“Visiting time is over,” I bark out. “I have things I need to do.”
I’m a liar. I have literally nothing to do. She doesn’t need to know that, though.
Seconds later, Nora emerges, scowling at me. At least she’s not crying anymore. I lock the door, letting Clo have some playtime with the others, and pocket the key this time. Something about this woman unnerves me. I don’t trust herand those budgies were important to her grandmother. I’m not about to let her do something stupid like forget to close the door, whether intentionally or not.
Nora storms away and back inside her grandma’s house without another word. I suspect there’ll be an impending meltdown in three, two, one?—
“Why don’t the lights work?” Nora demands, poking her blonde head out the back door and reminding me of Frodo. “What did you do?”
“Me?” I stride over to her, shaking my head. “Lady, you’ve been here all of five minutes and have the balls to start demanding answers?”
Goldie would nail me for that word. “Balls” is considered foul language to the elderly.
Nora’s jaw practically unhinges. “This ismygrandma’s house. I have a right to know.”
I’m saved from having to answer the entitled brat when my phone starts buzzing in my pocket. If she wanted to knowallthe things so badly abouthergrandma’s house, maybe she should have shown up to Budgie Bay at least once in the past ten years.
“Yeah,” I bark out, answering the call as I stalk away from the infuriating woman.
A deep, familiar voice chuckles. “Someone’s grumpier than usual.”
“You have no idea.”
“Want to tell me all about it? Silas says he has a cold one waiting for you.”
“Let me grab a shower and then I’ll head that way.”
I barely get the call ended before Nora is on me, jabbing her pointy pink fingernail at me. “Tell me what’s going on around here, Elias. I am not in the mood today.”
That makes two of us.
I grit my teeth and glower at the short, fiery woman. This little apple didn’t fall far from the Goldie Everhart tree. I loved that old woman, but she drove me crazy. It’s clearly genetic.
“I suggest you head into town before it gets dark. Utilities have been cut off. No electricity to charge your phone. No water to bathe in,” I tell her with a satisfied smirk. “It’d be best if you pack it up and head on home.”
Again, I leave her standing with her mouth hanging open in pure shock. Hopefully this will be the last time I have to see her.
Go back to the city where you belong, Nora.
Budgie Bay doesn’t want you.
Chapter 3
Nora
What a rotten, horrible man.
Anger has chased away my grief, and frankly, I’m a bit relieved. It fuels me to do something. Anything other than crying. Guilt gets shoved into a neat, tidy box in my brain as I start making a plan for what to do next.
No utilities. Ugh.
Not the end of the world, though. I can stay at the inn or a hotel or an Airbnb until I get in touch with someone who can fix that. These are all to-do list items that I’m more than capable of handling.
The only problem is I don’t have a car. I knew Grandma stopped driving last year and sold her vehicle, but she still managed to get around. Surely, I can too.
With a steadying breath, I make my way to the garden shed. It’s shockingly neat and orderly inside, much more so than I ever remember. Because of that, I’m able to easily locate Grandma’s bike. The one I used to ride sits nearby, knocking me in the chest again with heartfelt memories.
“Don’t think about it,” I mutter to myself, fighting more tears. “Take care of business first. Break down later.”
