An explosion of colour assaulted my eyes the instant I walked through the door.Stuffed animals in trendy outfits posed next to neatly folded piles of the items each wore.I’d landed smack in the middle of a trendy boutique that catered to a furry clientele.It would have been more at home in a city than in a small town like Carlisle Creek.
I couldn’t imagine many pet owners in this sedate little town being interested in dressing their fur babies in the latest fashions.Surely not enough to keep a store like this in business.
“Something for Greg?”I asked, tearing my eyes away from the veritable art museum of stuffed animal fashionistas.
“Well, it’s actually for Mr.Fluffy,” she said, pulling out a blue paper bag with Polly’s Pets printed on the side.“From your Nana.She called and asked me to put together an outfit for his next visit.”
I peered around the shop, hoping it would give me some clue as to how this woman knew me.“I am so sorry.I’ve been racking my brain, but I don’t remember you.Have we met?Are you Polly?”
“Nah, Polly is the name of the shop.”Chuckling, she stuck her hand out.“I’m Sierra.”
“Hi, Sierra.”I grasped her hand, relieved to know I hadn’t met her and forgotten.It begs the question, though, how on earth do all these people I’ve never met know me?I haven’t been here in years.
She rolled her eyes.“Oh, believe me, I know.Maya’s my best friend.”Her expression turned serious.“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but she is not your biggest fan.”
I snorted a laugh.“How is that possible?She barely knows me.”
“That may be, but she knows enough to know she hates your guts.”
“Ouch, hate is such a strong word.”
“Nana’s been telling her all about you for the last couple of years.Not that she ever said anything bad about you,” she added, her eyes wide.“It’s Maya.She …” Sierra tilted her head.“Well, let’s say she has strong opinions about how people treat family.”
That left me more confused than ever.I loved my Nana.I talked to her on the phone all the time.Well, I talked to her somewhat regularly.How couldthatbe a problem?
“Care to explain why my mere existence pisses her off?”I asked.
Sierra shook her head.“Not my story to tell, I’m afraid.Maya doesn’t open up to many people.If she wants you to know, she’ll tell you herself.But take it easy on her, okay?Even I don’t know the full story, but I have a feeling she’s been through a lot.”
“Okay,” I said, not sure exactly what I was agreeing to.Being nice to Maya?Avoiding pressing her for information?How could I discover why she hated me if I couldn’t push the issue?
“Here you go.”Sierra yawned, covering her mouth with one hand and passing me the bag with the other.“Tell Greg Nana expects Mr.Fluffy to wear this on his next visit.”
I took the package from her, my mind still on Maya, and muttered something that I hoped sounded like, “Thanks.”
She glanced out the window.“Hey, looks like Maya flipped her ‘open’ sign.You’d better get in there before the book club does.Those folks get downright rowdy when they’re talking about their alien porn.”
I choked on a laugh, not sure I’d heard correctly.“Alien porn?”
Laughing, she explained, “I’m kidding; it’s not porn.They read spicy romance, and this month they chose a sci-fi theme.They’re reading books from a series called Hot Dudes, Hotter Planet.Big, masculine alien men with big magical alienyou know whats...” She cocked an eyebrow meaningfully before continuing, “…for pleasuring the unsuspecting maidens deposited on their planet.”
I chuckled again before realizing she was serious.“Thanks for the heads-up.I’ll head over now.”
Alien porn, huh?I thought to myself as I left the pet store and crossed the street.Is that what Maya liked?What’s so special about alien dicks, anyway?
I pulled open the door to Bishop’s and stepped inside, the familiar scents of books and coffee wrapping me in warmth.“Honey, I’m home.”
I couldn’t see Maya, but an exasperated sigh from behind a nearby shelf told me she was close.The sound went straight to my dick, and I chuckled at how ridiculous that response was.
“You don’t live here,” she snarled.“This isn’t your home.”
“Well, you know what they say: home is where the heart is.”
eight
home is where the hate is
Maya
