Sin City Baby

“He always encouraged you to be independent. He loved that fire about you. Seeing you chained to a job you hated would break him inside,” Nicole said.

“He also understood a sense of duty and a need to provide for his family, Nikki. I’ve got to dig myself out from underneath this mortgage before I essentially take on another one for a bed and breakfast. It’s just going to take time.”

“But how much time? No offense, but we’re not getting any younger babe,” Nicole said.

“The point is, I’m working on it. Slowly, but it’s happening.”

Knowing that arguing with me was futile, Nicole switched tactics. “You should get the guy next door to give your nosey neighbor a stern talking to.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“While you were gone, a new guy moved in next door. I came by to check him out for you. Make sure he was all right.”

“You came over to see if he was sexy enough for you to waste your time on,” I said with a grin.

“That too. And by the way? It’s hard to see behind all that hair of his. He’s gruff and rugged. Got a beard and all that shit.”

“God forbid a man have body hair.”

“Body hair. Not facial hair. Clean that shit up. He could be a serial killer,” she said.

“Nicole. Lily’s at the table,” I said.

“Sorry. But, you should make friends with him and get him to talk to your neighbor. I bet she’d back down.”

“That intimidating?”

“Yes, which is another reason you should get a security system.”

“You want my neighbor to be an attack dog for my other neighbor while I guard myself against both of them?” I asked.

“A woman can never be too careful,” she said with a grin.

“So I take it you’ve dug into this guy with your super-secret spy skills?” I asked.

“A bit. I don’t think he has a job or anything around here yet. At least, not a job anyone knows about. But he’s already ruffled a few feathers.”

“How long has he been in town?” I asked.

“A couple months. Was renting a place closer to town until this past weekend when he moved next door. But people are talking.”.”

“People around here talk if you wear white after Labor Day for Christ sake.”

“Either way, the rumors aren’t good. He’s gruff and rather unfriendly. He cussed out old man Dillard the other day, apparently.”

“In his defense, we all want to cuss out old man Dillard,” I said.

“Beside the point.”

“No, exactly the point. Have you actually met this man? I mean, gone up and shaken his hand?”

“No, but I know—”

“Then you can’t judge him by the rumor mill. This town talks. It always does. And sometimes, it has a good reason to talk. But usually, it doesn’t. Just a bunch of bored old biddies with nothing better to do than make up some juicy stories to pass around the knitting circle,” I said.

“You still need that security system,” Nicole said.

“I’ll wait for that winning lottery ticket, and I’ll get one,” I said.