Chapter XVII: Old Feelings
After a half hour of deliberations on clothing DG and Azkadellia finally walked out from the back bedroom. DG was wearing the same thing from earlier, since she had no need to change, while Azkadellia came out of the room with a pout. She was wearing a snug, white spaghetti strap under a very large and heavy plaid work shirt that once belonged to Hank. Underneath she wore a pair of jeans that also belonged to Hank that just fit her in her pregnant condition. Cain had to stifle a laugh and looked away just as Glitch looked at her.
"I give you the Kansas-fied Azkadellia," DG waved her hand at her sister and stood right next to Cain who put a hand on her waist, "Well, at least the best I could do with what I had."
Glitch looked at his wife as she pouted and trudged to him. She didn't look up at him and actually tried to look away as she reached him, "Well?"
Glitch smirked and then opened his arms to take Azkadellia in a hug. He kissed her forehead and looked down into her eyes, "You look amazingly beautiful."
Azkadellia smiled genuinely at her husband and hugged him tighter.
"Aw," DG cooed and hit Cain in the chest, "Isn't that the most adorable thing ever?"
"And the best cover," Cain whispered to himself. Apparently it reached DG's ears since she hit him harder in the arm. He chuckled and rubbed his arm, "So what are paying with to get new clothes?"
"Oh," DG snapped her fingers and headed to the front room. She went to the far corner near the television, moved one of the fake, indoor trees and knocked on some of the floorboards. DG knocked on two more until she found her loose floorboard. She smiled and pried it up to pick up a small tin box and place it on the floor, "Gotcha'."
"Good hiding place," Cain remarked, "How much you have hidden away in there?"
"It's been a while since I've touched this stash," DG explained and began to count fast, "About three hundred dollars. Huh, I thought I had less. But it's all good, that just means that we get to shop a little more. And we can pick up some food on the way back."
DG pocketed the money and walked out the front door, and locked it with the key that was under the mat. She dropped the key in her pocket and turned to the vehicles that had been spared by the twister. She stood on the porch for a moment to look over the possibilities and then huffed.
"What's wrong now, DG?" Azkadellia asked and rubbed the top of her stomach.
"I'm trying to figure out how to get to town," she frowned and pointed to the two modes of transportation, "I have a license to drive both, but I know I can't take you all on my bike so that's out as far as a choice. All we have left is the truck, but I can only fit two in the front comfortably."
"Then a couple of us will stay behind," Glitch offered and put his chin on Azkadellia's shoulder.
"Not an option," DG shook her head, "If we got to stay her for a while then I got to get you all looking the part. And I'm not good at guessing sizes. That's why I was a waitress and not working in a clothing store."
"Then I can drive, you and Azkadellia could sit in the cabin with me and Glitch could sit in the back," Cain said and adjusted his sleeves.
"Two problems with that," DG held up two fingers to Cain, "One- it's a bit cramped with a pregnant lady in the front. I know- I had to drive one of my older friends to the emergency room, with five others in the back yelling at me to go faster during high school. I said I could fit two in the front. That includes the driver. And two- no one is driving that truck but me."
"Princess-" Cain tried to argue.
"I am not a princess here, Cain," she poked him in the chest, "And people are going to wonder why I'm not driving my dad's truck and a perfect stranger is. We don't need more questions than necessary."
"I thought you said people ignored you here."
"They used to, but you never know in a small town," she tapped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest for him to take the information in. He sighed and she smiled.
"Then you and Azkadellia take the cabin of the truck, Glitch and I will ride in the back," Cain said and grabbed Glitch by the collar, "Come on, zipper-head."
DG shook her head; of course Cain would take the easy, yet unlawful, solution to the problem on the second try. She sighed as she opened the door for her sister, "I just hope that Gulch isn't on duty today."
DG settled into the driver's seat and turned the truck on with a leftover key behind the visor as Cain tapped on the glass of the back window. DG opened the window and looked back at him, "Yeah?"
"You sure you know how to drive this thing?" he asked and held to the side of the bed and propped his foot on the wheel well.
"Of course I do," she smirked and put it into gear, "I've just been out of practice."
"That's reassuring," Azkadellia buckled her seatbelt like DG had done with hers and they were down the road. As they passed by nothing but crops Azkadellia yearned for some conversation. Cain had kept silent and watched the road kick up with swirls of dust behind him while Glitch took notice of the little things that followed along the road like telephone poles and small mailboxes. DG seemed content just to drive. Being cooped up in the palace and then trotting around the O.Z. on foot must have bored her.
"What's a Gulch?" she asked DG.
"What?" DG furrowed her brows and looked at her sister quickly before she looked back at the road.
"You said that you hoped that Gulch wasn't on duty," Azkadellia reminded her, "What- or who may I ask is Gulch?"
"He's like a Tin Man on this side- a cop," DG explained and noticed that Cain turned his head to listen to their conversation, "He and I used to get into some pretty good debates over the seed limit on this road."
"Did you ever win?" Azkadellia asked with a smile.
"Logically, yes," DG nodded, "Lawfully, no."
"Sounds like most of your arguments," Cain threw in and DG smirked before she closed the window to the bed of the truck. She still heard Cain and Glitch's laugh through the glass.
"Was he something of an interest?" Azkadellia asked and poked DG in the side.
"He was, until I noticed all Elmer Gulch was interested in was making sure my bike went under 45 miles per hour," DG frowned, "And then he just became a pain."
When they got into town DG parked in front of a small row of shops a couple of streets down from the old diner. As the small group piled out of the truck DG surveyed the small area. It was just as she remembered. Jenny's clothes shop was at one end of the walkway, with hunting shop in the middle and the large grocery store at the end.
"Okay, let's find you guys some clothes and then something to eat," DG then paused and smelled something good in the air, "On second thought, let's catch breakfast and then go shopping."
DG took hold of Cain's hand and the small group went over to a small food place on the corner across the street from where she parked. She ordered some waffles and some fruit while Azkadellia ordered the same. Glitch and Cain were a little concerned how the food took so little to fix, but ordered some breakfast burritos from DG's suggestion. After the quick stop and a semi-full sotmach, DG nodded back over at Jenny's, "Now, we're off to find some new clothes."
Azkadellia and Glitch walked toward the store while something held Cain back for a moment. He looked in the front windows of the hunting store and looked at all the different firearms and knives. He pointed at the window and then looked at DG. She shook her head and grabbed him by the arm, "Don't even think about it, Tin Man."
Thankfully Cain and DG looked normal enough not to draw too much attention. Azkadellia seemed a little off, but that's because DG had to throw something on her. Glitch was the odd man out. As soon as they walked in the door, DG pointed out the men's section and pushed both Cain and Glitch to that side.
"What are we getting?" Glitch asked a little nervous.
"Let Cain do most of the picking," DG looked over Cain, "As far as the shirts, anyway. A lot of button ups and t-shirts, like mine. And then grab some jeans that fit well."
Both guys looked down at her pant leg that she pulled at, "And make sure they don't fit tight like mine- unless it fits tight in the rump then it's a good fit you, Cain."
He smirked and pulled Glitch with him toward the men's section. DG thought for a moment and then called after them, "Be sure to try everything on in the fitting rooms!"
"And where are we going?" Azkadellia asked DG and put an arm through hers. DG led her to the 'mother-to-be' section.
"At least you won't be stuck in Popsicle's clothes," DG sighed.
Azkadellia liked a good portion of the dresses in the section enough to buy them. They weren't the silk that she was used to, but at least they were dresses. DG also got her a few sleeping pants and comfortable shirts. She brought the things she picked to the counter and looked toward the back for the boys.
"Where did they go?" she asked at Azkadellia who shrugged her shoulders.
"Right here," Cain said from behind them both. They both jumped a little and DG hit him in the shoulder.
"Don't sneak up on us like that," DG frowned and he set his clothing choices on the counter. Glitch put his things down as well as DG turned to Cain, "Where did you two go anyway?"
"Fitting rooms," Cain answered, "As Glitch and I took turns you two lost track of us. I noticed after you went to the bathroom for the third time. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I just needed to go and Az is pregnant, so that explains enough- Wait, you took turns?" DG looked back at the row of dressing rooms, "You know you could have done it at the same time."
"And leave you two out of sight for too long, I don't think so," he shook his head.
DG rolled her eyes and looked at the woman behind the register. The woman looked at the strange group and then began to scan the price tags faster. DG cringed. Great, they've scared the worker at Jenny's. So much for laying low.
DG put the bags of clothing in the front of the truck, locked it back up and then they took off for the grocery store. Both DG and Azkadellia grabbed a cart and pushed them along the aisles. DG had the job of describing nearly everything to the other three and started to get a headache again. She looked over her shoulder were Glitch was about to bite into a lemon.
"Glitch!" she shouted at him and he stopped in mid bite. She gestured him to put it down, "That's not a Papay fruit and believe me, it doesn't taste like one either."
"DG?" a voice from the end of the aisle floated over to her. DG turned to the voice and smiled brightly.
"Tiff, is that you?!" she yelled and ran to a woman still standing at the end of the aisle. The woman was about DG's age if not a little older. She had light brown hair and hazel eyes with the same style of clothes that DG had. After Tiff appeared about three other people showed up around the same age group. One blonde female and two males one with black hair and the other had a Mohawk, dyed different colors.
"Cecilia," DG hugged the blonde girl and then turned to the young man with the Mohawk with a grin, "How's it hanging, Diesel?"
"It's doing good," he answered and shook her hand as he patted her on the back. He wasn't the kind for hearty hugs, no matter how much he liked the person.
DG then turned to the last in the group and stopped herself from hugging him and her smile faded, "Jared… I thought that you'd be out of here by now."
"Is that why you decided to come back?" he asked with a frown and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Jer!" Tiff frowned at him and smiled back at DG, "So where've you been? We all thought that you were blown away in that twister that hit your house."
"Yeah, it kind of felt like that," DG smiled and rubbed the back of her head. She followed her old friend's eyes back to Cain, Glitch and Azkadellia still standing by the two baskets, piled with food, "Oh! I need to introduce you guys."
She dragged her old friends to the small group and pulled Azkadellia forward first, "Now, I know I've been gone for a little while, but what you didn't know was that I went to find my family."
"Your family?" Jared asked with a scowl.
"Yeah, you know those things that are usually made up of a mommy and a daddy and their offspring?" Diesel rubbed the top of Jared's head with a laugh.
"Yeah, the night the twister hit my mom and dad decided to tell me that I was adopted," DG lied through her teeth, but it rang with semi-truth, "Anyway, I found my real parents and found out I have a sister. Guys… this is my sister, Azkadellia. Az, this is the group I used to hang out with in high school and who were stuck here afterwards. Tiff, Cecilia, Diesel and Jared."
"Pleasure to meet you all," Azkadellia nodded her head to them, "Now I can see where my sister's outgoing personality stems from."
"You have no idea," Tiff laughed and pointed to Azkadellia's outfit, "Short on clothes?"
"Her luggage was lost on the plan ride here. I had to give her some of my dad's and mom's old clothes left over at the farm house," DG covered for her, "She wanted to see where I grew up and came down with me."
"And what about your parents?" Cecilia asked a bit excited about gossip.
"My real mom had to stay behind. Az and my real father just recently died," DG looked at the floor.
"I'm sorry, DG," Cecilia stroked the side of DG's arm.
"Hi! I'm Glitch," Glitch stepped forward to break the sad mood before it began and put a hand on Azkadellia's shoulder, "I'm Azkadellia's husband. I got to come along for the ride. Good to meet friends of our doll, DG."
"Doll?" Jared huffed and leaned against the side of one of the aisles, "What kind of name is Glitch?"
"Probably along the same line of Diesel," Diesel jabbed him in the side, "Back off, man. They're friends of D's. They're cool."
DG smiled at Diesel. He may be a bit out there, but he always came through for her.
Cecilia and Tiff both looked behind DG and giggled. Tiff licked her lips and smiled wider at DG, "And who's the nice side of hunk there behind you, DG?"
Cain walked up from behind DG and bowed to both girls. He even went so far as to shake their hand in such a way that made them both melt a bit in the knees, "My name is Wyatt Cain. I-"
"Am trying too hard?" Jared finished for him.
"Actually I think he was about to say that he's my fiancé," DG held up her ring for the group to see.
"No way!" Tiff and Cecilia jumped at the ring and awed as Cain held DG by the waist and tucked her in beside him with a small grin, "I can't believe it. Our little DG… engaged!"
"I'm older than Cecilia, don't act like I'm a kid," she nudged Cain in the side a little, "I get enough of that from him."
"Yeah, he looks old enough to be your dad," Jared butted in.
"Jared! What's wrong with you?" Tiff hissed back at her friend.
"She shows up out of no where without any word for a month and you all welcome her with open arms?" Jared asked and pointed to DG, "And suddenly she has a whole new family and is engaged. Isn't that a bit off? Or is it just me?"
"Is it that she hasn't been back or the fact that she's engaged throws you off?" Cain asked from beside DG. He felt her tense and fist her hands while the young man kept going off.
"I just don't get why she chose an old timer instead of someone her own age," Jared stepped closer to Cain as Cain put DG behind him a little in a protective measure, "I mean, how old are you, really? I'm guessing somewhere over forty-five?"
"I'm thirty-three, not that it really is any of your business," Cain narrowed his eyes.
"He's looking good for being in his thirties," Cecilia whispered to Tiff who nodded. DG did the math in her head and nodded to herself. When he counted the eight years he spent in the Iron Maiden he would be around forty or forty-one. But if he didn't count them, like she never did, he was more around thirty-three range.
"And you're going after a twenty-two year old?" Jared laughed sarcastically and pointed at the light bar of skin around Cain's finger, "What, your wife didn't cut it for you anymore?"
DG stepped up before Cain could move and punched Jared to the floor, "Don't you ever talk about Wyatt or Adora like that!"
"Adora?" Tiff asked out loud and looked at Glitch and Azkadellia who had moved next to the rest of the group.
"Cain's first wife," Glitch explained, "She was murdered eight annuals ago."
"Annuals?"
"Years!" he corrected himself and thought quickly, "Sorry, my mind was on an annual fair back home."
"That's horrible," Cecilia gasped and put her hands in front of her face, "He's a widower."
Cain pulled DG off of Jared and pinned her arms at her sides so she wouldn't be able to hit him again. That didn't stop her from trying to kick, though. He finally held her tight to him, leaned down and whispered in her ear. She stopped fighting and nodded at him. He set her down, but kept his arms around her.
"You got her trained too, huh?" Jared asked as he got off of the floor.
"Jer, that's enough, man!" Diesel yelled at him.
"I don't need any more of this, I'm out of here," he shook his head and wiped at his bloody lip on his way out.
"You okay?" Cain asked DG.
"He had no right to judge you like that," DG growled and Cain kissed her on top of her head, "Or mention Adora."
"We're sorry about Jer," Tiff managed, "I don't know what got into him."
"I guess he's still sore with me," DG sighed, "And the way I dumped him. It wasn't cool to dump a guy one day at the diner and then leave in a hurry out of town two days after."
"At least I can see why you did," Cecilia looked down the aisle that Jared left down, "How long are you going to be in town?"
"Until I get a call from Az's and my mother," DG explained, "My 'adopted' parents are helping her with the set up. She didn't want the whole event to bring Az and my reunion down. So this kind of doubles as a mini-vacation."
"Well, don't be a stranger while you're here. We still hang out in our old spot," Tiff reminded her and gave her a hug. She whispered into her ear, "You got a good one now. Don't let him go."
"I know," DG nodded and her friends went off to buy what they needed to. She put a hand to her head as it spun a little. Cain put a hand to the small of her back. She looked up at him, "I'm okay. Let's get the milk and eggs and get back home."
They piled the clothes and the groceries in the back of the truck with Glitch and Cain and Azkadellia and DG got in the cabin of the old truck. As she pulled out, DG saw Jared watching from the end of the row of shops. And so did Cain and Glitch.
DG opened the little window to the back, "Don't worry about it, guys. He's not worth it."
Cain settled into his spot in the bed of the truck and they were back down the road to the farm house.