Lexi sighed and sat down. “You know rehearsals for the talent show are going to start soon.” She looked over to where the plumber was working.
“Yes dear, we know.” Evelyne waved her hand at Lexi. “Joe’s been working on this for a little over an hour, it should be cleared soon. Don’t get your shorts in a wad,” she sassed. “Did you know that if you have a favorite plumber you can ask for them to come out? How did we just find out about this?”
“Yes, I had heard that.” She closed her eyes, hoping they would listen to her. “Of course, you have to keep in mind that if you continue to have issues and harass your requested plumber they will request to never be sent back to any of the addresses you frequent.”
“Really, Lexi, I don’t know where you get these ideas.” Marie gave Lexi the “mom” look that would have quelled lesser women.
“Don’t pull that look on me Marie, you know it doesn’t work. I know the three of you too well.”
Leigh sat up straighter. “Oh, I just love how he handles his snake. That’s it, baby, shove it in and slide it back out.” She rocked back and forth. “Slower, then faster, change the tempo.” She moved her hand up and down demonstrating.
“Yes, that snake sure is taking a pounding,” Evelyne giggled.
Lexi just lowered her head and shook it at the three of them, wondering how long before the line was clear so that they could focus on the talent show. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Marie walking toward the building. “Marie, where are you going?”
“Oh, I think I need some water. I’ll be right back.”
Lexi narrowed her eyes and watched Marie. Something wasn’t right here. What were the three of them up to? Lexi was just about to get up to follow Marie when she came back grinning.
“Where’s your water?”
“What water? Oh, yeah, well, I just took a quick drink from the drinking fountain.” Marie used her thumb to point back over her shoulder.
Leigh and Evelyne were trying to not giggle which made Lexi even more suspicious. They all turned back to the plumber when he yelled, “Damn it!”
Lexi turned to Marie. “What did you do?”
“Nothing,” she said innocently.
The plumber stalked over to the ladies, “I don’t know what you three are up to but please stop. Now!” He took the rag out of his back pocket and started to dry his hands.
Lexi stood up, “I’m sorry, Joe. What seems to be the problem?”
“Every single time I get close to clearing this line, somehow it gets stopped up again. Paper towels, pens, rags, ping pong balls even! Each time I think I have it cleared, one of these ladies,” he pointed to the trio, “gets up, goes into the building, and comes back out. Then what do you know? The line is stopped up again.” He clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides.
“Well, really, that is completely uncalled for,” Evelyne said lifting her chin up.
Lexi raised one eyebrow at them, “I am going inside for a moment with Joe. Can you behave yourselves while I’m gone?” She narrowed her eyes and looked at each one of them.
“Of course, dear,” Marie smiled sweetly.
Out of the corner of her mouth Leigh said, “Maybe we can get our hands on his snake. Did you see how he handled it?”
“Yeah, and I bet it’s got a big head.” Evelyne nodded.
Lexi hoped Joe didn’t hear that, but by the set of his jaw she was pretty sure he had.
She stopped and looked around, not noticing that Joe had also stopped and was looking at her strangely. It felt like someone was watching her, the sensation on and off for the past week or so, but it was stronger today. She scanned the woods across the street and didn’t see anything but couldn’t shake the feeling, so she called the ladies inside to start rehearsal.
*
Lexi had her windows cracked to let some fresh air into the car. It’d been shut up all day at the center. She was halfway between town and home when her car started to overheat so she pulled over to the side of the road and leaned her head on the steering wheel.
Really? Now? I just had the car tuned up.
She was getting out when the feeling of someone watching her came back. Twisting around in her seat, she looked around and didn’t see anyone, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. It was so quiet out that there were no animal sounds or wind through the trees, and she was just far enough away to not hear the ocean.
Fumbling for her phone, she called the local garage since they had a tow truck but they wouldn’t be able to get to her for at least an hour since there was a wreck on the other side of town.
Sam and Martha were at the Antique Market an hour away, so she couldn’t call them and the Trio couldn’t drive at night.
I could just walk home, it’s not that far.
She looked out the window at the darkening sky, her thoughts backpedaling.