An Unexpected Visitor by Lorraine Bartlett

Author:Lorraine Bartlett
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940801421
Publisher: Polaris Press

* * *

“Shelby! Shelby!”

Someone was shaking her shoulder, and Shelby cracked open an eye to see a woman standing over her. Oh, yes—Blythe. The innkeeper who had taken her in.

“It’s almost eleven o’clock—it’s time for bed. You slept through almost the entire movie.”

Shelby rubbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Would you like me to walk you back to your room, or do you think you can find it on your own?”

“I’m not stupid,” Shelby said irritably, sat up, and felt instantly sorry for her outburst.

“No problem,” Blythe said. “If you need anything during the night, just pick up the bedside phone and hit the pound key and four on the keypad. That will ring me directly. Okay?”

Shelby nodded. She felt like she ought to say something. Maybe thank the woman who had taken her in, but she wasn’t sure how that might go over, so she kept silent.

“I’m usually up pretty early, so as soon as you’re ready, come down for breakfast. I’m sure I can rustle up something we’d both enjoy. Do you like muffins or eggs for breakfast?”

“Eggs.”

“How do you like them cooked?”

The only times Shelby had had a cooked breakfast was when she’d stayed with her Aunt Alicia. “Poached. On buttered toast. Soldiers, my aunt calls them.” Her aunt had cut the toast into strips so that she could dip them into the wonderful runny yolks.

“One or two?”

“I could have two?” Shelby asked.

“You can have as many as you like,” Blythe said.

“Two would be good,” Shelby said.

Blythe nodded. “Then I’ll say goodnight and see you bright and early in the morning.”

Early? Maybe, maybe not.

Shelby rose from the couch and headed toward the staircase.

“Good night!” Blythe called.

“Yeah,” Shelby said, although as soon as the word was out of her mouth she felt like she should have said something—anything—else.

Shelby climbed the stairs, heading for her room in the empty inn. It felt kind of creepy walking down the long, quiet corridor, and suddenly she felt terribly lonely. She had never been so far away from her regular life—no matter how crappy it was. But at least here she felt kind of safe. Not as safe as she’d be in Connecticut with her Aunt Alicia, but safe enough.

She’d made a conscious decision not to run to Connecticut. If Jenny decided to pursue her—never a given—that would be the first place she’d look. Jenny never had a kind word for Aunt Alicia—unless she wanted to dump Shelby on her. And then—on a whim—would change her mind. Maybe at some time in the future Shelby could contact her aunt and let her know that she was okay, but that wouldn’t happen until she got a job and found her own place to live. Would Blythe let her stay for a while? Maybe she could do something to stay in her good graces. Maybe clean the inn’s rooms—but not the toilets—or shovel the driveway; anything that would keep her in a safe, warm place until she could pay for her own way—find her own place in this rotten, shitty, stinking world.

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