“Nora said she found you at the old mall?”
“In a sense,” Simon asked, giving a sideways glance to Nora.
“Yeah, he was in a closet!” Tilly piped in.
Anna’s nose scrunched and her eyes narrowed. “A closet?”
Nora made a flapping motion with her hands. “Tilly, hush.”
Tilly didn’t listen, walking circles around Nora, dust sprinkling over her worn shoes. “Yeah, Mama carried him and I helped too.”
Anna’s eyes were big, looking up and down Simon’s toned frame. “You were injured? Don’t look . . .”
“Yes,” Simon answered simply. He cleared his throat in a very human way. “I’m better now.”
“Oh.” Anna’s eyes were round in her face.
Nora felt her face turn red again. She reached out to stop Tilly’s circling. “Okay, well, we need to go now.” She took Tilly’s hand, pulling her to the hover while looking back and saying to Anna, “Simon found a spot with a lot of great scrap. I spent most of our money on chicken feed and gas, but we will be back next week to get some other staples now that we know where to get some better stuff.”
Anna watched as Nora pushed on Simon’s arm as well. She had a smile on her lips. “Alright. I’ll see you in a week, okay? We’ll talk more then.” She turned to Simon and put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know you from Adam, but be good to my friend or I’ll put a sign up here in this shop with your handsome face on it.”
“Anna!” Nora said, her voice breaking.
Tilly piped up, now leaning against the side of the hover. “He’s nice, Anna!”
But Simon just nodded, seriously. “Nora saved me. I’m just happy to find someone else out there to survive with.”
Anna looked embarrassed at that, waving her hand in front of her face as she stepped back. “Alright then. Jeez, Nory. Your face could fry an egg. It’s so red. See you in a week.” She handed out a little tan bag, waggling it in the air. “Here’s a little something extra for later.”
Nora took the bag, laughing. “Thank you Anna.”
They were about to get into the hover, Anna on the sidelines watching, when Paul emerged before they could, his expression thunderous. “I was looking for you, Anna, and saw you out here on the feed instead of working.”
Oh no. Damn Paul.Nora attempted to walk forward, in front of Simon, but Simon beat her to it, angling himself before her and Tilly protectively, using his arm to herd her behind him. Nora’s throat tightened.
Paul looked at Simon, now front and center, questioningly. “Who’s this?”
Simon gave a smile and offered his hand, stepping forward. “I’m Simon. I’m living with Nora now.”
Nora cleared her throat. “We were just leaving, Paul.”
Paul ignored her and Simon’s hand, putting his arms across his chest as he looked at Simon with a sour expression. “Why have I not seen you before?”
“New in town.”
Paul looked him over speculatively, much the same way Max did, only the spark of insight was missing that Max had. “You’re too pretty to belong here. You leave my business and wife alone or we are gonna have issues.”
Anna glanced at Nora, and they shared a startled expression. “He’s with Nora, Paul!”
Paul matched Nora’s direct gaze. “Just letting him know where things stand. Not too often someone brand new comes around.”
Tilly ran up then, before Nora could snatch her back, peering up at Paul with an eager expression. “Simon is great. He’s been helping us get all sorts of good things.”
Paul just glared at Tilly before he turned and walked back toward the shop. “That’s all I got to say on it. Get back to work, Anna. We got a big order later today.”
The mood was more somber once Paul left, the door slamming behind him. Nora watched him walk off, anger rising within her. It mixed with compassion when she saw Anna’s closed expression.
Nora gave Anna an extra hug goodbye, tone low. “Bye Anna.”
