Willow (The Willow Series Book 1)

by Cheri Lewis

  “Well I know of a rescue organization that places unique pets with individuals that are also unique.” I search her face looking for some type of clue as to what she’s talking about. She can tell I’m clueless so she explains in more detail. “The cat has three legs so they might place her with a child missing a limb or who has special needs.”

  I let out a laugh. “You’re kidding?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  Her response is sarcastic and blunt. I’ve offended her. She must think I’m making fun of cats or kids with special needs. There’s no way in hell I’m making fun of kids or cats but I’ve never heard of a program like this and its almost too farfetched that this kind of luck would ever been in my favor. That’s why I laughed.

  “Debbie. I’m sorry I laughed. I was shocked. I’ve never heard of an organization taking in animals that have something wrong with them. I figured it would be killed…look, yes please if you know somebody that can take the cat and give it a great home, then yes, I am interested. My life is complicated enough with Joe. I mean I caught him chewing on an extension cord that was plugged in this morning. An extension cord! Sometimes I don’t think I’m fit for a pet at all.”

  “Joe is your soulmate. He chose you and you chose him.” I look down at Joe who happens to be looking back at me with this tongue hanging out. I smile and he jumps up excited. Maybe my soulmate is a dog. I’d never thought about that before. I guess I don’t need a man now that I have Joe. “See, you guys can read one another. You were made for each other.”

  I raise my eyebrows and sigh. “Okay so you call whoever you need to and let me know when you find someone. Until then I’ll keep her and do whatever it is that you do with cats.”

  “Oh. I had planned to take her now but—”

  “Now… today? Are you serious! I could kiss you square on the mouth.” I felt like dancing around and fist pumping into the air.

  Her mouth falls open. I can tell she’s confused and it’s not confused in a good way for me because it’s about to get really awkward. Apparently I’ve outed a secret by pure accident that she’s been careful to hide. She prefers girls and I must have figured it out somehow. I better nip this in the bud because I’m strictly dickly and my life is already complicated enough. “I shouldn’t have said that. I just meant if you could help me with this kitten I would be grateful. I don’t mind paying for her food or whatever she needs until you find her a place.” Debbie is now blushing and I can tell she’s embarrassed and mortified so I try to make her feel better. “Hey, Debbie look, if I dug chicks you’d be the one for me.”

  She takes the box that’s holding the kitten from my hand and turns around walking away. Now it’s me with my feelings hurt. She didn’t seem impressed at all. Hell, I’d date me. I think I’m a good catch. Joe and I go back to my truck and I call Heath while on the way back to my office to give him the update on operation kitty.

  “So what’s the verdict? Do you have a boy or a girl?”

  I shake my head while rolling my eyes. “I have nothing. I gave it away.”

  “You did not.”

  “I most certainly did too.”

  “Why?”

  “There’s an organization that places animals with kids that have similar problems. It’s a great thing, otherwise, I would have been keeping her.”

  “So, it was a girl.”

  “Yep and you owe me a hundred and thirty-two dollars.”

  “For what?”

  “Co-parenting. She was as much yours as she was mine.”

  “Fine. I’ll give you half.”

  “That was half.”

  “That little five inch thing costed two hundred and sixty something dollars?”

  “Think about what your own little five inch thing costs you.” I instantly regret my remark. Sometimes my quick sarcastic mouth beats my slow-smart-thoroughly-thought-through comments by a mile. “Damn it, Heath. I didn’t mean it that way. I was just making a joke.”

  “I know.”

  Now I want to literally kick myself. “Have you heard anything else?”

  “No and I’m having a hard time with it. She tells me that she’ll let me know as soon as she can about the paternity test and that she’s still marrying Dodger. I’ve tried twice to talk to Dodger about it but he always has something else going on. I’m starting to think Tom and Dodger both know we were all screwing her.”

  I grimace. “That’s still as gross as the first day you told me.”

  “Try being me.”

  “I told a woman I’d kiss her today and I think she considered it or wanted to know why I would consider it.”

  He lets out a laugh and I’m relieved because that’s exactly what I was trying to do. “Willow, that really does explain a lot.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I’m glad you found a good home for the kitten.”

  “Yeah, me too. I need to go. I have to do some work to pay for a kitten I had less than twenty four hours.”

  “I’ll give you my half next time I see you.”

  “Nah, don’t worry about it. I like you owing me a favor.”

  “As much shit as I’ve done for you—”

  “Bye, Heath.”

  “Bye, Willow.”

  I drive the rest of the way back to my office with the windows rolled down. It feels great outside today and Joe must agree he has his head hanging out the window catching the wind, too. The overcast clouds keep the scorching sun at bay but I know it’s only for a little while.

  Once we’re back at my office I turn my computer on and wait for it as it wakes up. I watch as Joe walks all over sniffing the floor and its way more than usual. “What are you doing?” He looks up at me for half a second then goes back to it. “You better not be looking for somewhere to crap. You hear me?” He comes to the chair where I threw the towel I had the kitten wrapped in and pulls it down on the floor then lies down on it. Oh, man. He’s missing the kitten. He did save her after all. I sigh and push myself up out of the chair and go sit beside Joe on the floor. He raises his head and places it on my thigh and I pet him while I tell him it’s going to be okay and she’s going to be loved by someone who really does need her.

  My computer finally comes to life and I know it when my email chime sounds multiple times. I pet Joe a few more times then leave him to go see what I have waiting for me to do today. I scroll down the list and come to one that has a bonus offered. These don’t happen often and definitely not in my area. It’s one they’ve already tried to catch and failed or don’t have enough proof to find him guilty of fraud. I read over the details then print them out. This will pay for today’s vet visit and a little extra. Maybe I can knock this out in a minimal amount of time. I grab my equipment and as I’m heading out the door I look back at Joe who’s still lying on the towel. I turn around and go back inside making sure he has enough water and food down. “I’ll be back, boy. You be good, okay?”

  He doesn’t even raise his head and I’m left wondering how a dog can get attached to a kitten so quickly. They’re supposed to hate each other. It’s not like we’ve had him months. It was one night. And why am I going over this in my head worried about a dog missing a tiny three legged kitten. I climb into my truck and read back over the information.

  Name - Thomas Trawick

  Age - 52

  Gender – Male

  Nature of Injury - Injured left leg/hip, difficulty walking, stooping, and bending.

  Date of Injury – 09/14/2012

  Wow, they’ve been after this guy for a while or he has learned how to cheat the system. I crank my truck and look down at the paper heading to the first address listed. I pull up out front and there is no vehicle or sign that anybody is home. I *67 my phone before I call the home phone listed.

  “Hello,” a soft female voice answers the phone.

  I wasn’t expecting anyone to answer but I fall right into my normal baited questioning. “Yes ma’am I’m Sarah Thompson and I’m looking for a Mr. Thomas Trawick.” />
  “Oh, he isn’t in right now. Can I take a message?”

  “Does he have a cell phone number I can reach him at?”

  “No we’re both on a fixed income and can’t afford those type luxuries anymore.”

  Wow that’s a lot of good information right there and it’s also great because she can’t call him and verify my lie. “Well, he found my wallet and turned it in to the police department so I wanted to thank him and give him a bit of a reward. Do you know where I can find him?”

  “That sounds like my Tommy. He’ll be home later this evening after he does his daily errands.”

  “Are you his mother?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “I guess I should thank you, too, then. You raised a fine boy. Well, dang I really wanted to meet him but I’m leaving to go back home. I was only passing through town and he really saved me by turning in my wallet. You know what never mind. If you will tell him for me that I said thank you. That will be enough.”

  “I know he’ll hate he missed meeting you. Today is Tuesday. He normally goes grocery shopping and then spends the afternoon at the park, bird watching.”

  “Bird watching?” I ask in disbelief and have slipped right out of character but I manage to recover quickly. “Oh bird watching. I love bird watching. Is he a bird enthusiast?”

  “Yes, he has quite the collection.”

  “I love birds. Do you happen to know what park he visits? I might try to go by there on my way out of town and see if I spot him.”

  “Sure, I’m sure he’d love that. Terrahills normally.”

  “Thank you very much and you have a good day.”

  I hang up before she wants to know how I’ll know what he’ll look like. I hate lying to little old ladies but in this line of work you gotta do what you gotta do. I google Tarrahills Park and it’s across town. I find that odd he would drive all the way across town to bird watch but maybe they have better birds or better trees over there. It is a pretty big park with lots to do. I check the time when my stomach starts growling and it’s almost twelve thirty. I stop in at the gas station right down the road from the park and buy a Coke and a snack box of chicken tenders and potato logs. Joe is going to miss going with me today I think to myself since chicken tenders are his favorite. I remember how sad Joe looked and consider for about three seconds at adopting another kitten for him. No, Willow. What the hell is wrong with you?

  I pull up in the parking lot of the park and eat a piece of chicken as I scan the parking lot for his car. I don’t see it here so I jump out of my truck and go to the wooden diagram that shows the location of everything at the park: Tennis courts, play grounds, walking trails, batting cages and fishing pond. How the hell am I supposed to find him here? I see there are two other parking lots so I go back to my truck and drive to the next one.

  This time I wait a few minutes to see if he shows up but he doesn’t. I eat another chicken tender as I drive to the next parking lot and bingo there’s his car. Now, finding him is going to be like needle in a haystack. I park, then wipe my greasy fingers on my pants leg before I use my binoculars to see if I can spot him anywhere before I walk around aimlessly. I don’t see him yet so I go ahead and assemble my purse with the recorder and put my digital camera in beside it. I shove three potato wedges in my mouth chewing as fast as possible them swallow them almost whole as I drink a big swig of my Coke. I look at myself in the rearview mirror to make sure I don’t have chicken or potato stuck to my chin or in my teeth. I don’t, so I say to myself, “Let’s go make some money.”

  The sun is peeking out from behind the clouds. I reach down into my cargo pants’ pocket pulling out a black elastic hair band. I use it to pull my hair up off my neck and then take a seat at a picnic table. I frown at myself as I realize I could have brought the rest of my lunch out here with me. But it doesn’t matter now. I’m here and it’s there.

  I scan the area watching children scream and laugh while they’re playing and chasing each other over the huge wooden playground. I look back over my shoulder and watch the swings as they carry kids high into the air. Still no sight of him so I lean back and turn my face to the sun now that it’s pouring buckets of sunshine across the whole park. I look back down to the the snow cone hut across the playground and pat my pocket realizing I left my wallet in the truck. That isn’t the brightest idea but it is locked, thank goodness. I know I keep a spare twenty dollar bill tucked into a little pouch attached to my keys. I walk over and order a purple passion cone and continue to watch as people come and go with their kids.

  I check my watch and twenty minutes has passed. I make another stroll around the area when I spot him. He’s sitting at a picnic table at the top of the hill. I walk to the nearest trash can to throw the last half of my snow cone away. From where I’m standing it looks like he’s reading a book but I can’t tell for sure. I find a close by picnic table and sit on the side facing him and open my purse to turn on the camera. I notice he checks his watch every few minutes like he’s expecting company. He must have a girlfriend his mother doesn’t know about.

  I pull my phone out and pretend to be looking at it as I continue to watch him. He checks his watch one more time then stands and begins walking down the hill. I check my watch and it’s now one twenty-five. As he’s walking down the hill I notice he’s wearing jeans and a navy blue long sleeved button down shirt. His mother said a blue button down shirt but I had assumed it would be short sleeve. It’s hot as hell for a long sleeved shirt. Maybe he’s trying to impress the girl but he can’t be trying to impress her too much if he has large sweaty pit stains. He passes right by me and my eyes continue to follow him as he goes into the bathroom near the snow cone hut. I turn around and lean back against the table part on the picnic table and wait. I check my watch again and it’s been almost ten minutes since he’s went into the bathroom. Did he know I was watching him and give me the slip?

  I’ve been concentrating so hard on the bathroom door that when I look away and notice the playground I realize the park is now a lot busier. I see several adults wearing matching t-shirts from some church or daycare. I glance back to the bathroom door and watch as two boys go into the bathroom. Things start clicking together. This asshole isn’t here for the birds. He’s not watching birds at all. He’s watching kids. My heart begins to race. What’s he doing in the bathroom? I stand from the table and one of the boys walks out. Where’s the other boy? I run to the bathroom and swing the door open. I see Thomas standing at the entrance of the farthest stall with his back to me. The second little boy peeks around him, his cheeks are flush. I can feel the anger boiling up inside me. The little boy doesn’t hesitate once he sees me. He runs right past me and out the door. As he does I make sure all his clothes look intact and thankfully they are. I take one step inside and notice it’s hot as hell and stinks like old shit with no ventilation to be found. This just cements my theory that he’s here for something other than using the bathroom because nobody would be in here a second longer than they had to be. I look over my shoulder and nobody is coming and the kid is almost back to the playground so I turn back to face Thomas who is now walking toward me.

  “Are you here for the kids you sick bastard?” He nervously runs his fingers through his thinning hair and looks down at the ground as he continues to walk forward. I don’t move and block his exit. “Are you doing something to those kids when they come in here to use the bathroom?” He begins rocking back and forth still not saying a word. “I’m calling the police.” I reach down to pull my phone from my pocket but it’s not there. I glance back to the table I was sitting at and am sure I left it with my purse. He takes advantage of me looking away and shoves into me knocking me down on the disgusting floor. He begins sprinting across the playground in the direction of his car. I jump up and begin chasing him yelling, “You better stop, you stupid son of a bitch!”

  I jump on his back taking him and myself to the ground. He thrashes around and knocks me off. To be such a small worm he
is strong. But that only makes me angrier because it occurs to me quickly he’s probably using his strength to take advantage of kids. I jump up and chase him down again this time. I lunge at him and make sure he falls hard and I ride him all the way to the ground. I lock my thighs tightly around his back like I’m on a bull ride as he continues to thrash. A man pulled me off him and I yell at him, “Don’t let him go. He’s been doing something to the kids in the bathroom.”

  Thomas sits upright and another man places both his hands on his shoulder keeping him seated. Thomas still hasn’t said a word. He rocks side to side now and it sounds like he’s humming. The man who pulled me off Thomas pushes me away from the situation and next to a tree. I try to explain to him who I am and what I was doing. He won’t listen. He does explain to me that he’s upset his kids watched me physically attack someone while using profanity and the police have been called.

  Sweat drips off my forehead as I wait. I know better than to do anything else that could be remotely considered as threatening. I know I’m in trouble because I shouldn’t have attacked Thomas. I should have got my stuff and followed him. I should have called Heath or the Chief or even 911 but I let my emotions get the best of me.

  Thankfully it doesn’t take long before I hear the sirens. I can’t take my eyes off Thomas. The fact he still hasn’t spoken begins to make me second guess myself. Did I attack a man who’s handicapped? No, that can’t be it. Why did he have that boy hemmed up in the bathroom stall? What was he doing? I can tell police officers are responding from all over the city by the amount of sirens that I hear arriving. I try to be patient as I wait for someone to finally get down here. I know they’ll believe me. They’ll listen.

  I begin telling my story to the first officer on the scene. I’ve seen him around town but I don’t know him personally. I can tell he knows who I am without me even telling him my name and he seems to believe me but I’m frustrated because they aren’t locking Thomas up and taking him away to jail yet. I can’t keep my eyes off Thomas as the officer continues to take my statement. I see Thomas’ mouth moving and he’s speaking to an officer. His eyes cut to me and I see it, the pure evilness that lies within him. He’s steadily talking and I’m no longer able to finish telling him about what happened. I look back to the officer who’s now calling my name and ask him, “What’s he telling them? What’s he saying?”