If At First

Part 17 - Chapter 16

"Ye- well no, I just wanted to know if you'd go out with me sometime." He grinned, a sweet mix of bold shyness. Jack actually echoed my sentiments when he let out a low and continuous growl at that exact moment. "You're not seeing anyone are you?" Weston persisted. I'm not sure what expression arrested my face, but whatever it was made him pursue with, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I always do that; I always say the wrong thing. I just mean to pass the time, you know? While I'm here, and you're here..."

"You didn't. No, you didn't offend me. I'm flattered. I just need to get back. To my grandmother. She's expecting me." I smiled, wishing I could take Jack with me and remove the leash Weston was distractedly wrapping tighter and tighter around his hand, shortening it to the point where he would be momentarily choking him if he continued. "Maybe I'll see you around though Weston. Thanks for taking care of Jack!"

"I'll see you this weekend then? At the fundraiser?"

"Yes, I'll see you there." I replied and turned on my heel hurrying back into the main streets of Townsend.

I kept my head down for the rest of my trek, totally bypassing the garden I intended, until I approached the coffee shop and something inside caught my attention. Doug was behind the counter, waving madly at me. He scooted through the employee side door and poked his head outside. "Tabitha!" he said in a loud whisper, so I approached. "I saw you and Andy leaving in a cab. Where'd you go?"

"To the train station," I answered warily, "Why?"

"Fitch was in here when you drove by and he wasn't thrilled to see the two of you taking off."

"So? What does he care if we were going somewhere? He's not my warden," That would be my grandmother's job.

"Well, maybe he just wasn't expecting to see you leave?"

"Yes Doug, I was escaping the luxury of Townsend under the cover of broad daylight in a bright yellow taxi."

"I suppose he wanted to talk to Andy," he began evasively, and measured my reaction, "be-cause they were hanging out the other night you know, and just...maybe he, I dunno..." His eyes darted back and forth, looking for an ambiguous way of finding out what he wanted to know without letting too much slip.

"Doug, I know he was playing poker with you guys." I revealed, a little impressed at his loyalty to a new friend.

"Oh." He let out a breath of relief, "Okay, well I wasn't about to be the guy to go tattling to his sister or anything." He said self-satisfactorily.

"Yes, you're widely known for your discretion."

"Anyway, there'd been a rumor circulating that he was planning to get out of dodge, you know, because he might've gotten in over his head. I tried telling'em that was crazy talk, that a couple grand wasn't about to make a difference to someone like Andy, but then when Fitch saw the two of you taking off, he ran outta here like hell on wheels. I swear, the way you people throw around money like it's water just kills me."

My palms were getting clammy and I began to wonder if Andy told the entire truth about what he owed Fitch. It didn't occur to me that it would look like he was running when really I was just trying to unravel him from my mess.

"Where – where was Fitch going?" I asked a little unsteadily.

"Ya got me. I just thought maybe you should have a head's up." He said, looking over his shoulder at someone talking to him from inside. "I've gotta go," he said, "but I'm glad you guys didn't really bolt." He closed the door again, and I was left standing alone.

I took my time returning to my grandmother's house, even though I knew Michelle was waiting for me to do a dress fitting. I predicted, however, that Michelle would be busy for a while yet before she looked for me. By now I had become quite familiar with the time consuming particularities Nana's temperament enjoys.