~~~Valerie~~~
At closing time, Jackson saw the kids back to the orphanage so that I could lock the store. Afterward, Anne and I walked to the restaurant in silence. Once there, I was surprised to see that Jackson was already sitting at his usual table, reading a book.
“Anne, what do you think about invading Mr. Nichols’ space?” I asked conspiratorially before the waiter could seat us. An idea was forming in my head that I knew wasn’t the greatest idea but one that would be somewhat amusing.
“How do you mean?” Anne asked.
I could tell by her hesitancy that she was more than a little worried about what I might have planned.
“I mean, what do you think about going to sit with him while we eat?” I tilted my head in Jackson’s direction.
“Why would you want to do that?” She didn’t sound confused. She sounded scared, not scared in that she thought he might attack her, but scared in that he intimidated her. I guess any average citizen might be a little worried about offending someone in power.
“For one, because every time I see him he’s alone, and two, because he won’t talk to me. Maybe I’ll annoy him enough for him to tell me to go away. That would be a step up.”
“I’ll pass, but you should go over there,” she said, laughing at my plan once she’d removed herself from the situation.
“Suit yourself. See you in the morning,” I said, making my way over to Jackson’s table. Anne followed our waiter to the one he’d been escorting us to while watching me warily.
Jackson didn’t say a word when I slid into the booth opposite him, not that I expected him to. He did put his book away and not just down as if he assumed I would be leaving soon before looking at me. I took that as a good sign.
“No, don’t speak,” I said, putting up my hand in a stop motion and smirked. I was trying to keep things lighthearted despite how nervous I was. “I can talk enough for the two of us.”
The waitress interrupted me before I could say more. She looked from me to Jackson and back again unsure if she should tell me to move or if she should take my order. I made the decision for her by telling her what I’d like to eat. She hurriedly wrote down what I wanted and walked away when it was apparent that Jackson wasn’t going to ask me to go.
“So where to start,” I said, daring to look him in the eye. “Again, thank you for the table and chairs and the help rearranging the store. I worry that you’re putting too much money into something that isn’t going to be a sound investment. I did have a few sales today and two more children, so maybe things are changing. It occurs to me that the two of us haven’t had a chance to get to know one another. I’m a stranger in your town, but you haven’t asked me about myself. I’m sure Stephanie gave you all the information she has, but that isn’t anything like sitting down and talking to someone. I know this will be a one-sided conversation, seeing that you have a strange aversion to speaking to me. Whatever I’ve done to offend you, I apologize for it. I’m sure your problem with me is simply my being here, though. Well, I’m here for a while at least, and since I have you pinned where your only option is to be a dick and leave or listen, I imagine you’ll listen to make a good impression on those watching us.”
I chanced a look around at the people in the restaurant, all of whom could probably hear every word of our conversation if they dared try. When I turned back to Jackson, he was also looking around at the restaurants’ patrons.
Once he turned back to me, I started rambling again. I went on and on like that throughout the entire meal. His face showed no emotion, not even annoyance, though a time or two, I thought I saw his mouth curve into a smile at something I’d said.
I didn’t hold him up after we ate. As soon as the waitress picked up my plate, I said, “Am I to assume you’re picking up the tab for this? I’m not saying you have to, but I just want to know for sure before I leave.”
He nodded, so I said goodnight. He nodded again, and I left. A part of me had hoped he would walk me out, but then again he probably lived on the opposite side of town and walking me home would be out of his way. No worries, I needed to apologize to my neighbor, anyway.
The apartment across the street from me was empty when I got home, so I showered, grabbed a bottle of water, and the book I’d yet to finish reading, before going out to the balcony.
I’d just settled into a chair when my neighbor entered his apartment, turned on his living room lights, and opened the balcony door. I got up and went to the railing in anticipation of talking to him.
“I missed you last night,” he said, settling on his balcony.
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t very happy with you last night.” I hadn’t meant to be so blunt to someone I didn’t know, but it was the truth.
“I’m sorry. Was I not supposed to say anything about your idea for the kids?” he asked, sounding genuinely worried that he’d upset me.
“No…yes…I don’t know. I just wanted to see how things would go at the store for a few weeks first before talking my plans over with Azure. It isn’t a big deal. I’m sorry for giving you the cold shoulder.”
“No worries. You sound as if you aren’t in the greatest of moods tonight either. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure you’re the right person to talk to about my issue. No offense.”
“None taken. Who do you think you need to talk to?”
“I’m not sure. I guess the person whom the issue involves, but he refuses to talk to me.”
“I see.”
I couldn’t discern the tone in his voice, but he sounded regretful and a little sad. Deciding to get off that train of thought, I asked, “I’ve been calling you my neighbor these last few days. What’s your name?”
“You can call me Nick if you like.”
“Well, Nick, I guess I should thank you for going to Mr. Nichols about my idea for the kids. I did have two more kids show up today. Azure seemed a bit uncomfortable with them there, and that worries me. I don’t like seeing her so alone like that.”
“You actually care for the girl, don’t you?”
“I do. I don’t know why, but from the moment I met the child, I felt connected to her somehow. Like she’s family. More than that really, like she’s my little sister.”
“I’m glad she has you in her life,” he said. His tone suggested that he too had been worried about her.
“Are you kin to her?”
“Distantly.”
There was a short pause after that, as he seemed to be thinking about something painful.
To break the silence, I said, “Mrs. Rose came in today and said something about Azure being her protégé. I think that has more to do with her loneliness than anything else.”
“How so?” Nick asked.
“I think the others see her as a future leader, and that probably intimidates them. They most likely see her quietness as snobbery. I don’t know how to help her. I wish I could.”
“You already have. You’ve done more for Azure than most as of late. It isn’t that no one cares; it’s just that with all the death, everyone’s grieving. It’ll do her good to have someone dote on her for a while.”
“I’ll do all I can for her. I feel for the other kids, I do, but she’s different. When I’m around her a protective instinct kicks in, making me want to change the world so that she’ll smile.”
“She thinks highly of you as well,” he said after a moment.
“How do you know?”
The news made me happy.
“I hear things.”
“You hear things, huh? You hear things from Jackson, don’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“If you two are so close, then tell me why he won’t talk to me. No, don’t tell me. I don’t think I want to know what he thinks of me. If it’s something bad, you’ll lie to me to save my feelings anyway, so I won’t know if you’re telling the truth. Ahh…that man is so frustrating.”
“Sounds to me like you might have a thing for him,” Nick teased, and I immediately went on the defensive.
“Oh, no, I most certainly do not. Don’t get me wrong, the man is good looking, but most of the people I’ve met from Valeterra are easy on the eyes. Being physically attracted to someone doesn’t mean anything. I don’t know him enough to have a thing for him. He appears to be putting a lot of effort into my business and all, but he doesn’t seem to care anything about me, which I get.”
“And just what is that supposed to mean?” he asked, sounding a bit angry. I instantly realized I was saying self-deprecating things again.
Backpedaling a bit, I said, “I only mean that I’m not from here. I’m sure Mr. Nichols isn’t acting prejudiced in a mean way, but some people like to stick to their kind. I don’t feel that way, and I don’t judge others for who they are or aren’t attracted to.”
“I think you’re reading too much into his behavior. I believe he likes you just fine. If I know him as well as I think I do, I think he’s simply taking you in, getting to know you. He’ll speak to you soon.”
“If you say so. Please don’t tell Mr. Nichols that we’ve talked. I don’t want to anger him in any way.”
“I promise. To purposely change the subject, how did today go?”