Chaos in California

by Lucy Quinn

  Evie nearly snapped out of character to praise her friend for jumping in on the act, but instead, she stalked up to the counter and slapped the photo of Jared down on the distressed wood. “My husband ran out on me, and I had to take time off work to find his sorry ass. Have you seen him?”

  The woman blinked and started to automatically shake her head, but as her gaze focused on the picture, she swallowed hard and took a step back.

  “You have seen him.” Evie placed both palms on the counter and leaned closer to Fiona. She could tell the woman knew something about Jared but was afraid to speak up. Evie needed to adjust how she was handling this so that the shop worker wanted to tell her what she knew. It was time for the sympathy route. “Listen, Fiona,” she stressed, eyeing the woman’s name tag and pressing one hand to her belly. “I just found out I’m pregnant two weeks ago.”

  “Pregnant?” Fiona whispered, her face blanching as she glanced around the shop nervously.

  “And as soon as she told the no-good shyster, he took off, leaving her without rent money,” Dora added.

  Good one, Evie thought to herself, impressed with Dora’s improv. Maybe they could be a standup duo when this mess was over. Dora could be the straight shooter while Evie provided the comic relief.

  Evie thought of Trace and how much she missed him and how she’d feel if he ran out on her. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes, and she poured it on thick as she sniffed and said, “I can’t be pregnant and homeless. All I want to do is find him. I know as soon as he sees me again, he’ll do the right thing. I think he’s just scared. You know how new dads can freak out. Maybe we can even work things out once—”

  “I slept with him,” Fiona blurted out and then clasped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide as she took a step back.

  Evie was so in character that when she heard the woman confessing to sleeping with Jared, her stomach rolled and nausea crept in. “You… slept with my baby daddy?”

  Fiona threw her arms up in the air as if she were surrendering, and she appeared to be a little green around the gills too. “I had no idea he had a wife, much less a pregnant one—”

  “You slept with him!” Evie yelled, rage rolling through her as she cut Fiona off. Completely swept up in her scorned-woman persona, she reached for the nearest piece of merchandise. Her fingers curled around a polished rock that had Clamshell Cove painted on the smooth surface. Cocking her arm, she was barely conscious of what she was doing when she threw the rock across the store and yelled, “Jared cheated on me!”

  “Daisy!” Dora cried, her eyes wide as she reached out to touch Evie’s arm. “You need to calm down.”

  “I will not calm down!” Evie yanked her arm away and moved to the nearest shelf. She grabbed at the faux sand dollars, throwing them one after another at Fiona, who dodged back and forth covering her head with her arms.

  “Stop! Please. I’m not that kind of woman. I would never—”

  “You already did,” Evie all but snarled. The anger coiled in her chest surprised even her. But the idea of one woman betraying another made her furious.

  “I didn’t know. I swear!” Fiona dodged a flying aquarium paperweight. It hit the shelf behind her with a loud crash, sending glass containers of crystals crashing to the floor.

  The jarring noise of glass shattering on the wood floor along with crystals scattering everywhere made Evie snap out of her acting-induced rage. Her skin chilled, and her mouth stopped working as she stared at the impressive mess surrounding Fiona.

  Fiona’s face turned a dark shade of red that bordered on purple as she turned to Evie. Unrepeatable strings of profanity flew from her mouth. Her word choices were so filthy and creative that Fiona managed to make Evie blush. And that was hard to do.

  “Fiona, I’m—”

  “Don’t you dare say another word,” the store clerk raged. “You could’ve killed me with that stunt. And look at what you did to my shop!” Fiona picked up her phone and started to punch numbers in.

  “Time to go!” Dora grabbed Evie by the arm and started to drag her out of the store.

  “Wait!” Evie demanded. “We can’t just—”

  “Yes, we can,” Dora insisted, and without another word, she bent over, shoved her shoulder into Evie’s gut, threw Evie over her back, and proceeded to haul her out of there in a fireman’s carry.

  “Dora,” Evie said in a harsh whisper once they were out of the door. “Put me down.”

  “No.” Dora rushed to the bus, flung the side door open, and unceremoniously dropped Evie inside.

  “Dor, come on. We still need to find out about Jared,” Evie said, sitting in the middle of the floor at the back of the bus.

  “Not now we don’t. No way is she talking to us after you made that mess.” Dora slammed the door shut. A moment later, she was in the driver’s seat, hauling them back to Windy’s compound.

  18

  Dora was still shaking as she pulled the parking brake on the bus. They’d made it back to the farm in record time, neither one of them saying a word. Closing her eyes, Dora crossed her arms over the steering wheel and rested her head on her wrists as she replayed the scene in her mind. It was hard to reconcile her friend Evie with the crazy person who’d completely lost her cool back at Fiona’s shop.

  “I think I got too deep into my method acting,” Evie said.

  “You think?” Dora jerked up and let out an exasperated breath. “Didn’t I tell you we can’t afford to replace anything you destroy?”

  “I just…” Evie bit down on her bottom lip and turned to look out the window. “I was really into it. Kind of like the character just took over.” She turned back to Dora. “I don’t think you can really blame me for being such a good actress.”

  “Evie,” Dora said, a chuckle bubbling up from the back of her throat. She recalled the mess Evie had made and the sound of so much glass shattering. It must have been fun throwing things like that. Her friend was crazy, but even Dora had to admit that was part of the reason why she loved her so much. “I should be really angry at you. You know that, right?”

  “You can’t stay mad at me. I’m your ride or die,” Evie said, her eyes alight with challenge.

  Dora rolled her eyes, but then smirked. “True. But you realize we need to go back there, right?”

  Evie pursed her lips and stared her friend down. “I tried to tell you that before you hauled me out of her shop. We have to find out what she knows about Jared. She’s our best lead.”

  “Do you really think she was going to talk to us right then?” Dora asked. “She was so angry it’s amazing steam wasn’t coming out of the top of her head. Even now, I bet she’s muttering to herself about that crazy witch who tried to kill her with a paperweight.”

  Evie visibly winced. “I wasn’t trying to kill her.”

  “Of course you weren’t. But she didn’t know that. Honestly, Evie, we’re lucky we got out of there before she called—”

  “The police.” Evie’s eyes were huge as she stared at Dora. “Oh no. Do you think that’s who she was calling when you carried me out of there?”

  Dread sat like a stone in Dora’s gut. If Fiona had called the police, they were doomed. They’d have to leave immediately. But they couldn’t. Not without the evidence. If they left now, they’d be on the run for the rest of their lives, just like Windy.

  “We need to ditch the bus,” Dora said, pushing her door open and jumping out.

  “What?” Evie leaned over, eyeing her friend. “You were the one who just said we need to get back there to talk to Fiona.” Her voice started to wobble as she added, “Don’t we need to find out if she called the cops?”

  “Yes. But not in the bus. If she did call, it’s a dead giveaway.” Dora stalked over to Windy’s house. Just as she got to the porch, the door swung open and Sunshine darted out, heading straight for her mistress, who was just climbing out of the vehicle. Good, Dora thought. She knew Evie got jealous sometimes when Sunshine seemed so happy to spend time with W
indy.

  “There’s my sweet baby,” Evie said and caught the pup up in her arms. She slowed and showered the dog with kisses, while assuring her she was the best pup in the world. Dora couldn’t disagree. The dog had travelled all across the country with them, never complaining once.

  “Did you learn anything?” Windy asked. She was standing in the open doorway, leaning against the frame.

  “Only that Jared definitely was in Clamshell Cove,” Evie said. “He slept with the gift shop owner.”

  Windy raised one eyebrow. “How did you hear that?”

  “Directly from Fiona’s mouth.” Dora stepped up onto the porch. “But we hit a snag and had to hightail it out of there.”

  “What kind of snag?”

  Dora glanced at a sheepish Evie and said, “A destructive, throwing everything she could get her hands on kind.”

  Windy threw her head back and laughed. “You don’t say?” Then she studied Evie. “You’re full of fire, girl. You know that’s going to backfire on you both someday, right?”

  “I—” Evie let out a sigh and hugged Sunshine a little tighter.

  But Dora bristled in defense of her friend. “What’s that supposed to mean?

  “Just that she’s a loose cannon. You two will never stay under the radar with her antics.”

  “We’ve done fine so far,” Dora said, crossing her arms over her chest. She knew Windy had a point, but Dora was loyal to a fault. No one talked about her bestie like that. No one but Dora, anyway.

  “Sure, you have.” Windy nodded. “That doesn’t mean the fuzz won’t catch up with you.”

  “I’m not that bad,” Evie said defiantly.

  But hadn’t Dora and Evie just talked about the possibility that Fiona might’ve called the cops? Dora knew Windy was speaking the truth; she just didn’t want to admit it to anyone other than herself or Evie. It would make it too real. Her internal panic reached dangerous levels, and her heart was nearly beating out of her chest when she asked, “Can we borrow your Bug? We kind of need something other than the bus when we head back into town.”

  Windy gave her a look that very clearly said I told you so, but she held her tongue. “Of course.” The older woman took a step back into the house, found the keys on a peg board, and handed them to Dora. But she gave both women a hard stare. “Just don’t let the law follow you back here. If they’re on your tail, find somewhere else to hide out until you lose them.”

  Her words sent a chill up Dora’s spine. Dora did not want to find herself on some remote farm thirty years down the road advising younger people how to navigate running from the law. Windy was doing what she had to, but Dora would be damned if she let Evie and her end up living that same life.

  “We’ll be careful,” Dora said.

  Windy looked at Dora. “You will.” She shifted her gaze to eye Evie. “But what about you?”

  Evie gulped, and Dora said, “She knows how to rein it in when she needs to.”

  Evie nodded and for once seemed not to have anything else to say.

  Anxious to get back to town to find out if Fiona had filed a report, Dora spun on her heel and took off toward the Bug. “Thanks,” she called over her shoulder at Windy. Just because she didn’t want to end up like Windy or admit their mistakes, that didn’t mean she had to be rude. “We’ll stop in and drop off the keys when we get back.”

  Windy didn’t respond as Dora, Evie, and Sunshine got into the car.

  “Not much of a disguise going from the bus to the Bug,” Evie observed quietly.

  Dora gave her an irritated glance. “I’m doing my best here.”

  “Of course you are,” Evie said, jerking back a little and holding Sunshine tighter. “I was just trying to break the tension. It’ll be fine. Every other hippy in this county has a VW Bug. We’ll blend right in.”

  “That’s better,” Dora said with a huff, but then she sent her friend a small smile. Being a jerk to Evie wasn’t going to help matters either. She was well aware that she’d approved Evie’s scorned-wife act before they’d ever walked into the gift shop, knowing what could happen. While she hadn’t thrown the paperweight, there was plenty of blame to go around.

  The drive back to Fiona’s shop was filled with tension and silence, just like the previous trip from the shop to Windy’s farm. When Dora rounded the corner and spotted the gift shop, she let out a sigh of relief. There wasn’t a law enforcement vehicle anywhere in sight. In fact, there wasn’t any vehicle in sight. That would make it easier to talk to Fiona without calling attention to themselves.

  “Do you think she’s calmed down?” Evie asked, her voice small and completely unlike the Evie Dora knew. But she supposed if she’d just been chastised by Windy, she’d be acting the same way.

  “I guess we’ll find out.” Dora patted her friend’s arm. “It’ll be okay. If she hasn’t, you’ll pour on that Evie charm and smooth everything over. It’s what you’re good at.”

  Evie’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she blinked them back and straightened her shoulders, her confidence returning right before Dora’s eyes. “You know what? You’re right. If I can make her believe I’m a jilted, pregnant wife, I can also be the sweet, apologetic girl who’ll do what it takes to earn her forgiveness.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Dora moved to open the door of the Bug but froze when Evie spoke again.

  “But she’d better not even think about touching my man again. I’ll cut her.”

  Dora twisted around so fast she felt her back twinge and let out a grunt of pain. Reaching around and pressing her hand to her spine, she gaped at Evie. “Seriously?”

  “No.” She winked at Dora. “I just wanted to test my acting skills to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.”

  There was nothing to say to that. Dora just groaned and exited the car.

  “I was good, wasn’t I?” Evie said the moment she and Sunshine were out of the car. “I have a real shot at this acting thing, right?”

  “Sure, Evie.” Dora gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the minor ache in her back as she headed for the shop’s door.

  “You know, you really should try yoga,” Evie said thoughtfully from behind her. “You’re starting to walk like my grandmother. After a few days, you’ll work those kinks out.”

  Dora was five seconds from snapping at her friend, but she refrained. Now wasn’t the time. “I’ll look into it when I have time to find my Zen.” She held the door open for Evie. “After you.”

  Sunshine shot forward and disappeared into the shop. Evie hesitated. “Don’t you think we should make sure no one else is in there first?”

  “You’re stalling. The only way to find out is to walk in.” But instead of waving Evie through, Dora poked her head inside. The store was completely empty except for Sunshine and a really cute gray French bulldog that hadn’t been there before. Sunshine was rolling around on her back while the Frenchie sniffed at her and wagged his tail. It was love at first sight. Goodness, that dog was popular. When she glanced back at Evie, she said, “The coast is clear.”

  Evie took a deep breath, and with her head held high, she glided into the shop. Dora shook her head in amusement, silently praying they wouldn’t be on the run later that night, and followed Evie inside.

  “I’ll be out in a minute,” Fiona called from the back.

  “No rush!” Evie called back, making her tone go higher than normal.

  Dora raised an eyebrow at her friend. “What was that for?”

  Evie pressed her index finger to her lips and then whispered, “I didn’t want her to rush.” Pointing at the mess that still remained behind the counter, Evie added, “I wanted to get a start on cleaning that up.”

  “Good plan,” Dora said as she nodded and joined her friend. It was a good plan, especially since there was a garbage can right next to some cleaning supplies in the cubby below the cash register. Evie grabbed it and they got to work, placing the crystals on the counter and tossing the broken glass in the bin.

&nbs
p; They hadn’t gotten far when the shrill, still very angry voice of Fiona made Dora’s ears ring as she yelled, “Get out! Get out! Get out! I mean it. Neither of you are welcome here.”

  Dora sucked in a sharp breath while Evie stood slowly and placed a particularly large crystal on the counter.

  “Didn’t you hear me? Leave,” Fiona demanded. Her right hand was wrapped up in white gauze, and there was a smear of blood on her neck.

  “Oh no!” Dora said, rushing to her and reaching for her hand out of instinct. “You’re hurt.”

  Fiona jerked back, smacking her hand on the doorframe behind her and wincing. “Darn it.” She cradled her hand against her stomach and looked as if she was going to cry.

  “We’re not leaving,” Dora blurted, earning her a death glare from Evie. Oops. That wasn’t exactly the tone they’d been going for, was it?

  “I don’t want—” Fiona started, her face turning the dark shade of red again.

  “I came to apologize and to repay you for the destruction I caused,” Evie said, cutting her off.

  “You… what?” Fiona stared at Evie, her mouth hanging open as if Evie had just spoken in a foreign language.

  “Um, well…” Evie let out a nervous chuckle. “Obviously we don’t really have any money. That is why I was looking for Jared, after all, but I didn’t mean to destroy your shelves. I’m willing to do whatever I can to help you get this back in order.”

  “Me, too,” Dora added, placing a reassuring hand on Evie’s shoulder for support.

  Fiona’s nostrils flared, indicating she was nowhere near ready to let go of her anger. But she’d stopped yelling at least. It was a start. “Fine. Finish cleaning up the glass. I need to find some painkillers.”

  Dora eyed the bandage and noticed a small circle of blood forming underneath her fingers. “You’re still bleeding.”

  Fiona winced. “I cut my finger. The bleeding looks worse than it really is.”

  “I can help with that,” Evie said.