Dangerously Close

by Dee J. Adams

  “It’s okay, Elle.” Ashley didn’t want every subject to come back to her current situation. She would see again, dammit. She set her purse on the entryway table and headed to her bedroom. “Let me change and we can eat something. What time is the first interview supposed to be here?”

  “Not for another two hours. But are you sure you’re up for it, Ash? I can still cancel if you want. We don’t have to do this today.” Ellie followed her into the bedroom.

  “Sure we do. You’ve been here too long as it is. I’m not naive enough to think I can live on my own without help. At least not immediately. You have a life and husband to get back to and I have a life…to figure out. So the sooner we find someone to babysit me, the better off we’ll all be.” She tossed her hospital bag on the bed, sat down and toed off her sandals.

  “You don’t need a sitter,” Ellie complained. Something squeaked and from the corner of her eye, Ashley watched her dirty sweats swish into the hamper. Ellie must have tossed them in, but it looked more as if they’d flown themselves. “You need a companion,” she added. “There’s a big difference.”

  Not to Ashley. Not yet anyway.

  She’d been independent for the last twelve years of her life—with the exception of the months following her hospital stay—working, going to school and dealing with everything the universe dished out. For the first time, she had a taste of what Ellie went through before tackling her dyslexia and overcoming her illiteracy. Ashley knew that had kept Ellie in Los Angeles for so much longer than originally planned. Ellie had always felt she owed Ashley for helping her through more than a decade of her life. Ashley had read Ellie’s scripts aloud, written out the checks to pay bills and she’d even taken a written driver’s test for her best friend during their junior year of high school. That had been one of the scariest and most exhilarating moments of her life.

  Ashley would never forget that day. She and Ellie had worn identical clothes to the DMV. They had the same long blond hair and similar builds. Ashley had taken the written test posing as Ellie, then they’d met in the ladies room and Ellie had gone on to take the driving test with the instructor. After passing that, Ellie had her picture taken and got her temporary license. It had been a piece of cake. An illegal piece of cake. But Ashley had never regretted the decision.

  What if she never did anything exhilarating again? What if she became a complete recluse because she couldn’t see and couldn’t live independently?

  “What are you thinking about?” Ellie asked, sitting next to her.

  “The day you got your driver’s license.” That wasn’t a complete lie.

  “Ah,” Ellie said, and Ashley heard the smile in her voice. “I don’t think I took an easy breath until we got home that day.”

  “Yeah, breaking the law is draining.” Ashley lay back on her bed and Ellie did the same. “I should change out of these sweats and get dressed,” Ashley said, but she couldn’t seem to budge. She stared up at the ceiling and only saw the crown molding on the edges.

  “This isn’t forever,” Ellie said, always able to read her mind. “You’ll either get better or you’ll get used to…this.” She waited a few seconds. “Should I come back?” she asked.

  Back? As in move back to California and away from her dream of race-car driving? Ashley sat up like a rocket. “Don’t you dare even think it,” she said. Anger bubbled from deep inside. Emotion welled in her chest and she forced it back. No time for hysteria. She’d wait until Ellie was in her own upstairs bedroom on the other side of the house before she had a breakdown. She’d be damned if her best friend gave up her dream. “You will not change your life to accommodate mine. C’mon…” She reached for Ellie and dragged her up toward the closet. “You better find me some clothes or we’ll be here for the next two years while I try and figure out what’s what.”

  Ellie handed her a pair of jeans and a shirt. “So today we’re meeting candidates four, five and six.”

  The first three had come to the hospital for their interview and Ashley hadn’t been sold on any of them. For starters, they’d all given her cold-fish handshakes. As if because she couldn’t see, she was some kind of fragile flower, ready to wilt if someone touched her too firmly. God, she’d hated that. Just because she couldn’t see didn’t make her useless or weak. She was still strong, dammit. She’d been strong her whole life and she wasn’t going to stop now.

  But she had stopped. The last two years she’d been afraid to do anything, go anywhere. Now, after a week with no central vision, she was so pissed she wanted to howl. Almost as if this final insult was what she deserved for sticking her head in the sand for so long.

  “I’ve still got another half-dozen names who replied to our ad,” Ellie said, breaking into Ashley’s silent ramblings. She had contacted the Braille Institute looking for people who worked with the blind. In turn, they had referred her to the Department of Rehabilitation. The plan was to hire a temporary live-in who could not only help Ashley adjust to her vision loss, but teach her how to live with it.

  After eating a quick lunch, they waited in the living room for the first day’s interviewee to arrive. “You left the front gate open, right?” Ashley asked Ellie.

  “Yeah, but I don’t know why. You have a security system. I don’t know why you choose not to use it.” The front gate worked on a security release. Anyone who wanted in had to buzz.

  “I use it most of the time,” Ashley said, defending herself. “It just seems silly to leave the gate closed when I’m expecting someone. I’m not famous, no one cares who lives here and I could have easily moved into a house just as big without the gates. Besides, if someone wants to get in, a closed gate isn’t going to stop them. Until someone moves in next door, it’s my gate to keep open or closed as I see fit.”

  “If Quinn was here, he’d disagree with you. When you own a property this size, you’re a possible target. Especially now, you need to protect yourself.”

  “Protect myself from what? I have nothing anybody wants. Your sister-in-law and husband attracted psychos because of money. Every dime I have is invested in this place. I don’t have anything worth stealing.”

  “Thieves don’t know that,” Ellie mumbled dryly.

  The phone rang and saved Ashley from the conversation. She picked it up off the table, but wasn’t sure which button was the talk button. Turning her head to see was already a big pain in the ass, especially when her peripheral vision wasn’t so hot to begin with. “Shit,” she said, tossing it to Ellie. “You have to field this one then show me the buttons on the key pad.” There were two rows of buttons before the numbers started. “God, I hope it’s not the two o’clock calling to cancel. I liked this lady over the phone.”

  “Don’t second guess,” Ellie scolded. A small beep sounded. “Here you go,” she said and Ashley took the phone back.

  “Hello.”

  “Ms. Bristol, this is Lizzie Carerra.” The woman’s voice cracked and she sounded out of breath. Was she crying? “I’m so sorry, but I just hit a dog on Pacific Coast Highway, right as I was turning into your driveway, and he’s lying here on the side of the road, and I have to take him to a vet. I can’t leave him there. I know this is so flaky of me, but I can’t come up for the interview and I’m—”

  “Hey, slow down, slow, down,” Ashley told her. “You hit a dog? Just now at the front gate?” she asked, looking in Ellie’s direction with an “are you listening to this?” expression on her face.

  “Yes.” She was crying in earnest now. “Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick. I’ve never hit anything before.”

  “No, no, don’t be sick. We don’t have time for that. Hang on a sec. I’ll be right there.” She shifted the receiver away from her mouth and spoke in Ellie’s direction. “Get the car keys, would you? We’re in rescue mode.” Ashley went back to the phone as Ellie hustled out of the room, her flip-flops flapping against her heels. “Are you still there?”

  “Are you sure?” Lizzie said, obviously hearing her words to
Ellie. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “You didn’t have to. Hold tight. We’ll be right there.” She disconnected the call and headed toward the entryway. The grandfather clock in the hallway struck two o’clock. The woman was right on time. Ashley already liked her. The others had all been at least ten minutes late. Maybe they’d figured since Ashley was stuck in a hospital bed, time didn’t matter, but it sure as hell mattered to her.

  Ashley gingerly made her way through the maze of her furniture to the front of the house. She fumbled for her bag on the entry-table, pissed off that it wasn’t where she thought she left it, but glad that Ellie wasn’t there to see her. It was going to be hard sending Ellie home now because her best friend knew the tough part had just started. Learning to be independent was not going to be easy. Ashley had to figure out all over again how to live her life and Ellie wouldn’t leave until she was completely assured that Ashley was in capable hands.

  A fresh pang of doubt hit Ashley in the chest and settled in her gut. She swallowed and forced back the fear of the unknown. She’d have nothing but time for breaking down when Ellie went home, but she couldn’t do it now. Ellie came out of the small powder room off the hallway and joined her. Together they walked out and piled into the Honda.

  “So, you mean to tell me that the two o’clock appointment hit a dog on the way up to the gate?” Ellie asked, easing down the driveway.

  “In a nutshell. She’s freaking out. I told her we’d be right there.”

  Ellie paused a minute and since Ashley was facing forward she saw Ellie shaking her head. “I don’t know if it’s a good sign or a bad one, but at least we can say she was on time.” Ellie took the slight curve in the driveway and seconds later they reached the front gate.

  “Tell me, tell me,” Ashley said, eager for a description. “What do you see?’

  “Her car is on the shoulder to the right of the gate. The dog is on the ground to the left and she’s bent over him. Looks like she’s talking to him. She’s brunette with shoulder-length hair, pale skin and glasses. I can’t tell how tall she is—oh wait, she just stood up. Okay, not too tall, about five-four, a hundred and forty to a hundred fifty pounds maybe.” Ashley didn’t doubt Ellie’s assessment. As a former stuntwoman, she knew body types and weights better than anyone Ashley had met. Ellie slowed the car and put it in park. Both of them got out and Ashley made her way around the car.

  “Hi. Elizabeth, right?” Ashley asked, extending her hand.

  “Yes. Hi. But please call me Lizzie. Everyone does.”

  Ashley smelled a faint aroma of citrus. A firm grip closed around her hand and gave a solid shake. Yep. She liked her already. “I’m Ashley and this is my friend, Ellie.” They’d talked briefly on the phone so the woman was familiar with Ashley’s story and recent situation.

  “I’m so sorry about this,” Lizzie said, clearly upset. “I couldn’t just leave him.”

  “Honestly, it’s okay. Elle,” Ashley said, relying on her best friend’s judgment. “What do you think? How does he look?” She took a hesitant step forward.

  “Let me help,” Lizzie said. She took Ashley’s hand and placed it on her forearm. At first Ashley didn’t understand, then she realized Lizzie intended to guide her. She liked how Lizzie didn’t immediately grab her arm and drag her along. Holding her arm this way, Ashley felt more independent, but still secure. They took a few steps forward as Lizzie guided Ashley toward the dog.

  “Hey, sweet boy,” Ellie murmured, inching closer to the dog. “Oh, you’re a handsome one, aren’t you?”

  Ashley turned her head away hoping to use her peripheral, but she didn’t see much more than a brown blob. “What kind of dog, Elle?”

  “A Boxer mix. His tail and ears aren’t cropped. No they aren’t,” she crooned to the dog. “But he’s definitely part Boxer. I don’t see any blood and he doesn’t have a collar. I’m not sure I can lift him and not hurt him. He’s just lying here, panting, poor guy.”

  “I’ve got an idea,” Lizzie said. “Do you have some kind of blanket in the trunk? If we can ease him onto it, we can lift him like he’s on a stretcher.”

  “Good idea,” Ashley said. “I keep one of those double-sided picnic blankets in the car. We can use that.”

  “Perfect,” Ellie agreed. She passed through one side of Ashley’s limited vision to the other as she scrambled around the Honda. The trunk popped open and there was more movement. “Here we go,” Ellie said, coming back to them. “Lizzie, get that end and I’ll get him from here.”

  “Let’s put him in my car,” Lizzie said. “I’m the one that did the damage.”

  “It’s okay,” Ashley said, feeling completely useless. It killed her not to be able to help. “Elle’s a great driver, trust me. She’ll get us to the vet’s in record time.”

  “Lead foot, huh?” Lizzie asked shakily.

  “Something like that,” Ashley replied. “Let me get in the back seat first. I’ll talk to him and try to keep him calm.”

  “Good, good,” Ellie said. She and Lizzie huffed and puffed but they managed to get the dog into the back seat. He rested his head on Ashley’s lap and she stroked him gently. The distinct odor of dirty dog filled the car. “Hey there, big guy. You’re not little are you?”

  “I should’ve mentioned he’s a good size. That’s why I think he’s a mix,” Ellie said.

  The trunk closed and the driver’s door opened. “Elle, do you know where you’re going?” Ashley asked. “There’s an animal hospital on PCH. It’s about fifteen minutes south.”

  “Got it.” Ellie put the car in gear and started down PCH. The engine revved as Ellie put the pedal to the metal and flew down the highway.

  The dog was so sweet, lying in her lap, panting, that Ashley couldn’t help the tiny bond of attachment that started forming. Her peripheral vision was still too damn blurry to do any good and frustration sizzled in her chest. “Lizzie, will you describe him to me?”

  “Sure,” Lizzie said from the front seat. “He’s dark tan, you know that perfect Boxer color. He’s got that raccoon face. White muzzle with black around his eyes and nose. He’s got a white chest and paws and the tip of his tail is white too. He’s so skinny. Like he’s been lost for a long time. I think he’s too tired to do anything but just lay there.” Her voice turned soft. “He’s looking up at you with the sweetest brown eyes.” Her voice cracked on the last word.

  “Hey, now, don’t work yourself into more tears,” Ashley scolded softly. “Everything’s going to be fine.” Now if she could only repeat the same phrase to herself about a million times, maybe she’d believe it.

  “I just feel so lame. I show up for an interview and completely blow your day. I’m so sorry.”

  “That reminds me,” Ashley said. “Elle, you should call the other interviews and cancel. This might take a while at the vet’s. We can reschedule.”

  “Gotcha,” Ellie said.

  Ten minutes later—because Ellie drove like the race-car driver she was training to be—they arrived at the animal hospital. Ellie ran in and enlisted two techs to help get the dog inside. The sweet boy never protested or made a sound. Just panted his little heart out.

  Lizzie once again took Ashley’s hand and guided her inside. It was as if she’d already been hired for the job. She was gentle, but confident. The hot sun gave way to the cool waiting area. The smell of antiseptic—not unlike a real hospital—climbed up Ashley’s nose along with the aroma of fur.

  “There’s a counter to the right with two techs working the front desk,” Lizzie explained softly. “To the left is a waiting area with three sets of orange cushioned benches. An archway straight ahead leads into a hallway that splits off to the left and right.”

  Ashley officially loved her.

  “I’m supposed to sign us in,” Ellie said.

  “Okay, so sign us in,” Ashley replied.

  “Who owns the dog and what’s his name?”

  “Ah. I see your point. Maybe he has a chip.”r />
  “Maybe,” Ellie agreed. “But until then we need to fill out the form.”

  After a very short debate and process of elimination—obviously Ellie couldn’t take the dog because she lived out of state and Lizzie was moving out of her apartment and didn’t know where she’d land, hence the job interview, which included room and board—Ashley volunteered for the job. She couldn’t leave him. Not after the way he’d laid his head in her lap on the drive here. “If there’s a bulletin board we can post a picture of a lost dog, but I can’t abandon him,” she said.

  “Softie,” Ellie murmured and Ashley flicked her arm. “Hey, that was a compliment,” Ellie laughed back. “No flicking required. Now, I need a name for the guy.”

  This was turning out to be more work than she’d bargained for. She could call him Buddy. No. “How about Roamer? He was Roaming. He could be Roamer, Roamy, Ro.” She waited for the jury.

  “I like it,” Lizzie said. “And I’m not just saying that because I need the job.”

  Ashley laughed. She’d had the same thought as Lizzie said the words.

  Ellie signed them in. “What usually happens in a case like this?” she asked someone.

  “The doctor will do an exam and come out as soon as she knows something,” a woman said. “In a case like this, she’ll probably want to do some X-rays to make sure nothing’s broken. He looks pretty thin so he’s probably been on the streets for a while. She’ll probably give him an IV too.”

  Wonderful. This was going to cost a few bucks. She’d take it out of her massage budget. That was superfluous. Bummer. But Roamer was worth it. Right?

  Uh-oh. She was screwed. She finally had a male in her life. And he had fur.

  Chapter Four

  She’d watched the drama from across the street. The day had been unseasonably hot and she’d had to turn on the AC to keep from melting in the front seat of her SUV. The house hadn’t been this busy in more months than she could count. First there’d been the new blonde who’d come for a visit. Then the paramedics and ambulance a couple of days after that. Now the fat brunette and the dog… Not that any of that mattered. It only mattered if Seger Hughes moved in next door. After almost twelve months of watching, it was beginning to look like he didn’t plan on showing.