Page 18 of The Midnight Order
Silver
A knockat the door signals the exterminator’s prompt arrival. Everyone in the city is always late, and I was ready for him to be, if I’m honest.
I’m still in my pajamas and fuzzy slippers when I open the door.
The man looks me up and down before grinning. “My wife wouldn’t be caught dead looking like that, but I find it refreshing.”
A hint of a Southern accent makes the comment funny, even if it’s highly inappropriate.
“Well, I thought you’d be later than this, if I’m honest.”
“No one in Blackmoore is ever late, ma’am.”
His words strike me as odd, but I shove them into the box with all my other mounting worries and step outside.
“So, Bill said you have some critters eating your porch?” He curls his thumbs through his belt loops, and I’m taken aback by how normal he seems in a town of… Well, nothing normal.
“Yeah, he said they’re probably in the house, too.”
“Mm, I’d figure as much. I mean, the porch is connected.” He laughs, rocking on his heels. “Well, I’ll inspect and draw up the paperwork for Bill and be out of your hair.”
“Do you need anything from me? Any coffee or anything? It’s chilly out today.”
He eyes me as if I’ve just said the most peculiar thing he’s ever heard. “I’d love some coffee, actually.”
“Sure. Cream and sugar?”
“Is there any other way?”
I laugh as I walk inside and leave the door open, heading for the coffeepot, which is still on the warm setting.
“You know, I don’t think I’ll ever understand black coffee drinkers,” I call out as I pour him a mug full.
“My wife is one of them, and I swear she’s another breed entirely.”
I turn as he sounds farther off.
Sure enough, he’s standing outside the house, poking only his head to speak to me.
“You can come in if you’d like. Unless you’re worried that the place isn’t structurally sound and might fall in on you.”
He smiles, looking down at his feet before placing one inside.
It’s as if he’s testing some unforeseen boundary line, which strikes me as odd.
I add that to the box of worries and sigh inwardly.
That box is going to need to be taken to the dump soon, or it’ll overflow.
I finish making his coffee, just as I make my own, and hand it over.
“Thank you, kindly.” He tips his hat as he takes a long drag. “Oh, that’s good. See, Karen doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
I laugh. “Stop. Karen is your wife?”
“The one and the same.”
“The woman who’s ruined me with her pumpkin cheesecake coffee is a black coffee drinker? I would’ve never pegged her as such.”
