Max's eyes were wide, a hint of panic in his face. His hands gripped the steering wheel, but his fingers fidgeted as if they didn't know whether to hold fast or release.
Lila realized she'd made him uncomfortable. “I should go.” She turned to open the door.
He grabbed her arm to stop her, then pulled her toward him. At first his motions were stiff, unsure, then he relaxed, molding to her. “I liked him too.” She felt his breath in her ear. “You know there was nothing we could have done.”
She leaned into him, crying on his shoulder until his t-shirt was wet. His fingers untangled her hair, and her breathing slowed. She realized how exhausted she was, and thought how nice it would be to fall asleep right here in the middle of the day. If it wasn't so hot. Lila sat up and wiped her eyes with her shirt, before realizing it wasn't her shirt. She grimaced at the mascara smears. “I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. You can keep that.” He pushed her hair back from her face, and his hand stayed tucked behind her ear. “Sure you want to go in there alone?”
He'd taken his glasses off, and his eyes were pink rimmed, intensifying the gold and green flecks. She hadn't even noticed he had hazel eyes. His hand slid down until it cupped her face, and he pulled her in closer. As she leaned toward him, she felt like someone had just lit the first fuse in that truck full of fireworks; three, two, one—
Wham!
She jerked her head toward the passenger window. Ada thumped the window again, then shoved her face against it, one hand above it to shade her view from the sun's glare. “Lila. Thank heavens.”
Lila put her hand over her chest and exhaled. “You nearly scared me to death.” She waited for Ada to move, then opened the door.
“I've been worried about you. I noticed the truck sitting out here, and saw that someone was inside. Are you all right? You don't look all right. Your eyes are all puffy and your cheeks are pink.”
Lila put a palm to her warm cheek. “It's been a long day. We're tired.”
“And hungry, I guess. Poor things. Both of you come in and we'll get you fixed up.”
Lila smiled as Max's eyes darted back and forth between Ada and the windshield. His hands were tightly wrapped around the wheel again. “I have to pick up Juniper,” he mumbled.
“All right, then. But Lila, you come with me.”
Lila shrugged her shoulders and sighed, then forced a smile. As she followed Ada home, her eyes traveled down the road with the blue pick-up.
In the kitchen Ada bustled about, heating the water for tea. She discovered the white paper bag and pulled out four of Doug's raspberries 'n' cream muffins. Lila stared at the crumbly streusel topping and thought she might be hungry after all. The pinch and growl of her stomach confirmed it. Fatigue from the stressful day and a long cry was taking its toll as well, spreading a dull ache through her body and eyes.
She knew she'd have to appease Ada by answering a few questions. Then she would have to rest before trying to think through the events of the day. Information and emotions were all tangled up inside of her. All of it had to be sorted through and processed. Starting tomorrow.
Chapter 15
An Unkindness
Early the next morning Lila entered the old house. Summer was beginning to burn itself out, and she wanted to get to work before the cold set in. Besides, the previous day's events had drudged up terrible memories, and she yearned for the comfort of her grandpa's house. It made her feel close to him.
She clung to the hope that hard work would help her sort through the mess in her head. Grief wasn't new to her, but she wasn't far along in the process of dealing with her grandpa's death when she'd found poor Clint in his truck. Just as she was about to regain her footing she'd been knocked flat on her back.
And then there was that moment in Max's pick-up, which didn't make sense to her at all. Maybe the whole thing was simply the result of putting two people in an intensely emotional situation. Whatever it was, it made her nervous, since she could hardly imagine how her relationship with Max could become more awkward than it already was. She should probably just forget it happened—or didn't happen. And yet, she couldn't.
Lila threw down a box of cleaning supplies, a pen and notebook, and a few tools she'd taken from Ada's. She'd already gathered the names of local plumbers and electricians and planned to have them come by to write up bids for the larger projects. Until then, she'd find projects she could start herself. Some jobs would only require elbow grease. For others, she would have to make a list of supplies and do some shopping.
As she walked back through the living room she became aware of a scritch scratching and thumping above her. She froze, cocked her head, and listened. A voice, like a dry desperate cry, carried down the stairs. Her heartbeat quickened, pumping a message of fear through her body. Every muscle and nerve became alert; ready.
The noise came again. This time Lila realized it didn't sound human at all. It was more like something you'd hear in a horror movie. But could it be someone crying out in pain? She stood still for what felt like forever, trying to decide whether to run for the door or up the stairs.
Looking frantically around, Lila spotted the hammer lying on the floor with the other supplies. She crept to the pile and picked it up. The old wood creaked in protest at the pressure of her foot. Adrenaline rushed through her. Each creak as she tip-toed upward was another jolt to the heart. When she reached the sixth stair, a loud “screeeee” echoed through the house. She stood petrified, certain the noises upstairs stopped with her; waiting for her.
Lila glanced toward the door, and offered herself one last chance to run for it. Remembering the entity at the pond, she wondered if a similar experience awaited her. But her curiosity was stronger than her fear. This might be the moment she discovered who'd been sneaking into the house. Besides, if it was someone who needed help, even if it was a thief, she couldn't turn her back on them.
She reached the top of the stairs and took a deep breath. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the rough handle of the hammer. The sounds were coming from the first door on the right.
Trying to blink away the fearful images flashing through her mind, Lila tiptoed the few steps to the partially opened door. She pushed it inward, then gasped. Squeezing her eyes shut, she dropped the hammer and threw her arms over her face as black feathered wings beat toward her.
When she opened her eyes she found the room full of large birds. Ravens. Just like the bird that flew at her at the pond. They scratched at the floor, sat perched on the headboard, and pecked at the mattress. Their chorus was a cacophony of staccato cries and long, gravelly caws. She glanced at the windows before backing away, and pulled the door shut behind her.
How did these birds get in? She ran through the rooms, confirming that all the windows were closed, then rushed down the stairs and saw that the first floor windows were still securely boarded. What had attracted them here? Pushing all questions aside, she concentrated on what to do about it.
She picked up a broom and walked back up the stairs, then carefully opened the bedroom door. Putting one arm out to shield her face, she went to the window. It was stuck shut, and she had to use all her strength to pry it open. The second was much the same. The birds were screeching and beating their wings more wildly now, stirring up thick dust as they flew and dove around the room.
Lila backed toward the door and waved the broom, hoping to shoo the the birds outside. One or two found the openings and left, but the remaining ravens continued flapping their wings, cursing and agitated.
One of the birds swooped down at her. Dropping the broom, she backed down the hallway. Her heel caught on the edge of the stair and she lost her balance, barely grabbing the banister in time. The bird continued its pursuit as she barreled down the stairs. She ran for the front door and threw it open. It followed her out, but flew off into the trees as if it hadn't been aware of her presence all along.
As Lila sighed with relief, something wrapped around her from behind. She screamed
. Past thinking, she grabbed at the arms that held her, ready to use her teeth if necessary.
“Lila. Lila. Calm down. It's me. It's Asher.”
Filling her chest with air, she held her breath a moment, then let it all rush out. She turned. Asher looked like his usual dapper self.
She forced a smile, wondering what he must think of her. The grin took over as she realized how crazy she looked. Still shaking, she laughed. Tears stung the edges of her eyes; delirious tears formed of fear and relief and embarrassment.
“Glad you find it funny,” Asher said, smirking. “I thought I was going to lose a finger. Was that a giant bird that followed you out? If you need some company I'm willing to come by any time. No need to keep wild fowl in the house.”
Lila wiped her eyes and attempted to tame her hair with quivering hands. “Aren't you calm and collected? I dare you to go in there. There are several of those things still inside.”
He frowned. “What are those, ravens? Aren't those supposed to be a bad omen of some kind?”
“They're a little late. I'd like to think the dark days are behind us.”
“It's a nice sentiment.” Asher gently took her arm and led her to the porch stairs. After all the excitement, Lila was grateful to sit down.
“Don't you think this old house might be more trouble than it's worth?” he asked.
“Sometimes things that are the most trouble are the most worthwhile.”
“And sometimes they'll eat you alive. Or peck your eyes out.” He chuckled. “Listen, all jokes aside, I think you've got yourself into something deeper than you realize here. Who knows what kind of life-sucking issues a house like this has. The more you dig, the more you unbury. Those birds got in somehow, and I'm afraid to find out how. I hate to say it, but you don't have the training for this. You shouldn't be here up to your arms in mildew and bird excrement. You should be, say, out to dinner with someone who finds you irresistible.” He gave her one of his smiles; the ones created to charm the socks off old ladies and stubborn clients.
Lila stuck her chin out and stood. “Maybe I'm just a helpless little girl, but I think I can handle myself.” She didn't need anyone's permission or approval, except Grandpa Isaac's. “I might get my eyes pecked out by giant, crazy birds, but I'm going to do this.”
His expression darkened. He rose and took hold of her hands. “I didn't mean that. Look, I was afraid of sounding stupid, but doesn't all of this creep you out; the pond, the birds? Maybe it's all coincidence and overactive imaginations, but what if it's not. Has it ever occurred to you that something might have happened here?”
“Something like what?” Her tone was defensive, but she couldn't keep her voice quite steady.
“I don't know. Why did your grandfather leave so quickly, with hardly a word to anyone in the town he was born and raised in?” He lowered his voice, although there was no one around. “And from what I hear, it was pretty close to the time your uncle David took off as well.”
“Took off?” She had never actually been told what had become of Uncle David.
“People in this town talk Lila, and while I don't pay attention to most of it, there's often truth buried beneath the words.”
She glared at the implication that her grandpa would have put her in a dangerous situation, or that he might be responsible for—what? An angry supernatural presence on his property? What could he have done? And what did any of this have to do with Uncle David? He was rarely even mentioned in her family. She wanted to laugh, but couldn't seem to make a sound.
Asher ran both hands through his hair and growled. “Please don't be angry with me. You're the first thing that's happened in this town that made me glad to be here. I just don't like the idea of you being in that house alone.” He took her hand. “My offer to take all of this off your hands still stands. Or even just let me take over the repairs. I want to help you.”
Lila had already committed herself to this house. Partly for sentimental reasons, and partly to see if this was something she could envision herself making a career out of. She bit her lip. “If you want to help, there's a room full of birds upstairs.”
He sighed and threw his arms out in resignation. “You win.” He gestured toward the house. “May I?”
“Be my guest.”
“I think there's a less dangerous way to handle this.”
She followed him into the house, where he took a large sheet off the sofa. They walked quietly upstairs and stood in the bedroom doorway. There were only five birds left. Lila hoped the remaining birds were outside, rather than flying around the house. Asher gestured for her to follow and shut the door gently behind her. He went to one window and closed the curtains. They were thin, so he wrapped the sheet around the rod to block the light. Then he crept back to Lila and ushered her out the door, closing it behind him.
“That should help them find their way out.” He furrowed his brow. “If they want to go out. Just check on things after awhile.”
“I feel kind of stupid now,” Lila said. “I should've thought to do that. I just—”
“Panicked. I don't blame you.”
They walked together from room to room, making sure no stray ravens inhabited any of them.
As they walked down the stairs Lila's mind played an image of herself falling backward and landing in a crumpled heap at the bottom; all because of a bird.
Asher went to the front door, then stopped and touched her sleeve. “That's a nice plaid shirt. It's an unexpected addition to the usual summer dress and flip flops.”
Her cheeks warmed at the assumption he was making, but she certainly didn't owe him any explanations. She'd have had a hard time explaining to herself why she was wearing Max's shirt. Maybe it was a reminder that she hadn't gone through that horrible experience alone, and that there was someone to listen to her at the end of it. That was probably it. She avoided eye contact with Asher. “I suppose.”
“Well, I'd like to stay awhile, but there are some final arrangements to be made for Clint, as well as some lose ends he'd appreciate having tied up.”
“I'm so sorry. I guess you knew him pretty well?”
“Yes. He took me under his wing—sorry for the figure of speech— like a grandfather.” His blue eyes moistened, a break in the carefully controlled exterior. “I never had one, or much of a father for that matter. It's going to be very different without him around.”
He turned the handle and took a step out the door. He stopped, and as if an afterthought said, “Now Lila, about that dinner with someone who finds you irresistible? I think I owe you a date.” He flashed his white teeth as if he'd recovered, but subtle traces of vulnerability remained. “Maybe after things settle a bit?”
All the things Asher had said earlier still crawled under her skin. But grief still marked his features, and the creases in his face. And there remained the fact that he'd helped her evacuate a room full of giant birds. But so much had happened since they'd danced in the park.
He seemed to sense her hesitation. “As friends.”
He'd said she was the only thing that made him glad to be in this town; maybe that meant he didn't have anyone to talk to.
“Sure,” she said.
Chapter 16
Goldie's Locks
Lila sat in a pink patent-leather chair at Goldie's Locks, flipping through a magazine while Goldie blasted her with a gigantic black blow dryer. She took a deep breath, then coughed at the scent of shampoo and conditioner mingled with perm solution and hair dye that permeated the salon.
When Ada had invited her to come along, Lila asked if Goldie was accustomed to styling hair on the under sixty crowd.
“Of course,” she replied, hands on hips. “Her granddaughter comes to visit every other month, and Goldie fixes her hair every time. She does several of the younger women in town, too. She has a reputation for choosing the perfect hairstyle for her clients.” Ada paused. “Most of the time,” she mumbled. She lifted her chin and patted her own hair. “I prefer to stick
with my regular style, though. You don't think my hair looks awful, do you?”
“Of course not, Aunt Ada.” And Lila was trapped.
Goldie's hair was dyed blonde, and swirled high on her head. A pink artificial flower was clipped into the side. She had the low, gravelly voice of a long-time smoker, and perfectly-painted red nails.
“Now, you don't really just want a trim, do you?” Goldie asked.
“I've had long hair all my life. I couldn't do anything drastic.”
“Don't you want to do something fun? You only live once, you know.”
Ada sat in a vinyl, avocado-colored chair beside the large gilded mirror facing Lila. She flopped her Home and Garden magazine down on her lap and waved her hands in the air. “Now, don't listen to that nonsense, dear. The last time she told me that I ended up with pink highlights. Not to mention that same logic landed Goldie in a wedding chapel in Las Vegas not once, but twice.”
Goldie made a gutteral sound as she sprayed Lila's hair with sweet smelling detangler. “Your highlights looked fabulous.”
“I looked ridiculous.”
“I saw Elmer Greene stop in the middle of the street and watch you walk by. —Almost got run over by a delivery truck too.”
“Everyone stopped to watch me walk by.”
Lila chuckled along with Goldie. “Speaking of Elmer, he came by the other day to do some work on the house. He taught me how to change out a light fixture. Anyway, he told me he took Ada out on her first date. Did you know that, Goldie?”
Ada's cheeks reddened, and she pinched her little mouth shut.
“Oh, everyone knows Elmer's always had the hots for Ada. What about you though, Lila? I hear you got Auburn's two most handsome eligible bachelors completely smitten.”
Lila ducked her head. “I don't know if inadvertently winning them on the auction block is a fair conquest.”
“Oh, come on, girl. We all know there's more to it than that. I haven't seen young Max Ellison shave so often since his wife left him.” She sighed and pressed a hand over her chest. “Bless his heart. He looks like he's decided to start living again.”
The Obituary Society Page 10
