Free Lilac Avenue by Pamela Grandstaff

Dad.”
    “That’s a blessing,” Claire said.
    “Oh, look at me, boo-hooing like a baby and my mascara probably everywhere,” Candy said.
    “You look fine,” Claire said. “You look great.”
    “Well, I’m off,” Candy said. “Places to go, things to do; it just never stops, right?”
    “Take care,” Claire said. “Call me when you have time for lunch.”
    After Candy left, Claire stood for a while, looking out the window, just thinking. Twenty years ago, when she left Rose Hill, everywhere she went she had looked for the place where her real life would begin; “real life” meaning having someone to love, to make a family with, to work together toward a secure future. Now she wondered if while she ran around in circles all over the globe perhaps she’d missed out on her real life right here in Rose Hill.

 
    Chapter Three - Tuesday
     
    Late in the afternoon Claire’s cousin Hannah came in, holding a tiny black kitten with big blue eyes.
    “No, Hannah,” Claire said.
    “He’s not for you,” Hannah said. “I’m just killing time until I can take him to the new owner; she won’t be home until five.”
    “In that case let me hold him,” Claire said. “He’s so cute.”
    “He looks just like you,” Hannah said. “Black hair and blue eyes.”
    “My hair is not black,” Claire said. “It’s Mysterious Nightfall and Wing de Raven with just a hint of Hot Caramel.”
    “Well, pardon me,” Hannah said. “I guess that makes mine Mysterious Mouse with just a hint of Head de Bed.”
    The kitten was very tiny and mewed pitifully as Hannah transferred it over. Claire cuddled the tiny ball of fur up against her chest and rubbed his neck and head. He began to purr and squeezed his eyes shut at her.
    “He likes you,” Hannah said. “Too bad he’s spoken for.”
    “He’s so sweet,” Claire said. “But I don’t want one, and don’t you bring me one, Hannah. I mean it. I have enough to worry about without adding another dependent.”
    Her cousin sat in the second hydraulic chair and spun it around a few times. Then, without asking for permission, she rooted around in Claire’s handbag until she found an energy bar. Hannah was tiny in stature, but her ferocious metabolism gave her the appetite and energy of a man three times her size.
    “This tastes terrible,” she said with her mouth full. “Don’t you have any candy?”
    “No candy,” Claire said. “But Kay brought cookies.”
    Hannah spit out the bite of energy bar into the trash can, and tossed the rest of it in as well. Claire handed her the plastic container of cookies.
    “Excellent!” Hannah said. “Kay makes the best cookies. That’s reason enough to vote for her. She’s asked me to run for city council, you know.”
    “Are you going to?”
    “Sure,” Hannah said. “She promised to bake for every meeting.”
    “Are you campaigning?”
    “Don’t have to,” Hannah said. “I’m pretty popular, you know; kind of a local celebrity, really. I’ve been known to do some pretty heroic things in the name of justice and the American way. Around these parts I’m known as the Masked Muttcatcher.”
    “Ah, yes,” Claire said. “I’ve heard many a tale of your daring do.”
    “Plus all the women want to be me and all the men want to sleep with me,” Hannah said. “Or vice versa.”
    Hannah had close-set hazel eyes and a prominent nose, and did nothing to improve her appearance with makeup. She was dressed in her usual summer uniform of faded Rose Hill T-shirt, khaki shorts, wool ankle socks and work boots. Both her arms and legs were deeply tan with a light dusting of fine golden hair on them. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail anchored by a ball cap that had “Noodleheads” printed on it under a noodle-shaped cartoon character. Noodleheads was Hannah’s new favorite fast food joint, which had just opened up near the interstate north of town.
    “I’ve probably done something for every long-term resident in this