends justify the means.”
I shake my head. It’s not lost on me that neither of us can look the other in the eye. “Listen, I’m going away for a week. I leave on Saturday.”
“You need me to mind the animals?”
“If you would, yeah.”
“No problem.” It’s not the first time I’ve had to go somewhere and had Sammy take care of the animals for me. In fact, he’s the only other person besides me and Sarah that has a key to the shop. And regardless of what’s going on between us, I still trust him.
“Thanks.” I open the door to the shop to signify the end of the conversation. “And please… think about it.”
“I will.” He turns and heads down the sidewalk in the direction of the barber shop. He doesn’t look back.
Inside, Sarah is musing out loud, or perhaps talking to the snake, as she makes her pre-vacation to-do list. “I’ll need to check the weather down there this time of year. I bet it’s warm. Oh, we’ll need sunscreen. I’m part-Irish. I burn in the shade…”
Despite everything, I can’t help but smile at least a little at her zeal. She needs this trip; more importantly, she deserves this trip.
And yeah, I still have to deal with this whole blackmail thing eventually. Yes, I’m painfully aware that my ex-wife Karen knows more than she should and I have no idea what she’ll do with the information. And of course, I still have a very dangerous snake just hanging out in my pet shop.
But right now, I just really need to get out of Seaview Rock for a little while.
THE END
