Chapter 6

I found a friend or should I say a foe

~Trust Me by The Fray~

~*/*\*~

Eddie came running out of the house and hurried down the porch steps. "Dani!"

The girl looked up from her table that she had set up in the driveway and smiled at him. "Hey, Eddie."

"Made any sales yet?"

Shaking her head and chuckling she answered, "No, I just got back from setting up the signs for the yard sale, Eddie."

"Do you think anyone will come?" His concern for her was evident as he sat in one of the lawn chairs Dani had set up for the pair.

"I certainly hope so." Dani sat down in the opposite chair and looked down the road for any evidence of possible customers. "I left a flyer up at school and a couple in the park - I even stopped at some stores to see if they'd let me put them up in their shop windows." Dani had set out early that Saturday morning to post some last minute signs on street sign posts in the neighborhood.

"Maybe I should make lemonade and we can sell it too!" Dani looked down at her cousin and smiled at the thought.

"I don't think your mom would like that."

"She's not here," he pointed out.

Dani mulled that thought over. Eddie was right. Veronica wasn't here. Jessica was holed up in her room. Peter was at a friend's house. Jason - wasn't there either. Nibbling on her lip for a few seconds as she thought, she finally shrugged. "Sure, why not."

Jumping up, Eddie shot off toward the house. "I'll make it, Dani! You stay here in case someone comes!"

The girl chuckled once more and settled back into her seat. As she waited, she looked all around for someone - anyone. At this rate, she wasn't going to get any buyers. The house was too far out of the way. Not very many people came this way - even for a walk. Dani propped her elbow on the chair's armrest before settling her chin on her hand.

No one is going to come. Maybe I should have put those signs up weeks ago.

That all too familiar chuckle entered her head, followed by the voice. "Giving up so soon?"

"Shut up. No one asked you," Dani grumbled.

"You've worked so hard - it would be a shame to take all that work for granted."

Glaring all around in hopes that she would see the owl that accompanied the voice, Dani said, "Not taking it for granted. More like lamenting the fact it will be a waste of time."

"Is that so?" The voice asked in a patronizing tone. "I don't think you're looking hard enough for a solution."

"And it's just so blatantly obvious to you, is it?" Dani really wanted to throw a rock at that owl now.

"No need to be sarcastic." the voice chuckled, "Or violent." Continuing smoothly, he said, "Perhaps you could - wish? - for someone to come by?"

A short laugh escaped Dani's lips. She settled back into her seat and shook her head. "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."

"Hmpf!" The voice in her head huffed, but Dani was sure he - it - whatever - wasn't really offended or irritated. Perhaps, just a little bit, he was pleased.

"Excuse me?" So wrapped up in her own dialogue, Dani had missed the fact that someone had wandered over to the sale. Looking up in surprise, Dani saw a woman in jeans and yellow t-shirt standing by a table that held an array of items. The woman was holding up a lamp that had teddy bears sitting on an antique looking sofa at the lamp's base.

"How much for this lamp?" The woman asked.

Dani stood and walked over to stand next to the woman. "I believe the price is on the bottom," the teenager stated. When the woman turned the lamp in her hands, she saw the white sticker.

A smile beamed on the woman's face. "Only five dollars?"

Dani shrugged. "Well, it is plastic - mostly."

The smile faded a little bit. "It still works - right?"

"Oh! Yes! I tested it to make sure," Dani hastened to assure the woman. "If you would like to make sure, then there's an outlet in the garage." She led the woman over to Jason's workbench and took the lamp so she could plug it in. Dani showed where the switch was before turning the lamp on.

The woman gasped in delight as the lightbulb turned on and beneath the plain, white lamp shade, color emitted. "The etching of the bears is painted on the inside," Dani explained. "That way, when you turn the lamp on, the picture looks like it's been colored."

"This would be perfect for Ella's room." The woman's gushed as she reached to turn off the lamp. "I'll take it."

"If it's teddy-bear-themed stuff you're looking for," Dani hesitantly offered, "there are some stuffed toys over in another box."

The woman laughed and shook her head. "Ella doesn't need anymore toys! But do you have anything else?"

"A couple of plates - I think." Dani tried to remember where she had set the dishware Veronica said could be sold. She led the woman to another table and pointed out the objects. Backing away so the woman didn't feel pressured, Dani smiled.

I didn't even need to make a wish. She thought smugly.

"No. You didn't. Bravo, lonely girl." The voice retorted mockingly.

"Dani!" The girl turned to see Eddie cautiously making his way down the steps with a yellow, plastic pitcher in his hands. Under his arm he pressed a stack of styrofoam cups to his side.

She hurried to grab the pitcher from him and walked over to a clear table for him. "I thought we could sell some cookies too." Eddie looked up at his cousin for approval.

Dani really didn't think they could get away with that. Shrugging, she figured she could make some later to make up for it. "Sure, sounds good."

"Is this your brother?" Dani turned to see the woman beaming at Eddie. It amazed Dani how people could just fall in love with Eddie without having really met him.

Eddie looked up at the woman and shook his head. "No. We're cousins."

"Really? You two look a lot alike."

Dani's face puckered in puzzlement. No they didn't. Eddie didn't look anything like the family besides having the same brown hair. Maybe her one blue eye and Eddie's blue eyes were the same shade - but he really didn't look anything like Dani whatsoever.

Eddie's grin widened at the comment though - so Dani didn't bother correcting the woman. "Are you Dani's first customer?"

The woman laughed and nodded. "I am. And I'd like to be your first customer too, if you'd like."

"Sweet!" Eddie's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Wait right here, I'll go get the cookies." He dashed back into the house, leaving the young woman and the older woman to chuckle after him.

"He's a sweet boy." The woman looked at Dani, a smile on her face.

Dani shrugged, a smile still on her face. "Yeah. He's great to have as family." Turning back to the woman, she asked, "So, did you find anything else you liked?"

The woman nodded and held up the plates and a cup. While they discussed the prices, Eddie returned with a tin of cookies. Between the two of them, Dani and Eddie earned thirty-eight dollars and fifty cents.

As the woman walked away, Dani put the money in a black metal box and locked it. A satisfied smile spread across her face. Her hard work wasn't going to go all for naught.

~*/*\*~

The day began picking up after that. Spirits boosted, Dani made trips between her table accepting money and mingling among her customers so she could answer various questions or point them to a particular item they were looking for. Eddie's lemonade and cookies ran out and he had to resort to selling only lemonade - but he had to go back into the house to make some more of the liquid.

Dani had just settled another sale in the box when she heard some unwelcome and familiar voices. She looked up to see Amy, LeeAnn, and Becky wandering around the small crowd of people gathered at the yard sale. The girls from school would point at something and giggle. Sometimes they would whisper and cast Dani suspicious and scandalized glances.

Moaning to herself, Dani decided that she would still need to treat them like potential customers. Whether she wanted to or not. She double-checked to make sure the money box was locked then pocketed the key for extra measures. Dani walked toward the trio and suppressed the urge to run to the house when the girls turned to watch her expectantly.

"Hey," Dani folded her arms over her chest as she spoke, "can I help you with anything?"

"No." LeeAnn answered, chewing a piece of gum. "We're just looking."

"Window shopping - if you will." Amy snickered.

"Oh! Jessica!" Becky waved and called. Dani turned to see her cousin coming down the steps of the porch.

"Fancy seeing you girls here," Jessica declared in mock-astonishment.

Dani sighed. "Jessica, you're still being punished. You can't have friends over."

"They're not in the house, Dani." Jessica reasoned, a sly smile coming to the group of girls' faces. "I didn't invite them. They were browsing your little sale and I happened to be outside helping you."

A scowl came to Dani's face. "But you haven't helped all day. This is the first time you've been out of the house."

Leaning in close to the dark-haired girl, the blonde hissed, "Play along or else I'll tell Mom where all the lemonade mix and cookies went."

Eyes narrowing to slits, Dani said, "Fine. But if you want me to play along - then you have to stay out of my way and away from my customers."

"I'll be on the porch taking my ten minute break!" Jessica backed away and waved over her shoulder. "It's so hot out today. Maybe I'll see if Eddie can get us a free cup of lemonade."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Dani sighed nonchalantly. "But I believe you're friends are customers - so they still have to pay."

Jessica scowled. "It's on the house."

"Nope. I'm the boss out here, Jessica." Dani flashed her teeth in a cruel smile. "My rules."

"Oh for heaven's sake!" Amy reached into her pink, heart-covered purse. "Here's the money!"

Dani took the amount and turned to call to Eddie, who had just set his full pitcher on his table. "Three cups of lemonade, Eddie!"

Jessica groaned. "What about me?"

"Check your contract." Dani turned to walk to another customer. "You may get a 'ten minute break' but you don't get free lemonade. Make your own." A smirk made its way to Dani's lips as she listened to her cousin's quiet shriek of frustration. That'll teach her.

"Well done." Dani looked up to see a woman with bright green eyes and long, straight brown hair. The woman was smiling, seeming to enjoy the little scene that had just passed.

"Oh - I - I'm sorry - ma'am I -" Dani stuttered to a stop, blushing. She didn't want to scare away her customers with her family problems.

The woman laughed and waved a hand as if to dismiss the apology. "No biggie. Family can be a drag. Your sister?"

"Cousin." Dani corrected, still uncomfortable under the kind, understanding gaze. "Um - is there something in particular you're looking for?"

"Well, I saw this delightful ad taped to my shop door this morning," the woman explained, a smirk coming to her lips. "Thought it might be the same girl that puts her hand on my window every day she walks by - leaving a handprint on my clean window. Know anything about her?"

Dani's face blanched and she had to clear her throat a few times before she could squeak out, "No."

"Really?" The woman's eyes and voice laughed at Dani's reaction. "Pity. Well, I would like to see if there are any books worth looking at here."

"Sure, they're over here." Dani led the woman over to a table and began pointing some selections out. "I'm afraid I've picked all the ones I liked out of the lot."

"Ah. Beat me to all the good ones then." The woman nodded as she picked up book after book. "What - what on Earth is this?" She held up a book Dani recognized as being a science fiction.

Rolling her eyes, Dani answered, "I have no idea. I found it in the attic and when I asked my uncle he said that a friend gave it to him."

A laugh escaped the woman. "This - this looks so bizarre! I'm not much of a sci-fi fan - well when it comes to books I'm not - but my small respect for sci-fi would shatter if I read this."

"You don't have to buy it," Dani pointed out almost irritably.

"Are you kidding?" The woman flipped the book open and pointed at the publication date. "Some collector would probably want it. Shoot. Wish I had brought a shopping bag. I have a feeling I'm going to be walking away with a lot."

Dani perked up. "I could have my cousin run in and get one for you."

The woman's green eyes darted toward the porch. "I think she's preoccupied."

"Not her. My other cousin, Eddie." Turning, Dani called to the boy. "Eddie, can you go in and get a plastic bag from the pantry?" He waved and hurried into the house.

The woman smiled. "Glad to see some of your workers actually work."

"He's the only worker." Dani laughed. "So - you're buying old books to sell at a higher price?"

"Basically." The woman nodded as she picked up some more books to look at their condition, publishing year, and other factors Dani wasn't sure of. "That's what I do at my shop. I sell vintage books and rare books. Other random stuff - like newly published books. I try to give budding authors a chance to get their stuff out there."

"That's cool." Dani wondered if her playscript she found would be worth much - not that she wanted to sell it. The other books she found in the attic in 'Sarah's Stuff' might be worth something now too.

"I think so." The woman grinned.

Eddie came running back out and hurried to Dani's side. "Here ya go!"

"Thanks, Eddie." Dani took the back and handed it to the other woman.

"Great!" She dumped her load into the bag and looped her arms through the handles. "Oh, Sense and Sensibility!"

Dani looked eagerly at the copy. It had taken a lot of debate on her part whether she wanted to sell the book or not. Eventually she decided to let it go. "Yeah, I like that one! It's one of my favorite by Jane Austen. But I think the characters from Persuasion are my favorite. Especially Captain Wentworth."

The woman looked up, her eyes sparkling with mischief and curiosity. "Oh, really? Do you by any chance have an affinity to Anne Elliot? A love you rejected?"

Dani tossed her head back and laughed. Once she regained control of herself she shook her head. "N-no. I think the only similarity between Anne and I is that our moms died. Although some of my relatives bear an uncanny similarity to Anne's dad and sisters."

"I'm sorry about your mom." The woman's words were heartfelt. "My own mom divorced my dad when I was ten. He remarried when I was fourteen. I didn't take it too well."

Dani forced a smile to her lips. "Not exactly the same."

Sighing, the woman nodded. "You're right. It's not. But I'm glad you found your ray of sunshine."

"What?"

The woman motioned toward Eddie, who had taken up his station back at the lemonade stand. "Him. My stepbrother became my world - after I finally grew up and realized what an idiot I'd been."

Dani's smile became genuine then. "Yeah - it didn't take much to get me to see Eddie was my saving grace. He keeps me sane."

"I can understand that," the woman mumbled as she looked up at the house. "Seems like whoever lives here learns that lesson."

Dani looked at the woman in surprise. "What do you mean? Did you live here?"

"Yup!" The woman looked back at Dani. "Dad and Irene moved out after Toby - he's my brother - went to college. Never thought I'd move back here though." Shrugging her shoulders, the woman said, "Turns out I'm not much like my mom after all. I didn't like the city. Slow-paced towns are more my style. Selling books with my husband."

Glancing nervously toward the house, Dani asked, "Y-you wouldn't happen to be Sarah - would you?"

Blinking in surprise the woman said, "Yes. Sarah Dugan. How'd you know?"

"I found a box marked 'Sarah's Stuff' when I was clearing out the attic." Dani felt her heart sink. Would she want the stuff back?

Sarah smiled. "Really? Wow. Irene told me she had thrown that stuff out."

"Guess you want it back, huh?"

Sarah shook her head, raising a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Nah. I don't need it anymore. If you like anything in that box, you can keep it."

Dani relaxed. "Okay. Sweet." Glancing down at the books, she said, "Well, if that's all, I can count up how much you owe me."

Sarah laughed and nodded. "Sure." They walked over to the table where Dani had the money box. While Dani pulled books out of the bag to see the price stickers, Sarah watched.

"You know - it's kind of odd," Sarah began. "You look a lot like someone I once knew."

"Who?" Dani asked, not really paying any attention.

"You probably don't know him," the woman shook her head, a smile and faraway look coming to her gaze. "But there is something about your eyes and his eyes that is very similar."

Dani finished tallying the cost of the books. "Well, there aren't many people that I've come in contact with that have mismatched eyes." Her thoughts turned toward the man in the park.

Sarah reached for her purse and began shelling out the amount owed. "No. Probably no one else in this town at least." She handed the money over and smiled. "I'm so glad to have found someone who is as fond of old books as I am. If you're ever interested in seeing my shop -"

"When is it ever open?" Dani demanded.

A laugh escaped Sarah's lips. "We're a recent business, so we've been stocking the shelves. Our grand opening is in two weeks. Feel free to stop by sometime. Who knows," Sarah began walking away as she said, "if business is good, I might need to hire someone. You'll be at the top of my list."

Dani stared in mouth-open shock. Had she heart Sarah Dugan correctly? Had that just been a job offered to her? I'm dreaming. I must be dreaming.

"Afraid not, lonely girl." The voice in her head was stunned as well.

~*/*\*~

The crowds diminished as the evening drew near. Jessica's cronies had left a couple of minutes after Peter came out demanding Jessica put one of the frozen pizzas in the oven. Eddie ended using up all the lemonade mix.

Dani slowly began collecting and gathering all the leftover items from the sale. Jason had said that whatever was left over would be taken to Goodwill or some other charity store nearby.

She was content with the amount she ended up with at the end of the day. Dani was sure she'd be able to buy some good stuff to decorate her room with and clothes! The idea was so encouraging that she almost did a little victory dance on the gravel driveway.

"Seems I'm too late."

Whirling around at the voice spoken audibly, Dani saw the man from the park. He was strolling up the driveway, his hands tucked into the pockets of his rather tight fitting jeans. His white shirt hugged his torso, showing off his lean figure and some muscles.

Dani stared at him for a few seconds longer before saying. "I'm just - cleaning up. So it's alright if you want to look at what's still out." She paused, her brain catching up with her words and who was standing before her. A frown crossed her features. "What are you doing here?"

A smirk rose on his face. "Can't I come to a yard sale if I like?"

"But how did you -"

"Know about it?" He lifted a hand from his pocket and showed her a folded up piece of paper. "You did post an ad in the park."

"You haven't been at the park since you took my book." Dani complained.

"Yes, and it would appear that you haven't changed your appearance or outfit since then, either." He eyed her outfit disdainfully.

Dani looked down. She was wearing the same stripped shirt with the star on the chest. She was about to retort, paused, then said, "You still have my book!"

Shrugging the man walked over to look over some of her wares. "Well I don't have it with me at this very moment as you can obviously tell. So what would be the point in accusing me of having it. And I didn't take it. You threw it away. One man's trash."

"But it isn't trash! It's mine!" Dani marched over to him. "I already explained that to you!"

"Yes. You did." He turned to look down at her. Dani almost backed away, realizing that she had stepped a bit closer than she intended. Not wanting to appear intimidated by his height or gaze, she remained where she was. The man smirked, as if he could read her discomforted thoughts. Bending slightly, making her blush, he said, "I have every intention of returning it to you. Just not in the condition it is in."

Dani glared at him, letting her bangs fall in front of her green eye. "If it's in a worse condition than what it was in when you took it - I swear I'll make you pay!"

The man paused and stared, expressionless, at her. "My."

"What?" Dani snapped.

"You're gaze is much like a winter sky. Harsh and cold." He blinked slowly. "It freezes any who cross you."

Dani felt a blush rising on her face. "Wish it would - freeze you," she stammered, trying not to let his comment faze her.

A smirk and a huffed laugh escaped him. The man backed away. "It would take much more than that to freeze me, my dear. I believe, I'll purchase this." He reached blindly to the table and picked up a stemmed glass that had intricate designs cut into its surface.

"That'll be twenty-five dollars," Dani mumbled as she stepped over to her money box.

The man reached into his back pant's pocket for his leather wallet. He gave her exact change and watched as she wrapped the cup in brown paper. With a nod he said, "I'll see you around, Danica."

She turned and said, "Yeah, whatever." She was about to pick up a box but hesitated. Turning back she exclaimed, "I still don't -" but he was gone. "Know your name," she growled irritably. "Ugh! What is he? Houdini?"

"Not hardly." The voice in her head chuckled. That voice that sounded uncannily like that man's voice.

"Shut up, birdie."

"Yes, m'lady."