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BRIAN
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“SO, YOUR PARENTS ARE coming,” Elizabeth said as we walked toward the garage. “Oh, my god.”
The edge of hysteria in her voice made me laugh. “Don’t panic, Elizabeth. They’re easygoing people. You’ll like them.”
She let out a deep breath. “Okay. Okay. What car are we taking?”
“The Lexus.”
“Good,” she said as we walked to the car. “You’ll have enough space for your leg.”
“That too,” I said, opening the driver’s door for her. “There is a secluded little place not far from here, at the bottom of the mountains. It’s called the Oak Tunnel. I plan to take you there as soon as we’re equipped with the necessary accessories. That’s why we’re taking the roomiest car in the garage.”
Her pretty lips rounded into a perfect little “o” when my words sank in. She fumbled in her pockets. “Where did I put the car key? Ah, here it is.” She turned the ignition on and shifted the gear. “You mean we’ll have sex in the car? It doesn’t sound very comfortable.” She tapped the transmission stick with her fingers. “This stands in the way, for example.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never had sex in a car, Miss Chatwin?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t. But it’s never late to widen your horizons, I guess.” She put the car in gear and it moved smoothly. “Where are we going?”
“To the first drug store.”
“What if someone sees us? It’s a small town and I’m an outsider.”
“Relax, Elizabeth. We’re adults. We’re buying condoms; we’re not having sex in public.”
She sighed. “I’m a bit old-fashioned, I’m afraid. I don’t like displaying the evidence of my sex life. There must be a store here with self-checkout machines. Let’s find one.”
“A self-checkout machine?” I said before I could think twice. Another damn hole in my knowledge.
She looked at me suspiciously. “You use them to scan your items and pay for them. Like at a gas station, you know, you fill your tank yourself and pay through the machine. You’ve never seen a self-checkout, have you?” She turned and looked at me. “Khalid, have you been in a coma after the accident?”
For a while, yes, and then I have been a wolf.
I smiled, avoiding the answer. “I doubt there is such a thing in Copper Ridge or Red Cliffs. Such machines would cut gossiping, and that would be a disaster.” I winked. “We can steal a box or two of condoms if you like. We can send the money later to make it right.”
“Right, that’s what I’m going to do. Do you know that I’m to be sentenced for community service—if I’m lucky—for causing a public disturbance in Rosenthal? If I’m caught shoplifting condoms, I’ll end up in jail. That would be even bigger news here than my sex life.” She looked at me, her eyes narrowed. “What about you? Are you comfortable with our little quest? Do you mind if your fellow citizens know that we are lovers?”
They’d know, but did I mind? I asked myself. One part of me felt like climbing on the top of the church tower and yelling at the top of my lungs, “She’s mine!” and another part wanted to keep our precious, little secret—secret.
“It makes me as cocky as a king of spades, and I’d almost forgotten how good it feels,” I said, stroking her cheek. “I’m about to become the most envied bachelor in Copper Ridge, Miss Chatwin.”
She smiled at me, golden speckles sparkling in her grey eyes. “Nice to hear that.”
No, I didn’t mind, I decided, even though I’d avoid highlighting it with a box of condoms in my hands if I could.
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SEVERAL TURNS AND A few minutes later, we were in front of the Matias’s Pharmacy and Paper Stationery. There were just a few cars in the parking lot. Good.
Tullikki, Matias’s young daughter, was behind the counter. I could hear a few other customers in the store somewhere between the shelves.
Tullikki greeted us, prompting the other shoppers to show up and say hello, as well.
“I need shampoo and conditioner,” Elizabeth said, talking in a fast, low whisper. “And hairspray.” She grabbed a red plastic basket and marched toward the shelves marked with a hanging sign reading “Hair.” Across from them was the “Family Planning” section. She put several bottles in the basket while I scanned the other side of the aisle for the condoms.
“It’s okay, sweeting,” I said, grabbed a 24-pack and tossed it in with her stuff. It’d keep us for a while, I calculated; by the time we got through them, Elizabeth and I would be old news, and the next condom shopping trip would be a piece of cake.
Two or three customers had left in the meantime, one more had come in, then another one left. Elizabeth took a deep breath and proceeded to the counter. She emptied the basket, burying the box of condoms with her bottles, tubes, brushes and sprays. Tullikki started scanning our items, but before she could finish, like in a cheap movie, the cash register paper roll jammed.
And then the little bell jingled, and the entry door opened once more.
“Khaliiii,”
My granddaughter sat on the shoulders of a young, tall, red-haired man. It had to be Eamon Mohegan, Eve and James’s son. Behind them came my ex-wife herself. Beneath the shock upon seeing her, was the relief of realizing she’d made herself look older than she was.
“Khaliii, Khaliii,” Rosie bounced, holding out her arms for me to take her.
Eamon passed her to me. “Mr. Nouri,” he said and held out his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir. I’m Eamon Mohegan.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Eamon,” I said. “Hi, Eve.” I kissed Rosie’s cheek. “Well, hello, sweetie. Khalid missed you.”
I introduced Elizabeth. “Eve, Eamon, this is Elizabeth Chatwin. Elizabeth, this is Eve Mohegan, my friend James’s wife. Eamon is their son.”
Elizabeth’s face was flushed. Eve’s eyes had stopped at the counter where our purchase was still standing.
“Nice to meet you, Elizabeth. I’ve heard lots about you,” Eve said in a tense voice. She smiled, seemingly polite, but I knew her too well to miss underlying anger, hurt and jealousy. The same feelings I’d been wrestling with in the long months before Elizabeth came into my life.
“And I’ve heard about you,” Elizabeth said, also smiling, her eyebrows ever so slightly arched, reading Eve’s sentiments with her fine female instinct.
I didn’t doubt for a second Elizabeth had figured out that Eve and I had a history.
“Betty! Betty!” Rosie turned to Elizabeth, her arms open, and for a moment the balance was restored. Elizabeth took her in her arms, Rosie buried her nose in her neck and sniffed her, and they both giggled.
Tullikki placed all our stuff back into a plastic basket, then put the basket behind the counter. She gave us a stiff smile. “Need another roll,” she said and disappeared into the supply room.
“What are you three doing here?” I asked Eve.
“Buying balloons for Rosie’s birthday. Matias has some special ones,” Eve said.
“Loons! Loons!” Rosie said, clapping her hands.
“Yes, love, we need lots of pink balloons,” Eve said. “How’s your leg, Khalid? Jack said it was quite bad a couple of days ago.”
“I’m much better now, thank you.”
Her eyes flickered over the counter, where our purchase had stood only moments ago. “I can see that,” she said, using a low-frequency voice so that nobody except me could hear her. It was one of the werewolves’ abilities so that we could talk in private even in proximity to others. I wasn’t sure if I was grateful for it right now.
“How was Europe?” I asked.
“Great.”
Eamon and Elizabeth were talking about Italy, where Eamon was studying music and Elizabeth had earned her degrees. Rosie happily played with Elizabeth’s golden necklace.
“We’d better go,” Eve said. “Rosie, love, let’s go look for the balloons. You’ll see Khalid soon. Elizabeth, I assume you’re coming to Rosie’s birthday.”
“I am,” Elizabeth said shyly and blushed.
“I’ll see you both on Saturday then.”
“Come to Uncle Neemo, Cupcake,” Eamon said, taking Rosie from Elizabeth’s arms and lifting her onto his shoulders.
“Neemo, Neemo!” Rosie shrieked.
“Hold her legs with both hands, Eamon,” Eve said and then looked at Elizabeth and me. “Well, have a nice day, you two.”
“It was nice to meet you, Mr. Nouri, Elizabeth,” Eamon said. “See you soon.”
They walked toward the party supply aisle, and soon we could only see Rosie, high up on Eamon’s shoulders.
Tullikki reappeared and finished scanning our items.
I let out a deep breath when we left the store. And took in another deep one, anticipating Elizabeth’s question.
But Miss Chatwin wasn’t a predictable woman.