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Avery sighs. “That was a nice little break while it lasted. Duty calls.” She says before climbing off the bed and moving to the next room to retrieve the now screaming infant.
“Just so you know, she didn’t do that when you were gone.” I call after her.
“They’re always worse for their mothers.” She jokes back. “I’m going to take her home so you can get back to work. Just try to play nice with the neighbor, okay? You never know when you might need some allies around here.”
I raise a brow at Avery as we move towards the house. “Allies? You make it sound like Fawn Creek is a war zone, not a tiny town in the middle of nowhere.”
She turns back to look at me before heading out the door. “All I’m saying is, Fawn Creek is a much different place when you look at it as an adult, instead of somewhere you wouldn’t wait to escape from as a kid. I bet it won’t be long before you see how strong this community is, but you have to embrace it by playing nice.”
Chapter 13
After Avery leaves, I grab my laptop and move on to the guest bedroom to attack another closet and pack away the playpen. Avery told me to keep it, just in case I need it again, which I’m sure I probably will. Not that I mind. I’ve seen Juliet more in the last two days than I have since the day she was born. I want to soak up every second that I can with her while I’m in Fawn Creek for the summer.
After a bit of a struggle, and a short YouTube tutorial, I fold the playpen back up the way I found it and lean it against the wall next to the closet. I fling the closet door open and let out a sigh of exasperation. Of course, this closet is just as full as the other one was. Immediately, I pull hangers from the metal rod, piling everything on the full size bed. After the clothes are removed, I grab the bright blue plastic totes from the floor and pull them towards the center of the room. Just as I yank on one final tote, I hear something that resembles a hissing sound. Instinctively, I jump backwards, just in time to see something long and dark slither against the back of the closet. IT’S A SNAKE!
“Shit!” I scream out, and without wasting another second, I race towards the front door. As soon as I reach the edge of the yard, next to the street, I let out another squeal. My body is trembling and I feel woozy. I hate snakes.
My mind races. How did a snake even get into the house? How long has it been there? Have I been living with a snake for the past two days? What am I supposed to do with it?
Still shaking, I pull my phone from my back pocket and call my dad. After three rings, my call goes to voicemail. Frustrated, I call Avery on FaceTime.
“Hey! What’s up?” She answers quickly. I can tell from the background that she’s standing in her kitchen.
“Ahhhhh!” I let out a shriek and hop from one foot to another, recalling my slimy roommate before I can answer her. “There’s a snake in the bedroom closet.”
“Is this some sort of metaphor that I’m not understanding?” She asks, setting the phone on the kitchen counter and moving backwards to allow herself and Juliet, in a highchair, to fill the camera frame.
“No, there is a literal snake in the bedroom closet. I found it when I was putting the playpen away. What do I do?” I can’t help but squirm again, thinking about that snake being inside the house with me for the last twenty-four hours, and with Juliet while she was napping.
“You could use a shovel? Maybe there’s one in the garage?” Avery suggests.
I violently shake my head. “Absolutely not. There is no way in hell that I am going near that thing.” I say, not taking my eyes off the door. “Is there someone I can call for something like this? Like animal control?”
“Hmmm.” Avery pauses thoughtfully. “We have a dogcatcher, but he only does it in the evening after he gets home from his day job. Maybe you could go next door and ask Andrew for help?” Avery mutters with a smirk.
I let out a loud sigh. “Hard pass.” I answer immediately. If I never see that jerk again, it’ll be too soon. “Maybe I can handle it myself, after all. What’s the likelihood this snake is poisonous?” I reply, dryly.
“Venomous,” Avery corrects me. “Well, there’s one way to find out. If it bites you and you die, then it’s venomous.”
I roll my eyes, trying to think of any way I can get around this that doesn’t involve Andrew. Maybe I should try my dad again? But, it’s too late. I turn to the sound of crunching gravel as I spot Andrew crossing his driveway towards me.
“Everything okay?” He says. “I heard screaming. I was under my house or I would have been over sooner.”
Great. Just one more thing for him to judge me over.
“There’s a snake in the house.” I say, trying to appear calm, although internally I can’t stop shaking. “And I don’t know what to do about it.”
He smirks and shakes his head, almost as though he is trying to keep from laughing. “I’ll be right back.” He says, and without waiting for a response, he disappears towards his garage. Within moments, he returns with a garden rake in his hand. “Where is it?” He asks without breaking his stride.
“In the guest bedroom closet.” I say, slowly moving towards the house, but he steps ahead of me and hurries towards the door. “Last door on the left down the hallway!” I call to the back of his head.
I turn my face back towards the screen and look back at Avery. “What if he can’t find it?” The mere thought of a snake on the loose in my house makes me ill. There’s no way I could stay here with that thing running loose.
“He will.” She snickers. “It’s not a big house.”
“If he doesn’t, I’m sleeping on your couch tonight. And possibly every day until I find a new place to live.” I warn her.
For half a second, I wonder if I should text Elliott and beg him to take me back. A rooster has already harassed me. I’ve had an altercation with my jackass neighbor and discovered a snake. I’ve only been living here for just over twenty-four hours. Things aren’t looking great for me. Maybe this is a sign that I really don’t belong here. Perhaps instead of staying for the summer, I need to just list this place and get back out of town.
