he would get more done without it.
Fuck common sense.
He was now standing in front of the kitchen cabinets, not even realizing that he had stood from
the table and walked over to them. He rummaged through their sparse inventory in hopes that a prior lodger had perhaps left something behind. Maybe a forgotten flask was hidden deep in the recesses
with enough fire-water to calm his anxious mind.
Who are you kidding? You know there's nothing here. You unpacked everything already.
It was true. Upon his return from Buddy's, he'd found that Tyler had indeed left his belongings on the porch. He'd taken them and the groceries in and commenced with transforming the empty cabin
into his home for the next five weeks, filling drawers and cabinets with his belongings, supplies, and foodstuff.
He closed the door and turned to the counter where a large jarred candle was burning, the flame
short and still in the tinted glass container. Marge had tucked it in when he wasn't paying attention, presumably in the event of a power outage. But once he smelled the rich sandalwood fragrance, he'd discovered a level to Marge's taste that would have, perhaps, otherwise gone unknown.
Next to the candle was the second note Tyler had left him that day:
Alec,
I took your car back to Al Jarnigan's. He will get it back to the rental agency and see that
you're no longer charged. Keep an eye on your credit card though. You never know.
I see you got the Titan up and running. Nice. Marge and Buddy told me they would take care
of you and, believe me, they will. You should have everything you need to sustain you for a fewdays while writing your book. If you have any problems feel free to e-mail, call, or text me.
Tyler
Beneath his signature, he had left a number and an e-mail address.
I should text him to bring that booze I bought up here.
He laughed a little to himself. Even when Demarco was half a country away, his influence
reached.
He went back to the table and opened Skype on his laptop. On the fourth ring, Demarco
answered on his smart-phone, his image bouncing.
"Hey, doll."
"Hey, D. Is this a bad time?"
"Kinda. I'm at afunction."
"Political or social?"
"Both. A girl's gotta eat."
"I'll leave that one alone."
"What's up?"
