“You sure you need all this stuff?” Anton asks, one bushy eyebrow raised.
Koko nods vigorously. “Oh yes, most certainly. I want to add water sports options to my little rental houseboat in the harbor. I think it’ll attract the kind of customer I’m looking for. I just know that adding kayaks and paddle boards and stuff will be a big draw during our summer months.”
Anton gives her a knowing look before pointing to something else on the list. “And this?” he asks.
“There’s a storm coming,” Koko replies. Leelee and I both look out the shop’s front windows at the clear skies outside.
When she sees the mystified look on Leelee’s face, Koko bursts out laughing. “Not today, silly. It’ll take a couple of weeks to get here.”
Leelee looks completely befuddled, staring at Koko as if she can’t decide if the female is deranged or some kind of prophet. Leelee turns to look at me as if for guidance and I shrug my shoulders to indicate that I am as lost in this interaction as she is.
I watch Anton pick up Koko’s list and squint at it before dropping it in a drawer behind the counter. He lifts his cap, runs a hand through his hair, and then gives Koko a reassuring smile.
“This might take a few weeks, but I’ll get it all. Promise.” The laughter lines deepen around his eyes, evidence of years spent in the outdoors.
With a warm squeeze on Anton’s hand, Koko thanks him, and her eyes practically glitter with good cheer.
“Goodbye, Lily,” she chirrups, reaching out to pat Leelee’s shoulder comfortingly before she rushes out the door, leaving silence behind her.
“If I have even a fraction of her energy at that age, I’ll be a happy man,” Anton says, staring fondling after Koko as she bustles down the sidewalk.
“What do you me—” Leelee starts to say when Anton shakes his head as if coming back to himself and realizing he’s not alone.
“Oh, yes, your batteries,” Anton announces. “Is there anything else you need, or can I ring these up?”
Leelee turns and looks at me. I realize that I was so caught up in watching over her I forgot to finish checking the shelves.I shake my head. I will take a quick perusal while Leelee makes her purchase, but I’m confident that we have everything we need for now.
Leelee pays for the batteries with a small square of plastic. “You need a hand getting these to your car?” Anton asks.
“No. But thank you for the offer.”
Shrugging his acceptance of her refusal, Anton pivots, heading back towards the sanctuary of his office. His boots echo against the hard floor and the door closes with a thump.
It takes a couple of trips, but we get the batteries loaded into the floor of the back seat. Once we are finished, Leelee doesn’t immediately start the vehicle. She looks over her shoulder at the colorful tents with people milling around them with a longing look.
“You know… I’m hungry. The sun is going down, so it’ll be dark soon.” Leelee stops and turns to me as she bites her thumb.
I can tell she has something on her mind, so I stay silent and wait, letting her work out whatever thoughts are swarming in her head.
Seeming to come to a decision, she drops her thumb and gives me a hopeful look. “If we’re careful and you keep your disguise on, we could check out the food festival. There are all kinds of delicious, fun human food to try. We’ll find a dark spot to hang out in, like under the shade of a tree and I’ll bring you treats to try. What do you think?”
Doesn’t this female understand yet that wherever she leads, I will follow?
CHAPTER 44
Lily
“Yes, I would enjoy attending this food contest with you,” Ravok replies, his tone even and warm, but I’m starting to understand him better. I can tell he is as aware of the limited time we have left as I am – we both want to squeeze as much joy and companionship out of every millisecond we have left together. Ravok is able to say more with one word and a look than most people do with a monologue.
The need to stuff a lifetime of experiences into each moment rides me.
Movement from inside the hardware store catches my eye. I watch as Anton appears in the front window. He locks the front door and flips over the closed sign. His friendly, crinkled eyes squint when he spots us still in the parking lot. He dips his chin in acknowledgment, a wave of his hand accompanying a warm smile before he turns away, vanishing into the now-dark store.
“Okay, let’s go check it out. Let’s leave the car here. It’s away from the crowd, so we can get out of here quickly if necessary.”
As I reach for the car door to get out, Ravok stops me with a hand on my arm. When I turn back to him, worried that I’ve pushed him into something he’s uncomfortable doing, he immediately washes away my concerns and gently cups my cheeks in his large hands. I can feel his regard as he stares at me but all I can see is my reflection in sunglasses. Just as I’m about to say something, Ravok clears his throat, “Leelee… I want to say thank you. For helping me get these batteries; for saving my life; for taking care of me when I was injured; for everything. I don’t know if I can truly explain how much what you’ve done for me means or how much you mean to me. You’ve changed my life. Thank you, Leelee.”
My throat feels hot and tight at his heartfelt words. I wish I could see his eyes.
