Come as you Are: Plantain Series Book Two

by Amelia Oliver

  “Thanks for meeting me,” I say while shaking her hand.

  “Yes, of course, let me show you the property.”

  Her smile is wide, but she also seems like this might be the last thing she wants to be doing right now, or maybe I’m keeping her from something.

  “So this is the main house, my brother is the one who lives here. He’s gone a lot for work, and when he’s here you probably won’t see him, he’s pretty private.”

  I look up at the massive house as we walk up the driveway beside it, looking so white compared to the ferns and other greenery that is all along the grounds surrounding the house.

  “He’s currently remodeling the main house, but has finished the loft which is what I’ll be showing you,” she says looking over at me.

  I follow behind her, taking in the yard that has a beautiful stone patio with a fire pit and large white pergola, navy blue fabric matching the shutters is gathered at each corner of the structure. We stop at the front of the huge white barn that matches the house and Alexandra motions towards the four huge doors along the front.

  “You can park in there and you can also enter the upstairs loft area from inside here, but there’s an outside entrance over on this side.”

  She walks towards the right side and there’s a long staircase, this might be a bitch to carry groceries, but I think it will be worth it and we begin the journey up.

  “The loft is two levels, the main floor has a kitchen and full bathroom, along with plenty of space for a living area. The upstairs, which is half the size as the downstairs is used for the bedroom. There’s a king size bed up there, along with a dresser and night stand that you’re welcome to use. Like I said in the listing, it comes fully furnished, but if you’d like to use your own things you’re more than welcome. Unfortunately, the washer and dryer are in the main house just inside the side door, I know my brother plans on hooking one up downstairs here, but hasn’t gotten to it yet.”

  I nod my head, the thought crossing my mind that I have no things to fill the space besides the one suitcase in my trunk. By the time she’s finished speaking we’re at the top of the steps and she’s unlocking the door. We enter and the inside is bright and full of sunshine with huge skylights, exposed wood beams in the ceiling, and all the walls are white. But the furniture is eclectic, not new but the dark woods and colorful furnishings adds perfectly to the sparseness of the walls. There are also massive windows all around with white drapes hanging down the sides of each one; it’s rustic feeling and warm.

  “Feel free to do whatever you like, hang photos or change whatever,” she says as I walk around the downstairs area.

  The kitchen is beautiful, with butcher block countertops and stainless steel appliances and is the perfect size for me. It’s not over the top like the house I lived in with Tyler, but so well done and I love it.

  “I think I’d like to live here,” I tell her.

  Her smile widens as she nods.

  “Yes, my brother did an amazing job, I think you will like it just fine here.”

  Alexandra continues to tell me a few more things about the place as I write her a check for three months’ worth of rent, and is the bulk of the money my parents gave me. She hands over the keys and explains one is for the main house front door and one for the side door, along with the keys to the barn. I follow her out, back into the breezy gorgeous day and down the steps where we stop at her van and she hands over a card with her phone number in case of emergencies. I get in my car and head into town for a few things before I can go grocery shopping and get back to the house. The Plantain police department is my first stop, it feels weird being here since I never in the years I did live here, ever stepped foot inside.

  “May I help you?” a short older lady asks me from behind a massive desk in the lobby.

  I can see behind a set of glass doors where the officers’ desks and offices are. There are also several officers and men in suits milling about the front entrance and lobby.

  “I need to file-” I begin.

  “Skye?”

  My name called out by a deep voice and even though it’s not him, I startle with the split-second fear that it’s Tyler. I turn to see Officer Milton approaching me, his questioning look turning into a smile.

  “I heard from Maven that you were coming back,” he says, nodding at the lady behind the desk.

  I wonder if she told him what happened to me or if he knows why I’m here.

  “Yeah, just got back today, I’m actually heading over to see Maven when I’m done here.”

  I know he recognizes me from the shop, but he and I have never really spoken. Missy told me all the things he’d done to help get Dornan and Maven out of Plantain so they could go on the run, and for maybe that reason I feel at ease in his presence. I reach into my purse and pull out the folded paper I have tucked inside, opening it and handing it to him.

  “I was told I need to file this wherever I live.”

  A hot flush creeps up my neck as he furrows his brows and looks over my paperwork. It’s the restraining order against Tyler. He lifts his head and looks me in the eyes and quickly I look over his shoulder and really, anywhere but him.

  “Sure,” he clears his throat. “I can file this for you.”

  He gives me a no teeth smile and I know what he’s thinking, he’s wondering what the fuck happened to me that I was court ordered to have this on record.

  “Let me just make copies, wait here I’ll do it now.”

  I take a seat next to the doors and inhale a deep breath. Along with the nightmares, I’ve also been having anxiety, especially when there are a lot of people around. For whatever reason, maybe I think I will see Tyler or something, but no matter how many times I tell myself he wouldn’t be here, the room just gets hotter and hotter and I can’t breathe. A woman opens the door from the outside and I bolt up, pushing past her to the fresh air. Not stopping until I’m in my car, I roll the window down and close my eyes, inhaling deeply through my nose. I really need to get back into yoga, I know it will help me.

  My hands rest on my slight belly, which helps to calm me, singing along to “Wonderwall” by Oasis on my iPod, and within minutes my breathing’s back to normal. However, my skin is clammy and my mouth has pre-vomit saliva filling it. I begin to drive to the auto shop and by the time I get there I feel better; my nerves are a little shot but I’m not shaking and my skin doesn’t look grey anymore. I wonder when this shit will stop, when Tyler will stop ruling my life, I already feel relieved being in Plantain and I can only hope that day by day it will get better.

  “Holy shit.”

  I turn to see Smokey as I exit my car, he’s walking out of the garage and over to me. Stopping just before he reaches me and for a moment I wonder if he means to hug me but stopped himself. I don’t know if anyone knows what happened to me, Missy assured me that none of the guys knew besides Dornan and Sven, and ever since the day I asked about Drag she never told me whether he knew or not. I like to think that if he did, he would’ve tried to contact me in some way, he could get my number easily. I take the step forward and hug Smoke. He pats my back slightly before we both pull away.

  “You back for a visit or what?” he asks.

  “No, I’ve moved back,” I reply.

  He nods.

  “No shit, well good, we’ve missed you.”

  “It’s good to be back.”

  The sun is hot on my shoulders and this is one thing I didn’t miss about the shop, with black asphalt covering every inch of ground and no trees on the property besides behind the clubhouse, it’s stifling hot and the fumes from the garage are overwhelming and turn my stomach for a moment.

  “You wanna see Maven, she’s in the office,” he says as a car pulls up to the garage. I casually search the bikes for Nathan’s but I don’t see it as I give Smokey a small wave and he leaves me to attend to the customer. I make my way into the empty front part of the shop and where my desk is-was,
Maven has her door open and as soon as she sees me she lets out a ‘woot’ noise before rising from her desk and meeting me in her doorway.

  “I thought you’d never get here!” she exclaims as she hugs me.

  I swear I never met a huggier bunch then these people, even Dornan moves in after Maven lets go.

  “So did you like the place you looked at?” Maven asks.

  “I do, I decided to try it out for a bit.”

  “So are you needing a job by any chance?” Dornan asks, a hopeful look in his eyes.

  “Yeah, well that’s partly why I’m here.”

  “You want to be out front or do something else, I need someone here and a few evenings a week at the used car lot-”

  “I can do both, I mean I’ll take both if you don’t mind.”

  I basically should’ve just said ‘I need money,’ but they don’t seem to notice how eager and willing I am to take on both jobs.

  “Great because I’m in desperate need of you,” Maven says.

  Just then I hear another car pulling up and turn to see Missy’s white Cadillac rolling up beside the shop. I watch as her slender frame emerges, oversized white sunglasses perched on her nose and a huge smile to match. Shockingly she hugs me before outstretching our linked hands so she can have a look at me, for a moment I wonder if she notices my small tummy but this tank top is fairly loose and I’m relieved when she cups my cheeks giving them a small pinch. Just then I realize my car is not parked where I left it and I look to see someone has pulled it into the garage and the hood is up, which is probably a good thing since I haven’t had it looked at in a long time.

  “Mind running a few errands with me?” I ask Missy.

  “You got it doll.”

  She takes my hand as I wave goodbye to Maven and Dornan.

  “I’ll be here first thing tomorrow,” I say back to the couple before stopping at my car to grab my luggage and head towards Missy’s car.

  First stop is to get a new cellphone. I don’t need anything special but I get one that I like, and that right there is something I haven’t been able to do in a long time. Next we go to the grocery store and I buy basics until I get paid next week and plan on using most of that check to go cupboard-stuffing shopping. On our way back to my new home, Missy stops at her house to grab some frozen meals she’s made for me.

  I feel stronger than I ever remember being, but honestly I think it’s due to all these friends willing to help me. I don’t like to think about where I’d be if I didn’t have this sanctuary to come to. Missy is blown away by the house and even after seeing it in person already this afternoon, I too am awed by the beauty that Alexandra’s brother has put into it.

  “I have some things stored in the garage, and Maven has a ton of her grandma’s shit in her barn that she said you are more than welcome to look through,” Missy says, helping me with the groceries.

  “Maybe, I think I’m pretty well off for right now, but thank you,” I comment.

  I need to eat soon or I will start feeling nauseous, luckily morning sickness hasn’t been terrible but it comes and goes, and usually comes when I least expect it. Smells and having an empty stomach is what brings it on the most, I can usually drink some water and it settles if food isn’t available. I grab the container of hummus and rip some pita bread from its packaging, and take a bite, my stomach disagrees for a moment before calming and thankfully accepting my offering.

  “Do you need me to do anything before I go down the longest staircase known to man?” Missy asks.

  “No, I think I’m good thanks for driving me and helping me carry.”

  “I swear you will have legs and buns of steel in a week from those suckers.”

  “Hopefully it will get my ass in gear to start yoga again,” I say shoveling another piece of bread into my mouth.

  Missy heads for the door then turns and says, “We’re all happy you’re here, if there’s anything you need all you have to do is ask,” she says with glassy eyes and I know there’s more she wants to say.

  “Thank you Missy already for everything, you’ve helped me more than I could ever imagine.”

  This time I initiate the hug and pull back when I hear her sniffle, seeing her run her fingers under her eyes. I stand in the doorway until she pulls her car down the driveway, before opening a can of tomato soup and pouring it into a saucepan, placing it onto a burner. The staircase up to the bedroom is only about twelve steps but after two trips up the stairs outside, my legs are burning. I unpack my clothes into the dresser drawers, and hang the one dress I own and wore to Maven’s wedding up in the closet.

  The space smells like cedar and I want to live in this closet, I toss my two pairs of flip-flops onto the floor and kick the ones on my feet off to join the pile before closing the door. I grab a pair of yoga capris and gladly swap those for my jeans, I will have to get some new bottoms soon because my jeans are becoming restrictive. I grab my bag of toiletries and makeup before heading downstairs to the beautiful bathroom.

  The counters in here are polished concrete and the shower is massive with duel shower heads and a beautiful green tile lines the inside. Placing my shower items inside and my other things in the drawers. I grab my new phone, pour my soup into a bowl and head over to the overstuffed couch. I turn the flat screen on, and text my mom, giving her my new number along with Missy, Maven and my sister. Amber and I haven’t talked in a while, not since my attack, for whatever reason she refused to believe my ‘story’ that Tyler was ever abusive to me before, claiming she never saw anything that would make her believe that. I receive messages back from all but her and maybe in time she will come around, but I can’t worry about that right now I have enough shit going on.

  ***

  I see Tyler, over me, his hands on my throat and I can’t breathe. My nails are digging into his skin and my legs are kicking but he’s so strong and no matter what I do I can’t get him off me.

  “I will find you Skye, I will always find you,” he growls.

  My body jerks upright, my t-shirt is soaked with sweat, my legs tangled in the thin white sheet on the bed. Moonlight is streaming in through the skylights and it takes me several minutes to remember where I am. Running a shaky hand through my soaked hair I remember, I’m safe, I’m in Plantain. Glancing at the clock it’s four a.m. and I’d only been asleep for not even an hour. I crashed a few hours earlier then woke to a vision of Tyler in the corner of my room, I got up and showered and even though I was tired as hell, I couldn’t get myself to relax back in bed. The sound of crickets that I heard the first time I woke up is only a background to what I hear now, music? There’s music playing somewhere outside, what the fuck?

  I get up from bed and the cool night air is chilling over my moist skin, and I shiver while walking over to the window and seeing lights on inside the main house. The music is louder, Louis Armstrong’s- “La Vie En Rose” to be exact, and in fact it’s blaring from inside the house, accompanied by hammering. Jesus Christ, who the hell would be hammering at four a.m.? I know the homeowner’s doing repairs but, seriously? I strip off my shirt and replace it with a clean one, lying back down in bed, I have to be up for work in a few hours and I know I can’t make it through a day of work on zero sleep. Being pregnant I can only have so much coffee, and I do not do well on little sleep.

  An hour goes by and Louis Armstrong turns into Nat King Cole, and I am about to cry I’m so tired. Finally reaching my breaking point, I throw the sheet off me and slip my feet into flip-flops and stomp down the steps on a mission. I feel like my case is justified in that, ‘hello it’s five in the morning and people are sleeping,’ and hope the owner doesn’t give me too much shit for complaining, but fuck I can’t take it anymore.

  I can’t see anyone inside the house as I approach but I hear the hammering and music continue to get louder as I walk through the open back door. There are 2x4’s instead of walls, outlining a structure of a room with heavy tarps hanging between the spa
ces. I walk closer to where I think the hammering is coming from, and pull back the tarp ready to bring out the cranky beast in me when words leave me, and I almost fall back at seeing…Nathan.

  12

  He’s shirtless and sweaty, jeans hanging low on his hips, hair tied up in a man bun higher than he used to wear it, he’s also sporting a short beard. His arm freezes in mid-air and the nails he was holding between his lips, fall to the floor with a clatter. We just stand there frozen looking at one another, he’s beautiful and perfect and-holy shit, he’s the owner of the house.

  “What the fuck?” he asks, turning towards me and looking at my attire.

  It’s then I realize I’m only in a t-shirt, panties, and flip-flops. The shirt is one from a four pack of men’s tees, it covers the essentials but Christ, I can’t believe I walked over in this. I cross my arms over my chest and open my mouth to reply but I can’t.

  “Wait…you? You’re the tenant in the loft?” He’s looking at me with question in his eyes.

  I nod.

  “I-Alexandra told me someone was moving in but I didn’t see a car. Shit, I woke you,” he says.

  His eyes widen as he sets down the hammer, and moves into another room out of sight, and the music stops. The house is quiet now, and I almost feel like I’ve overreacted by barging in here. All my annoyances gone as he reenters the room, pulling a light grey t-shirt on over his head. He continues to walk closer, and quickly and instinctively I back up and he stops, his brows furrow and I look down to see he was reaching for my hand. My arms tighten around my chest and in that moment, I’m reminded that I’m pregnant with this man’s baby, he’s not Tyler, and Nathan would never hurt me.

  “Yeah, Smokey is fixing my car,” I state and he looks at me confused for a moment. “Missy dropped me off, that’s why you didn’t see a car,” I add quietly.