Page 37 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

Hanging up the phone, she closed her eyes and placed her head back on the railing. Her body felt too heavy to move, her mind too numb to cry.

In less than fifteen minutes, the police cruiser pulled into the drive next to her car, the word ‘sheriff’ painted across it in ugly tan. He hadn’t bothered to turn the lights on. For that, Clarissa was grateful.

“Hey, Sheriff.” She smiled weakly up at him.

“Hey, kiddo.” He sat next to her on the step. Greg was in his late fifties, but the only indication of his age were the laugh lines and his salt and pepper hair. More salt than the last time she’d seen him. “Tell me what happened.”

She groaned. “I got home just after seven thirty. She wouldn’t let me open the door. Shoved herself against it and started screaming that she didn’t know me. I heard her moving something heavy, I think she barred the door.”

He frowned. “Did you see her? Was she hurt?”

“No, I couldn’t get a good look, I only heard her yelling,” she said.

“Was it the bears again?” he asked.

“Yes, she said I was sent by them to hurt her.”

He sighed. “Alright, why don’t you take a step back. I’ll see what I can do.”

Getting up, he rapped his knuckles on the door. Clarissa moved backward onto the lawn.

“Rachel? Rachel Jhonson, are you in there?”

“Hello?” Her aunt’s tentative voice was muffled through the door. “Greg, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s Greg. I wanted to check on you, is everything alright?”

After several moments and sounds of shuffling, the door flew open. Rachel’s hair was disheveled, her eyes panicked.

“Oh, Greg!” She flung her arms around his neck. “You heard they came for me, the bears, and you were worried about me. You came to help me fight them off!”

“It’s okay, Rachel,” he said. “The bears are gone now. I chased them off.”

“Thank you, Greg.” Rachel froze, staring at Clarissa. “Her! She’s one of them!”

Carissa felt her shoulders fall as despair settled into her chest.

“No, no,” Greg soothed. “She’s not a bear, she’s with me.”

“She is?”

“Yes, she’s here to help take care of you. Her name is Clarissa, she’s going to live here with you in case the bears come back.”

“Oh.” Rachel blinked.

“Can we come in?” he asked.

Rachel moved aside and Greg walked in. Clarissa followed him, downcast. The inside of the double-wide was a wreck. Rachel had dragged her dresser into the front, it sat at an angle preventing the door from fully opening. The kitchen table was turned sideways, the glass with her peony inside shattered on the floor. Her pile of books and magazines were thrown everywhere, and the recliner was on its side.

Clarissa picked up her flower and placed it on the kitchen counter, then she grabbed the broom and dustpan. Rachel talked to Greg while she cleaned up the broken glass.

He set the kitchen table and chairs upright, guiding Rachel to sit down while he helped Clarissa move the dresser. He set the recliner back up while Clarissa started picking up.

“Have you eaten today?” he asked, not looking at her aunt.

“Yes, I had … I had …” Her brow furrowed as she concentrated.

Clarissa checked the fridge. The plate she’d made Rachel for lunch was untouched. Placing a glass of water on the table, she told her to drink while she microwaved a bowl of rice and beans for her.