After spending the day looking for a job, Lexi couldn’t help feeling discouraged. Oaksdale was a small town, and the few places that were hiring required more experience than she had to offer. Who am I kidding? Lexi wondered. Who, in this town, is going to hire an ex-stripper with a bruised-up face? Ugh, I am utterly pathetic and no one is going to hire me. Lexi wanted to be a part of Elijah and Michael’s lives, if he would have her, but she was not foolish enough to approach them without a job or a place to live.
Lexi’s feet ached as she walked to her pay-by-the-day motel room. Even though she was used to being on her feet all day, she wasn’t used to walking miles up and down the city of Oaksdale, especially with a set of broken ribs. She was unknown to most of its city’s residents, but she still feared being spotted by Michael or Elijah. So, she had worn a ball cap and thick sunglasses all day—probably not the best attire for a potential job candidate.
As she neared the motel, she saw a small, brick building with a sign identifying it as the public library. She smiled. Perhaps looking for online job postings was the way to go!
Lexi headed inside and made her way to the counter to inquire about using a computer terminal. The woman at the counter gave her a friendly smile and asked if she needed help. The name on her tag was Violet. “I was wondering if there’s a computer here I can use,” Lexi asked.
“Sure. Just sign in, please,” Violet said, pushing a faded, sign-in sheet toward her. Lexi started to write her name, but thought better of it. She paused, then signed her name as Laura, just in case there was a possibility of being recognized. “Okay, let me take you to a computer,” Violet said, leading Lexi to a terminal located in the back corner by the children’s books. “Do you need help with anything in particular on the computer?” Violet asked politely.
Lexi couldn’t help but notice the lady was staring at her bruises. “No, I can handle it. Thanks.”
Lexi spent nearly an hour searching for online job postings. A few of them seemed promising, but most of them did not. She filled out some online applications and created a résumé to hand out to potential employers—if she ever found any. She printed out several copies and paid for them. As she was leaving, she scanned the local bulletin board for any other potential job leads.
Lexi couldn’t help but notice a large, white flier with the words inscribed in bubbly, block letters:
“ROOMMATE WANTED”
The writer was seeking a female roommate to share space in a “grand, three-story, turn of the century home” and claimed that rent would be “very reasonably priced for a single woman’s budget.” Sounds too good to be true, Lexi thought, but she unpinned one of the fliers, folding it into her satchel.
The sunlight was blinding as she stepped out of the library. She pulled out a cigarette and searched her bag for a lighter, coming up empty-handed. She heard the heavy library doors open and close behind her, and then a woman’s voice asking, “Do you need a light?”
It was the woman from the counter…Violet or something like that, Lexi remembered.
“Thanks,” Lexi replied, leaning forward with her cigarette, inviting the flame and nodding her thanks.
“I couldn’t help but notice that you took one of my fliers,” Violet said.
At first, Lexi was confused, and actually thought that this woman was accusing her of stealing something. “Oh,” she said, feeling foolish as she remembered the flier advertising for a roommate wanted. “Yeah, I did, but I can’t get a place right now, anyway. I have to get a job first.”
“Are you new in town? I mean…if you don’t mind me asking…” Violet asked.
“Yes,” Lexi replied, but offered no more information.
“Are you leaving a bad relationship?” Violet asked quietly, again looking over Lexi’s bruises with a curious expression.
Lexi was not fond of nosy people, but for some strange reason, she sensed this woman was not like most people. It didn’t seem like she was being judgmental, but it did not seem like pity, either. Lexi couldn’t put her finger on it, and for the life of her, she could not understand why she would open up to this woman. But she did.
Lexi didn’t tell her about Michael or Elijah, but she did tell her about the Clamshell and about that bastard, Reggie. As strange as it was, it felt good to share her woes with this complete stranger.
“Well, I have to go,” Lexi told her as she stubbed out her cigarette and gathered her bag on her shoulder. “It was nice talking to you, Violet.”
As she started to walk away, Violet called out, “Wait…the address in the flier…why don’t you come by tonight? You can check the space out, see if you’re interested,” she offered.
“Like I told you, I’m looking for work at the moment…” Lexi called back to her.
“Come by anyway,” Violet replied. “We’ll figure something out.”