Goddammit.
“Well, that’s unfortunate,”Mac rumbles from the kitchen while Tally and I lean against the counter between the cooking and dining area.
It’s still early, and Tally and I have just finished all the preparations for the dinner shift. I told her everything when I visited the café earlier, but she’s still not over it, and Mac wanted to know too, so I had to recount everything to him while we worked.
He comes over and leans his hip against the counter on his side, crossing his massive, tattooed arms over his chest. “I don’t have much room, but if things go to shit, you can always crash at my place, become my ship mouse under the bed.” He chuckles deeply.
“What?” I ask, my brows raising.
I already gathered that Mac was something else, but maybe he’s just nuts.
“Mac lives on an old houseboat in the harbor. His bed is more of a cot,” Tally explains, rolling her eyes.
“Well, thanks, but a sleeping place isn’t the problem here. Not being able to move the van back to the campground is the issue.”
I could try to move it, but chances are I would get stuck on the road, and that would be a disaster.
“Why?” Tally asks, scrunching up her nose. “I told you, you can let it stand outside. It’s even better, so you don’t have to pay the fee for the place.”
“I know, and this is more than nice of you and very much appreciated,” I offer, giving her a grateful smile. “But I’m talking about toilets, showers, electricity…” I trail off, emphasizing the practical necessities I’d miss out on. I can do without them. I did so a few times over the last few months, but not for an extended period of time. And it seems it will take me a few weeks, maybe even months, to get the money I need together.
Tally rummages in her pocket until she retrieves a set of keys and manages to remove one from the ring. “Here…” she smiles, extending it to me, “… it’s the key to the back door of the restaurant. You can use the toilets here, and we can lay out an extension cord from the electrical outlet inside to the van. The only problem is the showers.” She bites her lip in thought. “I would offer you to come shower at our place, but…”
“I know, girl. You’re fine.” I smile at her, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spreading through me.
Tally’s generosity is overwhelming. I’m not used to this kindness, not from friends, because, well, I haven’t ever had any. But there’s a part of me that’s tense, wary of taking too much, of being a burden. I got so used to being on my own, to relying on myself. Accepting help isn’t really my nature. Maybe, justmaybe, I can let someone in, let myself rely on someone else for a change.
It’s just for a little while.
But the idea of it is scary.
Tally told me earlier today that she inherited her mother’s old house, which needed a makeover before a family of three could move in. So, they moved out of their apartment to save some money for the renovation and are living with Tim’s parents in his childhood room until the house is done.
“I don’t have a shower either. I wash myself over the sink and am just fine,” Mac grumbles.
“Yeah, and you stink of fish all the time.” Tally pinches her nose with her finger and waves a hand in front of her face, but I can see a smile tugging at her lips, making me want to laugh. I try to keep a straight face, but the corners of my mouth pull up.
Mac puts up an arm and takes a deep sniff from his armpit. “That’s the odor of the sea.”
I can’t help but burst into laughter, and Tally joins me just as the door to the restaurant swings open with a cheerful ding, announcing new patrons.
“Showtime,” Tally whispers as she walks away but not before squeezing my underarm.
Hunter and Lio are standing at the entrance, patiently waiting to be seated. I turn to Mac again, confident that Tally can handle those two on her own.
“A houseboat sounds nice. Do you stay in the harbor with it, or do you travel anywhere?” I ask him, genuinely curious.
He chuckles and replies, “If you’d seen that boat, you’d know why it’s a funny question. Shannon, Tally’s mom, always said I’ll die in it one day because it’ll give out from under me and sink while I’m in bed asleep, but I can’t imagine a better way to go.”
Just as he says it, I feel a chill run down my neck, and Shannon chimes in from my left, “Damn right, you will. That boat only floats out of pure spite.”
A shudder goes through me at the thought of it. I feel that in my bones. Van-essa could spontaneously combust with me inside her any day now.
“That’s a disturbing image and a pity,” I reply. “I’ve heard that Lubec is an amazing place for whale watching, just a few miles out to sea. I want to do that before I leave.”
I feel Shannon’s eyes on me, but I don’t take my gaze off Mac’s.
I can feel her mistrust mixed with curiosity, and I don’t want to give her any more indications that I can see her. I can’t have her harass me every day at work, pressuring me to talk to Tally, having a reading for her. When I start talking to her, chances are I will forget myself and act strange in front of the others, making them think I’m weird.
