SUNDAY
Cassidy waited anxiously to get Jesse on his own. He wanted answers. And he wanted to help that kid that was in Hell because of Jesse. Cassidy was terrified of Hell because he knew if he could die; that's where he'd be going. And not just some first-level nonbeliever shite either, he'd end up somewhere close to the City Center; Án Lar. He chuckled to himself; it's been nearly a hundred years and he was still translating shite in his head.
Finally after the service, he was able to talk to Jesse alone, but before he could figure out what the fuck was wrong with his friend, Emily pulled him away and Tulip let herself in.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," she returned and began unloading groceries as though he wasn't there.
"Whatcha got there?" Cassidy asked.
"I'm cooking dinner," Tulip explained.
"Oh. Dinner, eh?" He didn't know what to say. He didn't even know why the situation was awkward, but it was. He never said anything right lately, or so it seemed.
"Yeah. So what?" Tulip became defensive.
Definitely the wrong thing to say. "So whatever happened to getting out of here?" Cassidy provoked her further. "Ripping the ball off Pedro?"
"Carlos," Tulip corrected him. "We're still doing it. It's just on pause."
Cassidy was only partially listening. He didn't even realize he has gotten the name wrong. "So what're we havin? Hashbrowns-"
"You should invite Anna," Tulip interrupted him.
"Oh I don't know." Now Anna had come up the conversation couldn't get any worse.
"Why not? Ain't she your girlfriend?" Tulip demanded.
Yeh, but I think she's still a bit mad at me," Cassidy shrugged.
"Just ask," Tulip sighed.
Cassidy agreed only to get her to stop talking about it. Only afterwards did he realize he would actually have to call her since Tulip was hovering. .
†††††
Anna was surprised to be included in Sunday dinner and was glad to see that Proinsias wasn't mad at her. She walked into the back of the church where Tulip was serving food while he leaned against the wall like a teenager that was up to no good. He wore a ragged shirt that was too big and sweatpants that were the same. To Anna he looked homeless, still cute, though. She hooked a finger through the hole by the collar of his shirt. "I need to get you some real clothes," she commented with her best smile.
"I'm not a charity case, luv." Cassidy removed her hand and kissed her forehead. "I'm fine."
"Are you?" Anna asked, looking up at him.
Before he could answer, Tulip had finished serving and called everyone to the table. It was a bit tight with five people so the couples had to push closer together which left Emily obviously stranded. On the bright side, Cassidy was good at drawing the attention to himself. All he needed was a nudge in the right direction which Anna carefully provided.
"Everyone's saying 'That's the point. It's not supposed to make sense, dude' and I'm just like that's an excuse for lazy storytelling," he rambled with his mouth full. "Just don't sell me shite and tell me it's gold, alright. I may be stoned, but I'm not high. Ye know what I mean?"
Anna stifled a giggle.
"I've never seen the Cohen brothers," Emily commented politely.
"Don't start with Lebowski," Cassidy advised.
The conversation fell silent for a moment. One moment that Tulip couldn't stand.
"What's your problem?" she demanded, throwing down her utensils and glaring at Jesse.
"What?" he shrugged.
"What?" she mocked. "You haven't said four words. What happened? Someone's cat die?"
"Leave it alone, Tulip," he growled.
She did, but only for one more second of painful, awkward silence. "What the heck is goin' on?"
Anna caught movement out of the corner of her eye and jumped up. It was the sheriff standing at the window that connected the common area and the kitchen.
"Sorry," he apologized for startling her. "I was knocking."
Emily joined Anna and stood. "Evenin', Sheriff."
"I hate to interrupt your supper, but I was hopin'- I- I'm looking for Eugene?" he explained and twirled his hat in his hands. "I was hoping he ran off to spend time with you like he sometimes does, but I reckon not. The darnedest thing. Have you seem him? Have you seen Eugene?"
Anna's heart ached for the man. It was pitiful how lost he seemed. But she had no words for him; she never knew how to comfort.
Before anyone could offer up and information, the smoke alarm went off, drawing attention to the fire inside of the oven. The group sprang into action, dousing the fire and fanning the alarm. All but Jesse who remained seated at the table.
Cassidy put down the fire extinguisher and gathered Anna into his arms. She let him although it was clear he was more worried about the flames than she was.
"Well, I'll get out of your hair," the Sheriff excused himself. "When I saw him this morning before church he said he was gonna come by to find you."
"Before church?" Jesse finally spoke. "I didn't see him.
"It's the darnedest thing," Sheriff Root shook his head.
"Actually, you did see him," Emily pointed out.
"What the hell?" Anna whispered to Cassidy.
"Shush, luv. It's just getting' good," he grinned.
"You were in the church and I came in and said Eugene wanted to talk to you. Said you were too busy, but I sent him in anyway?" Emily continued. "But I saw him leave after so…" she added when Jesse made no motion to agree.
The Sheriff sighed. "Alright then, sorry to have bothered you."
"I'll walk you out." Jesse stood from the table. When he left the room, the others sat down and silently moved their food around on their plates.
"That was great. The most interesting dinner I've had since I've been here," Anna commented.
Cassidy chuckled despite the glare from Tulip. He only stopped when Anna did. She noticed Tulip's glare and was trying desperately to make a human friend.
"I should go talk to him," Cassidy said and shrugged on his hoodie and grabbed the fire extinguisher. "I'll be right back."
"What the fuck?" Anna nearly shouted when it was only the girls left at the table. Something had happened in the past 48 hours that stumped Anna. Cassidy and Jesse were both acting strangely and Tulip was upset. The combination of the three put Anna on edge and she wanted to bolt. Before she could work herself up to move from the table, Jesse returned. He sat down at the table and began eating without a word. Anna turned to look at the doorway, but Proinsias strolled in like she expected.
"Where's Cass?" Tulip asked while Anna was looking around.
"Where the fuck is he? Anna demanded as well. Her stomach churned as her mind sprinted through all the possibilities of what happened to Proinsias. "Fuck!" she jumped up from the table when Jesse refused to answer.
Tulip grabbed a blanket from the common area and ran out after Anna.
