Chapter 5 - The call of destiny.

Lyra

It feels weird to be back in my human world. After the life I’ve led with the werewolves, it’s almost impossible to imagine living a normal human life now. I make my way down the main street and look for any possible signs that someone might have a job for me.

I have lived the high life thanks to Eli, but after what he did, I am willing to take anything just to start my new life with. I see a “Help wanted” sign in an antique store and almost rush inside. A bell rings the moment I open the door.

“Oh, hello, dear. Just let me know if there is anything you might be interested in.” A friendly old woman smiles from behind a counter.

“I actually want to ask about the help wanted sign.” My voice waivers as I fight back the tears. There are a lot of things I didn’t think about when I decided to leave Eli. Those very same things are now completely overwhelming me.

“Oh, yes! Do you want to apply?” She gets up and starts to look through a huge pile of papers on a desk behind her.

“Yes, please.” I stand on the other side of the counter. She seems frail as she slowly moves around, and I note the old Persian carpet beneath her.

“Now, where did I?” She frowns and taps her index finger on her chin, then sighs. “You know what?” She looks at me with her hands on her hips, and I’m convinced she’s going to tell me that the job isn’t available anymore or something.

“You’ve got the job. When can you start?” She beams, and I gape like a fish out of water for a moment.

“What about the form?” I finally find my words, and she giggles, making me smile. She seems kind. Her gray hair is pulled back into a tight bun, and as I make my way around the counter, I note that she is wearing slippers!

“Oh, pish posh!” She waves her hand through the air frowning. “Lilly from the hardware store wanted me to do all that. She was scared I might appoint some youngin that doesn’t know his arse from his armpits. I am a very good judge of character and I like you.”

“You hardly know me.” I follow her into the back room while we talk and watch as she pulls out two mugs from a cupboard.

“Let’s just say that I believe in destiny. I put that sign out just a couple of minutes before you arrived. Coffee?” She smiles and I nod.

“But don’t you want to see who else might be interested?” I know I should just accept and tell her that I can start immediately, but I’m truly shocked.

“No.” She shakes her head and hands me my mug before we make our way back to the front of the store. “Now, when can you start?” She sits down behind the desk that is simply covered, and I look around for a moment.

This is an opportunity I can’t just let slip through my fingers. It’s not the perfect job, but under my current circumstances, there aren’t many options for me to choose from.

“Now?” It comes out more like a question, and she laughs, making me relax a little.

“I was hoping you would say that. You can start by removing that sign from the window, and then we need to get through this heap of paperwork.” She waves at the desk and I just stare at her for a moment before I get moving.

This was not my plan, but by the time I stand outside the store while she locks up, I feel so much better than I did earlier in the morning. I have a job with a kind old woman. We had lunch together at the diner, and I’m still a little stuffed, and I feel as if I’ve accomplished so much.

It is liberating! We say goodbye after she tells me what time to come tomorrow and I make my way home. This time when I get into bed, I don’t feel as lost. I don’t feel so depressed. Maybe good things do happen to fairly good people … Sometimes.

The first couple of weeks are amazing. I spend my time sorting out paperwork, and then I get to work in the store. When the second month of my new-found freedom rolls around, I wake up one morning feeling sick to my stomach.

Lunchtime rolls around, and I can’t keep anything down. At first, I think it’s because of all the stress. My mind keeps drifting between my old life with Eli and my one night with the mysterious stranger. My guilt that I could actually do something like that is slowly eating me up inside.

There were so many secrets between me and Eli, and for the first time, I realize that those secrets were the wedge that finally drove us apart. Maybe if he didn’t feel as if he should keep them from me, he wouldn’t have shared them with her.

And, of course, now that I’m gone, I wonder if he moved her into the main house yet. I haven’t spoken to him since I left, and I haven’t even thought about getting a divorce yet. I’ve just been in survival mode to a certain extent.

When my nausea hasn’t subsided by the third day, old Mrs. Duncan sends me to the doctor. The news is not what I expected, and I have just left their office in total shock when I walk right into a brick wall. The wall stretches out his arms and catches me before I hit the floor.

His smell hits my nose and when my eyes meet his, I believe in the things Mrs. Duncan has been trying to preach to me.

“You?” The one-night guy is holding onto me as a bright smile forms on his face.

“Hi.” He lets me go and holds out his hand. “I’m very happy you ran into me. I’m Silas.” I gawk at his hand. I have just found out that I’m pregnant. My mind is trying to wrap itself around that fact while the father of my baby is standing in front of me.

Destine! That is what Mrs. Duncan believed in! Is this destiny? Are the powers that be trying to show me something?!