Paradise Lots 3 Getting Checked out

Meeting an old enemy

She ate a few bites until her stomach said it was enough.

Lurleen didn’t know where she was when she woke up. It was daylight, well into morning. She was naked under a sheet on a musty bed. She didn’t see her clothes or her backpack. She did see the camera facing her, like in the old days. Her memory floated back into her consciousness.

She’d come home, where they had to take you in. Whether they had to let you stay, and what it would cost, remained to be seen. She didn’t remember coming in here.

Someone knocked on the door. “Wake up. It’s almost noon.”

“Come in,” Lurleen croaked, her throat dry and sore.

One of her younger sisters, Shirlene, came in carrying a takeout box and a grocery sack. “Ma says eat this, take a shower, get dressed, and come up to the office.” She had no expression or recognition, neither joy nor disgust at seeing her sister for the first time in years.

Coffee smelled delicious to Lurleen, but her stomach roiled at the smell of eggs and biscuits. “Thank you,” she croaked.

Shirlene set the box on Lurleen’s lap, and the bag, containing clothes, on the bed. “Thank Mama. Don’t take long. She’s in a mood.”

The coffee went down well, its warmth soaking into her body. Lurleen choked down a few bites of egg, and about half a biscuit before her stomach warned that was enough. She left it on the side table, thinking she might eat the rest later, if she were able to come back.

Someone had undressed her in the night, but the clothes in the bag were clean—a t-shirt, a jacket, jeans, and decent underwear. Not the clothes she’d worn in, but her size and wearable.

She took a quick shower, just enough to get warm and wet. Her hair took two shampoo-repeats to feel clean at all, but she needed to get a move on.

She got dressed. They had washed her shoes, though they weren’t in good shape. She’d always had big feet, so she guessed there weren’t any leftovers her size.

As she walked towards the office, she heard her mother haranguing someone. What she said wasn’t clear, but the tone of voice was familiar. Lurleen had borne the brunt of the wrath of Marie-Ann many times. Maybe this time it wasn’t about her. Fat chance.

The two bouncers, Mac and Shorty, came out the back door of the office before she could get there. Shorty shook his head, but Mac said nothing. She let them pass before she went in.

No one else was there, just Marie-Ann.

“I’m taking you to the clinic,” Marie-Ann said. “I need to see what all’s going on with you.”

Lurleen nodded her assent. “Yes, Ma’am.” She was glad her mom was taking that much interest.

“Old Doc said you were probably exhausted and dehydrated,” Marie-Ann said, “Did you eat?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Marie-Ann crossed her arms. “How long have you been clean, or are you?”

“About two weeks.” Lurleen sighed. “Can I have some more coffee?”

“No, but you can get a glass of water. You need to have enough blood for them to get a sample.”

As Lurleen got her water behind the bar, her mom continued. “Is Dean after you? Will he be making trouble here?”

“No, he threw me out.” Lurleen sipped at the water, thirsty, but aware of the turmoil in her stomach. “I figured if I was going to hook, I might as well do it here.” She risked a few more sips.

“That’s the way of it then.” Marie-Ann nodded, her hand propped on her hip. “Finish your drink. We’ll go into town, and see what’s what, and then we’ll make some decisions.”

“Okay, Mama.” Lurleen washed the glass in the sink and put it in the drying rack. “Thank you for taking care of me last night. I owe you.”

“Yes, you do.”

The trip to the clinic in Greenville was quiet. Marie-Ann had heard all she needed to know, and Lurleen didn’t see any point in bringing up old history.

She didn’t know if she could go back to the life at home with her sisters. She didn’t know if she had an STD or two, cancer, or a even baby on the way, but that’s why they were heading to the clinic.

She tried to think of what else she might do, of who might hire her, knowing who her family was. Greenville probably had lots of opportunities, but Due Now was small, insular, and judgmental.

No transportation, no money, few skills. The future was less than bright. Maybe she should just end it all. Yet, Mama hadn’t thrown her out, had even fed her. Maybe they could start over, act like adults for a change.

“What will I do now?” Lurleen asked. “Do you have work for me, or do I need to find something elsewhere?”

“That depends on the clinic.” Marie-Ann said. “Are you pregnant?”

“I don’t think so, but I haven’t had a period in a while. I had a miscarriage last year.” Lurleen shivered, remembering the beating Dean gave her in a drunken rage. He didn’t want to be a dad.

“Did you ever get whatever certification you need to do accounting?”

“I still need to take the certification exam, but I think I could pass it.”

As they crossed over the Greenville county line, a cop pulled in behind them with his blue lights flashing.

With a weary sigh, Marie-Ann pulled the Jeep over on the shoulder. She got her license and registration and waited for the officer.

“What seems to be the problem?” Marie-Ann asked as she rolled down the window and handed out her papers.

Lurleen looked up to see one of her old schoolmates, Kenny Pucker, a bully then and a bully now.

“The main problem is you are in my county, Marie-Ann.” He ducked down to look in the car. “And the always wayward Lurleen.”

“I don’t need a passport,” Marie-Ann said, “We are still in America, the last time I checked.” She had all her taillights, had not been speeding, and all her paperwork was in order.

He made a show of going back to his squad car and running her license tag.

“Just keep quiet,” Marie-Ann said. “You can’t win a fight with an ass.”

Lurleen nodded. She’d lost enough fights to know.

Kenny swaggered back and handed the documents to Marie-Ann. “I reckon you’re headed to the clinic. You know you can’t get an abortion in this state anymore.”

“It’s none of your business where we are going.” Marie-Ann tucked the registration back in the pocket of the sun visor. “Write me up or don’t.”

“Maybe I’ll send a little business your way,” he grinned, “now that Lurleen is back.”

“I told you before, you are not welcome.” She put her license in her pocketbook. “And we are out of your jurisdiction.”

When he didn’t write up a ticket, she started the car. “Say hey to your momma for me.” She rolled the window back up and drove off, leaving him standing on the side of the road.

“Things don’t change,” Lurleen said. “They just get worse.”

“Don’t worry about Kenny. They don’t pay him enough to do a good job, and he isn’t bright enough even if they did.”

Lurleen sighed, slumping down in the seat. “What if I am pregnant?”

“No point in making decisions without information. In an hour or so, you’ll know, and then we can talk about it.”

“I need to tell you about Dean,” Lurleen said. “He’s a shifter.”

“A werewolf?”

“No, a coyote. It’s all fun and games with him until it isn’t.”

Marie-Ann nodded. “When we get back, we’ll have to visit Bridget .”

“The witch?”

“Who better to deal with a were?”