She holds up her hands. “Okay, okay. I get it. Now let me finish this haircut so you can get back toNora.”
I don’t like how she says her name. Like it’s still a maybe.
It’s definitelynot.
By the time I get back home, I’m feeling guilty. Nora isn’t as bad as I originally thought. However, playing up her villain card will get my family off my back.
I shut off my truck and amble my way up to my house. It’s getting dark now so the lightning bugs flash all around me, signaling their presence. Crickets try to out trill the frogs, but nothing can out-sing the wind chimes dancing in the warm evening air.
The door is locked when I turn the knob and I grunt in confusion. I never lock the door to my house.
“Oh, coming!” a voice chirps from inside. “Sorry about that.”
Nora wrenches open the door, wearing a troubled expression. It immediately puts me on guard. I step inside and close the door behind me, eyes tracking her as she hurries to the kitchen. When I round the corner, she’s holding an enormous knife.
“Did I miss something?” I ask, cocking my head to the side and frowning. “Get spooked?”
The stress fades away as a smile tugs at her lips. “By the lasagna? Totally. I’m about to slice it up so it won’t spook me again.”
I stifle a laugh. “Why’d you lock the door then, smart Alec?”
“Why wouldn’t I lock the door?” Her nose scrunches in confusion. “I’m not being sarcastic. It’s night time. I’m a woman all alone at home.”
At home?
This ismyhouse.
I let it slide this time.
“Fair,” I say with a nod as I make my way over to the fridge to grab a couple of sodas. “But you’re not in New York City. You’re in Budgie Bay. The most crime we have is during BudgieFest when a couple of drunks start slinging insults and then punches.”
“You live all the way out here on the outskirts of town,” she counters, plating up the lasagna for us. “Creeps could sneak up and…”
I set the cans down at the kitchen table. “And do what?”
She shrugs, thrusting a plate my way. “I don’t know. Creepy stuff.”
“Creepy stuff,” I parrot as I make my back over to the table. “The only creeps I know are the Harkers. Mainly Wayne.”
“See,” she says with enthusiasm. “I knew it. He’s probably peeking in the windows right now.”
“He’s pushing ninety.” I drag my chair across the floor, making a scraping sound that has Clo hollering from the guest room. “Is Clo being punished?”
She gestures to where the hot lasagna pan sits on top of the stove. “He can’t be trusted not to dive-bomb the lasagna.”
I’m not going to lie. She’s quick like Goldie. That’s one of the things I enjoyed about the old lady. Verbally sparring with me was her favorite sport.
We’re quiet for a bit as we dig into my lasagna. Nora moans and groans as if she’s never had real food in her life. Who knows, maybe that’s true. At least her adult life. For someone always on the run to and fro in a busy city, she probably ate endless amounts of takeout. I like eating out as much as the next guy, but not every day, and certainly not multiple times a day.
“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” I ask once we’ve demolished our food.
Nora’s easy demeanor deflates at the mention of it. “I was just about to make a list.”
“Better get on it then.”
While she disappears to find something to write on, I clear the table and put the food away. When she returns, with Clo on her shoulder, she has one of her grandma’s notebooks in hand.
Clo squawks angrily at me.
