Eight
Imentionthat Titus is still up at the house alone and Claudia mentions that maybe we’ve overstayed our naked welcome on motel sheets. I wait for her to use the bathroom and grab all her shit, and we go. Some guy I’ve never met named Jake is working the desk at the Lodges and maybe he checked Claudia in or some shit, but he’s eyeing me like something’s up. I don’t owe him an explanation for why she’s leaving with me.
I double check to make sure she has all of her things loaded in the trunk of her rental car and then I tell her to follow me to the market because once we get up to my place we’re not coming back down until what I plan to order for Claudia arrives at the post office. By the time we check out, I give up all illusions that anyone will even notice that Claudia is with me. Not that it crosses my mind to keep her some kind of secret, but the mountain gets plenty of visitors. She’s no different.
We run into Rich in the bread aisle and he’s not subtle in the way he greets Claudia or the way he waggles his eyebrows at me. If he wasn’t practically my cousin I would punch him in the face. I know the longer she stays in town the more people are going to talk, but I can’t bring myself to give much of a shit, especially when I look at her.
It takes twice as long as usual to get back to my place. I go slow so she can follow easily. When I get to my road, I see the gate is open. I know I closed it, but I have an idea who’s looking for me. May-Bell’s red SUV is on my lawn when we pull into the clearing of my property.
“I’d tease you for driving like an old man,” Claudia says when she climbs out of her rental. “But that road is no joke.”
“Safety first. Leave your stuff. I’ll come out and get it in a minute.”
“I got it,” she says as she walks around to the trunk. She nods up toward the house. “You have a visitor.”
I don’t turn around. “Come on,” I say once she’s loaded down with all her bags.
We walk up to the front door and sure enough May-Bell is waiting on my porch. She’s got a few dishes in her hands. She doesn’t look amused with me, but she has a smile for Claudia.
“Shep,” she says.
I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Hi May. This is Claudia.”
“For conversation’s sake, I’m this one’s aunt. It’s nice to meet you. How are you doing?” May-Bell says as I open the front door.
“I’m well, thank you.”
“Come on in.” I nudge Titus out of the way. He’s always glad to see me, but he’s been hyper as a bag of dicks since Claudia showed up. It’s hard to ignore.
“Just brought you a little something to eat. There’s plenty for two,” May says.
“Thank you,” I say as I put the groceries down on the counter. Claudia slides her things over in the corner by the fireplace.
“So how long are you in town?” May asks Claudia.
“Uh, about a week. I was out here about six months ago, but my trip was cut short. I just—”
“You don’t—you don’t have to do all that. I know who you are.”
Claudia’s back snaps straight and her eyes flash between me and May. “Oh. Well. I wanted to see Shep again. I didn’t really get a chance to talk to him before I went home. And we forgot to exchange numbers,” she adds quickly.
“Well it’s nice to have you back in one piece. I can’t imagine what you went through. My husband, Jad and I live down the road a ways. Make sure Shep here gives you my number. It works out here with the wireless fi. You just call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” I can hear the confusion in her voice.
“Well I’ll leave you two to the rest of your day. Shep, you want to walk me out to my car?”
“Sure thing.” I grab my keys off the table and follow May-Bell to the door. I stop and kiss Claudia on the forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
“’Kay.”
I leave the door open for Titus to follow me, but he seems way too interested in Claudia. I follow May-Bell across the lawn. She’s parked right near the tree line. When she reaches the driver’s door she turns on me.
“This is the girl you saved.” May-Bell and Jad never laid eyes on Claudia, but they know enough. “Do I need to ask what’s going on?”
“You can.”
“Well?”