Page 39 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Casey***

“Can I help you find anything?”

I turn to the sales lady in Whispers with a grin I’ve been

wearing all morning.

“Hi! I am looking for something that will just knock his

socks off.”

She gives me an evaluative look and then snaps her fingers.

“I have the perfect thing for you!” She hurries to the back

and returns with an emerald green, lace babydoll. “Why don’t you try it on?”

“Okay.”

In the dressing room, I strip down to my panties and slip

into the top. I just need to see how that part fits. It’s see-through, but the

floral pattern ensures that just the right amount of skin is visible. The

triangular halter top barely stretches across my breasts, and I’m practically

popping out on both sides. The length just barely covers my lady parts, and

there are slits in the sides at my hips.

“How do you like it?” the sales clerk asks.

I bite my lip and pull the curtain back to give her the

view. She nods, giving me a smile of approval.

“I believe that will do the trick.”

I glance at her name tag and giggle in excitement.

“Me, too, Eva. Me, too.”

After the lingerie store, I stop for a strawberry-banana

smoothie. I had one this morning, but I love these things. They’re like crack… or

what I imagine crack would feel like to me. I could drink them all day. If I

leave now, I’ll be home in time to make Daddy’s dinner. I toss my purchases in

the backseat and brace myself for the drive home. Turning out of the city, I

head down the road back to Canid, thinking about tonight.

No, better yet, what the hell happened last night? That was

not just sex; it was way beyond that. It was bodies, minds, souls intertwining.

This isn’t what I wanted. I just wanted to have some fun—good old N.S.A fun. No

strings attached. The concept seems laughable now. There are definitely strings

and a whole lot more attached to the sheriff. Fuck! I should just end it now

before it becomes too difficult. But I don’t want to. I want more. I’m allowed

to be a little selfish now and then, aren’t I? In the last two years, I haven’t

done anything that was just for me. And he’s just for me… for now, anyway.

I reach for my phone and dial Sandy’s number. Looking at the

box with the iPhone, I tell myself it’s just a phone, not a marriage proposal. I

shouldn’t read too much into it. However, he’s started buying me stuff and

wants to give me money. This is not going in the direction I wanted it

to.

“What’s up, Case?” Sandy greets me.

“Girl, I’m in trouble.”

“The hot sheriff?”

“The hot sheriff.”

“He put it down like that?” she exclaims.

“He put it down, picked it back up, and dropped it like it

was hot.”

“Damn, girl.”

“My darling, Sandy, the drought has come to an end.”

“It’s about damn time.”

“I know, right? But….”

“But what?” she prompts.

“He bought me a phone. An iPhone.”

“Stop it. Right now. It’s just a phone, not a marriage

proposal.”

“Oh, God. You know me too well. I just told myself the same

thing.”

“Give him a chance. If nothing else, you’ll get some hot sex

out of the deal.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am.”

I glance in the mirror and notice the car behind me

swerving. He jumps into the left lane and speeds up. Really, who gets drunk

this early? I move over to the right to give him as much room as I can and

allow him to pass.

“Let me call you back. Some skeeve is swerving behind me.”

“Okay. Be safe.”

As the car pulls alongside me, I look over to see who the

dumbass is, and I find him staring at me. His lips curl up in a smirk, and he

swerves in my direction. I jerk the wheel to the right and flip him the bird.

“Ass face!”

He speeds up and tries to cut in front of me, but he’s too

close; I jam the brakes and come to a screeching halt. He doesn’t even slow

down, just speeds away.

“Fuck! Fucking asshole!”

I pull back onto the road and recite a long list of expletives

that would make a sailor blush. This lasts all the way home. As soon as I slam

the car door shut, I hear the commotion inside. I hurry in to see Daddy going

off on the Johnsons. Fuck. It’s just one of those days.

I motion to the elderly couple to back away, and I slowly

approach Daddy.

“It’s okay, just go,” I tell them.

They nod in understanding and slowly make their way out.

“Daddy… Daddy, calm down. It’s me… Casey.”

He stops and turns to me, fear in his eyes. Fear and not one

ounce of recognition. This is the part I hate, the part that kills me.

“They’re evil! The voice told me. I don’t want them here!”

“It’s okay, Daddy. I’m here.”

“Okay? Who are you? Where’s Katy? She can make the evil go

away.”

Fighting tears, I reach out to him. “I’m right here.”

“Katy?”

“Yes, it’s me, Luke.”

“You look different.”

“No, I don’t. You just need your glasses. Come on. Sit down.”

I take his hand, and he allows me to lead him to the couch. “I’m going to get

you some water, okay?”

“Okay.”

In the kitchen, I take a moment to catch my breath, then

blink back my tears and return to the living room.

“Here, drink this.”

“What happened?”

And he’s back. “Nothing happened. Just drink your water,

Daddy.”

These episodes come and go in the blink of an eye. Sometimes

I can’t keep up, but I just don’t want to put him in some facility surrounded

by strangers. I grab my phone and call Jan.

“Hey, you think you could cover my shift today?” I ask when

she answers.

“Is it your dad?”

“Yeah.”

“No problem. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thanks, Jan.”

I also find Clara’s number and set up a meeting for

tomorrow. It’s days like this that remind me why I can’t be selfish.