Stormbound - pt 10 - by Gun Brooke

“Better put that hat on now, Tiff. We'll be in Farlow's Creek in ten minutes, and we'll be running into a few people.”

“All right.” Tiffany donned the black knitted hat, careful to push all the long, blond curls underneath. According to Izzy, she could be spotted a mile away by showing off her signature locks. Wrinkling her nose at Izzy, she tried to coax a reciprocating smile from her serious face. “How do I look?”

“Pretty.” Izzy smiled faintly. “Like a cute little lumber jack.”

“Lumberjack?” Tiffany snorted. “That's a first.” After a glance in a makeup mirror, she was bound to agree. She had deliberately refrained from any of her usual makeup, and instead used some of her eye shadows to create light brown freckles. When she now checked her appearance, she didn't think her own mother would recognize her.

“Here's Farlow's Creek now.” Izzy turned onto a bigger road, which led into a small town.

Tiffany looked around, curious at the sight of just a few buildings. There was a quaint little church with its steeple, surrounded by a small picket fence, and a long building with a playground. That must be the school. The next building was a log cabin, which turned out to actually be the post office, and a small gas station with two pumps and a tiny store. A small grocery store, located opposite the other three, completed the commercial range of Farlow's Creek.

“First things first. Your disposable cell phone. You have cash, right.”

“Yes. I withdrew ten-thousand dollars before I left New York.”

“Ten-thousand?” Izzy blinked and looked at Tiffany's purse. “That can't all be in there?”

“No, no. I have it in a safe place.”

“Really. Not in the car still, I hope.”

“Izzy!” Tiffany swatted at her playfully. “It's in my beauty box, of course, back at the cabin.”

“Of course.” Tiny muscles jerked at the corners of Izzy's mouth, she looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh.

They stepped out and walked into the small store belonging to the gas station.

“Hi, Pete,” Izzy greeted the older man behind the counter.

“Hello, Ms. Izzy. Want me to fill her up for you?”

“No, thank you, not today.” Izzy motioned toward Tiffany. “This is my friend Beth.”

“Ah, you're having a guest,” Pete said and extended a hand across the counter. “Glad to see you're out and about. We don't see enough of you these days. Why, I was just telling Martha the other night how nice it was to have you back from Iraq. Martha's my wife, Ms. Beth. Welcome to Farlow's Creek.”

“I'm glad to be here. It's beautiful.” Tiffany shook Pete's hand.

“Sure is. And small. But don't let the size fool you. We've got everything you need right here. You a city girl?” He looked at Tiffany with some apprehension.

“Not originally, no. Small town girl.” Tiffany smiled. “Not as small as this, though.”

“Not many places are.” Pete returned the smile. “So, if you're not here for gas, what can I get you?”

“I'd like one of those disposable cell phones, please.” Tiffany pointed at a shelf behind him.

“Any particular provider?”

“The one with most minutes, please.” Tiffany watched Pete take a package off the shelf with arthritic hands. “Thank you.”

“That'll be 19.95.”

Tiffany pushed a twenty dollar bill across the counter. Pete insisted on giving her the five cents in change despite her objections. “Fair is fair,” he claimed.

“Where's Martha?” Izzy asked.

“Over here,” a muted female voice responded and only seconds later a salt-and-pepper haired woman appeared from behind a stack of crates in the back. “Oh, look, it's Ms. Izzy. How are you, honey?”

“I'm fine, Martha. This is--”

“Oh, what a cutie you are. A friend of Izzy's?” Martha eyed Tiffany with a little more apprehension than her husband.

“Yes, this is Beth,” Izzy repeated. “We go back since college.”

“Ah.” Martha echoed the welcoming words Pete had just uttered, and Tiffany thought it was curious how protective Martha seemed of Izzy. Tiffany sent Izzy an inquisitive glance, but Izzy acted as if nothing was amiss.

“You girls going hiking or something?” Pete asked.

“We're thinking about it. Right now, I'm just showing Beth the surroundings while I mail off some of my bath products. She just got here a couple of days ago.”

“You drove in?” Marcia asked, turning to Tiffany.

“No,” Tiffany said, remembering their made up story. “I came on the Greyhound. Izzy fetched me at the bus depot.”

Martha's eyes softened. “Oh, you poor little thing. Those buses aren't easy to travel far on. No wonder you need to recuperate.” She gave a warm smile. “It's great to see Izzy finally socializing some again.”

“Please, Martha. You make me sound like a hermit.” Izzy groaned.

“Well, ever since you got back, you've been keeping to yourself. People talk, you know.”

Izzy frowned. “Talk?”

“Ah, you know. They mean well, and they speculate. Your grandparents were well respected and popular. So are you, honey.”

“I know.” Izzy's features softened. “Grandma was born here, and once she brought Grandpa to visit the first time, he fell in love with this part of the country too. They spent all their summers as well as Christmases and Thanksgivings in their cabin.”

“So they didn't actually live here?” Tiffany asked.

“No, they lived in Portland.”

Tiffany realized that she should have known this about Izzy, being a college friend. “Oh, I remember you telling me that a long time ago,” she improvised, seeing Izzy nod with approval.

“Izzy came to stay with her grandparents every summer from when she was...well, you were twelve or thirteen, weren't you?” Martha asked.

“Twelve, yes. After mom died.” Izzy spoke lightly, but her eyes dulled into a dark forest green.

Tiffany acted without thinking. Placing a hand on Izzy's arm, she squeezed gently. “That was a sad time for you. You were so young.” It was hard to act as if she already knew this devastating fact about Izzy. To lose your mother just as you're entering puberty must've been so difficult. Tiffany couldn't even fathom not having her mother in her life, despite her mother's rigid ways. Losing her father was sad, and she mourned, but she was an adult, not a preteen.

Martha had noticed the affectionate touch, and Tiffany thought she saw her smile with a knowing expression in her eyes. “Can I offer you girls some of my apple pie and cup of coffee?” she asked.

“As lovely and tempting as that sounds, we better head over to the post office and begin unloading the jeep. I have quite a few boxes this time. Can we take a rain check? I wouldn't want Beth to miss out on the best apple pie in the west.”

“Absolutely. Any time,” Marcia said.

“Oh, before I forget. Here's a sample of a new scent I'm trying out. I figured I'd test it on you, if you don't mind giving me some feedback, Martha?” Izzy pulled small jar with lime green content out of her pocket and handed it to her.

“Oh, how exciting.” Martha beamed. “I love trying out Izzy's bath stuff,” she said to Beth. “Sometimes I try it on Pete too, but that's just between us.”

“That's right. Ruin my reputation,” Pete muttered good-naturedly.

“What reputation? Oh, you mean, being a rough and tough old geezer who pumps gas and goes off fishing for trout every chance he gets?” Martha pursed her lips and then laughed at her husband's grimace.

Izzy and Tiffany said goodbye and walked over to the jeep. Inside, Tiffany opened the box and pulled out the disposable cell phone. After going through the start up sequence, she began dialing her mother's number. Izzy opened the car door and was about to leave, but Tiffany grabbed her arm and held on, shaking her head. “Please stay,” she mouthed as she listened to the signals going through.

“Hello?” Glenda, her mother, answered.

“Mom. It's me.” Tiffany squeezed Izzy's arm. “How are you?”

“Tiffany! Where are you? Why haven't you called? We've been so worried!” Glenda's voice rose. “Mom, it's Tiffany, finally.” Tiffany heard her grandmother say something inaudibly in the background. “Your grandmother wants to know where you are and if you're all right,” Glenda continued.

“I'm fine. I can't tell you where I am right now, though.” Tiffany braced herself.

“What? Why? What is going on?”

“Mom, listen to me. It's not safe for either of us if you know where I am. I'm staying with a friend and I'm safe. I can't come home right now, but once I'm able to, I'll let you know.”

“Tiffany, none of this is making sense. I've had so many calls over the last few days, from the executor of your father's estate, from the press, from some man who wouldn't even give his name...it's been like a mad house and then you just vanish.” Glenda sounded both tired and exasperated, and Tiffany felt so guilty, it was nearly impossible to not promise to come home on the spot. She glanced up at Izzy, desperate for some support.

“You're doing fine,” Izzy whispered. “Stick to your guns, Tiff.”

“Mom, please`.” Tiffany cleared her throat. “I have some things that need sorting and I can't do it at home."

"For heaven sakes darling, why not?" Glenda asked.

"There are problems with Dad's estate. He left me the whole shebang and there are some very unpleasant people who aren't very happy with the arrangement. I have to find my bearings before I can make any decisions on what to do. You've got to trust me, Mom."

"I do, Tiffany, I'm just worried."

"I know and I promise I'll keep in touch so you'll know I'm safe. I need to lay low for a bit.” Tiffany said trying to ease some of her mother's worries.

“Leave it to your father to complicate your life, even in death. I knew something was amiss when we didn't hear from you. Are you sure you alright?"

“"I'm fine, Mom. Honest. But I need you to be on your guard as well. Some of people who worked for Dad, well, let's just say, they aren't very nice. I need some time to figure out how I'm going to handle them and the situation Dad's left me in."

“Oh ,Tiffany, what was he thinking of?"

“I have no idea, but I need you to be patient."

“As long as you're safe, I can do that. Don't worry about us. We'll be fine. As far as I'm concerned you're somewhere sailing around the Mediterranean, mourning the loss of your beloved father.”

“You're good,” Tiffany said, "but be careful Mom. I think the less said, the better.”

“When do I get to hear from you again?” asked Glenda.

“I'll call you in a day or two.”

“The caller ID didn't recognize your number.”

“My cell phone broke,” Tiffany said, sticking to her and Izzy's plan. “I had to get another one. So, say hi to grandma for me, tell her whatever you think is best. I miss you Mom.” She hadn't seen them in quite a while, not since her father became ill and sent for her.

“We...we miss you too, Tiffany. Call soon and promise me to be safe.”

“I promise.”

"And sweetheart...be careful.”

"You too. I love you.”

"I love you too darling.”

Tiffany hung up, and suddenly she realized she was crying. Tears ran down her cheeks and she tried to hide them, but remembered that her usual way of hiding, behind her hair, wasn't an option right now.

“Shh. You're fine.” Izzy spoke softly and reached out, wiping the tears from Tiffany's cheeks. “You'll talk to them soon.”

“I know...anyway.” Tiffany sniffled and straightened up. “All right. Post office next?”

“Yes. Packages to send off.”

“Can we go shopping afterward?”

“Shopping?” Izzy frowned and glanced at the small grocery store. “You realize that the shopping experience in Farlow's Creek is somewhat limited?”

“Oh, Izzy,” Tiffany said, quickly feeling better. “Any shopping is better than no shopping!”

“Really.” Izzy looked like she wanted to roll her eyes and groan out loud. “Hoo'boy. All right. We will go shopping, God help me. But first... ”

Clapping her hands in delight, Tiffany barely refrained from throwing her arms around Izzy and kissing her soundly. “The post office?"

“Correct.”

“Come on then. Let's go!”

Izzy moved the jeep and backed it up to the Post Office. Hopping out the vehicle the two girls want to the rear and Izzy opened the back end and began pulling the boxes toward her.

“Let me take a few,” Tiffany said as she reached in to secure a couple of boxes.

“Thanks,” Izzy replied and she loaded up her arms with several. “Just watch your step going in.”

As they entered the cabin, Tiffany realized that it was really was a country store. An old, and incredibly wrinkled, woman looked up. A smile broke across her face as she saw Izzy.

“I wondered when you were going to grace us with your presence again.”

“Aunt Annie, you know I can't stay away from you for very long.” Izzy placed the boxes near the counter and nodded to Tiffany to do to same. “I'd starve to death.” Izzy reached over to hug the old woman.

Returning the hug the women hit Izzy on the arm. “You little rascal, you had me worried. You stay up in that cabin by yourself far too long and where are your manners, girl? Aren't you going to introduce me to your little helper?”

“Sorry.” Izzy winked at Tiffany. “Beth, this is Aunt Annie. Aunt Annie—Beth.”

“I'm pleased to meet you, Ma'am.” Tiffany said as she extended her hand to the old woman.

“Aren't you the polite one. You just call me Aunt Annie. Everyone in these parts do.” Annie took Tiffany's hand and gently shook it. Tiffany flinched as a brown blur suddenly rushed by her and jumped up on Izzy.

“Rufus, you darn dog, now get down and behave yourself.” Annie scolded the dog.

“Hey, handsome.” Izzy hugged the dog and scratched behind his ears. “How are you, little fellow?”

Tiffany just stood there in shock. This wasn't some little dog...it was a huge German Shepherd.

“Gracious child, don't be afraid. Rufus wouldn't hurt anyone. He's just happy to see his buddy there,” Annie said.

Izzy looked over and smiled. “Come on Rufus, meet Beth.”

The dog walked over and sniffed Tiffany for a moment, then started to lick her hand. She looked uncertainly between him and Izzy.

“See,” Izzy said with a grin, “you've made a new friend.”

“Okay.” Tiffany slowly reached out and patted Rufus on the head. “Nice doggie.”

“Now, go lay down, you silly dog. You've scared the girl enough.” Annie turned her attention back to Tiffany. “So how did such a nice girl like you get hooked up with this gangly creature?”

“In college, we were friends and when I heard she was back I decided to come up to see her,” Tiffany replied, hoping she didn't sound like she was citing her homework.

“I'm glad you did.” Turning towards Izzy she said “It's about time you stopped hiding.”

Izzy looked away. “I'm just not entirely comfortable around people yet.”

“There's no rush child,” Annie walked over and gave Izzy a hug, “but you can't go hiding forever. Here, you're among friends."

“I know.” Izzy looked at the old woman and nodded.

“So, what have you got for me to ship today? You know you missed the mail truck.”

“That's okay.” Izzy reached for the boxes and placed them one at a time on the scale. “Tomorrow's post is soon enough.”

“Then let me figure the postage while you look around for some provisions and show your friend around the place.”

***

Tiffany had been quiet as the conversation between Izzy and an old woman had taken place. She had seen the pain on Izzy's face and wanted to hug her herself, but she held back. All of the people they had met today seemed to truly love Izzy. She could see and feel their genuine concern for her.

“Is Annie really your aunt?” Tiffany asked.

“No, but she's always has treated me like one of her own. She's one of the oldest residents of these parts.”

“Why does she refer to you as rascal?” Tiffany asked.

“Because, in my younger days I was always getting into mischief around here.” Izzy laughed. “Any more questions?”

“Hundreds but they can wait.” Tiffany wrinkled her nose at Izzy. “There's shopping to be done!"

“All right. Let's figure out what we need for provisions and you can explore all you want.”

The country store looked like a magical treasure trove to Tiffany. There were all sorts of unusual items, which she loved. Rubbing her hands, she began to explore.

***

Aunt Annie enjoying watching the two girls and they made their way around the cabin. This girl, Beth, was bringing out a side of Izzy that she hadn't seen since the young woman deployed to Iraq. The war had taken some of the light away from the girl they all knew and loved. When she had first joined the Army, they were so proud of her. She had come to see them on a regular basis when she was stationed at Fort Lewis.

Then she had deployed to Iraq. On her first tour she had been decorated with the bronze star. The entire town had met up to celebrate her on her return. On her second tour, she had been wounded badly. The town had prayed for her and it looked like their prayers had been answered, but the girl they had once knew was gone. The woman that replaced her was hurt and distant, although they occasionally would glimpse the old Izzy. This just made them all that much protective of her. Her spirit simply needed to heal and this tiny girl, this friend, might just be the person to bring light back to Izzy's soul.

Continued in part 11