“Uhh...is this yours?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

The man in front of me in line jerks his head around, his mouth slightly open. “Hold on a sec.” He mutters to the person on the other end of his phone call. “Yes, it is. Thank you...uh...sir.” His voice seems to be straining deep tones together a little too forcefully. He gives me a jerk of a nod and plucks his wallet from my fingers before turning back around. It had fallen from his coat pocket when he went to answer his phone. 

I hook my thumbs into the belt loops of my shorts, blinking slowly at the worn pink tiled floor of Ella Jo’s. The line is always slow on Sundays. She doesn’t open until after Church lets out, so everyone just pours in at once. I wouldn’t have even come if I’d remembered what day it was, but I’m out of coffee and I want to show her the sketches I’ve been working on for the bakery remodel.  

It takes about six minutes for the guy in front of me to finish his call, and another ten for him to be next in line.

“Max Carver?! My goodness, you’ve grown again.” Ella Jo adjusts the silver bun on the top of her head and beams at the man in front of me as he steps up to the counter. He runs a hand through his thick, blonde curls as he reaches over to give her a hug. 

The man lingers after ordering, leaning on the counter a little too close for my comfort while I move forward to order. His eyes are covered by sunglasses, and I can’t really tell if he’s looking at me or not. Weirdo. I grip the folder of sketches tightly against my chest until Ella Jo returns to the register.

“William.” She reaches forward and squeezes my elbow. “The usual?”

“Plus four bags.” I crack a forced smile because my face isn’t awake enough for natural expressions.

Ella Jo rings it up and collects my coffee supply for home before noticing the folder. “I’m so glad you’re done already!” She squeals excitedly. “Ben! Cover the counter!” She shouts to her teenage grandson who is washing dishes in the back. “Get us all a table.” She directs me. “I’ll be out with your order in a jiff.”  

So...he’s a part of this meeting? I glance at the blond guy with a twisting sensation taking over my gut. Must be the contractor or something.

The man named Max keeps his sunglasses on as he scoots in the chair across from me. I find it extremely unnerving and completely idiotic. We’re inside, you psycho.

“So you’re William Reed.” He sounds like his voice is being pushed through a straw now. 

“Mmuhh...ahuh.” I stutter awkwardly. It’s way too early for me to feel this creeped out.

“Jojo’s mentioned you. Says you’re the mastermind behind the future of…this.” He gestures stiffly at the little bakery. 

Jojo...? I force a swallow, not knowing what the hell to say.

“Don’t mind Maxypad over here. He’s always had a stick up his-”

“Hey now!” Max cuts Ella Jo off with a huff.

“Well, it’s true.” She chuckles softly, her tiny wrinkled cheeks springing into action. “Anyway, here you go sweetheart.” She places a steaming mug of black coffee in front of me, followed by a glass half full with chocolate milk.

“Thank you.” I give a little nod and hand her the folder.

Max’s left eyebrow rises above his sunglasses, but he doesn’t say anything as I pour about a third of the coffee into the milk. I have to acclimate to the taste before I can dive into the full coffee experience when I’m this hungover, and all the fancy drinks on the menu just stress me out. This is simple, and tasty.

“Wow.” Ella mutters to herself while she muses over the sketches.

My stomach drops when I notice her passing each one to Max after she’s taken her time. He seems pissed off. 

“This’ll work,” he grunts after a few minutes of silence.

“Good. I knew there was a way to get more space without having to take out that wall.” Ella Jo hums softly as she gazes at the far end of the room. It’s full of pictures from her life working here, and the people in town who frequent the bakery. 

Ella Jo’s is a corner lot with an empty yard behind the back wall. My sketches outline an outdoor addition for her busiest months in the summer. That’s really the only time of year that the bakery feels cramped because of vacationers. Instead of destroying her most valuable wall, I’d drawn a doorway in the corner that would lead onto a patio of sorts. It isn’t really my area of expertise, but she’d asked me to do it.

“I trust your vision of this place more than some coldhearted professional.” Was how she’d put it.

“Taking out walls is a headache, and patios can be pretty quick if I get Sam’s help. Plus, you can stay in business this way.” Max grumbles as he hands the sketches back to Ella Jo. 

“Oh! Sam’s not going to Colorado again with Emma’s family this summer?” Her brows draw inward with concern.

“Nope, don’t think so.” Max sounds annoyed and braces both of his hands on the tiny table.

I swear I can feel eyes on me, but his sunglasses are too dark. What’s the deal with this guy…?

“Sam is Max’s little brother. He’s just a couple years younger than you.” Ella Jo’s soft voice pulls my attention back to her. “Why isn’t he going? Aren’t they still dating?” She asks Max quietly.

“Not for long.” He stands with a force that brings goosebumps to my skin. “I gotta head home. Thanks for this.” He motions to the folder on the table before planting a kiss on Ella Jo’s bun and walking briskly towards the door.

Max eyes me from underneath his shades while he moves past the window next to our table. At least...it feels like he does.

“Charming, isn’t he?” Ella Jo pats my shoulder as she rises with a grunt. “Those plans are perfect, dear. I’ll see you soon?” 

I nod and she hobbles away, rubbing a hand over her lower back.

I pull my jacket tighter as I walk towards my bicycle next to the bakery.  I can’t shake the goosebumps or the creepiness of that Max guy. I hook the bag of coffees around the handle to prepare to head home, my legs already exhausted by the ride ahead of me. 

It takes about ten minutes to get to my house from town. The last two are a hassle with the gravel in the driveway knocking forcefully against my tires. I use up all of my concentration for the day just holding onto some form of balance until I reach the garage.

I don’t have a vehicle at my disposal anymore. I sold off my parents’ Sadan and Bryan’s old Jeep to set up funds to pay the water and electricity bills after they died. I tried to keep my inheritance untouched, but it took awhile for my artwork to sell in the gallery in Tantern so I dipped into it a little in the first few months. I have regulars who refer me to their friends now, so I manage on my own. 

The house was paid off long before I was born, so I don’t have to worry about that cost. It’s just me and Berry to feed, and she eats more than I do on a daily basis. I do just fine with the gallery and odd jobs around town. I’m a better deal than professional painters because I don’t charge people much. Just what I need to get by.

I grunt my way up the stairs to the front porch and bump the door open with my shoulder. I never lock it. There’s no need with my driveway being longer than most roads in town. Any burglar would just give up and try someplace else. Plus, I’ve never heard of robberies in Tantern. I don’t really pay attention to most things, though.

Berry greets me by walking ahead of me towards the kitchen and plopping herself down in front of her food dish.

“You literally ate an hour ago.” 

She purrs loudly and rubs herself around my shins, peering up at me with a rare sweetness in her expression.

“Oh, so you like me again?” I chuckle and reach into the cabinet for a couple cat treats. I would be more strict with her feeding schedule if she was overweight, but she goes on adventures throughout the day and works off the pounds of food she consumes.

I hear her pattering paws against the back door while I’m finishing up a cigarette on the deck, so I let her outside. It’s funny to observe her prowling across the lawn. She walks as if the ground is too disgusting to exist, almost like she’s on her tiptoes. I watch her sit directly in front of the weeds by the trees for a few minutes before turning to head inside, but the sound of her raspy mew brings my attention back to the yard.

I head over to investigate as she crouches low in the grass, peering underneath the leaves of a purple-flowered bush. “Did you make a friend?” I groan. Hopefully it’s not another dead rodent. I lean over the bush and sigh a slight relief before my heart starts to pick up the pace. “Interesting...” The grass behind the bush is flattened completely, like something crushed it until it could no longer spring upwards towards the sun. 

“Deer bed?” I ask for Berry’s opinion, but she just crawls across the space, sniffing around the fallen blades. We don’t get many deer this close to the lake.  

Her little paw rjolts forward suddenly, causing me to jump backwards. She’s playing with something, pushing it across the hollowed out space. I lean forward to discover it’s a tuft of dark hair, and upon further inspection, I realize the ground is littered with what appears to be black dog fur.