Chapter 3: Elle

Abigail’s POV

“I’ve had that boxed wine before, and it’s awful. It’s not fit for the birthday girl.” The woman squatted in front of the refrigerated section of drinks.

“I have a name, you know.” I pretended to be annoyed, but I actually didn’t care what she called me as long as she was talking to me.

“Oh yeah, what did your boyfriend say it was again?”

“James? He’s not my boyfriend!” I exclaimed this way too loud. I felt like a kindergartener on a playground fighting off accusations from her classmates.

“Sorry, sorry. Uh, I’m Abigail.” I leaned my elbow on a display of boxed seltzers. I felt like I was going to pass out after blowing my chance. She must have thought I was crazy. But what chance did I even think I had? We were just two women talking. Alone. Well, almost alone. A lanky old man side-eyed my shouting a minute ago. He grabbed a glass of cola from the cooler before backing away slowly like I was a rabid animal.

“Okay, Abigail. Well, I’m sorry to freak you out. I usually tease my friends.” Her eyes were softer this time and more genuine. The neon sign on the wall that read “BEER” reflected warm, yellow lighting that shimmered in the backdrop of her deep eye color.

Friends? Were we already friends? Since when did I feel my stomach doing backflips over someone calling me their friend? Thank God she was standing to face the highest shelf of drinks. She didn’t see my elbow slide backward and knock over the stand on top of the display that read “NEW FLAVORS!” I quickly kicked it out of sight when she glanced back.

“Aha, here it is!” She picked up a large pink can and handed it to me. It was freezing, and the icy touch brought me out of my stupid, swirling inner monologue.

“It’s a sparkling wine. For the price, it’s pretty good.” Her eyes traveled down my dress. “Hah, and the can matches your pink dress.”

“Great, and the can now matches my pink cheeks,” I thought.

I turned first for the counter. I heard my drink section guide behind me and the crinkle of her grabbing what I assume was a bag of chips on our way back to James. I hated not being able to see her face. What if the back of my hair looked bad? Was I walking too slow? Maybe I should speed up.

I wasn’t watching where I was going. I was trying to invent the new superpower of seeing behind my head. The last thing I saw was James giving me a thumbs up and pointing to the door. He put up the closing sign early.

The vengeful sign that toppled to the floor came back to knock me as hard as I had knocked it. My heel hit the plastic sign, and my boots lost their grip. I heard my can hit the ground and fizzle in a sweet-smelling explosion. I thought I’d thud down next.

A lightly calloused hand grabbed me on the arm to break my fall. I tilted back into her chest, and then I felt a second hand gently pull me up until my legs were straight. I must have looked like my skinniest cat, Peaches, when I lifted her underarms in the morning to stretch out her snakey body.

“Jeez, Abby, are you okay?”

I couldn’t say anything at first.

“I mean Abigail, are you okay?” She took her arms off me.

The slow-motion movie was over, and I could finally notice James on standby next to her. His eyes shifted from me to her as a reminder of “hey idiot, answer her!”

Thanks to the confidence of my wingman, I finally spoke up. “Yeah, I’m fine. And Abby is fine.”

“What?”

“Abby is fine. You can call me Abby.” I repeated. She smiled.

“Okay, Abby. And it’s Elle, by the way.”

“Well ladies,” James interjected. “This has been fun, but I gotta go get a mop for this mess.”

“James, let me –” I started, but he stopped me.

“I’m not having you mop on your birthday. Go grab another wine and get drunk at home.”

I laughed and dug in my purse until I felt the familiar plush pom-pom at the bottom. I pulled out my keyring by the puffball and the attached car and house keys.

“So…can I walk you to your car? Just so you don’t slip again.” Elle asked.

“Sure, Elle.” I loved saying her name.

* * *

We made it to my car, but I couldn’t get myself to drive away from her. I walked ahead of Elle and calmed my inner monologue more this time. She could forgive one of my slip-ups, but two in one night surely would be too much.

Elle noticed the cat family stickers on my back window and laughed. I forgot I had those dumb things on there. I looked through her, sweating at the thought of her judgment. I gazed toward the horizon instead. The sky was beautiful tonight. The setting sun made the colors above us shades of rich orange and red, like a ripe peach.

“Do you really have three? Named Peaches, Gus, and Duchess?” Elle asked.

I peeked back at Elle. “Mmm-hmm,” I said.

“That’s so cute! I love cats.”

I was no longer afraid to look at her. “Oh, do you have one?”

“Nah, I’m just too busy workin’ with my dad for a pet right now. But we used to when I was little.”

“Where do you work?” I asked. Was that too forward? Did I sound like a stalker?

“My dad’s got a carpentry business. That’s why I’m so filthy all the time after work.” Her eyes met mine. “I can’t walk around as pretty and dainty as you.

“T-Thanks…” I mumbled.

I was too scared to look at her again, and this time I looked at our feet. Her combat boots contrasted my leopard print ones. My boots were cleaned every time I walked in the door. Hers were worn but well-loved. Every scuff, stain, and fleck of dirt embedded in their cracks probably told a story of this hardworking, bold, and confident carpenter.

Our tension was broken with my phone rumbling in my purse.

“Uh, just a sec.” I pulled it out and the white light was so cold and artificial against the soft glow of the peachy early summer sky. I saw three missed calls from Momma. It was almost 8 p.m.

“Oh no!” I shoved it down in my purse, and pulled my keys out, nearly disconnecting the pom-pom keychain from its tether. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I gotta go! Now!”

“Is everything okay?” She asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine!” I opened my car door, threw my purse onto the passenger seat, and lifted my leg to hop in the car. I felt the same calloused hand on my shoulder, but its touch was still light and tender.

“Are you sure you’re alright? Can I help you with something?” Elle asked. Her voice was so much gentler than her commands in the convenience store earlier.

“I’m okay, Elle. I forgot something I have to do, that’s all.”

She took her hand away in slow motion. The fates made her take it away slow enough to give me a chance to change my mind. Momma’s wrath was stronger than anything in the universe and right now I had to calm her rage that awaited me at home.

Elle backed away after I climbed into my driver’s seat. I rolled down the window as I backed up from my parking spot. “I’ll see you later, Elle!”

I looked back from my driver’s seat. She waved to me under the fluorescent lighting that lit the haven of that parking lot I dreaded leaving. “Happy birthday, Abby!” She screamed at me just before I pulled away.