Page 31 of Pit Stop

Twenty-Three

Tillman

As I head back, I feel better than I have in a long time. For so long I have felt disconnected. Moving through the motions but not really enjoying anything or living life to the fullest. Making a ton of money made me feel accomplished. To watch myself climb up the ladder in a competitive industry like oil gave me a sense of pride and success that I wasn’t used to. Coming from where I had it was an odd feeling but something I enjoyed. However, I still missed the people I left behind. Coming home might have been my best idea yet.

In my mind I mentally plan my day. I know there’s some numbers and paperwork that I need to look over for Zeke, so I’ll take care of that first before looking into getting some new carpet for the hotel. It really needs a name—I think to myself as I head inside. My ears pick up on her light voice, the slight shiver of it. “He needs his things. I need my books for class. What could you possibly want with them?” There’s a pause and she sighs heavily. “Odin didn’t even do anything to you so what do you get out of keeping his school stuff and what little he owns?” My feet move on their own accord. I should turn around and head upstairs. Instead, I move towards her, drawn to the light. She’s pacing, her bottom lip being chewed on between her teeth, and her eyes look like she’s been crying. “Please.”

Another frustrated sigh and then a look of utter disbelief crosses her face. She pulls the phone away from her ear and looks at it. “Are you okay?” I ask, my voice low. I don’t want to startle her. She turns around. Odette has changed her clothes since this morning. A light blue sun dress with thin straps rests on her shoulders, dipping down into a sweetheart neckline and hitting just above the knee. Half of her hair is pulled back but the rest dances around her shoulders. The blue of the dress brings out the color of her eyes. They remind me of those days when I was a kid, before I lost my mom, lying in the backyard on a blanket with her, staring up at the cloudless blue sky. My heart stutters in my chest. Black smudges rim her eyes, she’s clearly been crying.

“He hung up on me,” her voice is quiet.

I take a tentative step forward. “Who? Your boyfriend?”

Odette shakes her head, looks away and wraps her arms tightly around her midriff as if she’s trying to keep everything inside. It’s a move I recognize. I perfected it. Trying to keep everything on your shoulders so you don’t burden those around you. It’ll never work, she’ll break and that thought kills me. “He’s not my boyfriend anymore. He never really was.”

“Why did he call?” The need to reach out and protect her is overwhelming. I’ve always wanted to protect everyone I care about, but this is different. I don’t know anything about Odette and this overprotective feeling is much more than just doing the right thing. It’s deeper in some way that I can’t explain.

“He didn’t call. I called him,” she sighs heavily again, defeat in her posture.

I want to protect her but maybe it’s futile if she’s already back to calling him. “Why?”

She moves quickly, moving a hand to rub her forehead. “The school called because Odin didn’t have any of his books with him. Everything is there, at Lyle’s. I didn’t even think about it. I didn’t even notice that he doesn’t even have his backpack. He’s been going to school the last four days without anything and none of us noticed. I failed him. Lyle won’t let me get his stuff,” her voice breaks and her chin quivers.

No longer able to stop myself I move forward and pull her into me, her head rests on my chest. “You didn’t fail him. Everything in your life has been changed, you’re all adjusting. We’ll go get his stuff.”

I feel her shake her head and sniffle. “Lyle said no and that if we come near the property he’ll call the cops. We can’t afford to have any eyes on us. If we do, they could start watching us and they could take Odin from us since he’s still a minor.”

Gently, I move her back enough so she can see my face, read my eyes so she sees I’m being truthful. “He won’t call the cops. I’m taking you to get everything that is yours or Odin’s.” She starts to shake her head. “Please, trust me, Odette.” She studies me for a moment before finally agreeing with a nod of her head. “Whenever you’re ready I’ll be here to take you.”

“Let me just run up and grab my purse.” I nod and she disappears up the stairs.

While I wait for Odette, I take a seat and open the email app on my phone. I send a quick one to Zeke that I’ll look over everything tonight. I’m used to burning the midnight oil so to speak. Sleep has never been something to come easily for me, especially after things with the SK started to go south. Staying up late to look over the numbers and paperwork that Zeke needs works for me. He replies almost instantly that it works for him too. Odette reappears sometime because her voice suddenly comes from behind me. “I’m ready when you are.”

I stand up and turn around. The black smudges around her eyes are gone. Her face looks slightly refreshed and her posture seems more relaxed than earlier. “Then let’s go.”

As we head out to my car, I stop by the passenger side door and open it for her. Odette stops, her head tilts to the side and a small smile graces her face. The sunlight from behind her gives her a glow much as I already imagine her with the light she brings when she’s around. This image right here is exactly how I’ll picture her. When that time comes and that last breath is there, it’ll be this image of Odette I see behind my eyes. It may sound crazy, it certainly feels that way, but something in me is intensely connected to her. “I didn’t think anyone actually did that anymore.”

“Did what?” I ask, although I have a feeling I know what she means.

“Open doors.”

I look at the door then back at her and shrug my shoulders. “I do. I know a few others that do as well. Although I will admit the world has seemed to have lost that old-fashioned touch over the years. It’s a shame really.”

Odette walks towards me, graceful, small movements. “It is a shame but it’s also nice to know that somewhere in this big, cruel world there are guys like you who still have those old-fashioned ways. I can honestly say that no one has ever opened the door for me before.”

“That’s a damn shame, sweet girl, because you should always have had that.” The sharp intake of breath that I catch, thanks to my watchful eyes from the years I had to watch every move and surrounding. Her bottom lip locks between her teeth and a slight flush crawls up her skin starting at her neck, landing on her cheeks. After a moment of silence and nothing but staring at one another, she finally takes her seat. I close the door and make my way around to the other side. When I get in, all I can smell is Odette. Honey and daisy fill the area of my car. “Any particular kind of music?” I offer.

She shakes her head. “As long as it has good lyrics I don’t care.”

“Do you have a favorite?” I ask, wanting to know more, wanting to know everything about her.

Odette looks over at me. “Don’t we all? But you haven’t earned that answer just yet.” She gives me a smirky, confident smile and I swear I’m a puddle at her feet, wrapped around her finger because I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this girl.

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