Harper
“Cora! We’ve gotta go!” I call to my niece, who is still in the bathroom. I shove our stuff into the single duffel bag I have, glancing at the time as I wait for her.
A new spreading stain catches my attention, and I look up at the ceiling with a frown. Yup. That’s definitely a new water stain. There’s something leaking upstairs, and in the back of my mind, I wonder if it’s just a matter of time before the whole thing collapses in on us.
This motel is a shithole. There’s no question about that. It’s run down and sketchy, and the fact of the matter is, it’s all we can afford.
Every penny I’m making has to be saved for car repairs, so it’s not like I can get us in at a nice three star place while we wait.
Between my pay at the bar and the tips I’ve been making, I have a good little bit squirreled away. It’s been a week of work, so I’m making progress, but it’s definitely not enough.
To my surprise, the three Alphas who run the bar have been really understanding and helpful. It’s almost unnerving.
Cash is always smiling at me like I’ve managed to make his day just by existing. Everett stepped up when that drunk asshole was giving me shit, and Lincoln keeps doing all these little quietthings. He remembered how Cora likes her juice box opened and moves chairs so I don’t have to reach for stuff at the bar. It’s very him, I guess. He’s quiet, a lot like Cora, so maybe he understands her in a way other people don’t.
Either way, it’s as weird as it is helpful, but I know I can’t tell them to stop or make a fuss about it. I need their kindness and understanding right now, as much as it puts my hackles up to admit it.
“Cora!” I yell again, trying to keep the frustration out of my tone. “We’re gonna be late!”
Finally the bathroom door opens, and Cora comes out. She’s dressed in a t-shirt that’s too big for her and a pair of shorts, and she comes over to me, holding out her hand for me to take.
We’re not actually late as we leave the motel, heading for the bar, but I don’t want to impose on the three Alphas any more than I have to. I want to prove that I’m worth them taking a chance on me, so I come early and stay late and do my job as best I can.
We start the walk to the bar, and we’re only a few minutes in when we run into Lainey, Lincoln’s sister. She’s been watching Cora when she can, saving her from another night spent in the back office with her coloring books and toys. I tell myself it’s good for her to have human interaction, instead of sitting back there alone night after night, and that helps to lessen some of the guilt about taking advantage of other people’s kindness.
“Hey there,” Lainey says with a smile. “And hey to you too, Cora.”
Cora looks up at her and doesn’t smile back, but she does wave a bit.
There’s something about Lainey that makes it easy to be around her. She’s got teacher energy, warm and patient, and it’s understandable why Cora likes her. Kids of all ages seemto gravitate toward her, and she welcomes them with that calm happiness.
“How’s work been?” Lainey asks, and I blink when I realize she’s talking to me.
“Good,” I reply. “I mean, bars are pretty much the same everywhere, right?”
“With a few quirks here and there. But I’m glad it’s going well.”
She chatters about her own work and the things Cora does when she’s with her as we walk along. We hit Main Street and find a small group of people clustered around watching something.
Lainey cranes her neck to look and then laughs softly. “Mr. Mullins’ cow got out again. Must be a Tuesday.”
Some of the people clear off, and I get a clear view of an older man with greying hair, leading a big brown and white cow down the street. If this was any other town, I’d be shocked to see it, but everyone seems to take this as something that happens often enough to not be noteworthy.
Still, I have to ask. “This happens a lot?”
Lainey grins. “All the time. She hates being cooped up and manages to get out a few times a month. You can set your calendar by Mr. Mullins leading her back down the road to the farm.”
We go to keep walking, but Cora’s hand pulls on mine, and I turn to see her stopped in her tracks, a look of wonder on her face.
“What is it, baby?” I ask her, leaning down.
She drops my hand and reaches for the cow with both of hers.
Lainey laughs. “Seems like little miss Cora is fascinated by the cow. Kids love farm animals.”
Cora makes soft sounds of excitement, her face lit up like a kid seeing magic happen in front of her.
Mr. Mullins walks by then and takes in the sight of Cora looking so excited. He laughs, smiling warmly at her. “Well, good evening, young lady,” he says. “You seem taken with my Bessie here.”