“Oh, Lucia, that’s too much. You can give us, like, twenty dollars or even five,” Anna told her.
“No, the hundred is perfect. There are other people out there who are more needy than I. Right now I can get three square meals a day, I have a new job, a roof over my head, and am thankful to this town and the people like yourselves and Mrs. Higgins that make me feel welcome. I don’t need anything more. I’ll be just fine.”
Anna felt the tears reach her eyes as she took the hundred-dollar bill.
“I’ll wrap these up for you and put them in a bag.” Anna was in awe of Lucia, and she hoped that she was successful in making it on her own, and that she would stay in Pearl and settle down.
* * * *
Lucia put the bag with the other jacket into her backpack and headed out into the evening chill. It was in the low fifties, maybe colder, but the warmth of the black down jacket that fell a little past her waist was heaven. The walk back to the Anderses’ would take fifteen minutes, but the walk from here to the O’Brians’ would take a lot longer. Then she had the return trip all the way back bec
ause the O’Brian farm was on the other end of town. She figured she would go to the library until it got dark before she headed to see the opening night at the jack-o‘-lantern display. She was looking forward to it, and the trek back to the Anderses’ wouldn’t be so bad now that she had the coat.
She could eat the small sandwich she had made for lunch but hadn’t eaten because Beth had made a pot of chicken soup. It had been delicious and made Lucia long for things she never had nor ever would. She asked Beth how she made the soup and explained to her about not knowing how to cook a lot but wanting to learn. That made Beth excited as she planned to show her how to make a few things. Too bad she wouldn’t be able to unless she got a bigger apartment with a regular-size stove and oven.
Lucia made her way to the library for an hour. There, she could look up more ideas for designs and also eat the sandwich.
She would also confirm the location of the O’Brian farm and that the display was opening tonight. It was funny, but after talking with Anna and Diane and having money in her pocket, security of a job, and the adventure of designing her first room, she was feeling pretty excited. Going to see the creative, hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns was going to be a wonderful way to celebrate and get into the spirit of fall and all it had to offer here in Pearl.
* * * *
Brutas was at Salvatore’s side as he, Lucifer, Maxwell, and Gabriele helped add some finishing touches to the project Lucifer worked on for the entryway to the O’Brian jack-o’-lantern display. He was truly impressed with the artistic talents of the locals in town, but was shocked when Mr. O’Brian asked his brother and him to create the entryway theme. Something that enticed the visitors and truly put them in the mood for the event and, of course, the festival. Salvatore hadn’t wanted to be involved, and really didn’t do much because he showed no interest in being part of the community on the frontlines. Behind the scenes was one thing, but he allowed Lucifer to take complete control over this project.
It looked amazing. He even built the wood structures with seating around the more detailed pumpkins so parents could take pictures of their children next to them. Once visitors entered the fields, the only light was from the candles inside of the jack-o’-lanterns.
Once they finished up, Mr. O’Brian offered them a beer as they sat on the back of one of the hayride trucks as people began to arrive. It wasn’t until it was dark and he was preparing to leave with his brothers that he spotted Lucia.
At first he wasn’t sure it was her, but then noticed the black coat, her long brown hair, and the backpack she carried. She was smiling as she stood by the entrance admiring Lucifer’s work.
“What are you looking at?” Maxwell asked, taking another slug from his bottle of beer then tossing it into the garbage.
Salvatore nodded toward Lucia, and his brothers all looked, too.
“Lucia,” Lucifer called out as he headed toward her. She turned, and her expression indicated she was shocked to see him there, and then her eyes darted toward Salvatore and their brothers Maxwell and Gabriele.
“You came to check out the display?” Lucifer asked, putting his hands in his pockets, looking a bit nervous. That was so unlike Lucifer. But then again, Salvatore could feel his own heartbeat racing as he slid off the back of the truck and greeted her next.
“Who did you come here with?” he thought to ask. His gut tightened just thinking she was here with some guy. But she was all alone, and the others that had walked through the entrance along with her were already moving along the pathway.
“No one.”
That bothered him. She must have walked here. Maxwell moved closer.
“Hi, I’m their brother Maxwell. This is Gabriele.” Maxwell introduced them as Salvatore’s mind spun with concern. She shook their hands hello, and he could tell his brothers found her attractive, too. Maxwell looked her body over, and Gabriele smiled. He barely smiled anymore.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said then jumped, placing her hand over her chest as Brutas barked at her. He wagged his tail and approached.
“Oh God, he’s a big dog,” she said and lowered her hand palm upward for Brutas to sniff.
“Be nice, Brutas,” Salvatore said as the dog licked her hand.
She chuckled, and his heart pounded inside. He couldn’t be attracted to her like this. She deserved better. He fucked up once and nearly killed a woman. He couldn’t be trusted to have a relationship with one. But his brothers could. She was special. It didn’t take being a brain surgeon to realize that.
“He’s very big. His head is huge,” she said, and then petted Brutas. The dog pressed against her and the guys shot looks at Salvatore.
“You walked here alone?” Lucifer asked, and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
“It’s not that far. I really wanted to see this after everyone described it at Francine’s the other day.”