Chapter Six: Standing Up;
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Bella:
I smoothed my hands down my lap for what had to have been the fiftieth time in just over an hour. Looking down at my hands I scrutinized the lines of one of the few skirts I owned. This particular one I had bought a week after the divorce between James and I was final. It was a bit of a celebration as well as a sympathy gift. Now I was wondering what had made me think this was something appropriate to wear for the interview at the bank.
It was a simple skirt, reached just an inch below my knees, zipped up the back and was sewn from a cotton fabric printed with little forget-me-nots. I had paired it with a plain white blouse and matching flats. I had figured that looking nice and smart would help when it came to obtaining the loan I needed. I was beginning to think that I might have been better off in a dirty pair of jeans and worn t-shirt.
My hands smoothed down the skirt again as the woman, a Mrs. Edmonds, flicked through page after page on her desk. She wasn’t the friendliest looking woman, with her blouse buttoned all the way to her throat and her steel grey hair pulled to the back of her head in a severe bun. She wore little makeup, though I couldn’t really be sure on that, the way she kept her lips smashed together and her eyes scrunched in a scowl it would have hidden any color.
My head snapped back up to her as she let out a sigh that was almost exasperated with the way it sounded. She set the papers aside, and slowly removed her glasses from the tip of her nose as though what she was doing took too much effort.
"I don’t know what you want me to say, Mrs. Swan-Hunter." She actually made it sound like she was put upon for just doing her job. People like her have always annoyed me.
"Well, I was hoping for a, ’you’re approved,’ or something to that effect." Mrs. Edmonds sighed again, a little more harshly this time and set her glasses back on her nose. She flicked through the papers again before setting them in front of me.
"You are far from a good risk. Too few assets, you have the farm, but you are asking for more money than the entirety of that property is worth." I just stared at her and then quickly glanced down at the papers.
"You are also recently divorced, and your son is too young to co-sign. With out a husband on the scene I just don’t see how the bank would agree to take a risk on you. I’m sorry." She was sorry? If I hadn’t been raised right I would have torn that bun right off the back of her head. She was no more sorry than a wolf was for killing a deer.
"A husband? I don’t see…" She lifted a hand and removed her glasses once again.
"You are a woman, Mrs. Swan-Hunter." In all my life I have never….
"Are you kidding me? Please don’t tell me that I would stand a better chance getting that loan if I stood to take a piss instead of sat down." She just sighed again, sat back in her chair and placed her folded hands on the desk in front of her.
"I’m sorry, but that is just the way the world is." I stood then, glaring down at her as hard as I could.
"No, that is not the way the world is. Not anymore, my God it is the nineteen eighties!" I took a couple of breaths and looked around me, most everyone’s eyes were on the two of us.
"I would walk the streets, but I fear half the town would drop dead from shock!" Without another word I spun and stomped out of the bank.
I had intended to just head home, wait for Danny to get off school, but I found myself parking my truck just outside of Billy’s.
The bell on the door chimed as I walked in causing Billy’s head to raise to look at me. He flashed a large smile, a strange expression passing over his face before disappearing. He said nothing until I sat down at the counter to the Soda Shop and rested my head in my hands.
"What’s wrong?" I lifted my head just a bit and combed my fingers through my hair.
"Nothing…everything. I feel like I’ve been flung back in time…sorry I’ve got a headache. Do you think I could get a coke and an aspirin?" Billy nodded and set to work filling me a glass and setting two white pills in front of me. I downed them without a word and just sat there.
"You’ve been working too hard." I caught myself before I smoothed down my skirt again and looked up at the kind face behind the counter.
"And I’ll just be working harder. I’ve been trying to get a loan at the bank in Forks. Silly me, I hadn’t realized that the lack of a penis would keep me from getting one." Billy’s eyes widened a moment at my words, though at the moment I couldn’t find humor in it. I quickly looked around me and turned back to look straight at Billy. I sat up and steeled myself.
"Hey Billy, you’re not really hurting on money are you? What do you say to making me a loan? I would repay it in full, interest too." I really didn’t like the sigh he gave me.
"I don’t really know you, your character and all." I knew my mouth was agape, but I had thought we had been building a friendship.
"Come on Billy, I’m desperate. My Dad left me some money, but I spent most of it on the farm. Danny’s school supplies cost me a pretty penny and he is eating almost twice his weight in food. The farmhouse is falling apart at my feet and I’m still having to take my shower with cold water.
"I’m reliable I promise." I swore I saw pity in his eyes, but it passed quickly as he reached under the counter and pulled out a large black book.
"These are the people I still have on my books; J. R. Pearson lost his wife last year, her insurance didn’t even cover half her funeral costs.
"Emily Norman, husband left her and their four sons. She works for Sue, but one paycheck is barely enough to pay the bills that bastard left them with.
"John Brown was between jobs when his house burned down, insurance claimed that he had set it and refused to pay. I could go on if you like…." He raised an eyebrow at me and I suddenly wanted to just jump over the counter and smack him.
"No, fine I got it alright? I’ll just be leaving now." I was only half way out the door before he had caught up to me and grabbed my arm.
"I’m sorry Bella, but I know things will work out for you. You are a strong and smart woman." I nodded my head and left.
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I watched as Danny dragged the bucket of water up to the porch. I know he wasn’t too happy with me, he had been hoping to go down to La Push to hang around with the twins, but I had made him help me around the house.
He didn’t know it, but I could hear him as he grumbled and complained. I hated the fact that I couldn’t just let him run off, but he was the only help I have.
"Look Danny, things are different than they have been before. It is just you and me at the moment, and I couldn’t get the loan. We don’t have a lot of money, so we are going to have to watch what we spend." I washed out the rag I had been using to clean the window, Danny doing the same.
"That means no more eating at Sue’s, and no buying things unless we really need them. Alright?" He threw his rag in the bucket and just stared at it.
"Alright?" For a moment I actually thought he was going to stomp off, but he looked up at me and gave me a small smile and a nod of his head.
"I’m sorry about all of this, I never wanted any of this for you. But we have to make do with what we got and have been given. We will make it work." His smile lifted higher on one side and he nudged me in the shoulder.
"I know Mom." And that was that. At least there were some things he took after me.
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Author's Note: Sorry about not posting the past two weeks. My muse is an annoying thing, plus not been feeling the best either. But here ya go, short, but at least something. :)
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Chapter Five: La Push's Oldest Truck
Bella:
"Danny! I'm headed off to Sue's to pick up something for dinner, what do you want?" Since Danny started school again I have been the only one left to work on the farm. Because of this I was sore and could barely walk, it had been a long time since I've had to do this much work without help. I knew it wasn't really in our budget to get food from the diner, but at the moment it was that or heating up a can of beans and franks. I had little energy to do anything else.
"Cheeseburger, onion rings not fries!" I didn't bother trying to yell back at him, as soon as he got home and finished his homework I set him to work fixing up the back porch. There had been an old washer there when we moved in. The kind that you had to fill with water yourself and had a ringer attached to the top. He was in the middle of cleaning that thing up and I could hear as he started the old motor. It would not surprise me if he was deaf by time I got back.
The sound of the bell on the door of Sue's place was beginning to become very familiar. It was strange how quickly I was starting to think of this place as home. I slid off my jacket and hung it on the coat and hat rack by the door. My eyes setting on a worn black Stetson with a silver wolf pin on the side of the hatband. Billy Black's hat.
I saw Billy sitting at the counter as I turned around. He gave me that sideways smile of his as I came over and sat down. Before either of us could even say 'hello,' Sue came out from the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee which she used to refill Billy's cup.
"So, have you thought about it?" Billy's face immediately dropped, the annoyance now in the set of his jaw almost made me laugh.
"Yes, I have. And I assure you my answer is the same as always." Sue huffed and set the coffee pot on the counter a little harder than she should have as a small about sloshed out. She was about to respond when she noticed me and her face immediately cleared. She pulled her notebook from her pocket and grabbed her pencil.
"Bella! It is good to see you, since you fixed your fridge you haven't been around much. How is everything going?" As normal Sue placed her hip on the counter, and though she still held her pencil I knew she wouldn't take my order without an update. I wondered if she did that with everyone, or just me.
"Going good, we've got a good deal of the house itself fixed up. Working on the barn and the old washer right now." I leaned on the counter myself and ran a tired hand through my hair.
"Sorry for not coming by sooner, but you will probably see me more for awhile at least. Danny has started school again, so I'm doing everything myself. I'm not sure right now if I have the energy to even open a can of pop." She clicked her tongue, but thankfully held it. She had already offered out the help of most of the rez guys, but I refused. It wasn't that I was too proud, more that I had nothing to offer them for their help. I certainly didn't have the money to pay them.
"So what will you have then?" She placed the pencil to the pad and gave me a small smile.
"Just two cheeseburgers with onion rings, to go, thank you." She jotted it down and gave Billy a look that clearly said that whatever they had been talking about wasn't finished, and went to hand the order to the cook in the back.
"You know, my son and a few of his friends are pretty handy when it comes to fixing things. If you need help I'm sure they wouldn't mind coming out." I turned to look at Billy, he wore his long hair today pulled back with a thin leather thong. It allowed me to really see his face. It really isn't surprising that so many of the women on the rez were hoping to turn his head.
"Thank you, but I'm sure Danny and I can manage." He just nodded and let it go. We sat in silence a moment before Sue came back out to tell me it would be a few moments and settle my bill. As soon as she finished she glared at Billy and I swore I saw him stiffen a little.
"You know Leah told me that her and Jake are thinking about getting rid of their truck. It is only five years old and in pretty good shape." Billy sighed and picked at the food on his plate before looking up at Sue.
"I'm not getting rid of my truck, and that is final. Would you stop pestering me about it?" Sue placed her fists on her hips and glared at the man beside me.
"Your truck is a worthless piece of garbage! Come on Billy, that thing is so outdated. That thing was old when you got it in high school! I think it is high time that you put that poor thing out of its misery." Well she did have a point, I've seen his truck. One more than one occasion I have wondered how it was still running.
"It is a piece of history Sue, our history. She may not look like much, but she still runs just fine. I plan on driving her until she falls apart on the road. And even then I'm keeping her, so just get that notion of me getting a new truck out of your head right now. You are the only one that complains anyway." She just rolled her eyes and turned to grab the bag of food the cook held out from the kitchen. She set it before me and gave a quiet goodbye before going to help a couple of other customers.
I grabbed my bag and stood in order to head back home. I was so tired I was actually thinking about eating in bed so I could just pass out as soon as I finished. As soon as I pulled on my jacket the door opened and I looked over to see Billy holding it open for me. When I stepped up into my truck I swore I saw him wink at me as he tipped his hat, but I couldn't be sure.
Billy:
I stapled the bag of pills shut and handed them off to Mary Ann. She just smiled and left with a reminder that I still needed to make up that game of Bridge. I shook my head and moved off to unpack a box of candy bars. As I passed by the window I could see as Sue's small blue car pulled up. I couldn't help the smirk I knew was spreading across my face as she slid out of the driver's side and slowly shut the door.
I may have gone a little far, but I was tired of her constantly getting on me about my truck. I bought that thing when I was a senior in high school. Dad refused to buy me one, said it would do me good to earn the money and buy one. I saved up for two years, working odd jobs here and there. I was as proud as a peacock when I handed over the money for that truck.
When I told Sue that it was a part of our history I wasn't lying. Before any of us had gotten married we used to park that truck down at the beach, sitting in the bed or on the hood and watch the bonfire a few feet away. I had won a race against Harry with it. The first time I made love to Sarah had been in the bed of that truck. She had even given birth to Jake in the cab, that boy had always been impatient.
I opened the door and stepped out as I watched Sue stare at my truck with her mouth hanging wide open. I had set up poles around my truck when I had gotten here this morning, tied ropes to them until I had barricaded my truck in. On a sign nailed to the overhang of the store I had painted in large bright letters; 'Save La Push's Oldest Truck!' And on one of the poles I had nailed a box labeled; 'Donations.' The funny thing was when I had come out to go get some lunch there was actually twenty dollars in there.
"Oh my God! Billy!" I cringed at the sound of her voice. Sue had this way of screeching that could actually make dogs whine. She marched up the rest of the way and I was expecting her to slap me. It looked like she was about to but her hand stopped part way and fell to her side.
"Fine, I get it. I'll stop bothering you about that truck. Now would you take that ridiculous thing down?" I should have thought of this awhile ago, would have saved us both a lot of headaches.
"It will be gone by the morning. Now what was it you needed?" The annoyed look melted from her face as she took on that impish look she always got when I knew she was going to do or say something stupid.
"I just wanted to talk to you about Mrs. Swan-Hunter. I saw you open the door for her yesterday, and Mary Ann told me you were flirting with her at the bonfire last week." Great, this was all I needed. It had been years since I was the subject of the local grapevine.
"I was not flirting with her, she was introducing me to her son." She eyed me a moment before leaned back against one of the pillars of the porch.
"Danny wasn't with you at that time." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She really was hoping to find something gossip worthy out of this.
"That was because Danny had gone down to be with his friends. I was just assuring Mrs. Swan-Hunter that she had no need of worry when it came to her boy's friends. Since Sam had taken them under his wing and all. In fact I am sure Sam will do the same to Danny soon, now that he is hanging out with the twins." She was silent a moment and then let out a soft huff.
"You are so boring some times Billy. Would it hurt you to actually try to find you a woman? Bella is a wonderful girl and she…" I cut her off with a raised hand.
"And she doesn't need the likes of an old man running after her. There are plenty of young men here that she has caught the eye of, and I dare say some of them are worthy of her. I know Paul was hoping to ask her out." She shook her head and reached out to take a hold of a bit of my hair. She tugged a little on it before flipping it away. That had been a habit of hers since we were young. It had never been anything sexual, we had never seen each other that way. She was simply my sister, albeit an annoying sister.
"She doesn't need some young buck to come blazing into her life. She is a single mother trying to make a life for her and her son. She needs someone steady, someone that will care and love her the way she needs to be. Just think about that Billy.
"I've got to go, see you later." She smiled and waved as she got into her car and drove off. Her words echoed in my head as I went back inside. The problem wasn't me seeing Bella that way, it was her seeing me as more than an old man.
Author's Note: Ok, as I have said while I am going along mostly with the movie, there are some things that I am changing for this story. This chapter is one of those. In the movie Bella's part, Emma is actually getting a business licence while Billy's part, Murphy is paying his parking tickets.
As I am not having Billy have the same nice car, but his old beat up truck I thought to change it. Also the second half isn't anywhere in the movie, but I thought it was funny.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
"Danny! I'm headed off to Sue's to pick up something for dinner, what do you want?" Since Danny started school again I have been the only one left to work on the farm. Because of this I was sore and could barely walk, it had been a long time since I've had to do this much work without help. I knew it wasn't really in our budget to get food from the diner, but at the moment it was that or heating up a can of beans and franks. I had little energy to do anything else.
"Cheeseburger, onion rings not fries!" I didn't bother trying to yell back at him, as soon as he got home and finished his homework I set him to work fixing up the back porch. There had been an old washer there when we moved in. The kind that you had to fill with water yourself and had a ringer attached to the top. He was in the middle of cleaning that thing up and I could hear as he started the old motor. It would not surprise me if he was deaf by time I got back.
The sound of the bell on the door of Sue's place was beginning to become very familiar. It was strange how quickly I was starting to think of this place as home. I slid off my jacket and hung it on the coat and hat rack by the door. My eyes setting on a worn black Stetson with a silver wolf pin on the side of the hatband. Billy Black's hat.
I saw Billy sitting at the counter as I turned around. He gave me that sideways smile of his as I came over and sat down. Before either of us could even say 'hello,' Sue came out from the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee which she used to refill Billy's cup.
"So, have you thought about it?" Billy's face immediately dropped, the annoyance now in the set of his jaw almost made me laugh.
"Yes, I have. And I assure you my answer is the same as always." Sue huffed and set the coffee pot on the counter a little harder than she should have as a small about sloshed out. She was about to respond when she noticed me and her face immediately cleared. She pulled her notebook from her pocket and grabbed her pencil.
"Bella! It is good to see you, since you fixed your fridge you haven't been around much. How is everything going?" As normal Sue placed her hip on the counter, and though she still held her pencil I knew she wouldn't take my order without an update. I wondered if she did that with everyone, or just me.
"Going good, we've got a good deal of the house itself fixed up. Working on the barn and the old washer right now." I leaned on the counter myself and ran a tired hand through my hair.
"Sorry for not coming by sooner, but you will probably see me more for awhile at least. Danny has started school again, so I'm doing everything myself. I'm not sure right now if I have the energy to even open a can of pop." She clicked her tongue, but thankfully held it. She had already offered out the help of most of the rez guys, but I refused. It wasn't that I was too proud, more that I had nothing to offer them for their help. I certainly didn't have the money to pay them.
"So what will you have then?" She placed the pencil to the pad and gave me a small smile.
"Just two cheeseburgers with onion rings, to go, thank you." She jotted it down and gave Billy a look that clearly said that whatever they had been talking about wasn't finished, and went to hand the order to the cook in the back.
"You know, my son and a few of his friends are pretty handy when it comes to fixing things. If you need help I'm sure they wouldn't mind coming out." I turned to look at Billy, he wore his long hair today pulled back with a thin leather thong. It allowed me to really see his face. It really isn't surprising that so many of the women on the rez were hoping to turn his head.
"Thank you, but I'm sure Danny and I can manage." He just nodded and let it go. We sat in silence a moment before Sue came back out to tell me it would be a few moments and settle my bill. As soon as she finished she glared at Billy and I swore I saw him stiffen a little.
"You know Leah told me that her and Jake are thinking about getting rid of their truck. It is only five years old and in pretty good shape." Billy sighed and picked at the food on his plate before looking up at Sue.
"I'm not getting rid of my truck, and that is final. Would you stop pestering me about it?" Sue placed her fists on her hips and glared at the man beside me.
"Your truck is a worthless piece of garbage! Come on Billy, that thing is so outdated. That thing was old when you got it in high school! I think it is high time that you put that poor thing out of its misery." Well she did have a point, I've seen his truck. One more than one occasion I have wondered how it was still running.
"It is a piece of history Sue, our history. She may not look like much, but she still runs just fine. I plan on driving her until she falls apart on the road. And even then I'm keeping her, so just get that notion of me getting a new truck out of your head right now. You are the only one that complains anyway." She just rolled her eyes and turned to grab the bag of food the cook held out from the kitchen. She set it before me and gave a quiet goodbye before going to help a couple of other customers.
I grabbed my bag and stood in order to head back home. I was so tired I was actually thinking about eating in bed so I could just pass out as soon as I finished. As soon as I pulled on my jacket the door opened and I looked over to see Billy holding it open for me. When I stepped up into my truck I swore I saw him wink at me as he tipped his hat, but I couldn't be sure.
Billy:
I stapled the bag of pills shut and handed them off to Mary Ann. She just smiled and left with a reminder that I still needed to make up that game of Bridge. I shook my head and moved off to unpack a box of candy bars. As I passed by the window I could see as Sue's small blue car pulled up. I couldn't help the smirk I knew was spreading across my face as she slid out of the driver's side and slowly shut the door.
I may have gone a little far, but I was tired of her constantly getting on me about my truck. I bought that thing when I was a senior in high school. Dad refused to buy me one, said it would do me good to earn the money and buy one. I saved up for two years, working odd jobs here and there. I was as proud as a peacock when I handed over the money for that truck.
When I told Sue that it was a part of our history I wasn't lying. Before any of us had gotten married we used to park that truck down at the beach, sitting in the bed or on the hood and watch the bonfire a few feet away. I had won a race against Harry with it. The first time I made love to Sarah had been in the bed of that truck. She had even given birth to Jake in the cab, that boy had always been impatient.
I opened the door and stepped out as I watched Sue stare at my truck with her mouth hanging wide open. I had set up poles around my truck when I had gotten here this morning, tied ropes to them until I had barricaded my truck in. On a sign nailed to the overhang of the store I had painted in large bright letters; 'Save La Push's Oldest Truck!' And on one of the poles I had nailed a box labeled; 'Donations.' The funny thing was when I had come out to go get some lunch there was actually twenty dollars in there.
"Oh my God! Billy!" I cringed at the sound of her voice. Sue had this way of screeching that could actually make dogs whine. She marched up the rest of the way and I was expecting her to slap me. It looked like she was about to but her hand stopped part way and fell to her side.
"Fine, I get it. I'll stop bothering you about that truck. Now would you take that ridiculous thing down?" I should have thought of this awhile ago, would have saved us both a lot of headaches.
"It will be gone by the morning. Now what was it you needed?" The annoyed look melted from her face as she took on that impish look she always got when I knew she was going to do or say something stupid.
"I just wanted to talk to you about Mrs. Swan-Hunter. I saw you open the door for her yesterday, and Mary Ann told me you were flirting with her at the bonfire last week." Great, this was all I needed. It had been years since I was the subject of the local grapevine.
"I was not flirting with her, she was introducing me to her son." She eyed me a moment before leaned back against one of the pillars of the porch.
"Danny wasn't with you at that time." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She really was hoping to find something gossip worthy out of this.
"That was because Danny had gone down to be with his friends. I was just assuring Mrs. Swan-Hunter that she had no need of worry when it came to her boy's friends. Since Sam had taken them under his wing and all. In fact I am sure Sam will do the same to Danny soon, now that he is hanging out with the twins." She was silent a moment and then let out a soft huff.
"You are so boring some times Billy. Would it hurt you to actually try to find you a woman? Bella is a wonderful girl and she…" I cut her off with a raised hand.
"And she doesn't need the likes of an old man running after her. There are plenty of young men here that she has caught the eye of, and I dare say some of them are worthy of her. I know Paul was hoping to ask her out." She shook her head and reached out to take a hold of a bit of my hair. She tugged a little on it before flipping it away. That had been a habit of hers since we were young. It had never been anything sexual, we had never seen each other that way. She was simply my sister, albeit an annoying sister.
"She doesn't need some young buck to come blazing into her life. She is a single mother trying to make a life for her and her son. She needs someone steady, someone that will care and love her the way she needs to be. Just think about that Billy.
"I've got to go, see you later." She smiled and waved as she got into her car and drove off. Her words echoed in my head as I went back inside. The problem wasn't me seeing Bella that way, it was her seeing me as more than an old man.
Author's Note: Ok, as I have said while I am going along mostly with the movie, there are some things that I am changing for this story. This chapter is one of those. In the movie Bella's part, Emma is actually getting a business licence while Billy's part, Murphy is paying his parking tickets.
As I am not having Billy have the same nice car, but his old beat up truck I thought to change it. Also the second half isn't anywhere in the movie, but I thought it was funny.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Chapter Four: Bonfires And Bachelors
Bella:
What I was thinking when I thought to buy this place I could never tell you. Everything was in shambles, even the rubble had rubble of its own. Ok maybe that was going a little far, but you get my point. We had finally gotten the kitchen and most of the downstairs fixed up, well as well as we could with little money to work with.
I would be going into Forks in two days, I already had an appointment set up at the bank. If all went well we would have enough money to practically gut half this place and start over. Until then, it was lots of elbow grease and sore hands and knees.
And itchy eyes. If there was one thing about ranching and farming that I hated, it was the hay. Mostly old hay, and the stables were full of it. That and petrified horse shit. Danny got off from having to help me today as it was his first day at his new school.
He had hooted and hollered this morning, I knew he hated being the new kid. A bus had come for him early this morning in order to bring him into Forks in time for classes. He had tried to convince me to allow him to enter the school on the reservation, he had already met some of the kids at the Diner, sadly he didn't like the fact that he wasn't allowed even if I liked the idea of him closer better.
I watched from the doorway of the stables as the old yellow school bus pulled up just outside the gates of our house. Danny practically leapt out onto the ground when the door opened up. He at least looked in one piece, if not a little annoyed. He didn't even bother with opening the gate, just climbed over it and started trudging my way.
"So, how was school?" My voice was a little scratchy from all the dust and hay, but at least I was able to yell loud enough that he could hear me. He dropped his bag beside him and let it drag in the dirt. Great, something else I was going to have to wash tonight before going to bed.
"Okay I guess, that school doesn't even have a computer though." I rolled my eyes, ever since he went to that school in Colorado he has been talking about nothing but those annoying things. He had even once tried to teach me how to work one during a Parent/Teacher night. Too many buttons.
"Did you talk to anybody?" He shrugged his shoulders, dragging his bag through a puddle of mud. I hope none of it got inside. We didn't have the money to replace ruined school books.
"Yeah, one kid. They aren't as interesting as the kids on the reservation though. I still wish I could go there, I like Collin and Brady." Ah yes, the twins. Danny had met up with them one night at the Diner and the three of them hit it off really quickly. They seemed like a good sort.
"I'm sorry, but you know why you can't. But hey, you can see them tonight. I got a call from Sue and she invited us down to First Beach tonight. I guess there is a weekly bonfire there, many of reservation and some of the people from Forks come out to dance and eat.
"So why don't you go and do your homework?" He picked up the muddy bag, a smile finally forming on his face.
"I did that on the bus already." At least he was smart, unlike his father. James wouldn't be able to draw water from a boot even if there were instructions on the heel.
"Ok then, go in and have some milk and cookies and come out and help me finish this so we can get going." He nodded as he made his way towards the house. I cringed as I remembered what I picked up at the store this morning.
"Damnit! I forgot milk, so have some water and cookies….bring me a cookie!"
Even though the sun had set about an hour ago, First Beach was as bright as a sunlit afternoon. Several fires along the beach were the main source of that light, but most of the tables that had been set up along one side of the beach also had large burning tiki torches as well. I even saw on the far end that someone had set up a portable generator and strung up Christmas lights.
Sue had been right, most everyone from the reservation was already here. I could even make out a few faces I knew from Forks. People were laughing and talking, fixing plates of food and generally having fun. This had to have been the first place I had ever been where the entire community actually got along.
Danny jumped a bit to my side, I looked at him and where he was looking and saw a table set up with several containers of ice-cream. I pulled out a couple of dollars from my purse and handed them to him.
"Go on." He smiled widely and took off at a run. I glanced around me a bit more, I could see Sue at a table a ways down. She was handing out plates of food, laughing and joking with an older man at her side. I was guessing that was her husband, with the way he reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
I had never had that with James. He had been all passion, all eight cylinders a runnin', only stopping when he was going on fumes. Of course he had been a gas guzzler, it always ended pretty quickly. He had never really been the romantic type. There were no soft caresses, whispered words of love, just persistent gropes and questions of when the next time we could fuck would be. It makes one wonder why I had ever married the fool.
Deciding it was time I just forget James and had fun I walked over to Danny who had just given his order to the woman at the table.
"Wait, I meant to have you get me one." He smiled as he reached out and took the two cones of ice-creams from the woman.
"I know, here." I took the scoop of what looked like vanilla bean and hooked my other arm around his shoulders. I lead him further down the beach, weaving in and out of people. We stopped here and there as people stopped to ask us how we were doing. It seemed everyone did already know who we were.
We walked closer to where the lights had been set up only to see that they had been used to light a stage and dance floor. I directed Danny towards a large piece of driftwood where two guys were sitting. With their russet skin and oil slick hair it wasn't hard to tell that they were from the reservation.
They were both what one would call beautiful men, in tight jeans and button down white shirts. I was sure all the woman here and in Forks were vying for their time. The tallest of the two stood up after Danny sat down. He flashed me a bright and wide smile and held his hand out towards the driftwood.
"Have a seat Ma'am. Jared and I were just about to go and get something to eat anyway." I knew when I was younger I would have been melting with the way he was looking me over. Call me jaded, but after my experience with James I was a little wiser in the guy department.
"Thank you….?" The guy next to me, Jared I was guessing, gave me a wink and walked off.
"Paul, Ma'am, Paul Meraz." He picked up a cowboy hat from a corner of the driftwood, placed it on his head and tipped it at me.
"Thank you, Paul." The smile never left his face as he turned with a soft 'you're welcome' and left towards the food tables. My attention then turned back to the stage where the band was playing up some sort of jig.
My eyes widened as I noticed the fiddler in front of the group. Billy Black stood before a microphone, a fiddle under his chin as he played. He was smiling out at the crowd of dancers, turning back towards the rest of the band every now and then. He had looked happy when I had seen him in his pharmacy, but the smile that graced his face now was shining. He truly looked like he was having fun.
After another song he called out for a ten minute break, set his fiddle down on a wooden stool and hopped off the low stage with more energy than a man his age should. Well a man of whatever age he was.
He weaved his way through the crowd and the moment he saw us he turned from the direction of the food tables to us. He sat down on Danny's other side and gave us both a huge grin.
"Mrs. Swan-Hunter. It is good to see you. Are you enjoying the bonfire?" I looked out over every one around before looking back at him with what I was sure my own bright smile. Maybe all the hard work at the farm was worth it.
"Definitely. So what, are you moonlighting or something?" He laughed a bit and turned on the driftwood so he could see us better.
"Nah, just letting off some steam. As you can see there is not a whole lot to do around here, these bonfire nights give something for everyone to look forward to." He looked down at Danny and held out his hand.
"Am I right in guessing this is your son?" Danny wiped off his hand to make sure there was no ice-cream on it and took Billy's hand.
"Danny Hunter, Sir." Billy grasped Danny's hand and gave it a shake.
"Billy Black, and it is nice to meet you. And please just call me Billy, I've always hated Sir.
"So you going to school over in Forks?" Danny's face fell immediately at the mention of school. Of course I doubted there was ever a kid's face that ever lit up at the thought.
"Yeah, just started today." I rolled my eyes to Billy over my son's shoulder. He just smirked.
"I take it then you don't like it very much?" Danny shook his head and looked down at his lap.
"He is a bit upset that he can't go to the rez school. He made friends with two of the kids here. A Collin and Brady." Billy's face lit up at the mention of the twins.
"The Harris twins. They are good boys, couldn't have picked two better friends." Danny nodded, though his face was still down I could see a hint of a smile on his face. He hadn't really had any friends in awhile, it has been just the two of us for so long.
"I see them down over by the water, a few of the other young guys from the rez with them." Danny's head shot up and looked around until he found the twins playing around by a fire that looked to be set too close to the water. It was a wonder they got that thing lit.
"Can I go Mom?" I nodded knowing he would just whine and annoying me the rest of the night if I told him no. I watched him run off and holler down to the group of boys. I was happy to see how the twins smiled and waved him down as soon as they saw him.
"You have nothing to worry about if he is going around with them. The twins help out around the rez a lot, Sam Uley, the tallest and only adult in that group, took them under his wing when they were about Danny's age.
"Sam is one of our police officers and sort of unofficial role model for the boys around here. We've had our share of young misfits, but far fewer of them since Sam grew up." I looked at Billy who was gazing out to the group of boys. I tried to imagine him at their age, his hair would have been shorter and I was sure he would have greased it back. I could see him wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans with his boots and all the girls just falling over themselves to even earn a look from him.
From the corner of my eye I could see an older woman walking our way. She looked to be maybe in her fifties, her hair still slightly black though the majority of it was grey. She stopped just in front of Billy.
"Hey Billy, you in for a game of Bridge tomorrow night? Alice wanted to know so she could bake you a raisin pie if you were." Billy took her hand and gave her a sweet smile.
"Nah, sorry Mary Ann. I already promised Emma that I would be by for her chili." Mary Ann nodded her head, winked and walked off as soon as she got a promise from Billy to pencil her in for next week.
"I'm taking it you don't watch too much late night television?" I swore I saw him blush a bit, though it could have been the lighting.
"I'm a widower, in a place where the women outnumber the men, a man like me is like catnip to a cat. But I promise, I only keep to the harmless ones. Mary Ann is a widow herself, Emma just never married after her boyfriend died when they were teens. When you get to be my age, you take what company you can get." I looked him over, head to toe.
"Oh I don't know, you can't be that old. How old are you?" He lifted a brow and shifted on the driftwood.
"Old enough. I have a few grandchildren. My son, Jake and his wife Leah have a four year old they've named after me." He stood up after that, dusted off his pants and tipped his hat to me. I could really get used to that.
"Well, I think everyone has had their bathroom break so I better be getting back up there. I hope to see you around. Goodnight Mrs. Swan-Hunter." He turned and headed back towards the stage to take back up his fiddle.
"Goodnight Mr. Black."
Author's Note: Sorry about not updating last week, we pretty much all took a break to gather the muse. But hopefully there will not be anymore breaks from me.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
What I was thinking when I thought to buy this place I could never tell you. Everything was in shambles, even the rubble had rubble of its own. Ok maybe that was going a little far, but you get my point. We had finally gotten the kitchen and most of the downstairs fixed up, well as well as we could with little money to work with.
I would be going into Forks in two days, I already had an appointment set up at the bank. If all went well we would have enough money to practically gut half this place and start over. Until then, it was lots of elbow grease and sore hands and knees.
And itchy eyes. If there was one thing about ranching and farming that I hated, it was the hay. Mostly old hay, and the stables were full of it. That and petrified horse shit. Danny got off from having to help me today as it was his first day at his new school.
He had hooted and hollered this morning, I knew he hated being the new kid. A bus had come for him early this morning in order to bring him into Forks in time for classes. He had tried to convince me to allow him to enter the school on the reservation, he had already met some of the kids at the Diner, sadly he didn't like the fact that he wasn't allowed even if I liked the idea of him closer better.
I watched from the doorway of the stables as the old yellow school bus pulled up just outside the gates of our house. Danny practically leapt out onto the ground when the door opened up. He at least looked in one piece, if not a little annoyed. He didn't even bother with opening the gate, just climbed over it and started trudging my way.
"So, how was school?" My voice was a little scratchy from all the dust and hay, but at least I was able to yell loud enough that he could hear me. He dropped his bag beside him and let it drag in the dirt. Great, something else I was going to have to wash tonight before going to bed.
"Okay I guess, that school doesn't even have a computer though." I rolled my eyes, ever since he went to that school in Colorado he has been talking about nothing but those annoying things. He had even once tried to teach me how to work one during a Parent/Teacher night. Too many buttons.
"Did you talk to anybody?" He shrugged his shoulders, dragging his bag through a puddle of mud. I hope none of it got inside. We didn't have the money to replace ruined school books.
"Yeah, one kid. They aren't as interesting as the kids on the reservation though. I still wish I could go there, I like Collin and Brady." Ah yes, the twins. Danny had met up with them one night at the Diner and the three of them hit it off really quickly. They seemed like a good sort.
"I'm sorry, but you know why you can't. But hey, you can see them tonight. I got a call from Sue and she invited us down to First Beach tonight. I guess there is a weekly bonfire there, many of reservation and some of the people from Forks come out to dance and eat.
"So why don't you go and do your homework?" He picked up the muddy bag, a smile finally forming on his face.
"I did that on the bus already." At least he was smart, unlike his father. James wouldn't be able to draw water from a boot even if there were instructions on the heel.
"Ok then, go in and have some milk and cookies and come out and help me finish this so we can get going." He nodded as he made his way towards the house. I cringed as I remembered what I picked up at the store this morning.
"Damnit! I forgot milk, so have some water and cookies….bring me a cookie!"
Even though the sun had set about an hour ago, First Beach was as bright as a sunlit afternoon. Several fires along the beach were the main source of that light, but most of the tables that had been set up along one side of the beach also had large burning tiki torches as well. I even saw on the far end that someone had set up a portable generator and strung up Christmas lights.
Sue had been right, most everyone from the reservation was already here. I could even make out a few faces I knew from Forks. People were laughing and talking, fixing plates of food and generally having fun. This had to have been the first place I had ever been where the entire community actually got along.
Danny jumped a bit to my side, I looked at him and where he was looking and saw a table set up with several containers of ice-cream. I pulled out a couple of dollars from my purse and handed them to him.
"Go on." He smiled widely and took off at a run. I glanced around me a bit more, I could see Sue at a table a ways down. She was handing out plates of food, laughing and joking with an older man at her side. I was guessing that was her husband, with the way he reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
I had never had that with James. He had been all passion, all eight cylinders a runnin', only stopping when he was going on fumes. Of course he had been a gas guzzler, it always ended pretty quickly. He had never really been the romantic type. There were no soft caresses, whispered words of love, just persistent gropes and questions of when the next time we could fuck would be. It makes one wonder why I had ever married the fool.
Deciding it was time I just forget James and had fun I walked over to Danny who had just given his order to the woman at the table.
"Wait, I meant to have you get me one." He smiled as he reached out and took the two cones of ice-creams from the woman.
"I know, here." I took the scoop of what looked like vanilla bean and hooked my other arm around his shoulders. I lead him further down the beach, weaving in and out of people. We stopped here and there as people stopped to ask us how we were doing. It seemed everyone did already know who we were.
We walked closer to where the lights had been set up only to see that they had been used to light a stage and dance floor. I directed Danny towards a large piece of driftwood where two guys were sitting. With their russet skin and oil slick hair it wasn't hard to tell that they were from the reservation.
They were both what one would call beautiful men, in tight jeans and button down white shirts. I was sure all the woman here and in Forks were vying for their time. The tallest of the two stood up after Danny sat down. He flashed me a bright and wide smile and held his hand out towards the driftwood.
"Have a seat Ma'am. Jared and I were just about to go and get something to eat anyway." I knew when I was younger I would have been melting with the way he was looking me over. Call me jaded, but after my experience with James I was a little wiser in the guy department.
"Thank you….?" The guy next to me, Jared I was guessing, gave me a wink and walked off.
"Paul, Ma'am, Paul Meraz." He picked up a cowboy hat from a corner of the driftwood, placed it on his head and tipped it at me.
"Thank you, Paul." The smile never left his face as he turned with a soft 'you're welcome' and left towards the food tables. My attention then turned back to the stage where the band was playing up some sort of jig.
My eyes widened as I noticed the fiddler in front of the group. Billy Black stood before a microphone, a fiddle under his chin as he played. He was smiling out at the crowd of dancers, turning back towards the rest of the band every now and then. He had looked happy when I had seen him in his pharmacy, but the smile that graced his face now was shining. He truly looked like he was having fun.
After another song he called out for a ten minute break, set his fiddle down on a wooden stool and hopped off the low stage with more energy than a man his age should. Well a man of whatever age he was.
He weaved his way through the crowd and the moment he saw us he turned from the direction of the food tables to us. He sat down on Danny's other side and gave us both a huge grin.
"Mrs. Swan-Hunter. It is good to see you. Are you enjoying the bonfire?" I looked out over every one around before looking back at him with what I was sure my own bright smile. Maybe all the hard work at the farm was worth it.
"Definitely. So what, are you moonlighting or something?" He laughed a bit and turned on the driftwood so he could see us better.
"Nah, just letting off some steam. As you can see there is not a whole lot to do around here, these bonfire nights give something for everyone to look forward to." He looked down at Danny and held out his hand.
"Am I right in guessing this is your son?" Danny wiped off his hand to make sure there was no ice-cream on it and took Billy's hand.
"Danny Hunter, Sir." Billy grasped Danny's hand and gave it a shake.
"Billy Black, and it is nice to meet you. And please just call me Billy, I've always hated Sir.
"So you going to school over in Forks?" Danny's face fell immediately at the mention of school. Of course I doubted there was ever a kid's face that ever lit up at the thought.
"Yeah, just started today." I rolled my eyes to Billy over my son's shoulder. He just smirked.
"I take it then you don't like it very much?" Danny shook his head and looked down at his lap.
"He is a bit upset that he can't go to the rez school. He made friends with two of the kids here. A Collin and Brady." Billy's face lit up at the mention of the twins.
"The Harris twins. They are good boys, couldn't have picked two better friends." Danny nodded, though his face was still down I could see a hint of a smile on his face. He hadn't really had any friends in awhile, it has been just the two of us for so long.
"I see them down over by the water, a few of the other young guys from the rez with them." Danny's head shot up and looked around until he found the twins playing around by a fire that looked to be set too close to the water. It was a wonder they got that thing lit.
"Can I go Mom?" I nodded knowing he would just whine and annoying me the rest of the night if I told him no. I watched him run off and holler down to the group of boys. I was happy to see how the twins smiled and waved him down as soon as they saw him.
"You have nothing to worry about if he is going around with them. The twins help out around the rez a lot, Sam Uley, the tallest and only adult in that group, took them under his wing when they were about Danny's age.
"Sam is one of our police officers and sort of unofficial role model for the boys around here. We've had our share of young misfits, but far fewer of them since Sam grew up." I looked at Billy who was gazing out to the group of boys. I tried to imagine him at their age, his hair would have been shorter and I was sure he would have greased it back. I could see him wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans with his boots and all the girls just falling over themselves to even earn a look from him.
From the corner of my eye I could see an older woman walking our way. She looked to be maybe in her fifties, her hair still slightly black though the majority of it was grey. She stopped just in front of Billy.
"Hey Billy, you in for a game of Bridge tomorrow night? Alice wanted to know so she could bake you a raisin pie if you were." Billy took her hand and gave her a sweet smile.
"Nah, sorry Mary Ann. I already promised Emma that I would be by for her chili." Mary Ann nodded her head, winked and walked off as soon as she got a promise from Billy to pencil her in for next week.
"I'm taking it you don't watch too much late night television?" I swore I saw him blush a bit, though it could have been the lighting.
"I'm a widower, in a place where the women outnumber the men, a man like me is like catnip to a cat. But I promise, I only keep to the harmless ones. Mary Ann is a widow herself, Emma just never married after her boyfriend died when they were teens. When you get to be my age, you take what company you can get." I looked him over, head to toe.
"Oh I don't know, you can't be that old. How old are you?" He lifted a brow and shifted on the driftwood.
"Old enough. I have a few grandchildren. My son, Jake and his wife Leah have a four year old they've named after me." He stood up after that, dusted off his pants and tipped his hat to me. I could really get used to that.
"Well, I think everyone has had their bathroom break so I better be getting back up there. I hope to see you around. Goodnight Mrs. Swan-Hunter." He turned and headed back towards the stage to take back up his fiddle.
"Goodnight Mr. Black."
Author's Note: Sorry about not updating last week, we pretty much all took a break to gather the muse. But hopefully there will not be anymore breaks from me.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Chapter Three: Real Lemons
Bella:
I took a step back from the fireplace, clapped my hands together a couple of times to rid them of dirt, and just stared. I cocked my head right, then left, set my hand on my hip and tried to eye what was before me with squinted eyes.
"Mom, I really don't think that old weed is going to make this room look any better. Mostly when you stuck it in a rusty coffee can." Danny put his hand on my shoulder, standing beside me and staring at the plant with a raised brow. I looked at him and then back to the mantle of the fireplace. Ok, so it wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it….oh who am I kidding it was a weed planted in a piece of trash!
"Well, we'll just call it art. Did you get the fridge cleaned out?" I knew it was probably cruel of me, but the kid could use the experience. Bullshit? Doubtless.
"I even took an old toothbrush after it. It is clean and mold free, as promised." I nodded, pulled off the tatty old ball cap from my head and ran my hand through my mussed hair. We had had breakfast at Sue's, taken with us a couple of doggy bags for lunch, but I was hoping to actually make dinner tonight. Of course that meant I would have to find a grocery store.
"Go and clean up the kitchen cabinets and counters really good for me, I'm going to head out to La Push and see if I can find a store. I might be awhile if I have to drive into Forks." He just patted me on my shoulder and stomped back off into the kitchen. It is funny how kids always forget we have ears when they are upset. Danny grumbled as he walked away.
So I was able to find a small store, though as with most small towns the selection was sparse. I had been able to get most of what I had wanted, what they hadn't had the nice older lady that ran the cash register promised they could order.
The only thing that they didn't have was the one thing I was really needing at the moment. I never knew that a store could actually run out of aspirin. The older lady, Mary, had directed me to the local pharmacy. Apparently locally owned by the reservations resident widower.
I piled everything in the bed of my truck and headed a little ways out until I saw the large wooden sign Mary had told me about.
Black's Pharmacy from the outside looked like all the other buildings on the reservation. It was rustic, built with heavy woods, remnants of red and white paint chipping off the large posts on the low porch. Though it was obvious that the building was old and in need of a bit of elbow grease, it had a very pleasant feeling about it. Almost calming, mostly with it being surrounded on almost all sides by towering green trees.
I parked my truck and hopped out, my eyes immediately going to the same old truck I had seen at Sue's the day before. Somehow here beside this quaint shop the truck succeeded in looking more classic than rundown.
When I opened the heavy wooden door to the pharmacy I was hit with the scent of vanilla and tobacco. It reminded me of the old pipe tobacco that my granddaddy used to smoke when I was a kid. It only added to the comfort of the place.
I had expected Widower Black to be in his late seventies, possibly early eighties. Cropped grey or white hair set atop a grizzled old face. His large eyes hidden behind thick bottle glasses. A white coat with a little name tag, and a voice rough with age. What I had not expected was a man, tall with long ink black hair and kind eyes.
Mr. Black smiled at me, just a sideways lift of the right side of his mouth. Though he did not wear the cowboy hat he had the day before, he still tipped his head at me.
"Good-day Ma'am, anything I could help you with?" His smile relaxed, but didn't disappear as he leaned on the counter of what appeared to be an old fashioned soda shop. I gathered myself from my shock enough to take at seat on the other side of the counter and take a quick look at the plain white board menu hanging on the wall.
"Lemon coke, and could I get a bottle of aspirin?" He stood up completely, his smile still in place as he grabbed a yellow box from behind him and set it on the counter. I watched him silently as he poured the coke syrup over a glass of ice and cut into a fresh lemon.
"Real lemons?" Ok, so that was rather obvious, but even the soda shop back where I grew up used store bought bottled juice.
"Only the best for my costumers. I grow them myself, along with a few herbs and vegetables." His voice was low, but not excessively deep. It was rough, as I had imagined, but not from age. The rasp sounded more like he had spent a few years smoking. He squeezed the lemon into the glass and added the soda water before handing it to me. I gave him a soft thanks, opened the box of aspirin and swallowed two.
"So I saw you at Sue's yesterday, you go there often?" He raised a brow at me while he used a towel to dry off the lower counter in front of him.
"Almost everyday. We've known each other for years, her husband and I grew up together." I nodded and took a long sip of my coke.
"So I guess you're from here then? What kind of place is this, I mean La Push and Forks? I've only met a few people, but they all seem pretty nice." He placed the towel down and walked from behind the counter in order to unpack a box of sleeping pills.
"Oh, I guess your typical small town. Quiet, everyone knows everyone else, and their business. But generally nice, if a little old fashioned." I turned around on my stool so I could see him better as he placed the small boxes on a shelf. My eyes passed over the name tag he wore, though I was sure he really didn't need one.
"B. Black, what does the B stand for?" He looked over his shoulder at me, his smile still shinning.
"Billy, and since we are talking about names, may I ask yours?" The way he looked at me I was sure he already knew, hell I was sure all of La Push already knew. I mean when I was at the store I hadn't had to introduce myself once, and yet everyone knew my name.
"Isabella Swan-Hunter, though you probably already knew that. But please, just call me Bella." He placed the last small box on the shelf and turned towards me.
"News travels real fast around here, I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad one, but everyone already knew your name and face the moment you left Sue's for the first time." I groaned, I already figured that would happen, but it was still a little annoying.
"What I don't know yet is where you're from." Though he phrased it more as a statement I knew he was actually asking.
"This time, Falcon, Colorado. Though I'm originally from just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. I've lived and worked on a ranch most of my life." I finished up my last couple of drinks of coke, pulled some money from my purse and looked up at him.
"So, how much do I owe you?" He gave me another smile, again the little lift of the side of his mouth.
"Two dollars, and no need to tip, I own the place." I gave him my own little smirk and a lifted brow.
"I wasn't going to." I placed two bills on the counter and stepped down from the stool, heading to the door.
"See ya around Billy." I heard his voice, rough and low saying a quiet 'Well yes Ma'am' as the old door slowly closed behind me.
"So I take it you found a store?" Danny stood in the doorway to the house, his arms crossed as he leaned against the frame. Sometimes he looked so much like his father it was frightening. James always did the same thing when I would come home. He would be leaning against the door frame, one leg crossed over the other with his arms wrapped limply across his chest.
When I was younger I had always thought it made him look sexy as all get out. It wasn't until I grew up and saw him for the lazy bastard he was that I realized just what that stance actually represented. Pure and complete arrogance. Thankfully for Danny it was simply a physical mimic of his father and not his attitude.
"Yes, I found a store. Now get out here and help me get these bags, the sooner we get them put away the sooner we can eat." Danny pushed off of the door frame and ran out to grab as many bags as he could. If there was one thing that could motivate that boy it was food. I wasn't looking forward to the day that I could add girls on that list.
Author's Note: Thanks again to Mist who took the time to Beta this, thankies Sugar! This chapter for some reason was a pain. I knew what I wanted, but it didn't want to come out right. So hopefully this sounds ok and not forced. More Bella/Billy interaction coming next chapter! :D
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own! Not Twilight and not Murphy's Romance.
I took a step back from the fireplace, clapped my hands together a couple of times to rid them of dirt, and just stared. I cocked my head right, then left, set my hand on my hip and tried to eye what was before me with squinted eyes.
"Mom, I really don't think that old weed is going to make this room look any better. Mostly when you stuck it in a rusty coffee can." Danny put his hand on my shoulder, standing beside me and staring at the plant with a raised brow. I looked at him and then back to the mantle of the fireplace. Ok, so it wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it….oh who am I kidding it was a weed planted in a piece of trash!
"Well, we'll just call it art. Did you get the fridge cleaned out?" I knew it was probably cruel of me, but the kid could use the experience. Bullshit? Doubtless.
"I even took an old toothbrush after it. It is clean and mold free, as promised." I nodded, pulled off the tatty old ball cap from my head and ran my hand through my mussed hair. We had had breakfast at Sue's, taken with us a couple of doggy bags for lunch, but I was hoping to actually make dinner tonight. Of course that meant I would have to find a grocery store.
"Go and clean up the kitchen cabinets and counters really good for me, I'm going to head out to La Push and see if I can find a store. I might be awhile if I have to drive into Forks." He just patted me on my shoulder and stomped back off into the kitchen. It is funny how kids always forget we have ears when they are upset. Danny grumbled as he walked away.
So I was able to find a small store, though as with most small towns the selection was sparse. I had been able to get most of what I had wanted, what they hadn't had the nice older lady that ran the cash register promised they could order.
The only thing that they didn't have was the one thing I was really needing at the moment. I never knew that a store could actually run out of aspirin. The older lady, Mary, had directed me to the local pharmacy. Apparently locally owned by the reservations resident widower.
I piled everything in the bed of my truck and headed a little ways out until I saw the large wooden sign Mary had told me about.
Black's Pharmacy from the outside looked like all the other buildings on the reservation. It was rustic, built with heavy woods, remnants of red and white paint chipping off the large posts on the low porch. Though it was obvious that the building was old and in need of a bit of elbow grease, it had a very pleasant feeling about it. Almost calming, mostly with it being surrounded on almost all sides by towering green trees.
I parked my truck and hopped out, my eyes immediately going to the same old truck I had seen at Sue's the day before. Somehow here beside this quaint shop the truck succeeded in looking more classic than rundown.
When I opened the heavy wooden door to the pharmacy I was hit with the scent of vanilla and tobacco. It reminded me of the old pipe tobacco that my granddaddy used to smoke when I was a kid. It only added to the comfort of the place.
I had expected Widower Black to be in his late seventies, possibly early eighties. Cropped grey or white hair set atop a grizzled old face. His large eyes hidden behind thick bottle glasses. A white coat with a little name tag, and a voice rough with age. What I had not expected was a man, tall with long ink black hair and kind eyes.
Mr. Black smiled at me, just a sideways lift of the right side of his mouth. Though he did not wear the cowboy hat he had the day before, he still tipped his head at me.
"Good-day Ma'am, anything I could help you with?" His smile relaxed, but didn't disappear as he leaned on the counter of what appeared to be an old fashioned soda shop. I gathered myself from my shock enough to take at seat on the other side of the counter and take a quick look at the plain white board menu hanging on the wall.
"Lemon coke, and could I get a bottle of aspirin?" He stood up completely, his smile still in place as he grabbed a yellow box from behind him and set it on the counter. I watched him silently as he poured the coke syrup over a glass of ice and cut into a fresh lemon.
"Real lemons?" Ok, so that was rather obvious, but even the soda shop back where I grew up used store bought bottled juice.
"Only the best for my costumers. I grow them myself, along with a few herbs and vegetables." His voice was low, but not excessively deep. It was rough, as I had imagined, but not from age. The rasp sounded more like he had spent a few years smoking. He squeezed the lemon into the glass and added the soda water before handing it to me. I gave him a soft thanks, opened the box of aspirin and swallowed two.
"So I saw you at Sue's yesterday, you go there often?" He raised a brow at me while he used a towel to dry off the lower counter in front of him.
"Almost everyday. We've known each other for years, her husband and I grew up together." I nodded and took a long sip of my coke.
"So I guess you're from here then? What kind of place is this, I mean La Push and Forks? I've only met a few people, but they all seem pretty nice." He placed the towel down and walked from behind the counter in order to unpack a box of sleeping pills.
"Oh, I guess your typical small town. Quiet, everyone knows everyone else, and their business. But generally nice, if a little old fashioned." I turned around on my stool so I could see him better as he placed the small boxes on a shelf. My eyes passed over the name tag he wore, though I was sure he really didn't need one.
"B. Black, what does the B stand for?" He looked over his shoulder at me, his smile still shinning.
"Billy, and since we are talking about names, may I ask yours?" The way he looked at me I was sure he already knew, hell I was sure all of La Push already knew. I mean when I was at the store I hadn't had to introduce myself once, and yet everyone knew my name.
"Isabella Swan-Hunter, though you probably already knew that. But please, just call me Bella." He placed the last small box on the shelf and turned towards me.
"News travels real fast around here, I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad one, but everyone already knew your name and face the moment you left Sue's for the first time." I groaned, I already figured that would happen, but it was still a little annoying.
"What I don't know yet is where you're from." Though he phrased it more as a statement I knew he was actually asking.
"This time, Falcon, Colorado. Though I'm originally from just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. I've lived and worked on a ranch most of my life." I finished up my last couple of drinks of coke, pulled some money from my purse and looked up at him.
"So, how much do I owe you?" He gave me another smile, again the little lift of the side of his mouth.
"Two dollars, and no need to tip, I own the place." I gave him my own little smirk and a lifted brow.
"I wasn't going to." I placed two bills on the counter and stepped down from the stool, heading to the door.
"See ya around Billy." I heard his voice, rough and low saying a quiet 'Well yes Ma'am' as the old door slowly closed behind me.
"So I take it you found a store?" Danny stood in the doorway to the house, his arms crossed as he leaned against the frame. Sometimes he looked so much like his father it was frightening. James always did the same thing when I would come home. He would be leaning against the door frame, one leg crossed over the other with his arms wrapped limply across his chest.
When I was younger I had always thought it made him look sexy as all get out. It wasn't until I grew up and saw him for the lazy bastard he was that I realized just what that stance actually represented. Pure and complete arrogance. Thankfully for Danny it was simply a physical mimic of his father and not his attitude.
"Yes, I found a store. Now get out here and help me get these bags, the sooner we get them put away the sooner we can eat." Danny pushed off of the door frame and ran out to grab as many bags as he could. If there was one thing that could motivate that boy it was food. I wasn't looking forward to the day that I could add girls on that list.
Author's Note: Thanks again to Mist who took the time to Beta this, thankies Sugar! This chapter for some reason was a pain. I knew what I wanted, but it didn't want to come out right. So hopefully this sounds ok and not forced. More Bella/Billy interaction coming next chapter! :D
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own! Not Twilight and not Murphy's Romance.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Chapter Two: The Girl Next Door
Bella:
I was beginning to think that even when Old Farmer Clark had been alive, he hadn't taken care of the place all that well. Some of the damage in the house could not have been caused by abandonment. The wiring, well what wiring there was, was shot. This was something I had figured out the hard way.
After leaving Sue's we had stopped off at a small gas station and picked up something for breakfast the next morning. I had been carrying the bag of food in one arm into the kitchen and went to turn on the light. Only instead of flicking on with, or at least simply staying off, it lit up, flickered and spluttered and then with a sound very much like a gun, blew up.
The light in the bathroom had been no better, I am not sure fire is suppose to shoot from a light socket. It was a good thing I always knew to be prepared. Even as a kid a strong enough storm could blow the generator, and Pop hadn't had enough money to fix the backup after it had finally blew. We ended up getting ready for bed by candlelight.
Even if the wiring had been in pretty good condition, I still would have needed to do some upgrading. The light in my bedroom was an old converted gaslight.
I was currently trying to get the kitchen in order, what with small pieces of an old light bulb scattered around the room. Danny and I were having to utilize the daylight as much as we could, the electrician I had called had said he wouldn't be able to come by until next week. I was envisioning most meals at Sue's diner. The old fridge still had the remains of whatever Old Farmer Clark had bought before he died.
"The fireplace is cleaned, but where do you think we could get some wood? I don't think it stops raining long enough here for anything to dry." Danny stood in the doorway, he was covered head to toe in old ashes. I was going to have to do laundry before long.
"I figured we'd ask around. Someone around here has to sell firewood. It will cost, but it will have to do until we can figure out a way to dry out some timber." I dusted off my hands, grabbed the towel from the counter and tossed it at him.
"Go clean up, we'll get something down at the diner to eat."
Pulling into the lot just outside of Sue's Diner, my eyes settled on a truck that had to be in even worse shape than my old thing. It had to have been red at one time, now it was more a faded pink with patches of white. It most likely had been a beauty back in its day, now though I was seriously doubting that it actually ran.
I parked my old beat up truck two cars down, jumped from the cab and still didn't make it to the diner door before Danny.
It was earlier than the last time we had eaten here, so of course there were also more people. Just as last time all heads turned towards us. Most curious, some even pitying. I had no doubt that they all knew who I was and that I was divorced. In a place this small gossip moved faster than light.
Danny and I sat down at a booth this time, both of us picking up the menus. I tried to ignore the stares, it wasn't as though I was not use to them. Every time we moved it was the same. My eyes shifted off the plastic covered menu to take a glance around the room.
There were a few older people, none of them the same as the first time. A family or two and a group of teenagers. None of them seemed rude, all gave me a friendly smile as my eyes passed over them. Though when I found myself glancing over at the only man at the counter, I found them resting on him a little longer than the rest.
He had to have been a little above average height, not too skinny and yet not overweight either. His hair is what struck me the most. Though he had to have been at least in his fifties, his hair still slick oil black. I could only make out one or two strands of grey. What surprised me the most though was the length of it. I was sure he hadn't cut it since he had been a teen, it almost reached his hips.
Sue had walked up while I continued to look at the man. Men seriously shouldn't be allowed to have hair that pretty.
"Well, it is nice to see you two again. How is the cleaning coming?" Sue's sweet voice brought the man's attention to our table. Like the rest he gave me a kind smile, unlike the rest he lifted his hand to grasp the brim of his old cowboy hat. With that same friendly smile in place he tipped his hat before turning back around to finish his meal.
I brought my attention back to Sue, only to find that she was giving me a knowing smirk.
"He sure cuts a pretty picture I know. Even some of the young girls have noticed that, not that he does." I just nodded, not really sure what to say. The man looked friendly enough. I just cleared my throat and smiled at Sue.
"Well, as I was saying, how is the cleaning coming?" Sue slipped her pencil behind her ear, leaning her hip on the edge of the table. It seems that Sue might just be the queen of this particular beehive. I doubted she would take our orders before I answered her. At least she was friendly. I had met many gossip-mongers who would rather beat it out of you instead of coax it.
"It going good, would be better if the wiring wasn't shot. We are working mostly by candlelight right now." Sue's eyes softened slightly and she pulled her pencil from her ear, seemingly satisfied with what I had said.
"Alright, then what shall I get ya?"
Billy:
I had closed the pharmacy a bit early today, all my regulars had already been in and I was rather hungry. Sue always had a steak or fish dinner set back for me, even if I didn't come in. Tonight was fish, fresh caught by Harry.
I heard the bell on the door chime, but ignored it. Sue's diner, while not the only place in La Push, it was the favorite. I once teased Sue that she should just take the door off, it would keep that damn bell quiet. It wasn't until the entire diner went silent that I realized that something was different. I turned slowly around, and sure enough Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son had just walked in and sat down.
The boy had to be around ten or eleven years old, maybe a year or two older. Hair a dark blonde, just a bit curly. All in all a rather general appearance. His mother on the other hand. I might not have called her gorgeous, she wasn't one of those girls with the huge hair that you saw on the cover of magazines. No, she had long hair of a deep brown that she had woven back in a braid. She wore simple jeans and a red buffalo plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her little elbows. Though I couldn't see her face, I could easily tell you she was cute. More like the girl next door. I turned back around before she caught me looking and started back on my meal.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sue weave her way around the tables and towards where Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son were sitting. I loved Sue like a sister, but she was one of the nosiest women you would ever meet. I felt bad for those two, Sue would keep pestering them until she had all the information she wanted. I had once talked to Harry about this habit of her's, but it seems my old friend is just as bad as his wife.
Sue's voice as she questioned Mrs. Swan-Hunter brought my attention back to them and I turned once more. Only this time I wasn't the only one looking. I had been right, she was cute. I lifted my hand, gave her a smile and tilted my hat towards her. Her eyes were wide, but she still gave me a sweet little smile before I turned to take the last few bites of my dinner.
I had hoped that I would be able to set my money on the counter and leave before Sue got back, sadly I hadn't been quick enough. She had just handed the ticket to Jared in the back as I sat down what I owed her. She smiled widely at me and took the money.
"So, what do you think of Mrs. Swan-Hunter?" She had that smirk on her face, the same one she had every time she caught me looking longer than a second at a woman. She had tried many times to set me up, the first time being five years after Sarah's death.
"Cute, definitely cute. But Sue, don't. She just moved here, and I've told you before I am not looking for anybody." She shrugged her shoulders and went to help Sam after he sat down. I took this chance to get up and leave before Sue got back. As I grabbed my coat from beside the door I noticed Mrs. Swan-Hunter looking my way again. I slipped my coat on and tipped my hat one last time.
She really was cute.
Bella:
I shut the door to the house with a bit more care than I normally would, but I was tired and full from dinner. I just stood there and looked over the place once more. It was going to take a lot of hard work and money to fix this place up. As I thought about Sue, the others in the diner that had come to say hello and introduce themselves, I knew that it was going to be worth it.
This place may have been rundown, but so far the people I have met were nice. The diner had good food, and in the end this place was our's. This was our place to do with what we wanted. We were not living with others, working for our food and lodging, no, this belonged to us.
I pulled off my button down shirt to expose the slightly stained t-shirt underneath. There was cleaning and fixing still needing to be done, and a few hours before bed. I might as well do what I could, tomorrow I needed to head into La Push or Forks and see if I could find a store. Even though I wouldn't use the refrigerator, we could get some boxed items and fruits and vegetables.
Gathering a bucket filled with water and a few torn up rags I started on cleaning the front room, my mind wandering. The image of that man in the diner, the one Sue had briefly spoke about, popped up in my head. He had a very memorable face, lined with age, but not unattractive. No, not unattractive at all.
He had a sweet smile and a kind feeling about him. I was sure he was a gentleman, not many guys tipped their hats to ladies anymore. Of course I hadn't had much experience with gentlemen to actually recognize one when I saw one. But I was sure he was.
Plunging the old rag and my hand into the bucket of cold water and soap, I put him out of my mind and set rag to wall and scrubbed like my life depended on it. It was hard work, but it was good work.
Author's Note: Thanks to Mist for betaing this.
Ok shorter than the last chapter, but I had a bad week and my mind and muse hadn't wanted to work for me on this.
The bit at the beginning with the lights, yeah some of that has happened to me. The fire shooting from the light socket, yeah not fun.
For those that asked, Bella is 33, Billy is 60, the same as in the movie. This takes place about 1985. This also will be updated every Saturday, though the exact time will vary.
Now I am going by the movie, but changing just a few things, like using Sue's Diner. Also in the movie he has a well kept vintage car, I decided that Billy would have an old worndown truck that he refuses to get rid of.
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it!
I was beginning to think that even when Old Farmer Clark had been alive, he hadn't taken care of the place all that well. Some of the damage in the house could not have been caused by abandonment. The wiring, well what wiring there was, was shot. This was something I had figured out the hard way.
After leaving Sue's we had stopped off at a small gas station and picked up something for breakfast the next morning. I had been carrying the bag of food in one arm into the kitchen and went to turn on the light. Only instead of flicking on with, or at least simply staying off, it lit up, flickered and spluttered and then with a sound very much like a gun, blew up.
The light in the bathroom had been no better, I am not sure fire is suppose to shoot from a light socket. It was a good thing I always knew to be prepared. Even as a kid a strong enough storm could blow the generator, and Pop hadn't had enough money to fix the backup after it had finally blew. We ended up getting ready for bed by candlelight.
Even if the wiring had been in pretty good condition, I still would have needed to do some upgrading. The light in my bedroom was an old converted gaslight.
I was currently trying to get the kitchen in order, what with small pieces of an old light bulb scattered around the room. Danny and I were having to utilize the daylight as much as we could, the electrician I had called had said he wouldn't be able to come by until next week. I was envisioning most meals at Sue's diner. The old fridge still had the remains of whatever Old Farmer Clark had bought before he died.
"The fireplace is cleaned, but where do you think we could get some wood? I don't think it stops raining long enough here for anything to dry." Danny stood in the doorway, he was covered head to toe in old ashes. I was going to have to do laundry before long.
"I figured we'd ask around. Someone around here has to sell firewood. It will cost, but it will have to do until we can figure out a way to dry out some timber." I dusted off my hands, grabbed the towel from the counter and tossed it at him.
"Go clean up, we'll get something down at the diner to eat."
Pulling into the lot just outside of Sue's Diner, my eyes settled on a truck that had to be in even worse shape than my old thing. It had to have been red at one time, now it was more a faded pink with patches of white. It most likely had been a beauty back in its day, now though I was seriously doubting that it actually ran.
I parked my old beat up truck two cars down, jumped from the cab and still didn't make it to the diner door before Danny.
It was earlier than the last time we had eaten here, so of course there were also more people. Just as last time all heads turned towards us. Most curious, some even pitying. I had no doubt that they all knew who I was and that I was divorced. In a place this small gossip moved faster than light.
Danny and I sat down at a booth this time, both of us picking up the menus. I tried to ignore the stares, it wasn't as though I was not use to them. Every time we moved it was the same. My eyes shifted off the plastic covered menu to take a glance around the room.
There were a few older people, none of them the same as the first time. A family or two and a group of teenagers. None of them seemed rude, all gave me a friendly smile as my eyes passed over them. Though when I found myself glancing over at the only man at the counter, I found them resting on him a little longer than the rest.
He had to have been a little above average height, not too skinny and yet not overweight either. His hair is what struck me the most. Though he had to have been at least in his fifties, his hair still slick oil black. I could only make out one or two strands of grey. What surprised me the most though was the length of it. I was sure he hadn't cut it since he had been a teen, it almost reached his hips.
Sue had walked up while I continued to look at the man. Men seriously shouldn't be allowed to have hair that pretty.
"Well, it is nice to see you two again. How is the cleaning coming?" Sue's sweet voice brought the man's attention to our table. Like the rest he gave me a kind smile, unlike the rest he lifted his hand to grasp the brim of his old cowboy hat. With that same friendly smile in place he tipped his hat before turning back around to finish his meal.
I brought my attention back to Sue, only to find that she was giving me a knowing smirk.
"He sure cuts a pretty picture I know. Even some of the young girls have noticed that, not that he does." I just nodded, not really sure what to say. The man looked friendly enough. I just cleared my throat and smiled at Sue.
"Well, as I was saying, how is the cleaning coming?" Sue slipped her pencil behind her ear, leaning her hip on the edge of the table. It seems that Sue might just be the queen of this particular beehive. I doubted she would take our orders before I answered her. At least she was friendly. I had met many gossip-mongers who would rather beat it out of you instead of coax it.
"It going good, would be better if the wiring wasn't shot. We are working mostly by candlelight right now." Sue's eyes softened slightly and she pulled her pencil from her ear, seemingly satisfied with what I had said.
"Alright, then what shall I get ya?"
Billy:
I had closed the pharmacy a bit early today, all my regulars had already been in and I was rather hungry. Sue always had a steak or fish dinner set back for me, even if I didn't come in. Tonight was fish, fresh caught by Harry.
I heard the bell on the door chime, but ignored it. Sue's diner, while not the only place in La Push, it was the favorite. I once teased Sue that she should just take the door off, it would keep that damn bell quiet. It wasn't until the entire diner went silent that I realized that something was different. I turned slowly around, and sure enough Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son had just walked in and sat down.
The boy had to be around ten or eleven years old, maybe a year or two older. Hair a dark blonde, just a bit curly. All in all a rather general appearance. His mother on the other hand. I might not have called her gorgeous, she wasn't one of those girls with the huge hair that you saw on the cover of magazines. No, she had long hair of a deep brown that she had woven back in a braid. She wore simple jeans and a red buffalo plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her little elbows. Though I couldn't see her face, I could easily tell you she was cute. More like the girl next door. I turned back around before she caught me looking and started back on my meal.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sue weave her way around the tables and towards where Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son were sitting. I loved Sue like a sister, but she was one of the nosiest women you would ever meet. I felt bad for those two, Sue would keep pestering them until she had all the information she wanted. I had once talked to Harry about this habit of her's, but it seems my old friend is just as bad as his wife.
Sue's voice as she questioned Mrs. Swan-Hunter brought my attention back to them and I turned once more. Only this time I wasn't the only one looking. I had been right, she was cute. I lifted my hand, gave her a smile and tilted my hat towards her. Her eyes were wide, but she still gave me a sweet little smile before I turned to take the last few bites of my dinner.
I had hoped that I would be able to set my money on the counter and leave before Sue got back, sadly I hadn't been quick enough. She had just handed the ticket to Jared in the back as I sat down what I owed her. She smiled widely at me and took the money.
"So, what do you think of Mrs. Swan-Hunter?" She had that smirk on her face, the same one she had every time she caught me looking longer than a second at a woman. She had tried many times to set me up, the first time being five years after Sarah's death.
"Cute, definitely cute. But Sue, don't. She just moved here, and I've told you before I am not looking for anybody." She shrugged her shoulders and went to help Sam after he sat down. I took this chance to get up and leave before Sue got back. As I grabbed my coat from beside the door I noticed Mrs. Swan-Hunter looking my way again. I slipped my coat on and tipped my hat one last time.
She really was cute.
Bella:
I shut the door to the house with a bit more care than I normally would, but I was tired and full from dinner. I just stood there and looked over the place once more. It was going to take a lot of hard work and money to fix this place up. As I thought about Sue, the others in the diner that had come to say hello and introduce themselves, I knew that it was going to be worth it.
This place may have been rundown, but so far the people I have met were nice. The diner had good food, and in the end this place was our's. This was our place to do with what we wanted. We were not living with others, working for our food and lodging, no, this belonged to us.
I pulled off my button down shirt to expose the slightly stained t-shirt underneath. There was cleaning and fixing still needing to be done, and a few hours before bed. I might as well do what I could, tomorrow I needed to head into La Push or Forks and see if I could find a store. Even though I wouldn't use the refrigerator, we could get some boxed items and fruits and vegetables.
Gathering a bucket filled with water and a few torn up rags I started on cleaning the front room, my mind wandering. The image of that man in the diner, the one Sue had briefly spoke about, popped up in my head. He had a very memorable face, lined with age, but not unattractive. No, not unattractive at all.
He had a sweet smile and a kind feeling about him. I was sure he was a gentleman, not many guys tipped their hats to ladies anymore. Of course I hadn't had much experience with gentlemen to actually recognize one when I saw one. But I was sure he was.
Plunging the old rag and my hand into the bucket of cold water and soap, I put him out of my mind and set rag to wall and scrubbed like my life depended on it. It was hard work, but it was good work.
Author's Note: Thanks to Mist for betaing this.
Ok shorter than the last chapter, but I had a bad week and my mind and muse hadn't wanted to work for me on this.
The bit at the beginning with the lights, yeah some of that has happened to me. The fire shooting from the light socket, yeah not fun.
For those that asked, Bella is 33, Billy is 60, the same as in the movie. This takes place about 1985. This also will be updated every Saturday, though the exact time will vary.
Now I am going by the movie, but changing just a few things, like using Sue's Diner. Also in the movie he has a well kept vintage car, I decided that Billy would have an old worndown truck that he refuses to get rid of.
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Chapter One: Moving In, Moving On
Chapter One: Moving In and Moving On;
Bella:
I loaded the last of the boxes in the back of the truck, tying it securely down with the bungee. I slammed the hatch before turning around to stare at the house Danny and I had called home for the past five months.
Ever since the divorce finalized two years ago, we had been traveling from state to state. We would find a farm or ranch and offer our services. The Parsons had kept us on the longest, Mrs. Parson being of the mind that it was unhealthy to keep uprooting my boy. Even though I agreed, it still rankled when she would get on the subject.
The Parson ranch had started to look like home by the time I was contacted by a lawyer three months ago. My father had died, and even though I had believed that he had washed his hands of me I found he had left me what money he had. Things were certainly starting to look up.
I had found a farm house in Washington State, located just outside of a reservation. It had just been in our price range, leaving us just enough to eat on for the next few months. Hopefully by then I would have been able to get a loan in order to buy our animals.
"Come on Danny, we should be heading out before the sun sets." My son, only twelve years old, dragged his bag behind him as he stepped down off the porch. He was a good boy, and it hurt me to know what all of this has done to him. He didn't ask for a good for nothing father and a mother that could barely keep him in clothes.
"Why couldn't we just stay here? Mrs. Parson is real nice and I have just started to make friends in school." The look on his face made my stomach hurt, but I knew that this was the best thing.
"Danny, look honey, I know none of this has been easy on you. Believe me when I tell you that I have never wished this for you, but things are going to change. We finally have our own farm, it will take hard work but it is going to be ok. I promise." Danny lifted his bag over his shoulder and trudged by me without a word. I wished things were different, he deserved better.
The ride was quiet and uneventful. Danny rarely spoke, even when we would stop off at night at a hotel. Once we entered Washington my eyes grew huge. I was mostly used to deserts, this place was green. Very green.
"Well, it sure doesn't look like the picture. When was it taken, do you think?" We were currently leaning against the front of the truck as we took in our new farmhouse. Danny was right, this looked nothing like what we had been expecting.
Most of the grass had been killed out, now only weeds remained. The windows in the house were so dirty you couldn't even tell they were made of glass. The front door had been torn off, and the porch looked like it was barely hanging on. I was not looking forward to seeing what the inside or the barn looked like.
"Ok, well I said it was going to take a lot of hard work. We will just have to work a bit harder than we planned." Not to mention a bit more money. Alright, a lot more. I was going to have to go into town to visit the bank sooner than I had planned.
"Come on, let's see what we can do to make this place look like home." Taking a look back at the bed of my truck I just sighed. What furniture I hadn't sold beforehand, I sold within months of the divorce. Besides the fact that we had no need of them while boarding at a ranch, we needed the cash. During the past two years Danny and I have been living as thriftily as we could. Buying just what we needed and putting the rest of the money away.
I stopped where I stood the moment we opened the door and went inside. No wonder the last owners were eager to sell, and were all too happy to do it over the phone and through the mail and the bank.
"Well Mom, it is a good thing you like hard work, because we sure are going to be doing a lot of it." Danny patted me on the back and went off to explore the house more. I just stood there with wide eyes and my mouth hanging open.
The entire place had more dirt on the inside than it did on the outside. Quite a few spiders had made their home in the corners, and what was left of the walls were caked with grime. To say it was going to take quite a bit of elbow grease and money to fix this place up was an understatement. It might be better to actually level the place and start from scratch.
Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the smell of mildew in the air, I shut the door and headed off to inspect what else was going to need done.
By the time that we had assessed the damage on the house, barn and chicken house it was growing dark. There were two rooms on the second floor of the house that at least looked livable enough. The glass in the windows weren't cracked, there were no cracks in the ceiling and no holes in the walls. Other than that they were just as dirty as the rest of the house.
Danny griped a bit when I handed him a bucket of water and a sponge and told him to start cleaning. His mouth clamped shut as soon as I said he could sleep in the truck if he wanted.
I wiped my hand across my forehead, I'm sure smearing dirt and who knew what else across it in the process. It was getting rather late and with no food in the house we were going to have to find a restaurant. One with a budget menu.
"I don't think anyone has lived in here since the forties, even then I don't think they ever cleaned it." Danny was leaning against the door frame to my room. His face was covered in dirt, as were his hands and clothes. He looked like a pig that had been rooting around in a mud hole.
"If you've finished cleaning your room, why don't you go out to the truck and get the old army cots? Go ahead and set yours up, we'll get everything else situated tomorrow." He nodded his head and set off outside. I wasn't looking forward to sleeping on the cots, we hadn't had to use them since before the divorce was final.
We had to sell the house in order to be able to eat. I had found a small one room house for rent, and Danny and I crammed ourselves inside on a couple of old cots I had found at the Salvation Army. It was a tough time in our lives, but I was determined to make it for my son's sake. Just as I was now.
We both finished setting up our rooms and cleaned off the best we could. Seems as though I would have to add propane to my shopping list. I didn't fancy cold showers all that much.
We drove into La Push hoping to find some place still open at eight, even if all we found was a convenience store with cold sandwiches. Eventually we found a small diner with their open sign still showing in the simple glass door.
I parked the car and we headed inside. The place was quiet, with only a few people still lingering at the booths. We sat down at the counter and pulled the menu from between two napkin holders and looked it over. Thankfully the meals were reasonably priced.
"Well, I haven't seen you two around before. Tourists?" I lifted my head from the plastic coated menu to come face to face with an older native woman. She was most likely in her early to late fifties with long ink black hair, and a sweet face. She was the type of woman you could easily become comfortable with.
"No, actually we moved into the old farmhouse just a ways from here. Just got in this afternoon, been cleaning all day." The woman smiled and nodded her head. She set down her pencil and wiped off her hand on her apron before she extended it to me.
"So you are the family that bought the old Clark farm? Well it is nice to meet you. I'm Sue Clearwater, the owner of this place." I took her hand and gave it a quick shake. At least so far the people around here seemed nice enough.
"I'm Bella Swan-Hunter, and this is my son Danny." She shook my boy's hand and picked her pencil up to put to her notepad.
"What can I get you two? The grill is off for the night, but we've got some chili left and some hot roast beef. We've got Coke only, and the coffee flows until ten pm for a dollar fifty." I looked over at Danny and he just handed me his menu with a shrug of his shoulders. I closed mine and set the both of them back where I had taken them from.
"Two chilies, a coke for him and coffee for me, thanks." She winked at both of us and went into the kitchen. While waiting for her to return with our dinner I looked around. When I turned my head it was to find that the two of us seemed to be the center of attention. Everyone was either staring straight at us or watching us out of the corner of their eyes. A few were even whispering behind their hands as they threw glances our way.
"I wouldn't worry about them, Honey." The clink of porcelain bowls on the counter announced the arrival of our hostess. I turned back around to be greeted with her friendly smile as she poured my cup of coffee.
"It is not unusual for white folk to come around here, many of the younger ones are friends with the kids in Forks. Even a few of the older generation can be found coming round for fishing. It's just we don't see very many new faces around here.
"Most of the people living here or in Forks were born here, and most of them will die here. I think the last time we got new blood was when the Cullen family moved into Forks back in nineteen sixty-five. People will talk for awhile, but things should die down soon enough." She set a glass filled to the brim with ice and coke down in front of Danny and wiped her hands off once again before she slipped a bit of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not worried. Danny and I are used to being the new ones in town. This would be our…oh let's see, this would be our forth time. Hopefully final too." Sue leaned down on the other side of the counter, a soft smile on her face.
"Sorry if I'm being nosy, but isn't there a Mr. Swan-Hunter?" That was the only problem with small places like this, everyone had to know everyone else's business. Well it was better to get it out now, I found it only ended up worse if it appeared as though I had been hiding it.
"There is, well a Mr. Hunter. Not that I know where he is. We're divorced, it is just Danny and me now." Sue's eyes lit up like I had just told her the secret to life before she caught herself and stood up to straighten out her apron.
"I'm sorry to hear that. It isn't easy raising children period, I bet it is even harder when you are on your own. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my Harry to help with mine.
"I have two children, a daughter who is full grown and a son that is not that far behind." I just nodded and ate my chili. Sometimes it was just best to allow them to talk.
Sue cleaned up the counter and tables, waited on the others all the while Danny and I ate. Once finished I pulled opened my purse in order to pay.
"How much do I owe you?" Sue looked at Danny and back at me while she tore the ticket from her pad and crumpled it up.
"Oh, let's say five dollars should do it. If you two have bought the Clark farm you are going to need all the money you have. No one has lived there since Old Farmer Clark died twenty years ago. His son hadn't wanted it and moved to California. No one has heard from him since." I set a five dollar bill down on the counter and closed my purse.
Sue gave a wave as we headed back out to the truck, as did a few of the others in the diner. Even though I was sure that the news of my divorced status would be all around La Push and Forks by tomorrow afternoon, they seemed nice at least. Though only time would tell for sure.
Billy:
One thing could be said about living on a small reservation like La Push, you always had enough free time. I owned the local pharmacy, a small but productive place with a soda shop built inside. My father started it as a project to keep himself busy in his old age.
I had taken over during the last couple of years of his life, and just never left. It was a good way to make a living. Customers came from not only the rez, but Forks as well. I knew them all by name, and they were loyal to shop only at Black's Pharmacy. I never had a customer before eleven on the weekdays and ten on Saturday, allowing me to have my breakfast down at Sue's diner.
The bell on the old glass door of the diner rang out as I opened it up and made my way to my usual booth. Sue's husband, Harry, and I grew up together. We had both met our wives around the same time, even courted them at the same time. We would double date, taking our girls down to the beach for bonfires.
We proposed within months of each other and married not long after. My Sarah was pregnant first, twin girls that I rarely saw now that they had both married and moved away. Sue came next with a daughter I used to tease Harry would be breaking hearts everywhere she turned.
When Sarah gave birth to our son, Jacob, her and Sue would talk for hours about how wonderful it would be if he grew up to eventually marry Leah. Something I wish she had been able to live to see.
Jake had just been two years old when my Sarah had left to visit Sue, only to be hit by a drunk driver. Thankfully she had died instantly, with no pain. Harry and Sue helped out a lot after that, never giving up on me even when I tried to push them away.
I finally woke up after three years, realizing that I still had a young son to care for. Over the years my heart has mended, and I allowed people back into my life. I've watched as both my girls married and even though it hurt to, watched them move away. I stood beside Jake as he vowed his life to Leah Clearwater, and helped him move into his house on the other side of the reservation.
I would always miss my Sarah, but life went on and I was content in mine. I had friends and grandchildren, and my pharmacy.
"The usual Billy?" I set down the menu that I picked up more out of habit than anything, and looked up at Sue. Being a normally happy person by nature it wasn't strange to see her smiling brightly at you, but the wide smile that now spread from ear to ear was rare. It could only be caused by one thing, she had gotten a hold of some new and juicy gossip.
"That would be wonderful, thank you Sue." She leaned over and turned the coffee cup in front of me over and filled it from the pot she had been holding. Every morning was the same here. I would look over the menu even though I already knew what I would be having, she would ask my order though she already knew. She would give me my coffee and leave only to return a few minutes later with a plate of eggs and bacon and a half of fried steak. I would thank her and she would proceed to ask me how I have been. Today though I was sure I was going to be treated to a report from the grapevine. In a place this small even the smallest piece of gossip was like gold.
Sue slid into the bench seat across from me as soon as she set my breakfast on the table. Apparently this was going to be quite juicy. She twiddled her thumbs for a moment and bounced in her seat. I went to take a bite of my eggs, but she was making the table jump along with her.
"Out with it Sue, before you cause my coffee to spill in my lap." Her eyes went wide and she stilled herself immediately. I never did understand why women would lean in and basically whisper something to you that they were just going to go and tell it to everyone she sees afterwards. Sue was no exception to this as she leaned in a bit and kept her voice low.
"So you heard that someone bought the old Clark farm? Well they came in last night. About gave Old Quil a heart attack when they sat down at the counter." I nodded my head and sliced into my steak, there was never a need for me to speak. I learned early on it was best to allow them to flap their mouths and just nod and 'umhm' every now and then.
"I was expecting a man, but wouldn't you know it was a woman. Mrs. Bella Swan-Hunter and her son Danny. They look like the good sort, quiet, clean and well dressed. Mrs. Swan-Hunter said they had been cleaning that place all day, and you know what shape that old farm is in." Sue absently refilled my cup of coffee as she rambled on. Poor Mrs. Swan-Hunter, she probably didn't know what she was getting herself into when she stepped into the door of Sue's diner.
"Well I was surprised when it was just her and her boy, and I didn't see any ring on her finger. Of course I didn't want to think the worst of a person, I mean she didn't look like the kind of girl that would have gotten herself in trouble. So I asked after a husband, and not to sound awful, but hoping to hear she was a widow." She paused here and remained quiet. It took me a moment to realize this was a place where I should have nodded, so I looked up at her and tilted my head just a fraction.
"She's divorced. Can you believe it? Divorced, and she couldn't be that old, I'd say with the age of her son she is around thirty or so. That poor woman is raising a young boy all on her own, and she told me she doesn't even know where that wayward ex-husband of hers is.
"I bet you he up and ran off on her, she is too nice of a lady for it to have been her fault. To think any man could just abandon his wife and son like that. The poor dears, and now they are trying to fix up that old farm. I was just telling Harry last night, I think we should get some of the young ones to go out there and help get it cleaned up. What do you think, Billy?" I set my fork down and wiped my mouth with my napkin. For our small community this sure was some big news, people rarely divorced here. If a couple had problems they just dealt with it quietly in their own homes, not that the entire reservation didn't know about it. Everyone just normally pretended when either of the couple entered a room.
"What do I think? Well Sue, I think everyone should just leave Mrs. Swan-Hunter alone until she asks to do otherwise. She is new here, and she doesn't need her home being descended upon by a group of people, well meaning or not.
"Let her get settled before you bring the welcome wagon out to the farm. Now, I thank you for the meal and the gossip, but I have to get to the shop. Ms. Call will be by soon to pick up her prescription." I set down a couple of dollars, the most that Sue would allow me to pay, and walked to the door. I plucked my hat off the stand, put it on and tipped it to Sue and the others at their tables.
"Good day."
Author's Note: I want to thank Mist, who has taken her time to Beta this for me.
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Twilight or Murphy's Romance.
Bella:
I loaded the last of the boxes in the back of the truck, tying it securely down with the bungee. I slammed the hatch before turning around to stare at the house Danny and I had called home for the past five months.
Ever since the divorce finalized two years ago, we had been traveling from state to state. We would find a farm or ranch and offer our services. The Parsons had kept us on the longest, Mrs. Parson being of the mind that it was unhealthy to keep uprooting my boy. Even though I agreed, it still rankled when she would get on the subject.
The Parson ranch had started to look like home by the time I was contacted by a lawyer three months ago. My father had died, and even though I had believed that he had washed his hands of me I found he had left me what money he had. Things were certainly starting to look up.
I had found a farm house in Washington State, located just outside of a reservation. It had just been in our price range, leaving us just enough to eat on for the next few months. Hopefully by then I would have been able to get a loan in order to buy our animals.
"Come on Danny, we should be heading out before the sun sets." My son, only twelve years old, dragged his bag behind him as he stepped down off the porch. He was a good boy, and it hurt me to know what all of this has done to him. He didn't ask for a good for nothing father and a mother that could barely keep him in clothes.
"Why couldn't we just stay here? Mrs. Parson is real nice and I have just started to make friends in school." The look on his face made my stomach hurt, but I knew that this was the best thing.
"Danny, look honey, I know none of this has been easy on you. Believe me when I tell you that I have never wished this for you, but things are going to change. We finally have our own farm, it will take hard work but it is going to be ok. I promise." Danny lifted his bag over his shoulder and trudged by me without a word. I wished things were different, he deserved better.
The ride was quiet and uneventful. Danny rarely spoke, even when we would stop off at night at a hotel. Once we entered Washington my eyes grew huge. I was mostly used to deserts, this place was green. Very green.
"Well, it sure doesn't look like the picture. When was it taken, do you think?" We were currently leaning against the front of the truck as we took in our new farmhouse. Danny was right, this looked nothing like what we had been expecting.
Most of the grass had been killed out, now only weeds remained. The windows in the house were so dirty you couldn't even tell they were made of glass. The front door had been torn off, and the porch looked like it was barely hanging on. I was not looking forward to seeing what the inside or the barn looked like.
"Ok, well I said it was going to take a lot of hard work. We will just have to work a bit harder than we planned." Not to mention a bit more money. Alright, a lot more. I was going to have to go into town to visit the bank sooner than I had planned.
"Come on, let's see what we can do to make this place look like home." Taking a look back at the bed of my truck I just sighed. What furniture I hadn't sold beforehand, I sold within months of the divorce. Besides the fact that we had no need of them while boarding at a ranch, we needed the cash. During the past two years Danny and I have been living as thriftily as we could. Buying just what we needed and putting the rest of the money away.
I stopped where I stood the moment we opened the door and went inside. No wonder the last owners were eager to sell, and were all too happy to do it over the phone and through the mail and the bank.
"Well Mom, it is a good thing you like hard work, because we sure are going to be doing a lot of it." Danny patted me on the back and went off to explore the house more. I just stood there with wide eyes and my mouth hanging open.
The entire place had more dirt on the inside than it did on the outside. Quite a few spiders had made their home in the corners, and what was left of the walls were caked with grime. To say it was going to take quite a bit of elbow grease and money to fix this place up was an understatement. It might be better to actually level the place and start from scratch.
Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the smell of mildew in the air, I shut the door and headed off to inspect what else was going to need done.
By the time that we had assessed the damage on the house, barn and chicken house it was growing dark. There were two rooms on the second floor of the house that at least looked livable enough. The glass in the windows weren't cracked, there were no cracks in the ceiling and no holes in the walls. Other than that they were just as dirty as the rest of the house.
Danny griped a bit when I handed him a bucket of water and a sponge and told him to start cleaning. His mouth clamped shut as soon as I said he could sleep in the truck if he wanted.
I wiped my hand across my forehead, I'm sure smearing dirt and who knew what else across it in the process. It was getting rather late and with no food in the house we were going to have to find a restaurant. One with a budget menu.
"I don't think anyone has lived in here since the forties, even then I don't think they ever cleaned it." Danny was leaning against the door frame to my room. His face was covered in dirt, as were his hands and clothes. He looked like a pig that had been rooting around in a mud hole.
"If you've finished cleaning your room, why don't you go out to the truck and get the old army cots? Go ahead and set yours up, we'll get everything else situated tomorrow." He nodded his head and set off outside. I wasn't looking forward to sleeping on the cots, we hadn't had to use them since before the divorce was final.
We had to sell the house in order to be able to eat. I had found a small one room house for rent, and Danny and I crammed ourselves inside on a couple of old cots I had found at the Salvation Army. It was a tough time in our lives, but I was determined to make it for my son's sake. Just as I was now.
We both finished setting up our rooms and cleaned off the best we could. Seems as though I would have to add propane to my shopping list. I didn't fancy cold showers all that much.
We drove into La Push hoping to find some place still open at eight, even if all we found was a convenience store with cold sandwiches. Eventually we found a small diner with their open sign still showing in the simple glass door.
I parked the car and we headed inside. The place was quiet, with only a few people still lingering at the booths. We sat down at the counter and pulled the menu from between two napkin holders and looked it over. Thankfully the meals were reasonably priced.
"Well, I haven't seen you two around before. Tourists?" I lifted my head from the plastic coated menu to come face to face with an older native woman. She was most likely in her early to late fifties with long ink black hair, and a sweet face. She was the type of woman you could easily become comfortable with.
"No, actually we moved into the old farmhouse just a ways from here. Just got in this afternoon, been cleaning all day." The woman smiled and nodded her head. She set down her pencil and wiped off her hand on her apron before she extended it to me.
"So you are the family that bought the old Clark farm? Well it is nice to meet you. I'm Sue Clearwater, the owner of this place." I took her hand and gave it a quick shake. At least so far the people around here seemed nice enough.
"I'm Bella Swan-Hunter, and this is my son Danny." She shook my boy's hand and picked her pencil up to put to her notepad.
"What can I get you two? The grill is off for the night, but we've got some chili left and some hot roast beef. We've got Coke only, and the coffee flows until ten pm for a dollar fifty." I looked over at Danny and he just handed me his menu with a shrug of his shoulders. I closed mine and set the both of them back where I had taken them from.
"Two chilies, a coke for him and coffee for me, thanks." She winked at both of us and went into the kitchen. While waiting for her to return with our dinner I looked around. When I turned my head it was to find that the two of us seemed to be the center of attention. Everyone was either staring straight at us or watching us out of the corner of their eyes. A few were even whispering behind their hands as they threw glances our way.
"I wouldn't worry about them, Honey." The clink of porcelain bowls on the counter announced the arrival of our hostess. I turned back around to be greeted with her friendly smile as she poured my cup of coffee.
"It is not unusual for white folk to come around here, many of the younger ones are friends with the kids in Forks. Even a few of the older generation can be found coming round for fishing. It's just we don't see very many new faces around here.
"Most of the people living here or in Forks were born here, and most of them will die here. I think the last time we got new blood was when the Cullen family moved into Forks back in nineteen sixty-five. People will talk for awhile, but things should die down soon enough." She set a glass filled to the brim with ice and coke down in front of Danny and wiped her hands off once again before she slipped a bit of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not worried. Danny and I are used to being the new ones in town. This would be our…oh let's see, this would be our forth time. Hopefully final too." Sue leaned down on the other side of the counter, a soft smile on her face.
"Sorry if I'm being nosy, but isn't there a Mr. Swan-Hunter?" That was the only problem with small places like this, everyone had to know everyone else's business. Well it was better to get it out now, I found it only ended up worse if it appeared as though I had been hiding it.
"There is, well a Mr. Hunter. Not that I know where he is. We're divorced, it is just Danny and me now." Sue's eyes lit up like I had just told her the secret to life before she caught herself and stood up to straighten out her apron.
"I'm sorry to hear that. It isn't easy raising children period, I bet it is even harder when you are on your own. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my Harry to help with mine.
"I have two children, a daughter who is full grown and a son that is not that far behind." I just nodded and ate my chili. Sometimes it was just best to allow them to talk.
Sue cleaned up the counter and tables, waited on the others all the while Danny and I ate. Once finished I pulled opened my purse in order to pay.
"How much do I owe you?" Sue looked at Danny and back at me while she tore the ticket from her pad and crumpled it up.
"Oh, let's say five dollars should do it. If you two have bought the Clark farm you are going to need all the money you have. No one has lived there since Old Farmer Clark died twenty years ago. His son hadn't wanted it and moved to California. No one has heard from him since." I set a five dollar bill down on the counter and closed my purse.
Sue gave a wave as we headed back out to the truck, as did a few of the others in the diner. Even though I was sure that the news of my divorced status would be all around La Push and Forks by tomorrow afternoon, they seemed nice at least. Though only time would tell for sure.
Billy:
One thing could be said about living on a small reservation like La Push, you always had enough free time. I owned the local pharmacy, a small but productive place with a soda shop built inside. My father started it as a project to keep himself busy in his old age.
I had taken over during the last couple of years of his life, and just never left. It was a good way to make a living. Customers came from not only the rez, but Forks as well. I knew them all by name, and they were loyal to shop only at Black's Pharmacy. I never had a customer before eleven on the weekdays and ten on Saturday, allowing me to have my breakfast down at Sue's diner.
The bell on the old glass door of the diner rang out as I opened it up and made my way to my usual booth. Sue's husband, Harry, and I grew up together. We had both met our wives around the same time, even courted them at the same time. We would double date, taking our girls down to the beach for bonfires.
We proposed within months of each other and married not long after. My Sarah was pregnant first, twin girls that I rarely saw now that they had both married and moved away. Sue came next with a daughter I used to tease Harry would be breaking hearts everywhere she turned.
When Sarah gave birth to our son, Jacob, her and Sue would talk for hours about how wonderful it would be if he grew up to eventually marry Leah. Something I wish she had been able to live to see.
Jake had just been two years old when my Sarah had left to visit Sue, only to be hit by a drunk driver. Thankfully she had died instantly, with no pain. Harry and Sue helped out a lot after that, never giving up on me even when I tried to push them away.
I finally woke up after three years, realizing that I still had a young son to care for. Over the years my heart has mended, and I allowed people back into my life. I've watched as both my girls married and even though it hurt to, watched them move away. I stood beside Jake as he vowed his life to Leah Clearwater, and helped him move into his house on the other side of the reservation.
I would always miss my Sarah, but life went on and I was content in mine. I had friends and grandchildren, and my pharmacy.
"The usual Billy?" I set down the menu that I picked up more out of habit than anything, and looked up at Sue. Being a normally happy person by nature it wasn't strange to see her smiling brightly at you, but the wide smile that now spread from ear to ear was rare. It could only be caused by one thing, she had gotten a hold of some new and juicy gossip.
"That would be wonderful, thank you Sue." She leaned over and turned the coffee cup in front of me over and filled it from the pot she had been holding. Every morning was the same here. I would look over the menu even though I already knew what I would be having, she would ask my order though she already knew. She would give me my coffee and leave only to return a few minutes later with a plate of eggs and bacon and a half of fried steak. I would thank her and she would proceed to ask me how I have been. Today though I was sure I was going to be treated to a report from the grapevine. In a place this small even the smallest piece of gossip was like gold.
Sue slid into the bench seat across from me as soon as she set my breakfast on the table. Apparently this was going to be quite juicy. She twiddled her thumbs for a moment and bounced in her seat. I went to take a bite of my eggs, but she was making the table jump along with her.
"Out with it Sue, before you cause my coffee to spill in my lap." Her eyes went wide and she stilled herself immediately. I never did understand why women would lean in and basically whisper something to you that they were just going to go and tell it to everyone she sees afterwards. Sue was no exception to this as she leaned in a bit and kept her voice low.
"So you heard that someone bought the old Clark farm? Well they came in last night. About gave Old Quil a heart attack when they sat down at the counter." I nodded my head and sliced into my steak, there was never a need for me to speak. I learned early on it was best to allow them to flap their mouths and just nod and 'umhm' every now and then.
"I was expecting a man, but wouldn't you know it was a woman. Mrs. Bella Swan-Hunter and her son Danny. They look like the good sort, quiet, clean and well dressed. Mrs. Swan-Hunter said they had been cleaning that place all day, and you know what shape that old farm is in." Sue absently refilled my cup of coffee as she rambled on. Poor Mrs. Swan-Hunter, she probably didn't know what she was getting herself into when she stepped into the door of Sue's diner.
"Well I was surprised when it was just her and her boy, and I didn't see any ring on her finger. Of course I didn't want to think the worst of a person, I mean she didn't look like the kind of girl that would have gotten herself in trouble. So I asked after a husband, and not to sound awful, but hoping to hear she was a widow." She paused here and remained quiet. It took me a moment to realize this was a place where I should have nodded, so I looked up at her and tilted my head just a fraction.
"She's divorced. Can you believe it? Divorced, and she couldn't be that old, I'd say with the age of her son she is around thirty or so. That poor woman is raising a young boy all on her own, and she told me she doesn't even know where that wayward ex-husband of hers is.
"I bet you he up and ran off on her, she is too nice of a lady for it to have been her fault. To think any man could just abandon his wife and son like that. The poor dears, and now they are trying to fix up that old farm. I was just telling Harry last night, I think we should get some of the young ones to go out there and help get it cleaned up. What do you think, Billy?" I set my fork down and wiped my mouth with my napkin. For our small community this sure was some big news, people rarely divorced here. If a couple had problems they just dealt with it quietly in their own homes, not that the entire reservation didn't know about it. Everyone just normally pretended when either of the couple entered a room.
"What do I think? Well Sue, I think everyone should just leave Mrs. Swan-Hunter alone until she asks to do otherwise. She is new here, and she doesn't need her home being descended upon by a group of people, well meaning or not.
"Let her get settled before you bring the welcome wagon out to the farm. Now, I thank you for the meal and the gossip, but I have to get to the shop. Ms. Call will be by soon to pick up her prescription." I set down a couple of dollars, the most that Sue would allow me to pay, and walked to the door. I plucked my hat off the stand, put it on and tipped it to Sue and the others at their tables.
"Good day."
Author's Note: I want to thank Mist, who has taken her time to Beta this for me.
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Twilight or Murphy's Romance.
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