CHAPTER Fourteen:
Lauren smoothed a wrinkle in her pink plaid dress and scrutinized herself in the mirror. Try as she might, it was impossible to hide her excitement.
Chuck had told her that he did still need her to work, starting the next day. Which meant she had the afternoon free. Matthew Dunlap was looking after the store for her for the afternoon. He was only sixteen, but he was responsible.
Lauren was looking forward to having fun with Willow, even though an evening off meant an evening behind on her goals. A promise was a promise, and she was not in the habit of breaking them.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, it was down instead of in its usual braid.
“Can we go now?” Willow burst into the bathroom and interrupted her preening. “Please hurry.”
The little girl was a bouncing ball of excitement. She wore tan shorts and a white ruffled shirt that made her look somewhat put together, and Lauren had let her use some rose perfume. She’d even sat still long enough to have her hair plaited into two braids.
“Alright, I'm coming.” Lauren went to her room and pulled a pair of sandals out from the closet, then hurried towards the door.
Willow took her hand and tugged her along, giving her only a fraction of a second to grab her purse.
“Hey, let me get the keys. Without them we won’t be going anywhere.” Lauren said.
Willow let go of her hand and dashed out the door by herself, too impatient to wait.
“Oh! Our picnic!” Lauren remembered it last second and went into the kitchen to pick up the basket. “That would’ve been a disaster if I’d forgotten it.”
It was a bright and sunny day. The garden was thriving, despite the neglect it had been given. Buttercup was grumpily sitting in the shade. She’d been neglected too. This newcomer had been causing noise and taking away some of her well-earned attention.
Lauren clucked at her on the way to the truck, then they were on their way.
“This is so exciting!” Willow exclaimed.
“Really?” Lauren chuckled. “I thought maybe you changed your mind and wanted to stay home instead. Or go work with me at the store.”
“Never,” Willow said matter-of-factly.
They pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. The sky was bright blue over the golden fields, with a bright fluffy cloud here and there.
Amanda was working at the gas station when they passed, and Willow pressed her nose to the window and waved. She waved back.
They crossed the bridge and continued along the road. Lauren prayed the truck wouldn’t break down.
It had been a long time since she’d been out this way. Everything she really needed was in Silver-Bell Creek, and she could make do without the rest. But it felt good to be doing something other than working, to throw her schedule out the window for a few hours.
The evening was going to be rushed. First off, they were headed to Redston, a town a little bigger than Silver-Bell Creek. It had a thrift store, and Willow needed new shoes. Then they’d go for a picnic at the lake on the edge of the town.
It was a pleasant drive. Willow dozed off, after asking where they were so many times that Lauren had stopped answering.
The time passed quickly. Soon they pulled up in front of the thrift shop. It was located on a cobblestone road, between a bakery and a tea shop. A pretty basket of flowers hung from a light post in front of it.
“We’re here now.” Lauren nudged Willow awake.
She rubbed her eyes and looked around. “We are?”
Lauren undid her seatbelt. Willow held out her arms to be carried. They crossed the street and went into the store. The door squeaked as it swung open.
It was nice and cool inside. Lauren set Willow down on the floor and looked around. The walls were painted bright yellow, which was highlighted by the blue-white lights that shone from the ceiling.
To the right of the store was the checkout counter. A teenage girl sat behind it, she looked up from her phone only briefly. Lauren smiled at her, but she frowned and looked down again. Her long bangs fell over her eyes.
“Look at that pretty dress.” Willow wandered into an aisle and pointed at a bright turquoise dress, with a navy sash.
“A little bright, don’t you think?” Lauren took her hand and hurried her over to the shoe aisle before they could get distracted.
There were shoes of all sizes and types. Neon pumps that looked like something Charlotte would wear. A hoard of snow boots, but they would be oppressive in the heat. Lauren scanned the rack and moved toward the kids’ section. Flip flops, swimming shoes, slippers. Nothing was quite right. Finally, she caught sight of a pair of navy flats. Sensible, like new, and good quality.
“Do you like these?” Lauren held them out to Willow.
She nodded. They found a seat and Lauren crouched down to help her try them on. They were a perfect fit.
“Good!” Lauren pushed to her feet again and pulled a pair of rubber boots off the rack.
They were pink, speckled with little white hearts. She compared the size with the flats and found that they were a match. Armed with the two pairs, they made their way back to the front of the store.
“Wren!” Willow stopped and pointed.
Lauren looked. At the end of the aisle, a wedding gown was displayed. It had exaggerated puffed sleeves, and the bodice was embroidered with beads. The skirt was wide and full.
“Try it.” Willow ran over to it.
“No, Willow, I don’t need it.”
“Please, please!” Willow gave her a pouty face, blue eyes wide as they looked up at her. “Wren...”
“You won’t leave me alone until I do?”
“Nope.” She crossed her arms and jutted out her bottom lip.
“Alright.” Lauren went up to the front desk and waited for the teller to address her.
The girl had dirty blonde hair, but the tips were dyed red. Her eyes were green, and Lauren was surprised that they were visible at all beneath the long bangs. She realized with a start that the girl was glaring at her. Oh great.
“Do you need something?” she spat.
“I was wondering if you have a changing room?” Lauren smiled at her in an attempt at lightening her mood.
She swept her hand towards the back of the store and glared at Lauren once more. Then she muttered something under her breath and looked down at her phone again. Lauren was glad she’d hadn’t picked up the words.
“Thank you,” she said quietly before returning to the dress.
It was even fancier up close. Little bows were attached to the sleeves, the waistband, pretty much anywhere there was room. Lauren swept it into her arms and hurried towards the dressing rooms. There was a plaque next to them, designating them so, and she wished she’d looked for it before going and asking the grumpy girl.
“Wait right here, Willow.” She opened the door and stepped inside.
In the privacy of the room, she unzipped her dress and stepped into the wedding gown. The silk was cool against her skin, but it smelled slightly musty and old.
“I wanna see!” Willow rapped on the door.
“Have patience, child! I’m coming.” Lauren struggled with the zipper.
The collar was small, and fit snugly around her throat. She felt strangled by it, and that was without doing the button up at the back.
The door swung open, and she swept out. The laces hung at her sides, there was no way she was going to do up the ties on top of the zipper.
Willow clapped her hands as her sister spun in a circle. Lauren stopped to look in the mirror.
The sleeves didn’t quite reach her wrists, and the skirt puffed out ridiculously. She couldn’t help but laugh.
At the till, the girl looked up from her phone to glare at them. Lauren pressed a hand over her mouth to try and quench the giggles, but it was hopeless.
The girl looked down at her phone again, but there were faint traces of a smile around her mouth too. She thinks it’s funny too. Lauren smirked.
“Wear this!” Willow handed over a veil.
“If you insist.” Lauren accepted it and placed it on her head as best she could.
The lace was yellowed, and there was a giant bow perched atop the crown. The only thing missing was a perm – and that she could do without. She looked down at Willow and pulled a silly face.
Willow’s laughter was infectious and they were both laughing again until tears flowed from their eyes. The girl at the till grinned, then she caught them watching her and went back to scowling.
“Okay. That’s enough of that.” Lauren pinched Willow’s cheek. “Let me go take this thing off before I break a rib laughing.”
She went back into the dressing room and got back into her pink dress. It felt airy after the many layers of crinoline and silk that she’d been wearing.
The wedding dress didn’t want to go back on the hanger, and she fought with it for a minute or so before being satisfied. Willow was still waiting while she opened the door.
“Let’s go now.” She returned the dress to the rack and then they went to the front counter to pay.
The girl sighed and sat up in her chair as they placed the shoes on the counter. She flipped them over.
“Ten dollars for the flats,” she said in a monotonous voice. “Twenty for the boots.”
Lauren’s eyes widened in surprise. “Twenty dollars?”
“Did I stutter?”
“No, I’m sorry,” Lauren winced. “Do you have any discounts or... It’s just that I’m kind of having a rough time and-”
“Take them or leave them. It doesn’t matter to me.”
The door swung open and a woman entered the shop. She had short black hair curly and her bright teeth contrasted against warm-hued skin. Her kind expression remained, even when her smile dropped. She looked to the girl behind the till.
“Hello, is there some trouble here?” She had a french accent.
“We’re fine, mom.” The girl shook her hair in front of her eyes.
The woman raised her eyebrows and moved behind the counter.
“Welcome to my little shop. We recently moved here. Forgive us, we are still learning the customs.” She placed her hands on the teen’s shoulders and nodded at her. “Some of us still get a little home-sick now and then...”
“No one cares, mom.” The teen shrugged her hands off.
Lauren’s gaze bounced from mother to daughter. There was a little resemblance in their noses and face shape.
“I’m sorry.” The mother’s smile faded. “I have a bad habit of blurting out every thought that comes into my head – and there I go again. Have you found everything you were looking for?”
“No need to apologize.” Lauren squeezed Willow’s hand. “We found these two pairs of shoes, and I was just...”
“She’s poor and she wants a discount.” The teen cut her off before she could finish the sentence.
Lauren’s cheeks burned. She didn’t want to seem cheap, or that she was going around trying to rip people off. But they were used children’s shoes.
“The little girl is so sweet.” The woman didn’t even bother to read the price tags. “Take them both for ten dollars.”
Willow beamed at her.
“Are you sure?” Lauren opened her wallet. “Thank you very much.”
ef
The two girls made a pretty picture as they lay on the edge of the picnic cloth in the bed of the truck and stared up at the clouds.
A breeze moved the clouds along, right before their eyes. Some were just blobs, others seemed to be shaped like dandelions. Willow claimed she’d seen one that looked like a cow.
She got bored and went back to eating. Lauren wished she could just stay there and never move. Forget her responsibilities, and just live here, listening to the birds and the waves lapping on the edge of the lake.
“I’m stuffed.” Willow rubbed her stomach.
Lauren smiled and pushed herself up. Back to reality.
“Me too.” She began packing everything away.
They had enjoyed their time, but now they had to move on.
“Thanks for taking me.”
“I’m glad you had fun.” Lauren put her feet on the solid ground and stretched, carrying the basket with her.
Willow followed, and Lauren caught her as she jumped off the back of the truck. The sun was already beginning to set, and they had to hurry if they wanted to finish their errands in town and get back.
Riley had asked Lauren to drop off some forms at a pet rescue centre. She’d figured Willow would enjoy seeing the animals too.
Maybe they’d even find one they liked – she’d joked. Lauren laughed at that idea. There was no way they were going to get a dog. All the expenses and time it would need. No way.
Willow stared at Lauren with admiration as they drove back into town.
“What?” Lauren asked, beginning to get self-conscious.
“You’re the bestest big sister ever,” Willow stated. “This was the most fun ever.”
“Well, you’re the best little sister ever.” Lauren felt a tug at her heart. This was one of those moments Aunt Betsy had been talking about.
They pulled up to the centre. It was a square, industrial-looking building, with white tin siding and a plain logo above the door. The lights were dim, but the sign said it was open.
A man sat at the front desk. He wore round wire glasses and a teeshirt with a dog on it.
“I was told to bring this here, it’s from Riley Brady.” Lauren handed over the forms.
“Who?” His brow furrowed as he looked at the papers.
“She’s the vet assistant in Silver-Bell Creek.”
“Oh, of course.” His face lit up. “Thank you.”
Willow tugged on Lauren’s hand. “Can we see the animals?”
The man looked over the counter, noticing her for the first time. “Sure.”
He led the way into a back room. The walls were lined with cages, and a row spanned the middle of the room too.
Dogs began barking as they entered, some with low voices, some high-pitched yips. Willow pressed closer to Lauren. They crouched down in front of the first cage. It was a little dog, with a bite out of its ear. It growled, its teeth bared.
They quickly moved to the next kennel. A sandy coloured pit bull huddled against the other side, pressed as far away from them as he could be. He couldn’t be coaxed to move.
Willow sighed. “Dogs aren’t nice.”
“Aww, sweetie.” Lauren patted her head. “He’s just shy.”
The next kennel held a puppy. It was small, with a dull black coat. It was curled up asleep, but it sat up when they got closer and looked up at them with trusting eyes.
“Can we play with it?” Willow asked.
The man looked at his watch, then back at the two of them. “Alright, but only for a few minutes.”
He opened the cage and the puppy bounded out, jumping around Willow’s feet. She laughed and scratched behind its ears. The puppy climbed into her lap as she sat down.
What have I done? Lauren knew trouble was brewing as the two of them looked up at her. The pleading eyes were doubled now, and both adorable.
“Can we...” Willow began.
“No,” Lauren cut off her. “I can’t afford it.”
The man who worked pushed up his glasses. “It really desperately needs a home, and I could give you a deal. If it stays much longer, I’m afraid...” he trailed off, but the suggestion cast horror into the minds of his listeners. This was the spiel he gave everyone, about every dog. But how was Lauren to know that?
“He’s already fixed, and house trained.” The man continued.
“His name is Westley.” Willow looked very seriously as she pressed her face next to his silky one and knighted him.
“No,” Lauren was weakening. “Who will look after him? I have to work.”
“Grandma and me.”
“Fifty dollars is all we’re asking.” The man raised his eyebrows as he named his price. “One hundred percent of the profits go towards saving more dogs.”
It was almost irresistible. For a healthy young lab puppy, the price was a steal.
“I’ll throw in a collar and dishes,” the man obviously knew what he was doing. “A free bag of dog food too, that would last at least a month.”
“Please!” Willow’s voice rose a pitch.
“I really shouldn’t.”
The puppy sealed the deal. It wiggled out of Willow’s lap and went over to Lauren. She picked it up and that was the fatal mistake. It let out a few pitiful whines and she was sold.
“Alright, alright.” She gave Willow a pointed look. “But I don’t want any complaints from you. And I expect you to be on your best behaviour.”
There were nods and smiles from the girl. They went to sign the papers. Once it was over, Lauren could’ve kicked herself.
What was she doing? The puppy would grow. It would be big, and soon she wouldn’t want him in the house. What would happen when Charlotte returned? Willow would be gone, and then she’d have to look after the pup herself. It would need exercise, grooming, and...
It was done. She knew she’d probably regret it later, but there was no undoing it.
hg
A hand knocked impatiently on the window on the driver’s side of Charlotte’s car. She stirred from her sleep and groaned.
“Hello! Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave!”
Sunlight blinded her as she opened her eyes. A man stood outside the car, wearing a bright orange safety vest.
Charlotte moved her seat up and rolled down the window. “What?” Her voice was hoarse. “What time is it?”
He looked down at his watch, then back up at her. “Two o’clock.”
“Two?” She shook herself. “Two in the morning?”
“Does it look like it’s two in the morning?” He let out a huff of breath and motioned to the sky. “Unless this is the moon shining, and it’s some sort of phenomenon, it is two o’clock in the afternoon.”
Charlotte blinked. “I slept that long?”
“From the way your breath smells, I would assume so.” He wrinkled his nose and glared at her.
“Okay, okay.” She chuckled. “What do you want?”
“Move your car!” He crossed his arms. “This is a construction site. We’re about to tear this lot up, and you’re in the middle of it.”
For the first time since she’d woken up, Charlotte looked around. It was clear she was in the way. Her car was surrounded by equipment. Dump trucks, bulldozers, diggers. Workers in matching vests stood around watching. Some snickered, others just looked bored. They were glad for a little delay if it meant they didn’t have to work.
How did I end up here, Charlotte wondered.
The night before, she’d driven to the outskirts of the city. It had been a dark, moonless night. Her vision had been blurred with tears. Thinking of it, she pulled down the mirror and looked at her reflection. Black streaks ran down the cheeks, where mascara had mingled with tears.
Her hair was tangled, seeming to go in every direction. One side of her face had red lines imprinted on it from the seams of the seat.
Charlotte stared at the messy image of herself and started to laugh. The construction worker threw up his arms, clearly not seeing the humour in the situation.
The laughter didn’t make much sense, and Charlotte wondered if she was going insane. She couldn’t help it though. She was ridiculous, and she was going to laugh at herself, even if it made people stare more.
“Are you moving this car or not?” The man’s jaw jutted out. “We will gladly give you a push if you’re not going to.”
“Just give me a minute.” Charlotte attempted to compose herself. She flipped the mirror up and fastened her seatbelt.
Then she turned the key in the ignition. The engine sputtered. The man’s face was a picture of irritation. She tried again, but the results were no better.
The laughter started up again.
“Someone come and jumpstart this woman’s car!” The foreman shouted. “Immediately!”
The workers jumped into action.
Charlotte looked around for some wipes as she took shaky breaths. There was a package laying under the seat. She grabbed it. Surprisingly, it was not all dried out.
She wiped at her face, cleaning it. It was left bare, and red with mirth.
The workers looked at her like she was crazy. Someone drove up with their car and began hooking the batteries up.
“Try now!” someone shouted.
She turned the key. This time the car started. She waved in thanks as they unhooked the cables.
“Thank you!” She reversed and pulled out of the lot.
The foreman rolled his eyes and turned back to the workers. “Everyone back to work! Show is over.”
They quickly scurried to do his bidding. Charlotte looked at the clock as she drove down the road. Now it was quarter after two.
An interview had been booked for one o’clock and she’d missed it. It wouldn’t look good to call and say she’d slept in. It was probably for the best anyway. She couldn’t show her face anywhere looking like she did.
“Well, I won’t get the job, but at least I got a good laugh,” she whispered to herself, chuckling as she thought about it.
