I lifted my arm and knocked again, this time a little louder. Luna’s eyes were transfixed on the screen.
After several more attempts to get her attention and not wanting to resort to Jimmy’s SWAT team knock, I changed my tactics to something that I knew at the very least would get Sherlock’s attention again. Placing my fingers in my mouth I whistled, and it did the trick.
Both Luna and Sherlock perked up and looked over at me. When she saw it was me, Luna waved her arm for me to come in and then immediately turned her attention back to the television.
When I stepped inside I saw that she was watching a cartoon with dinosaurs that I didn’t recognize. It had been a long time since I’d watched cartoons. I used to put them on for Jimmy so I could get homework done. His favorite had been a different dinosaur named Barney.
It was strange how those times felt like a lifetime ago, but also like yesterday.
I looked around and didn’t see any sign of Skylar.
“Is your mom around?”
“She’s talking to Lee Lee,” Luna responded without taking her eyes off the screen.
The last thing I wanted to do was intrude, but I didn’t feel good about just leaving. At least that’s the reason I was telling myself that I needed to stay. If I were being totally honest, if it was anyone else, I would’ve just left.
But I wanted to see Skylar. I wanted to see how it had gone with Mrs. Birch. Honestly, I just wanted to talk to her.
Still, I felt like a creeper just waiting around. So I decided to make myself useful. I’d noticed the kitchen sink was dripping last night so I figured I might as well fix it. I went back out and grabbed my toolbox and this time I didn’t bother knocking, I just let myself back in.
As I walked to the kitchen my mind was cataloging the things that needed my attention. There was a warped slat of wood on the floor and it was a tripping hazard.
I made a mental note to check beneath the house to see if it was structural or just warping from the drip that had been coming from the ceiling. I was so concentrated on what it would entail to repair the floor if it was a structural issue that I didn’t notice Skylar through the screen door. She was standing in her sunroom that was just off the kitchen.
Her back was facing me, and I was going to turn to leave to give her privacy when I heard her hushed voice.
“I don’t know who they were.”
I froze when I heard the tension in her statement.
“No, they didn’t hurt us. We weren’t even home when they broke in.”
Broke in?
“I just packed up and left.”
There was a moment of silence and I found myself straining to hear what she was going to say next. I’d wondered what the story was for her relocation. And now I might just find out.
“No, I didn’t give notice. I just quit.”
“Yes.” Her hand flew up and she let out a frustrated puff of air. “I had to quit.”
“Because I was moving across the country.”
“Because I didn’t have a lot of options.” She shifted her weight from her left to her right leg. “Stay in Seattle in constant fear, looking over my shoulder, wondering when they were gonna come back and hope it wasn’t when we were home. Or I could leave. I chose to leave.”
Her tone was calm on the surface, but I could hear the stress just beneath it.
“No, they won’t find us here.”
She sounded sure, but I sure as hell wasn’t.
“Because no one except Milly knows where we are, and I swore her to secrecy.”
This sounded like real danger. I needed to put in a security system.
“No! You stay in school! We’re fine.”
“Ashley Nicole, this is not up for debate.” Her tone was firm. “Luna and I are fine. We are thousands of miles away.”
She let out a long sigh and I saw her shoulders droop. “I don’t know where he is.”
After a few seconds, her voice raised slightly. “I swear, I don’t. I’m not trying to protect him.”
There was a beat before she said, “Can we talk later? I need to go check on Luna and my neighbor’s here fixing the roof.”
“What do you mean does he have a penis?”
I almost choked when I heard her say penis especially since she was referring to mine.
“No. I haven’t seen it but I assume he has one.”
I did have one if it was up for debate.
“No, it’s not like that. He’s…”
He’s what? I held my breath waiting to hear what I was.
“No, he’s not old. I think he’s in his thirties.”
Thirty-four.
“No, he’s not ugly or fat.”
I’d take it.
“No, I don’t think he’s gay.”
Nope.
“He’s just fixing my roof.”
That sounded dirty.
“No. That’s not a euphemism.”
It sounded like one.
“I think you’ve been watching too much p-o-r-n,” Skylar spelled out before abruptly ending the call. “Ashley, I have to go. I love you!”
She hung up the phone and I thought about sneaking out before she saw me, but after hearing what I did, I had questions.
When she turned around and saw me through the back screen standing in her kitchen she jumped and clutched her phone to her chest.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“What are you doing?” she asked as she walked in and the screen door slammed behind her.
“I was going to fix the sink,” I said lamely.
“Momma, can I watch it again?” Luna asked as the credits rolled on the television.
“No, you need to get cleaned up for dinner.”
“Can Sherlock stay for dinner?” Luna turned her attention to me for the first time. “We’re having octopus noodles.”
“Octopus noodles?” I questioned. “That sounds…exotic.”
“Please?” Luna pleaded.
“Um…” I looked over at Skylar for any hint as to whether or not it was okay with her.
She just shrugged in resignation. “We have plenty. You’re welcome to stay. You and Sherlock.”
It wasn’t exactly the enthusiasm I’d hoped she’d have at the thought of me staying, but I guessed beggars couldn’t be choosers. “We’d love to.”
“I’ll go change!” Luna jumped up and rushed down the hall. “Come on Sherlock!”
Skylar rolled her eyes as she stared down the hall. “That girl. She’d change her clothes every hour on the hour if I let her. I had to limit it to two per day or I would have gone broke from buying laundry detergent.”
Not sure how to bring up the phone call, I figured I’d start with something less prying. “How did it go with Mrs. Birch?”
“It went great. Luna was a little nervous when we were driving over there, but then I told her that Mrs. Birch used to babysit you and it changed everything. Thank you so much for recommending her.”
“No problem.” Skylar walked over to a cabinet that had seen better days, and I asked. “Can I help with anything?”
“Oh, no. I’ve got it. It’s just mac and cheese with a hot dog on top that I cut to look like an octopus.” She paused and I noticed that she was biting the inside of her lip and I could see that she wanted to say more. Finally, she looked up at me. “How long were you standing there?”