Norma was up at the crack of dawn the next morning. As the first rays of sunlight fell on her face, her eyes popped open as if she had been doused in cold water. Wearily, she dragged a hand across her face. A small groan escaped her. She did not get much sleep last night. Who would, after a dream like that?
It was so out of the blue. She spent a good bit of time trying to pin down a reason behind it. There must be a reason. Dreams,after all, are made up of all the things perceived before. Every tiny fragment of your life already lived can be skewed and manifest itself in your dreams. Different elements can mix and bring together situations in dreams which you may never have thought of before.
But she never had any sort of encounter with Romero even close to that. It was always a battle of wills with him. He was so stoic and distant; it infuriated her to never knew what he was thinking and - goddamn him - he mastered the art of hiding his emotions. His face never registered any change. She supposed that was an effect of the job. When he first met her, she would have bet anything that he hated her. Already an outsider in a new town, Romero acted like she was trespassing on his property and he merely tolerated her until he could find some use for her.
After the incident with Shelby, something changed in him very slightly. He was a little friendlier to her but - and she truly believed this - she thought that that was the extent of his limited ability to be something other than the sheriff. Something other than being the big daddy of the town. Already faced with not one but two major drug businesses operating in the area, of course Romero had his plate full. Sometimes,it seemed he was doing all he could to keep a sense of justice in the community. He was still stuck in sheriff mode 24 hours a day, though.
Still deep in thought, Norma got out of bed and started to get dressed. She chose a sunny yellow, cotton dress that cinched in at the waist. She loved this dress. She always felt beautiful when she wore it.
She went down to start breakfast; Norman would be up soon. She goes to the fridge and takes out a box of milk and a carton of eggs. Scrambled eggs. She whipped the eggs together and flared up the old gas. Adding a pat of butter, she watched it swirl around as it melted. She added the eggs and gently started stirring them.
But what does it all mean,though?
She grows frustrated. Norma hated it when things happened to her that was beyond her control and understanding. It was a different kind of powerlessness and if it's one thing Norma hated, it's being helpless.
"Mom, you're burning it." Norman had come downstairs. She jumped out of her reverie and looked down. Smoke was indeed coursing out of the charred eggs in the frying pan.
"What were you thinking about,mother? He takes the pan off the heat and throws the eggs away. She shakes off thoughts of Romero for good.
"Uh...the bypass. I can't believe they've restarted work on it."
He puts his arm around her. "Don't worry, mother. Something'll turn up."
"Yeah. Or we'll have to turn something up," she replied. "I'm going to go down to a City Council meeting see if I can oppose it. They can't do this to us. I've gotta find some old documents, though. You want me to make you some more eggs?"
"No, I'll just have a sandwich. I'm going down to the theatre. There's a lot of stuff yet to do."
Emma's already in by the time Norma gets down to the office. "Good morning, Emma. Listen, could you take over the desk? I've gotta look for some papers. I'm not sure if they're here or up at the house but I really don't want to be disturbed,ok?"
"Ok, sure. It's a bit slow today, anyway." Emma replied.
Norma goes into the parlour and eyes the stack of boxes in the corner. She's been meaning to sort through those old document and now necessity moved the task up on her schedule. She had to find those documents. With a sigh she dives right in. As she's begins shifting some of the boxes around, she hears the office door open. Thinking nothing of it, she carries on her search until -
"Hey, Emma. Listen,you got any rooms available?"
Romero! What was he doing here so early in the morning? And asking for a room, no less?
"You want to book a room?" Hearing this, Norma shakes her head. Emma's a sweet girl but doesn't seem to know how to be discreet with her curiosity. She quietly goes out to the front desk. Norma's a little on edge to see him in the flesh so soon. That dream was forcing her to think of him in a totally new way.
"You're staying with us?
"Uh..yeah," he answers, vague as always.
"Well,why? What happened to your place?
He frowns. He resents all the questions.
"I don't want to get into it right now. It's been a long night."
"Well, come on. We're not getting into anything .It's a simple question." He stares at her. We're not getting into anything.
"Someone, burnt my house down,ok?
"What?," her eyes wide, in this circumstance,even Norma couldn't hide her curiosity." Who'd be brave enough to do that?"
"Look,I said don't want to get into it. Could I just check in?
"Yeah. OK. Emma'll sort you out." She turns to go back into the parlour.
"Actually, Norma, could I see you alone for a minute?
"Yeah, sure." They exit the office. Rain is starting to drizzle.
"Hey, uh, the other day I saw you throwing someone out of your house. A guy. It looked kind of rough. Anyone been bothering you?" he's trying to hide his true concern.
Norma gives him with a piercing look. The look he has come to associate with her lying to him. She smiles - a second too late.
"Oh, that was my brother, Caleb. He stopped by to see us. Just passing through town. We...uh, we had a falling out when we were younger and he tried to make up but...' She leaves it hanging.
He knows she's lying. Norma thinks she's a convincing liar unaware that he almost always sees through it. Still. he feels awkward for prying."Well let me know." He turns and heads towards his Jeep.
She returns to her boxes. Stops. "When did he see that? Has he been spying on me?" She reconsiders and decides that it's not worth poring over. Secretly, she was glad to know that he cared - even if just a little bit - for her.