Sasha slowed and pulled along the sidewalk four houses down from Hannah’s. She tugged down the bill of her ball cap and adjusted her shades. It was nearing six and most folks were returning from work. It really wasn’t the best time to be incognito, but she had to know what Hannah was up to. Was she seeing anyone? Was anyone coming to the house?
It was a madness she could not explain. A madness she could not control. She had to know, and she’d been dying to know since her encounter with Charlie. She’d told no one about what happened up on that mountain, not even Bonnie. Nor was she planning to. It was something she’d keep to herself until she figured out exactly what she felt about it. And at the moment, no answers were forthcoming. She sank down lower in her seat as a car pulled into the driveway at Hannah’s.
“Please don’t be a woman, please don’t be a woman.”
Someone crawled from the sedan. A woman, average size with long dark hair. Sasha’s breath hitched. She started her Jeep and crept up to the house slowly. She saw the woman ring the doorbell. Saw the door crack open and then she couldn’t take it. She peeled out with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t take seeing Hannah’s face at the door. She couldn’t take watching them hug or kiss.
She drove home so upset that she wasn’t sure how she’d gotten there. She parked, bypassed Bonnie, and ran up to her room to collapse on the bed. Hannah had obviously moved on. Why was she surprised? She hadn’t given Hannah any reason to stick around. She’d told her there was no hope, that she should get lost. But God, why did it hurt so badly? Why was she so confused?
Bonnie knocked on her door, but she shooed her away. She needed to be alone. She hugged her body pillow and cried into its softness. She cried until she fell asleep.
* * *
Sasha awoke to someone gently sitting on her bed. A voice came, soft, persuasive.
“Sash?”
She blinked her eyes open. It was Bonnie.
“Hm?”
“There’s someone here to see you.”
She sat up. “Who?” Maybe Hannah had seen her Jeep. Maybe Hannah had come after her.
“Charlie.”
“Charlie?”
Bonnie looked guilty and uncomfortable. “I tried to tell her you weren’t up for being seen, but she insisted.”
Sasha rubbed her face. She pushed out a breath in frustration. “Fine.”
“Should I send her up?”
“No. I’ll talk to her downstairs.”
“Okay, I’ll give you some privacy.”
Sasha smoothed down her jean shorts and blouse, finger combed her hair, and headed downstairs. Charlie stood looking at photos in the living room, a huge bouquet of roses in her hands. When she heard Sasha approach, she turned and smiled.
“Hey, gorgeous.” She crossed to her, kissed her cheek, and when Sasha turned away from her, she handed over the roses. “I thought you might like these.”
Sasha took the massive bouquet. “Thank you.” She had no idea where to put them. She hadn’t received flowers from a woman in so long she was a little awkward with the whole process. Luckily, Bonnie came downstairs right behind her and swept them from her arms.
“I’ll take care of these for you.” She gave her a quick wink.
Sasha thanked her with her eyes.
“I hope you like them. A woman like you deserves roses every day of the week,” Charlie said. She held Sasha’s hands in hers. “Where have you been? I haven’t heard from you since our bike ride to the mountain.” She was speaking softly, obviously afraid of being overheard.
“I know. I just needed some time I think.”
“Okay, you’ve had some time. How are you now? Will you please talk to me?”
Sasha hesitated. She wasn’t sure what to say. She felt cornered. “I don’t know, Charlie. This is all so new for me.”
Charlie searched her eyes. “Will you let me take you out? I brought my Accord. We don’t have to ride the bike. Let me take you out for some coffee or something.”
But that was the last thing she wanted to do. She couldn’t handle another waiter fiasco at the moment. “I don’t think so.”
“A movie then? We don’t even have to talk. Just let me spend some time with you. Let me be there for you.”
Sasha looked back toward the kitchen. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy getting rid of Charlie, and the way she’d been feeling with Hannah and what she’d seen maybe it would be a good thing to get out and get her mind off of things.
She called out to Bonnie to let her know she was leaving. Then she allowed Charlie to lead her out the door.
She took one last look back and found Bonnie eyeing her with concern. She knew exactly how she felt for she was concerned about herself as well. She climbed into Charlie’s Honda and tried to smile politely when Charlie wanted to hold her hand. She wasn’t up for the contact, but she let it happen, hoping it would change her spirits.
To Charlie, it seemed to feed her ego, because she was all grins and bad humor the entire way to the theater. To her, it seemed funny to make fun of her coworkers or some poor man on the street corner holding a sign.
Sasha wanted to duck in her seat as Charlie began talking to the old man through closed windows.
“I’m not giving you anything. No, sir. I don’t feel sorry for you, buddy. Get a job.” She looked at Sasha for approval as if she’d actually agree with her. “Can you believe these people?” She hit the gas and sped through the green light, leaving the man far behind.
Sasha released her hand and pretended to cough. She broached the subject carefully, unable to hold her tongue.
“How do you know he doesn’t really need help?”
Charlie raised her eyebrows at her. “Help? A handout is what he wants.”
Sasha steeled her jaw. “He may really be sick and down on his luck.”
“Oh, don’t tell me you fall victim to those people? Sasha, come on. You’re sick but you don’t go begging for money from strangers.”
“No, but that’s because I’m lucky. I have friends. I have family. Bonnie for instance. She’s allowing me to stay with her. And Hannah—”
Charlie burned a look at her. “Hannah. Of course she’s probably an angel. Let me guess…she would give him money.”
“No.” But she would talk to him. Find out his story. Offer him a ride to somewhere he could get help. Or she’d go get him a meal. But Sasha didn’t voice any of that. The realization just made her sad.
“At least some people have good sense,” Charlie said.
“Some people don’t have anyone,” Sasha said softly.
Charlie shook her head. “Probably their own fault then. Addiction. Probably ran their family off.”
Sasha turned on her. “How can you be so—”
But she closed her mouth. She did not want to get into it with Charlie. They were supposed to be having a good time.
“So what?”
“Nevermind.”
They hit a red light and Charlie looked over at her. “No, I want to know.”
“Listen, let’s just drop it okay? I want to have a good time and forget my day.”
Charlie tapped her hand on the steering wheel as if thinking it over. Then she reached over and grabbed her hand again.
“Okay.” She squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry you had a bad day.”
Sasha shook her head. “It wasn’t awful. I just…realized some things I’d rather forget.” Like the woman at Hannah’s house. Who was she? How long had she been seeing her?
It was a whole new obsession now and she had to make it stop. She squeezed Charlie’s hand in return.
“What are we seeing?”
Charlie grinned. “It’s a surprise.”
“Oh God, I hate surprises.”
“Well, you’ll learn to like them. Especially this one. It’s a new action movie. Supposed to have kick-ass special effects.”
Sasha tried to smile, but the confession disappointed her. She wasn’t a big fan of action movies. But she swallowed her pride and decided to give it a chance. Maybe the explosions and craziness would take her mind off Hannah and the mysterious woman.
They parked what seemed like a mile away from the theater. Sasha almost asked to be dropped off because she was still somewhat weak, but she figured with Charlie being a nurse, she’d know her limits.
By the time they sat with their popcorn and drinks, Sasha was exhausted. She tried to control her heart rate and her breathing, but it took a few minutes before she felt any relief. Charlie, however, didn’t seem to notice, and when Sasha went to sip her drink Charlie stopped her.
“You have to wait for the movie to start!”
Sasha stared, totally confused.
“It’s the rule. Otherwise you’ll be left with nothing by the time the movie begins.” She laughed and nudged her, and it dawned on Sasha that she was being playful. But she was too tired to carry on. She sat and stared at the advertisements, wanting nothing more than a drink of her water. And when the lights dimmed, she nearly inhaled it and pushed her popcorn away. Suddenly, she wasn’t hungry, and when Charlie finished her own popcorn she happily took hers. Soon Sasha was leaning into her falling asleep, and Charlie seemed to enjoy it, wrapping her arm around her and allowing her to settle.
Somehow Sasha slept through the movie, even between body shaking laughter and brief squeezes of, “Hey, did you see that?”
When it was over Sasha walked zombie like back out to the car and rode home listening to Charlie go on about the film. She struggled to keep her eyes open to pay attention. She kept leaning into the door and jerking awake. Her senses were dead and her mind mush. And she realized that even though the night hadn’t been one to write home about, it had served its purpose. She was now too tired to think much about anything.