Chapter Sixteen
The Roommate
"Is this the necklace you gave Lucy?" Sadie asked as we were going through some of my boxes in order to clear out room for her stuff. We had been friends for over a month now and had experienced one full moon together. I truly enjoyed have company on that night, we changed a few times after that just for fun.
I had asked her to move in, and be my housemate a few weeks ago, but she kept saying no, she didn't want to take advantage of me. But I finally wore her down and convinced her that it was silly for her to live in her crappy little apartment when she was always at my house.
She wasn't budging on my offer to send her to college though, but I wasn't finished with that. I wanted her to be happy, and I knew she would be, going to law school.
I glanced over the pile of boxes in front of me, and saw that she was holding the blue velvet box. "Be careful, that’s-" I didn't get the words out before she touched the setting around the stone. I could hear the sizzle as the silver burned her finger from where I sat. "Silver," I finished as she cringed in pain. The scent of burnt flesh filled the small room.
She laughed, sticking her finger into her mouth. "Now you tell me," she mumbled around her finger. "What's this?" she asked leaning over to pick up a small box, marked Riley House.
"Don't touch that," I yelled.
She froze with the box teetering on her hand. "What's in it?" she asked softly.
My face flushed with embarrassment. I hadn't intended to yell, but I hadn't looked in that box since my father died.
"It's just an idea I had back in the twenties, I forgot about it after Rowan killed my father."
She held the box in one hand, with a look of curiosity on her face. "So can I look in it?"
With a heavy sigh, I nodded my agreement.
As soon as I agreed she tore into it, going through the files. "What is this Nate?" she asked, a look of admiration on her face.
Once again, I was embarrassed. "As you know I've killed twice." She nodded. "Well, after the second time, I helped out the wife of my victim to lessen some of the guilt. It eased my conscience a little, but I came up with that idea to further help others. Just that one person wasn't enough. I have so much, when others have so little, so I want to do my part. And it was my hope that with every life I help it will ease the burden of guilt that I carry. I know it's selfish, but it’s the only thing I could think of to make up for what I've done."
She gaped at me, her chocolate eyes as big as tires. "Selfish? You think opening a home for people in need, to provide them with food, and help them turn their lives around is selfish?"
"My motives are selfish," I explained.
"Who cares why you help people, all that matters is that you do." She smiled. "Why didn't you do this?"
"After Rowan killed my father, I just couldn't think of much other than work."
She was quiet for awhile shuffling boxes.
I got up and started moving the remaining crates into the attic. By the time I came back, the room was clear and she was starting to put her stuff away. "I think we should do it."
We had been quiet for so long, both of us puttering away, that I didn't know what she meant. "Do what?" I asked absently.
"We should build Riley House. I want to help you."
"I don't know if I have time. I'm busy with work."
She frowned, blowing at a strand of hair that had fallen into her eyes. "That’s just an excuse. The store opened last week, and John's father is back. Isn't it your job just to open stores? Now that that's done, your job is finished here. Let's do this. It's such a good idea." She practically squealed with excitement. Her enthusiasm was contagious, I couldn't say no.
For the next couple of months, Sadie and I were busy looking for places to house our charity. We needed a house big enough to accommodate at least twelve people. Our idea was to find volunteers to serve food, and to help with those in need. We would provide homes for people currently in need of one, and put them up until they could get back on their feet. We were even planning on helping them find jobs. Sadie was very helpful with all the planning, and wanted to stop going to school, so she could help run it.
"You look too young. No one will believe that you could run a place like this," I said on the afternoon that we found the perfect house.
"Are you kidding me? I can look older, I just haven't tried." It was hard to believe, since she always styled her hair in braids, and usually wore jeans and rock band t-shirts.
"Come on, I really want to do this. We can be a team." I could never resist her, when she whined like that. She had become like a sister to me in such a short time. She was closer to me than any of my extended family, and like my real younger sisters, I could never deny her.
"Fine, we'll do it together."
We hired contractors to renovate the house to accommodate our needs and started shopping for furniture. This was Sadie's favorite part.
"God, I love spending someone else's money." She said two months later, after we had finished buying everything. The house was finished and we were getting ready to open the next week.
We were sitting in the living room watching TV, relaxing after a long day of shopping. We had just finished eating, and we were each enjoying a bowl of ice cream. It was a comfort to have someone else around all the time. I had been a loner for way too long.
"Did you contact Marjorie?" I asked her. Marjorie was the social worker who was working with Sadie to find the people that would benefit the most by staying at the house. We were looking for specific people. They had to want help, want to find a job and a place to live. Riley House was supposed to be more then just a homeless shelter. We wanted to help people get out of the situation they were in.
Sadie held up her ice cream covered spoon and pointed it at me. "Yes I did, and she found the last of the residents. They are prepared to move in next week."
I swallowed a bite of my chocolate ice cream, and nodded. "Good."
She stared at me, her lips in a half smile, her eyes intense.
"What?" I asked, a little uncomfortable with the expression on her face.
"I'm so glad I met you." Her voice was filled with emotion. "I was lost, a drifter, after I left Miles. And I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along."
My heart swelled in my chest, because I felt the same way. I had people in my life, but they couldn't understand me the way she did. "I'm glad I met you too." My voice was raspy, filled with emotion. "Even if you are a pain in the butt sometimes." I laughed at my own joke, and she joined me.
Between her high-pitched laughter, she froze. "Did you hear that?" she whispered.
I had heard something. Tires on gravel? We both stayed silent listening, but there was no other sound. Suddenly the door burst open, and a shot rang out. Sadie slumped onto the floor; her bowl and spoon fell onto the sofa. The scent of blood entered my nostrils.
I spun around to face our intruder, and came face to face with Rowan and the barrel of a gun. "Told you I'd be back," he said, just before the gun exploded in his hands.