Scaredy Cat (6 page)

Chapter 10

Quinn raised her hand to knock, and the door opened. Blake was all smiles. “I went out on the porch today.”

“Well, all right.” Quinn held out her fist, and Blake bumped it. “I have something for you,” she said, keeping one hand behind her back as she stepped in. “It’s not alive, so don’t freak out when I show it to you, okay?”

Blake took a step back. “O…okay.”

“It was my grandmother’s, and she used it all the time,” Quinn said as she produced a plastic owl.

“I was expecting it to be an afghan…but this is…cool. What exactly did she use that for?”

Quinn patted the owl on the head. “She used to put Hootie here on a post next to her garden to keep the birds from getting her blueberries. As I’m sure you know, owls are predators, so other birds are kind of scared of them. I was thinking you could put him on your porch railing, and that might keep the birds away,” she said as she held it out to Blake.

Blake took it and held it reverently. “What a thoughtful gift. I can’t express how much I appreciate this.”

Quinn was pleased to be the cause of Blake’s beaming smile. “I figured it was the least I could do since you cooked dinner.”

“It’s ready.” Blake set the owl on the table by the door. “I realized earlier that I left the rest of my sandwich in your truck yesterday,” she said as she hurried into the kitchen.

Quinn followed. “I ate it for dinner last night. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Of course, I’m glad it didn’t go to waste.” Blake spooned some rice onto a plate, then added a couple of boneless pork chops that had been cooked in some sort of sauce with bell pepper and onion. She added a spoon of green beans and topped it off with a roll. “This is yours,” she said as she picked up another plate and only added a dash of each item to it.

“That’s your plate?” Quinn asked with a brow raised.

“I nibble, remember? What can I get you to drink?”

“Water, I didn’t drink enough today.” Quinn took Blake’s plate along with hers to the table. “Did you write any when you woke up?”

“Yes, I got to about thirty thousand words on the story that you read a bit of, then deleted it.”

Quinn stared at Blake’s back as she put ice into their glasses. “Why did you do that?”

“I wasn’t feeling it, and if I don’t feel it, it’ll suck.”

“Were any of the characters talking to you?”

Blake shook her head as she filled the glasses with water.

“If you hadn’t killed me, I would’ve talked to you.” Quinn took a seat and waited for Blake to join her.

“What would you say?” Blake asked with a half smile as she set the waters down and took a seat.

“I’d say don’t send my ass under that house, I’m gonna die. You’ll laugh when I tell you what happened to me today. Jacob and I had to fix a leak beneath a house just like you described. He freaked when I told him I just wanted to break the bricks out of the wall. I did
not
want to have to go through a trap, but I did after I scared away the old lady who owned the house. That’s where I was when you called.”

Blake shuddered. “I couldn’t do that. If I could get past the fear of spiders and snakes, my mind would conjure up all sorts of frightening scenarios.”

“Yeah, you had me worrying about dead bodies.” Quinn took a bite of the rice and pork chop. “This is outstanding.”

“Thank you. My mom used to make it for us. It’s nice to have someone to eat with.”

“You should come with me to my brother’s for dinner sometime. His wife, Tonya, is an excellent cook.” Quinn watched Blake closely to gauge her reaction to the suggestion.

“After I feel more settled in, I may take you up on that offer,” she said with a shrug. Blake smiled and met Quinn’s gaze. “Will that be another lesson? Do they have a big dog or a bird? Do you for that matter?”

“Not at my house. I do share my dad’s dog with Jacob, but he has custody of Jack. He’s a chocolate Lab, very sweet. Jacob swears a part of our dad’s soul is in that dog. He makes me stare into Jack’s eyes every time I go over there.”

Blake took a sip of her water before asking, “And what do you see?”

“I don’t see anything, only dog eyes, but I hear a gruff voice in my head saying, ‘Give me your hamburger.’” Quinn grinned when Blake laughed. “Do you believe in the stuff you write? Like ghosts and stuff?”

“I tell myself I don’t, that it’s all a fairy tale. Writing it takes the scariness out of it for me because I have the control. I’m
making
it frightening, and oddly, it doesn’t creep me out. When I write about my nightmares, seeing it on the computer screen takes the fear out. Sometimes, I wonder why people find the horror in it at all.” Blake shook her head. “I guess they don’t know what’s going to happen on the next page, but I do.”

“That makes sense, I suppose.” Quinn looked down at her plate and realized that she’d gone through the meal like a buzz saw. “Dinner was fantastic, thank you.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

*******

After they’d cleaned the kitchen, Blake began making a pot of coffee, and Quinn went to the kitchen window where she stared out at the backyard. Leaves had begun to fall from the pecan trees, even though they’d not had a frost. Quinn loved the fall and looked forward to not having to contend with the stifling heat, but she hated the winter. Being a plumber wasn’t usually pleasant, but it was downright miserable in the cold.

Chuck came prancing through the yard sniffing around the roots of the trees and marking his territory. “Is this your coyote?” Quinn asked.

Blake joined her at the window. “Yes.”

Quinn laid a hand on her shoulder and felt Blake jump from the unexpected touch. “He’s a very sweet dog, and he’s your next challenge.”

“What?” Blake backed up a step.

Quinn grabbed her hand and held it firmly. “I swear, I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Today, when I was under that house and I was thoroughly creeped out, I understood what you must feel all the time. I don’t want you to live like that, no one should. Trust me, Blake. Let me help.”

Blake stared past Quinn through the window. “What do I have to do?”

Quinn released her. “I’m gonna go outside and pet Chuck. Come out when you feel comfortable, and I want you to pet him.”

Blake licked her lips as she continued to watch the dog. “Do you know if he’s ever bitten anyone?”

“Never, the Comeaux’s have had him since he was a puppy, and their grandchildren lay all over him. Just watch me, okay?”

Blake didn’t meet her gaze but nodded.

Quinn stepped out onto the porch. Chuck’s tail began wagging furiously when he saw her. She took a seat on one of the steps, and the dog came bounding over. “Hey, buddy, it’s been a while,” she said as she scratched him behind the ears and on his chest. She looked back at Blake, who was peeking around the doorframe and smiled. Chuck sat down as he basked in the attention. His tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth, and he grunted softly as Quinn scratched all his favorite spots.

“Tell me why you’re afraid of dogs,” Quinn said.

“My mom was. She always said you never know when one is going to bite. That’s why we never had one, and she’d call Dani inside if a dog came near where she was playing.” In her mind, Blake could hear the sound of the air horn whenever her mother spotted a dog headed toward their yard. Rhonda kept the can close at hand and would make it blare to run off what she was certain would eat Dani. The sound of it and her mother’s frantic screaming would leave Blake shaken for hours after a close encounter and probably everyone else in the neighborhood.

“I won’t mislead you, some dogs do bite. It’s not wise to pet one you don’t know, but I held Chuck here in my arms when he was a pup. He’s a gentle giant. He likes to chase the squirrels, but he’s never caught any of them, though I’m sure he could. Come on out here.”

“He’s really big. Shouldn’t I practice on a small breed first…maybe even a stuffed one?”

“Chuck is perfect. Aren’t you, boy?” Quinn asked with a smile as she rubbed vigorously the sweet spot on his chest. Her smile grew broader when she heard the floorboards on the porch squeak and the screen door softly close. “I’m so proud of you, Blake, you’re so… Put the skillet down,” she said when she looked over her shoulder. “You’re gonna make him think you have food, and he’s going to get really excited.” Chuck twitched when it thudded on the porch. “You can kneel down right behind me if you’re not comfortable sitting yet.”

“You didn’t say anything about sitting. That will put me eye level with it.” Blake’s hand shook slightly as it came to rest on Quinn’s shoulder.

“Just reach over and scratch him by the ears, he likes that.”

“I…don’t think I can.”

“Don’t think, just do. Pet him,” Quinn said firmly and smiled at Chuck whose expression seemed to say,
Are you sure she should touch me?
“She’s okay, boy, just a little afraid.”

“A lot, big-time afraid,” Blake said from behind her.

“Think of it like this, once you’ve petted him, you will have crossed another hurdle. You will loosen another brick in your wall if not knocked it out altogether.”

Blake’s other hand came into view as it moved toward the dog. Chuck’s jaw snapped shut as he watched Blake reach for him, then he began happily panting again when Blake’s hand lightly touched the top of his head.

“His fur is kind of soft.”

“Yeah, he’s an old fluff ball,” Quinn said in a silly voice. “Feel his ears.”

Blake began to scratch like she’d seen Quinn do. Chuck ducked his head a little to give her more reach.

“Now sit down. I’ll hold him.” Quinn wrapped her arms around Chuck’s shoulders and began scratching his back. To her surprise, Blake slowly moved over and sat beside her. Awkwardly, Blake petted the tufts of fur behind his head. Blake withdrew her hand quickly when Chuck turned suddenly and licked her wrist. “You just got a kiss, he likes you.”

“I…don’t have to kiss him back, do I?”

“I wouldn’t suggest it. He licks his butt a lot.”

Blake grimaced. “I could’ve gone the rest of my life without hearing that.”

“Watch this, he’s so funny,” Quinn said as she let go of Chuck. “Stand up, boy.” She nudged him to turn around and Chuck did. Quinn rubbed his right hip and he leaned his butt into her touch. Then she scratched the left side, and he did the same thing. “You do it.” Quinn took her hand, and together, they rubbed his right hip. Chuck leaned into it again, then shifted when they switched to the left.

“His fur is so thick,” Blake said with a slight smile.

“He’s your friend now. He’ll run off the squirrels and bark at anyone who comes in this yard.” Quinn realized her mistake when Blake’s eyes grew huge. “Like I said, we don’t have very much crime, but don’t you feel more secure knowing that Chuck’s on patrol?”

“I think I do,” Blake said with a wavering smile.

“You did it.” Quinn grinned from ear to ear. “You petted a dog. That’s a whole brick in my opinion. I’m very proud of you.”

Blake continued to scratch Chuck’s hips even when Quinn stopped making his butt go from side to side. “Thanks for doing this with me.”

Quinn continued to stare at her. “It takes a lot of fortitude to confront a fear. I think you’re a lot braver than you give yourself credit for. I can’t wait to see what you’re gonna do next.”

Blake’s eyes grew wide again. “One day at a time, Quinn.”

Chapter 11

Chuck curled up in a ball on the back porch when Blake closed and locked the back door. After the experience and what Quinn said, she decided that she liked him there. Her heart sank when Quinn said it was time for her to leave. Blake wanted to beg her to stay. She was getting used to Quinn’s strength, and her nerves were calmer when Quinn was around.

“You must be tired after a busy day,” Blake said, trying to keep disappointment out of her tone.

“I am,” Quinn said with a yawn, “and I don’t want to keep you from writing.” Her green eyes seemed particularly brilliant as she gazed at Blake. “I’ll get off work tomorrow night around five. I could pick you up and you could come to my place for dinner. I’m not much of a cook, but I can order pizza. I wouldn’t keep you long because I know this is when you work, but it might be nice to be in another environment for a little while, don’t you think?”

“Okay,” Blake said with a nod. “I could do that.” She jumped when Quinn patted her on the shoulder.

“Good, I’ll pick you up after work then.”

Quinn seemed surprised when Blake walked her out and stood on the porch as she descended the steps. “You’ve come a long way in a short time, girl.”

“Yeah, I’m practically feral,” Blake said with a laugh. “Good night.”

“Night,” Quinn said with a wave as she walked toward her truck.

Blake went back inside and watched from the window as Quinn drove away. A sliver of daylight was slowly fading, and she went about her routine switching on every light in the house. She nearly jumped out of her skin when her cell phone began to ring and vibrate where it lay on her desk. Blake picked it up and stared at the ID, her mother was calling. She set it back down with a sigh.

“I love you, and I miss you, but I can’t take your call right now,” she said as she stared at it.

Blake knew either her father was out, or her mother had found a place to hide and make the call. Though Blake wanted the comfort of her mother’s voice, she knew talking to her would set her back a few paces. Rhonda would ask what she’d been doing, and Blake, still on a high from petting Chuck, would admit that, and her mother unintentionally would help her replace her victory with fear.

After the intervention, Dr. Kieslowski had agreed with what Dani had to say. Part of Blake’s issues had a lot to do with her mother. He’d explained their relationship was unhealthy, like that of an addict and their codependent partner. It hurt to hear that Rhonda probably unknowingly helped to hold Blake back. The doctor said that for whatever reason Rhonda needed Blake to be totally dependent on her, and that was why Blake knew she could not answer that phone.

It would’ve been easy to blame her mother for being so screwed up, but Blake also understood that she had to take some responsibility for being like she was. At a young age, she’d made excuses for not wanting to face her biggest fear, and that was simply trying to fit in with the strangers who they’d been subjected to with each move. It was too hard to make friends and even more difficult to say goodbye when her father was transferred to another place. In truth, Blake didn’t want to have anything to do with Quinn the day she showed up but knew she had to.

She sank down onto the sofa and hugged a pillow to her chest. It was a tad easier knowing that Quinn was being paid to be there, and Blake didn’t have to try to be likable. But with every moment they spent together, Blake found she wanted more. Quinn pushed, sometimes none to gently, and with every parting, Blake felt stronger for it. With Quinn’s help, maybe by the spring, Blake hoped she might be able to find the courage to board a plane alone and walk back into the city where she belonged on her own two feet, unafraid, with a manuscript ready to be presented to Cassidy.

Blake hugged the pillow a little tighter, and it was then she realized it had bird shit on it. It was the one she’d brought in from outside. She tossed it away disgustedly. “Winged bastards,” she said as she got up.

After she’d stuffed the pillow into the washing machine and switched it on, she returned to the living room and sat at her desk. Quinn was on her mind, and Blake began to write.

I didn’t want to like her. I could see distaste in the depths of her green eyes the day she barged into my home and stared at me. She was everything I wasn’t—tall, confident, brave—and I wanted to be out of her presence as quickly as I could, so I offered her a drink, hoping she’d decline, but she didn’t. Her inquisitive gaze seemed to slice right through me. I felt she could read everything that was going on in my mind. With a smug grin, she sat on my sofa, her expression conveying that she fully expected to break me down and examine every little fragile piece.

Blake stared at the screen and could clearly hear Quinn’s voice in her head.
Don’t kill me, okay?
She smiled as her fingers reached for the keys. A character was talking, and she was determined to listen.

“I may maim you a little, Quinn, I hope you don’t mind,” Blake said as she began to type quickly.

*******

Robert Plant’s song “Big Log” played as Quinn sat in her favorite chair and stared out at the cars as they passed in front of her house. She’d never bothered to understand the lyrics. The music and the guitars were what she loved. The title made no sense to her at all, but that was how she felt, like a big log just lying in the path of everyone’s lives as they swerved to avoid her.

Her mother’s things lay neatly cleaned and folded in a basket on a chair nearby. She’d forgotten to call Dawn to remind her to pick them up, and Dawn, as usual, had forgotten to come by. Jacob had said he would take them but had also forgotten. They were busy. Dawn had Buddy and the kids to keep her occupied, Jacob had Tonya, and all Quinn had was a handful of memories.

Shay Malone had no clue what she’d done. She’d whisked Quinn off her feet and carried her far away, only to drop her for someone else. They’d met in a bar not long after Quinn had been outed by Glenda Percy and Quinn’s mother had morphed into someone she didn’t recognize. Shay provided the escape not long after they’d begun dating, and Quinn took it. Quinn had known other women, but Shay was the one who’d completely captured her heart. In hindsight, Quinn realized that she should’ve noticed the flash of discomfort in Shay’s eyes when she’d first admitted that she’d fallen in love. Quinn should’ve also taken note of the reticence in Shay when she told her that she wanted to go to Boston with her. Whatever the reason, Shay agreed.

I never loved you, and I never will.
Quinn closed her eyes and leaned her head against the chair when Shay’s words swept through her mind like a storm. It had hurt then, and it still caused her chest to ache to hear them replayed in her mind even after the years that had passed. Devastated, Quinn had packed her things and returned home where her mother was even less excited to see her and most people in town behaved the same.

Quinn and Jacob had always been close, but when she returned, their relationship became airtight. Pride made Quinn tell anyone else that the reason she came home was that she hated Boston. To Jacob, she’d told the truth, and he’d wept with her when she released her pain. But she still felt detached in the place she grew up. She had always been the oddball. First too tall, too strong, she intimidated all the boys, then queer, too different.

In some ways, Blake was stronger than she was. Blake, scared of everything, had packed up and moved to conquer the ties that bound her. Quinn was certain that Blake was unaware of how monumental that was. Quinn wanted to do the same but knew she never would.

When Quinn had left Blake’s place earlier, she took the road that bordered the property and stopped to watch the house. She wanted to see if Blake would venture out with her not there, wanted to know if the fear was all an act to gain her sympathies. But as she sat there and watched, all the lights came on. The floodlights around the wood frame place lit it up like a Christmas tree. Scared of the dark, birds, and broccoli, Blake still managed to stay there alone.

Quinn stared at the basket of clothes. If she could help Blake face her fears, maybe she could face a few of her own. Perhaps she could tell her mother how very shitty it was to shut her out for being who she was.