“What sort of problem?”
“Please forgive me,” she glanced aroundLily’s classroom.“This is none of my business, but it has gottenaround that you are seeing a certain man in Naples.He’s aprominent man and I’m afraid a few women are a bit jealous ofyou.”
“You mean Sandy Johnson.Word sure travelsfast.We just had one date.”
“Yes, well, that’s all it takes around here.I wanted to talk to you as a friend, so please just watch yourstep.Some of these women could make things difficult for you, atleast for a while.”
“Okay, thank you, Terri.I appreciate yourtaking the time to speak to me.I’m not sure how to proceed now,but I will try to take care.”Mrs.Nolan left as quickly as she’dcome.
Lily was confused and not sure what to say ordo now.And Sandy just left town.She didn’t want him to beconcerned about this nonsense anyway.And what could he do?Whatcould she do?
At present she would continue to live herlife.Deal with problems as they come up.One day at a time soundedgood but her stress level cranked up a notch anyway.
By Friday, that stress level went intooverdrive.Two teachers were continuing to snub her to the point ofridiculousness.They were supposed to design a new curriculumtogether and now these teachers weren’t speaking to her.How couldthey work together?And then she saw Amy Breen’s car parked on herstreet at all hours of the day and night.At least she thought itwas Amy’s.It sure looked like the car she’d seen Amy driving.
Lily had come home on Wednesday to find aflat tire on her car.It had been fine on Tuesday…Also on Tuesday,someone started calling and hanging up when she answered.OnThursday, she had found a dead fish in her mailbox.A deadfish?She was waking up in the middle of the night worryingabout what else might happen.On Friday morning, she walked out herdoor stepping smack-dab into a pool of red Jell-O.For Pete’ssake!
Sandy called her every night, which made therest of the time worth living.Lily didn’t mention all the crazythings that had been happening while he was gone, but she told hima few times to come back soon.By Thursday, he had suspectedsomething was going on and he had asked.Lily denied any problems.I’ll take care of this myself.These are my problems and nothis.She suspected he might worry, which would be sweet, butnot necessary.
Friday after school she drove over to thesheriff’s office.Bud Moody was the county sheriff and was in hisNaples office once or twice weekly.He was a large man with eyesthe color of Lily’s fudge and had a bit of a paunch.Nice man.Shehad heard he was good at his job.She’d see about that.
“Why Miss Cable.How nice to see you.Nowwhat can I do for you?”
Bud was sitting behind his desk going throughsome paperwork.The station was small and his office was tiny withpapers literally everywhere.His desk took up the bulk of the roomwith a wooden chair in front for visitors.A deputy was in the nextroom doing an inventory of some kind.She took a step into hisoffice and glanced around, surprised at its tiny size.
“Sheriff, I think I’m being stalked,” shesaid seriously.
Bud looked up at her with wide eyes.“InNaples?Please sit, Miss Cable, and let me know what’s been goingon.”
Lily sat nervously on an uncomfortable,wooden chair and began to tell him about the various incidents thathad been happening to her.She ran shaky fingers through alreadymessy hair.
“I’ll need you to file a police report, MissCable.”
“Lily, please.”
“I don’t think any of this would be happeningif Sandy was in town.”Bud glanced over for her reaction.
“Sheriff, this has nothing to do with Mr.Johnson.These things are happening to me!I know I’m new in town,but this isn’t normal town behavior to newcomers, is it?”Her voicelevel had gone up a notch.She practically squeaked at him.
“Lily, I can tell you what’s happeningwithout too much investigation.You have stomped all over AmyBreen’s shoes.She’s had a major crush on Sandy Johnson for yearsand he won’t have anything to do with her.You just get to town andsweep him off his feet.”He arched an eyebrow.“I’m not excusingher behavior, but that’s what this is about.I’d stake my sheriff’sbadge on it.”He smiled and pointed at his chest where his badgewas pinned.
“For Pete’s sake!We’ve had one date!”Lilynearly exploded.“Is our relationship the business of everyone inthis town?”She jumped up from her seat and her head hit alow-hanging bookshelf just above the chair.She knocked herself outcold and fell over on the floor in front of the sheriff’s desk.
Bud looked over the rim of his glasses ather.“Tsk, tsk.And such a pretty girl too.”
He yelled into the other room for his deputy.“Jake, call Sandy.Tell him his girlfriend fainted on my floor andI need him to remove her.”Such a pretty girl, but Sandy could sortthis out.It was just that stupid Amy anyway.Bud went around hisdesk to make sure she was still breathing and to check herhead.
She’ll have a headache…Yep—this was Sandy’sproblem.
* * *
What’s wrong with my head?
Lily woke up on her couch at home.She feltaround on her head for the big lump there and groggily pushed intoa sitting position.
Dang!That hurts!“Hello, anyonehere?”That hurt to even say.
Sandy came around the corner from her kitchenwith a fresh hot water bottle.“You shouldn’t be up just yet.Youreally hit your head hard.”He got her to lie down again with thehot water bottle.“Mom’s pretty worried about you too.She justcalled again.”He sat down on the couch by her and started tostroke her forehead.
