On the other side of the lake they reached the merchant corridor, where Nora spent the money on more syntho-gas for the hover and some spices for home. She also sprang for another solar array. Those were hard to find, and it was still half cracked, but Nora worked a deal where the solar AC got the parts it needed in addition to the array for over half the money they got from Max today.
Nora scanned the crowd carefully as they moved, keeping her eyes and ears open the whole time and ignoring Tilly’s chatter. It was safe here if they stuck by the merchant corridor, but . . . Nora shifted in her seat, her hands still tense on the wheel. Her eyes kept wanting to stray down the road that would take them to where she used to live, in a different time. A time before she had Tilly to take care of and had allowed other people to control her life.
“Can we visit Anna now?” Tilly asked, unaware of Nora’s unease. The haze had cleared up a bit once they got into town. They had stripped off their outer jumpsuits so they were now cooler and relatively dust free. All the taller buildings here made it so the dust didn’t have much space to swirl and get lifted into the air.
Nora nodded, Max’s comments still on her mind. She forced herself to focus on Tilly’s question.Early enough we can still say hi to Anna for a bit. “Yeah. Got everything we could. Can spend a bit of time there today before we head back.”
She parked the hover to the side of a small store marked Bakery Delights, close but not blocking any access. She didn’t want to take up spots in front for actual customers.
Tilly was almost vibrating from excitement and jumped out of the hover the moment it stopped.
Nora waved her down. “One second, lemme just lock up.” She put the jammer, a metal bar that locked the steering wheel so it couldn’t be turned, on the hover for good measure as she exited. She pulled up on the lock, checking to make sure it was tight before she covered her purchases with a tarp. “Okay, all ready.”
After being given the go-ahead, Tilly didn’t need to be told twice. Nora watched her run into Anna’s shop as she followed.
Nora walked a few steps behind Tilly and inhaled deeply as she crossed the threshold into the simple wooden shop. Other than the cigarette smell that always lingered, the scent of bread and cookies filled the air, making Nora’s mouth water.
Anna was fixing a display behind the counter, her back to the door, as they entered. Nora broke out into a wide smile as she glanced around the bakery. Her smile widened even more to see it was just Anna at the front counter and not her husband too.
“Hey Anna! Missed you,” Nora said as she walked up.
Anna turned, her brown hair pulled into a messy ponytail and a bakery apron stretched over her pregnant belly. Her professional face morphed into a grin when she saw it was Nora. Tilly ran up and took her attention away though, and Anna listened to the little girl talk a mile a minute.
“How you doing, Nory?” Came Anna’s strained voice when Tilly finally took a breath.
“Doing alright. Been left alone. Had a hard time getting enough scrap to be worth coming in for the gas price, though.” Nora was careful of Anna’s belly as she gave her a gentle hug from the side.She’s gotten much bigger than the last time I was here.
Anna frowned. “I told you, you can come anytime and stay by us instead of out there. I can get you a job here on the strip.”
Nora internally shuddered at the words. “You know those jobs can dry up fast, and then I’ll be in a worse position. Can’t trust just anyone; better to rely on myself.”
The words hung in the air. Nora softened them by reaching for Anna’s hand. “But thanks for the offer.”
“Yeah . . . I just worry about you.”
“Best thing for me and Tilly is to be far away. I wish you would come with me. Life is a lot better living freer than you can in town. Tilly is happier than I ever remember being at her age.”
Anna frowned and glanced away. “You’re right. I just . . .”
Nora looked at Anna warily, her eyes narrowing on her tired face, and changed the subject. “How you doing, really? This baby is growing big fast.”
Anna forced a smile. “Same old, same old.” She then offered a red and yellow candy to Tilly, who was eyeing all the baked goods lined up on the counter. “Here, Tilly. Got a few pieces of candy still just for you.”
“Oh thank you! Can I feel?” Tilly asked, pointing to Anna’s stomach. She put the candy in her mouth.
Anna walked around the counter toward Tilly, hips sashaying as she moved. “Yeah, baby is a lot stronger than last time you came in a few weeks ago.”
Nora watched Tilly pat Anna’s stomach. “You five months along now?”
“Just about. Wish it were more. Would be closer to being done.”
Nora turned to Tilly. “Tilly, you go play a minute in the back. I hear some other kids there. I'll keep an eye on you through the window.”
“Do I have to?” Tilly looked up at Nora with scared eyes, her hand still on Anna’s stomach.
Nora made a shooing motion. “Go on. You need to learn how to play with others. It can’t just be me and you cooped up all the time. It’s safe here with the shops all surrounding the playground.”
Finally, with a lot of pushing, Tilly went and Nora sank into a chair.
