Page 44 of Sangre
Chapter Twelve
Staring at theflat tire, Isla groaned. “I so don’t need this,” she said under her breath. Looking around, she saw Keith’s car and was just about ready to walk over there when her next-door neighbor started to come over. Faith’s two daughters ran up to Isla and hugged her.
“Did you make the lemonade?” Carly asked.
“Daddy finished our lemonade stand and we’re going with mommy to get some decorations for it,” Letty gushed.
“That’s great. I’ll make the lemonade tonight, so you’ll have it ready for tomorrow morning when you open for business,” Isla said, waving at Faith as she approached them.
“What’s going on there?” Faith asked, pointing at the flat tire.
“I have no idea. I must’ve picked up a nail or something. This is such a drag. I really don’t want to fix a tire. Gah! I better go back inside and change out of these clothes.” Isla glanced over again at Keith’s car.
Keith opened the door and got out. “You having a problem?” he asked as he walked toward her.
“Don’t bother him. Colt can fix it for you. He’s still at home, so I’ll just run over and get him,” Faith said.
“That’s okay. Keith can do it. You don’t have to bother Colt.”
“Nonsense. After all the things you do for the girls, he’d be more than happy to help.” Faith looked at Carly. “Go get your dad and tell him that Isla has a flat tire.” Carly skipped away.
“Thanks. I hope this isn’t an omen for having ‘one of those days.’” Isla looked at Keith. “I have a flat tire, but my neighbor’s going to change it.”
“Are you sure? I can do it.”
“My husband’s on his way,” Faith said before Isla could reply.
“So you don’t need me?”
Smiling, Isla shook her head. “Colt’s going to take care of it. Thanks for the offer.” She watched the guard amble back to the car then looked at Faith. “What are you and the girls up to today?”
“We’re going to the store to buy some embellishments for the lemonade stand. Colt finished it up yesterday, and the girls are so excited to get started with their summer business. Where are you headed off to?”
“We’re rehearsing today. I was hoping to get to the gym for an hour before heading over to the venue, but I guess that’s not gonna happen.”
“It shouldn’t take too long to change a tire. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there have been different cars parked in front of your house like all night. I called the sheriff’s department about it, and they sent out a deputy, but they never followed through in telling me what was up. I still notice cars in front of your house. I don’t want to freak you out or anything, but have you noticed it too?”
Isla smiled. “I guess I should’ve said something to you. It never occurred to me that neighbors would be paying any attention, but I hired a security company to watch over me.”
Faith’s eyes widened. “Really? It never dawned on me that they would be bodyguards. I guess that makes sense when you’re a public figure. Did you have them in LA?”
“No. As bizarre as this sounds, I never felt like I needed to have any in LA. And even though Alina is a small town, I’m feeling very vulnerable here. I’ve been getting some wacko fan mail, so I just feel safer having somebody watch over me. Goes with the territory, I suppose. It seems that the more people who know about us, the more exposed I feel. I guess in time I’ll get used to it though.”
Letty tugged at the hem of her mother’s shirt. “Mommy, when are we gonna go?”
Faith laughed and grasped her daughter’s hands. “I guess we better get a move on it before she breaks a blood vessel.”
Isla nodded. “I can’t wait to see what you and Carly do to your lemonade stand. I bet you get a ton of cool stuff today with your mom.” Shifting her eyes back to Faith’s, she smiled. “Have fun shopping. I’ll be by in the morning with the lemonade.”
Carly ran up to her mom and pulled on her hand. “Come on, Mom. We gotta go.”
Colt came up to Faith and wrapped his arm around her waist, kissing her cheek. He looked over at Isla. “Heard you have a flat tire.”
Pointing at the front driver’s side, Isla rolled her eyes. “Yeah. That’s what greeted me this morning.”
“You got a spare?” he asked.
“I do.”
