Hear Me Now (27 page)

I climbed out of the car and he stared at me with a puzzled look.  I sighed internally and walked towards the trunk so I could get my bags and they could be on their way.  I’d inconvenienced them enough.  He slowly followed me, popped the trunk, and carried my bags to the door, waiting for me to find the key my daddy always hid on the porch so I could let myself in. 

Ms. Sophie called out to me from the car.  “Remember, Lily, call me when you get settled.” 

I gave her a nod and waved goodbye.  I opened the front door and Cooper set my bags down inside the entryway. 

“Thank you for the ride home and for your help, I… I appreciate it.  You and your grandmother are very kind.”  I forced myself to look him in the eye. 

“You’re welcome, Lily.  It was a pleasure.”  His face was warm and his voice compassionate.  He held out his hand again for me to shake and I panicked.  Not wanting to seem rude I extended my hand out and shook his.  Just like before, I felt it.  That foreign feeling invaded my senses and was completely outside my realm of understanding, and it terrified me.  He had a strange look on his face and I just wanted to disappear.  I pulled away again and shoved my hands in my front pockets.  

“Well, I’d best be going.”  The look on his face was unreadable and I tried to imagine what he might have been thinking.  He shoved his hands in his front pockets as well and walked back to his car, glancing back towards me before getting in.  He paused for a few seconds, then climbed back into his car and they drove away.