(19) Pretender
I rubbed my eyes for a few minutes trying to recover from my sleepless night. Lily was lightly snoring on her bed and I glared at her. She could get all the rest she wanted since she wasn't going to give a letter to the devil herself.
I lay awake for a few minutes or hours I couldn't decide which when the sunlight poured through the window. The birds sang happily outside my window and the sky was covered in bubbly white clouds.
I threw my feet over the bed and summoned the courage deep within me. I tucked the note safely into my purse and went to wash-up.
Don't be a wimp, Bella. My mind tried to encourage me but I refused to believe. Deep breaths and everything will be over soon. In and out see that's easy. The loud banging burst my calmness. I opened the door and Myra stood on the other stood with her hands on her hips.
"Finally." She shoved past me and I stumbled out. She slammed the door and I heard the water run.
Okay, she was making it a little easier to deceive her. I walked back into the room and put my toiletries away. Lily rolled over and popped her eyes open.
"Good, you're up." She sat up and stretched. "Ready for the big day."
"Don't." I warned and pulled my shirt on. I got dressed pretty fast and made it out of the house without having to bump into Myra. I pulled my purse close to me and considered throwing the letter in the trash bin. It wouldn't help because Joey and Lily would just write another one. Joey had a photographic memory.
I walked into the tiny coastal village. It was still early and I noticed one or two people walking around. Other than that I was alone. I walked slowly studying the private owned shops. A small toyshop got my attention and I went to the display window. The sign said open so I went in.
A cute jingle played when the door opened. I noticed the curtains part and a young woman stepped forward.
"Hi, can I help you?" She was rubbing her hands on her apron. I have never seen anyone wear an apron. It caught me off guard. It was like a real version of I Love Lucy.
"I'm just looking." I murmured. The woman nodded and smiled warmly.
"Let me know if I can get you anything. My name's Renee." The woman grinned.
I stood with my mouth hanging open.
"Is something wrong?" The woman walked up to me and put her hands in front of my face waving them. "You look sick."
"I'm okay." I recovered quickly and looked down. "My mom's name is Renee." I admitted and the woman smiled again.
"Well your Grandma has great taste in names." The woman laughed. "Let me know if I can help you." She walked back to the counter and took a screwdriver from the drawer.
Was that a coincidence that this woman had the same name as my mom? It was utterly weird. I walked down the aisles and saw a small doll perched next to a jewelry box. The jewelry box had a small engraved flowers and was painted light purple. I picked it up and opened the box. The music filled my brain bringing back memories. The song was the same song Renee sang me to sleep with.
"Where did you get this?" I asked the woman. She smiled and hopped off her stool.
"Most of the stuff in here is donated or I buy from a seller. I got this jewelry box a long time ago. It has a name engraved on the bottom. She turned it over and I saw my name. I gulped and tears filled my eyes.
"What's wrong honey?" The woman touched my shoulder.
"It's me. I'm Isabella Marie Swan." I sounded crazy and the woman nodded in recognition.
"Then you should have it." She wrapped my hands around the jewelry box. "It's yours."
"No, I will pay for it." I went to get my wallet.
"Don't bother sweetie I'm not going to take money for a item that belonged to you." She looked me in the eyes. "Please, take it. I insist."
"Okay." I agreed and she wrapped the box in tissue paper. She placed it in a brown bag and I left thanking her again. She waved me away and I walked back to the house.
Joey was in the kitchen helping Connie with lunch. Water was boiling and Joey was cutting vegetables. She gave me a quick nod and I nodded back. Lily was lying across the couch cushions reading a magazine. She moved the page aside and gave me a nod.
I felt like I was in a spy movie. Connie reminded me that lunch would be ready soon.
"How was town?" Lily said a little too loud. She forced herself to chuckle, which sounded awkward.
"Fine." I mumbled and Lily gave me a thumbs-up.
Lily pointed to the hallway and mouthed Myra. I swallowed a huge wave of fear and thought of my jewelry box. I wanted to lie in bed listening to the music while I closed my eyes and dreamed of you know who.
I lightly knocked on Myra's door. She didn't respond. I knocked again.
"What?" I heard her yell. I took the letter out of my purse. Then put it back. I wanted her to see me take it out of the purse.
"It's me, Bella." I croaked and scolded myself.
"Ugh." I heard her utter. The door whipped open. She was wearing a bandanna over her hair and one eye was rimmed in eyeliner. "What do you want?"
I dug into my purse and took the incriminating envelope out. "I wanted to give this to you. I saw Jacob in town and he asked me to give this to you." I held out the envelope.
I looked down as Myra's eyes widened. She looked confused whether to smile or grimace.
"Why didn't he come back with you?" Myra questioned staring at the letter. She bit her lip and curled her fingers. She wanted it badly.
"He had to go back to La Push and help his Dad." I made up and Myra nodded.
"This is for me?" Myra asked unsure of my affirmation.
"Yes." I wanted her to take the letter so I could go back to my room.
"That was a stupid question, of course it's for me. Like anybody in this house could hold his attention." She swiped the letter and slammed the door. I held my head back so I wouldn't get hit by the door shutting. I held my bag tightly and went to my room. Right about now Myra is reading the fabricated letter that will lead her to believe that Jacob has a huge crush on her. I just hoped he wouldn't visit me anytime soon.
Lily opened the door and crept in. She closed the door slowly.
"Did she take it?" Lily asked quietly flopping onto her bed.
I nodded and took my jewelry box out of the bag.
"That's pretty. Where did you get it?" Lily eyed the box.
"Umm, in town." I left out the store and woman who gave me the jewelry box. The less they knew about the box the better it would be for me. I didn't want anyone to take it because they knew it was so precious to me.
"I'm so frustrated. I want to see Myra's pointy little face as she reads the letter and watch hope consume her. I wish she was in the living room." Lily laid back and stared at the ceiling.
"Do you think she'll know?" I asked with a queasy feeling.
"We'll see." Lily said. I heard Connie's voice calling me to dinner. "If I know Myra she'll be clutching that letter in her hands if she thinks it's true."
I walked behind Lily and sat at the table. Joey served vegetables and Connie put a lump of mashed potatoes on each of our plates. Myra sashayed down the hallway. She wore a scarf as a headband and both her eyes were rimmed in black eyeliner. I glanced at her hand and saw the letter dangling by her side. She sat next to Joey across from me.
She carefully put the letter on the table away from her plate but in plain view of us.
"What's that?" Joey asked.
"Is it a letter saying your leaving?" Lily added brightly biting into a carrot.
"Very funny. Laugh all you want but I am the only one at this table." She pointed her finger at each of us then at herself. "Who is desirable."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Why is that?" Lily smoothed her hair down. "And why do you look like a gypsy?"
"It's a new look." Myra glared at her. "This letter just proves what I already knew. That I am irritable."
"What does it say?" Joey widened her eyes. They were better actresses than me. I remained quiet.
"Like I would tell you." Myra scoffed and shoved mashed potatoes into her mouth.
"Joey, it's okay. I can tell when she's lying and the letter looks fake." Lily poured fuel into the fire.
Myra's eyes got big. "What?"
"It's okay we believe you. Right guys? Of course that's a love letter because that guy has nothing better to do than write you letters." Lily chuckled.
"It is." Myra snapped. "Fine listen to this and feel foolish."
Myra reached for the envelope and opened the flap. She shook out the letter and got a dreamy look in her eyes.
Myra, (her eyes got misty)
This is hard for me to write since I don't express my feelings too good. You seem like a really cool girl and I would like to get to know you better. I know you don't know me too well but I hope that will change. (She actually clutched her heart)
You caught me off guard and I can't wait to see you again. I don't feel this way about many girls in fact none so far. You take my breath away. (That was Joey's line)
Please say you'll give me a chance to prove my growing feelings for you. I need to be near you. (Lily's line)
Don't waste another thought on a guy. I'm going to be there for you eternally. You could be my soul mate. (Kill shot) Let me prove myself to you. (The only line I contributed)
Yours, Jacob
"Wow, that sounds creepy." Lily mocked. "Eternally. Who says that?"
"You're just jealous." Myra ignored her and put the letter back in the envelope.
"It's dreamy." Joey lied and bit into her bread.
"I think I'll call him tonight." Myra announced and the fork of mashed potatoes stopped at my lips.
"What do you mean?" Lily stared at her frozen.
"Well, I want to talk to him and we should share our feelings for one another." Myra continued eating while we left our plates untouched.
"But you don't have his phone number." I blurted out.
"Duh, that's what they have an operator for. I just need to know his last name and the city he lives in." She turned to me. Lily kicked me under the table. Joey mouthed no to me.
I grabbed the glass of water and chugged it down. Myra waited for me narrowing her eyes.