Safe Place Series

by Shani Greene-Dowdell

  That’s cool, Slim, she thought as she walked back to the car she’d borrowed. Throw me out. I got something for your ass, she mused bitterly.

  Tiffany had another card to play. The girls’ trip would have to wait. She knew how much Slim loved her son and thought she would be able to play on his emotions. Maybe she didn’t have any more influence over him.

  On the drive back, Tiffany thought about the past few years. Slim was good to her. He married her when she told him about the baby. He paid the bills and gave her money when she needed it. He was loyal and dependable.

  Reggie, on the other hand, was not. She had a thing for him ever since high school. Even though he was with someone else, they would sneak around together the majority of their high school years. After high school, she wanted more, but he didn’t. She thought she was over him until she ran into him at a party. She was dating Slim at the time. She felt Slim was more of a sugar daddy than a boyfriend.

  After the party, she spent the night with Reggie with no feelings of guilt. They began seeing each other regularly shortly after that. When she got pregnant, she didn’t know what to do. Reggie was fresh out of jail with no job, and she knew things would be rough. When Slim found out she was pregnant and asked her to marry him, she said yes. Now, she was stuck with two kids and a man that could barely keep the lights on.

  ***

  Slim’s evening was officially ruined. How dare she come and ask him to watch her kids? Kids that he once believed to be his. If you ever want to see a grown man cry, tell him that lie. Slim turned off the oven and took out his casserole. He grabbed his glass of wine then walked over to his easy chair and sat down. Then, he let the events of that dreadful day when he found out the truth replay in his mind.

  Slim had gotten off early and went straight home. He opened the door expecting his toddler son to greet him with outstretched arms. Silence met him at the door. Confused, he walked through each room in the apartment. Tiffany’s car was outside, so where could she be?

  Assuming she was at a neighbor’s, he started on dinner. The phone rang, but his hands were full, so the machine caught the call. Her friend, Trish’s, voice filled the room. She wanted to know how long it would be before she came to get the baby. Suspicion took over Slim’s emotions as he slid into a kitchen chair. Why would she need a sitter? She’s not working due to being in her final six weeks of pregnancy, and why is her car here if our child is somewhere else? he wondered. He jumped up and went outside to move his truck to the back of the apartment complex. He came in the back door and walked over to the couch and sat down.

  Tiffany came through the door smiling. She was talking to someone behind her. She turned around and came face to face with her husband. The look of guilt on her face said it all. Before she could speak or close the door, her lover came up behind her. Tiffany had left her purse in his car. They stared at each other for about a minute. Words were not necessary.

  Slim left Tiffany that night. It was in court that he found out his son was not his. The child she was carrying came out looking so much like the other man that Slim didn’t even bother to take a DNA test.

  No need to dwell on it, he thought. What’s done is done.

  He couldn’t change the past, but in the future, he would choose wisely. That beautiful woman he saw earlier had piqued more than his interest. Maybe that’s what he needed. A nice, mature woman. He put Tiffany out of his mind and ate his dinner. After dinner, he loaded the dishwasher and called it a night.

  Read More

  Under the Sycamore

  By J. McCreary

  Chapter One

  EVAN

  I hated moving. It was something I had done enough of as a little girl. But this move was different. This move was for the one woman who I would do anything for. I owed her that. She had done the same for me when she was still in her right mind.

  My Aunt Polly was an amazing woman whom I adored, so when I got a call from her home care nurse telling me my aunt didn't want her to care for her anymore, I knew it was time. Actually, the timing couldn't have been better. I had lost my teaching job when the school levies didn't pass, and I hadn't found another school to teach at. Maybe the timing was too perfect. Aunt Polly had always been sly, so I wondered if she had a moment of clarity and fired her nurse knowing I would come take care of her.

  That was a good possibility.

  I packed up my apartment, selling a chunk of my furniture on Craigslist. Why was it that most of the people who answered Craigslist ads were people you would normally avoid on the street if they were walking towards you? I think my favorite was the stinky woman with the rusted minivan loaded down with her 'treasures' that may or may not have been hiding some sort of dead body.

  Once I had sold enough of my belongings so that all I was taking with me on the five-hour car ride was my clothing and mementos I couldn't replace, I put what hadn't sold in a box on the curb with a cardboard sign that said 'FREE.' I was sure someone wanted mismatched dishes and Tupperware that had more lids than containers.

  I didn't look back as I drove away from the place I had called home for the last six years. I was happy to be heading to the small farm town in rural Pennsylvania where I had so many good memories, and one not so good one. That not so good one was the reason I hadn't been there in almost twenty years. Aunt Polly never got upset that I wouldn't visit; she made the trip to see me multiple times saying she liked visiting the big city. I knew she hated it, but I appreciated her lie.

  I drove into the town of Kendrick, Pennsylvania as the sky started turning those shades of orange and pink that reminded you summer was right around the corner. I had spent so many of my summers there as a kid, it seemed fitting that I would arrive there just as spring was ending. I was looking forward to spending the long, humid days out on Aunt Polly's front porch, lazily swinging on her porch swing watching the summer sunsets and the fireflies come out for the evening.

  The town hadn't changed much since I had last been there except for the small coffee stand next to the farmers’ market. Main Street was deserted, businesses closed for the night, all but Andy's, the local bar. The door to the dingy building was open, the interior lit in red, green, and blue lights. People hung out front, standing on the sidewalk smoking cigarettes near a row of motorcycles. At least there was some sort of nightlife. It looked interesting, to say the least.

  I turned down the gravel road that led to the old farmhouse I used to love so much. Rolling down my window, I listened as the locusts and crickets sang their lullabies, the sound of an old friend. The smells and sounds of the quiet made me realize how much this place meant to me.

  The house was lit when I pulled in, the front door open with the screen door shut. Just as I remembered. It was almost as if time had stopped. That was until I saw Aunt Polly come to the door. She stepped onto the porch, and the first thing I noticed was how much she had aged since I last saw her. Her once shiny, lush hair was dull and stringy. It had been silver for years, but now it was gray. Her face was still beautiful, but she looked tired, the bags under her eyes gave her the appearance of a woman who didn't get the rest she needed. Her eyes were still bright, and when she saw me, they lit up even more.

  "Evan!" she squealed, coming down the porch steps one at a time.

  "Hi, Aunt Polly!" I replied, the tears starting to form in my eyes. I didn't want her to see me cry. I stood a little straighter and willed my eyes to stop burning. It was time for me to be strong for her, not the other way around like it had been for so many years.

  I walked towards her to meet her, and we embraced. Her frame was so small. Why do we have to age? Aunt Polly had been strong, fit, and active. But now? She was a frail, old woman, and I hated it.

  "I am so happy you are here, sweetheart. I have been waiting and waiting for you!" she said as she grabbed my hand to drag me up the creaky steps.

  The house was exactly as I remembered it, the ceilings tall and the rooms large. The entryway still had the bench with shoes lined up u
nder it, some of them may have even been shoes that were lined there the last time I was there. The dining room to the right had the large dinner table we had never used, and it still hadn't been used judging by the coat of dust on it. The living room on the left earned its name because it was definitely lived in. The TV had Jeopardy on, the sound low, and Lucy, Aunt Polly's home care nurse, sat on the loveseat across from where Aunt Polly must have been sitting.

  Lucy was a pleasant woman in her early fifties, a little on the plump side with an infectious smile. We’d never met in person but had spoken many times over the phone and video chatted. She seemed to truly care about my aunt, and I had no intentions of letting her go; I had hired her, after all. I did plan on cutting back on her services. She wouldn't need to be a live-in nurse with me there.

  "Hey there, Lucy," I greeted as I entered the room. She put down the magazine she had been thumbing through and looked up, that infectious smile taking over when she saw me.

  "Evan!" she exclaimed as she jumped off the loveseat and came over to me, engulfing me in a hug. Even over video chat, she came off as a hugger. I was not much of one, only with a few people, Aunt Polly being that few people. But, I let Lucy hug me. I even hugged her back.

  "I didn't think you would be here until tomorrow," Lucy said as she pulled back from me. "I would have cleaned up a little better."

  "No worries, Lucy." I smiled as I looked around. The place wasn't messy or dirty; it was lived in. It had always been lived in, and that was how I liked it.

  Aunt Polly sat in her recliner across from the loveseat, turning up the TV and settling in. Her eyes seemed a little unfocused, and that was how I knew she was slipping away for the moment. I looked at Lucy and nodded towards the kitchen, letting her know I wanted to talk.

  "Polly?" Lucy said, getting my aunt's attention. "You okay for a few? I’m going to get Evan settled in."

  "Sure, Lynette, I’m going to be just fine," she answered.

  Lucy and I exchanged looks before we left the room.

  "Lynette is close," Lucy said as we entered the kitchen. "Last week she called me Louis."

  I cringed at the mention of that name.

  Shaking it off, I smiled at Lucy.

  "So, you are okay with your hours being cut back?" I asked her.

  "Oh yeah, it will be nice to be home every night. But, I don't want you to get overwhelmed, so if you feel like you are going that route, you call me, you hear?"

  I promised her I would.

  Lucy showed me where all of Aunt Polly's medications were and the schedule of when she needed to take them. She gave me a small list of phone numbers she liked to keep on hand. I looked them over, the main number for the home care service, the number for Aunt Polly's doctor, my cell, the pharmacy, a few others and two names I didn't recognize.

  "Hey, who are Levi and Rex?" I asked, looking up from the list.

  "Oh, Levi is Polly's neighbor. He's been a huge help, coming over to stay with Polly if I need to run somewhere. He dug out her new garden and helped her plant a few weeks ago. Just a nice guy. I'm sure he will come over soon to introduce himself. Polly just adores him," Lucy replied.

  "And Rex?"

  "He's Levi's buddy. Equally as nice, although his face doesn't agree. He looks scary but has a big heart."

  Aunt Polly had never mentioned either of these guys, and now I was curious.

  "Which house is his?"

  "Who? Levi?" Lucy asked. When I nodded yes she smiled. "He bought the Richardson's house about six years ago. He came over and introduced himself to Polly, and they have been friends ever since. You will love him."

  Lucy and I went over everything from what time Aunt Polly went to bed and woke up to how warm she liked her bath water. I was grateful for Lucy. She told me she wasn't going to just throw me to the wolves. She would be staying the night and helping me settle in for the next day but didn’t think she would need to be there in the evenings for long.

  "Remember, nights are easy," she reassured. "Polly sleeps hard, and she goes to bed early and sleeps somewhat late. Set your alarm for seven every morning, and you'll be up before her. Honestly, this is the easiest job I have ever had."

  We went back to the living room and found Aunt Polly snoozing in her recliner. Lucy woke her up, helping her out of the chair and up the stairs. I followed them carrying my bag with me. Once we reached the top stair, I dropped my bag and continued down the hall to Aunt Polly's room. She went into the adjoining bathroom and shut the door.

  "You can put your stuff in your room," Lucy said. "She usually takes a few minutes."

  I walked down the hall, stopping in front of the guest bedroom. The room that had been mine was occupied by Lucy, and I was fine with it. That room was not one I wanted to sleep in ever again. I opened the door to the guest room and turned on the light. Aunt Polly had updated it since I was last here. The beautiful white, wrought iron bed centered against the wall was a bed I had always wanted as a little girl. She must have bought it just for me. The sight of it brought tears to my eyes.

  The room was painted a crisp white with white lace curtains hanging from the window. Antique looking nightstands were on each side of the bed with delicate looking lamps, also white. The bedding was a fluffy, soft mint green, and I couldn't wait to crawl into it. The closet had no door and was empty, so I placed my bag in it and turned to leave the room.

  As I walked by the nightstand closest to the door, I noticed a framed photo sitting on it. Picking it up, I saw it was a picture of Aunt Polly with twelve-year-old me on the day of her wedding. We were both smiling wide with the sun setting behind us. Aunt Polly looked so lovely, her cream-colored dress flowing in the breeze. She was happy. She had been single for so long, and when she met the new town sheriff, things changed for her.

  "Oh sweetie, I'm so glad you are here!" Aunt Polly gushed when she picked me up at the train station. School was out, and I was getting ready to spend another summer with her at her house in Pennsylvania, just as I had for the last four summers. I loved coming to her house, it was so peaceful and quiet.

  "Mom said you met someone?" I asked, a little jealous that I wouldn't have my aunt's undivided attention.

  "I did. His name is Louis, and he is our new town sheriff. And guess what?" she exclaimed.

  "What?"

  "We are getting married this summer while you are here! I told him we had to wait for you to get here. I needed you to be a part of all of it, and he agreed. He cannot wait to meet you!"

  Married? My mom hadn't said anything about her getting married.

  "Does my mom know?" I wondered.

  "Yep, and she will be here for it! Isn't this exciting?"

  I smiled and told her it was. I told her I was happy for her, but I really wasn't. I didn't want to share her, especially with some guy named Louis. I already hated him.

  When we pulled up to the farmhouse, I saw the sheriff's car sitting in the driveway. He was here?

  The screen door opened and a large, potbellied man stepped onto the porch. He was older, probably in his fifties, and wore a pair of glasses. He had a receding hairline and pants pulled too far up. He smiled and waved as he took a drink from the can of beer in his hand. What in the world did my aunt see in this guy?

  He came down the steps and helped get my suitcase out of the back of Aunt Polly's Jeep Cherokee, kissing her on the cheek before he closed the hatch. I glared at him, the man who stole my aunt from me.

  "Hi Evan," he said as he smiled down at me. He smelled like drugstore aftershave.

  "Hi," I replied, not wanting to talk to him.

  "Your aunt has told me everything about you. I feel like we're old friends."

  "Oh." That was all I could bring myself to say.

  Louis looked to my aunt, obviously not sure what else to say or do.

  "Let's get inside before these mosquitos eat us alive," Louis said, and he turned and walked towards the house.

  I felt Aunt Polly take my hand and pull me back. I looked up
at her.

  "Evan, what's wrong? I promise you will love Louis. You have to give him a chance."

  "I am just tired," I lied.

  "Okay then, let's get you inside and settled into your room," Aunt Polly told me as she started towards the house. I followed behind her.

  Once we were inside, I went upstairs and saw that Louis had put my bag in my room for me. I opened it up and found my pajamas. I turned around to head to the bathroom and was startled by Louis standing in my doorway.

  "Sorry!" he said as he put his hands in the air in surrender. "I didn't mean to scare you."

  "It's okay," I said as my heart tried to slow itself. I hadn't even heard him come to the door.

  "I wanted to tell you I put a tire swing on the back of the property on the old sycamore tree. Polly says you go out there a lot when you’re here."

  I loved going out to that old tree. I would take a book with me and read, or a blanket and fall asleep listening to the locusts. Sometimes, Aunt Polly would go with me. We would stay until dusk, just as the fireflies came out, and we would catch them in our hands.

  I didn't want Louis to go out there.

  "Thanks," I replied. I grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste out of my bag and excused myself. He let me walk by, and as I reached the door to the bathroom, I turned. Louis was still standing there watching me, his face expressionless. I walked into the bathroom and shut the door, and for the first time ever, I locked the door to my aunt's bathroom.

  Read More