“That sounds alright to me,” Asher says, although he is suddenly thinking how dangerous it could be to share a house with a strange woman who might eavesdrop or try to get to know them. But what he wants more than anything in the world is somewhere for them to lay their heads down at night.

“That’s a deal, then,” Bell says.

They talk money. How much an hour. How much she’ll charge for rent on the cottage—it will take most of his pay—and she welcomes them to eat with her every evening. “I like to cook, but I don’t like to eat by myself,” she says. “Easier to cook for a big bunch. We put breakfast out by the pool every morning for the guests, so y’all are welcome to eat from that, too.”

“Would you care to pay me in cash?” Asher asks quickly.

“You in trouble?” Bell asks, and looks at him as if memorizing him.

“No,” Asher says. “But I’m not wanting to be found.”

“I know all about that,” Bell says, nodding. She pushes herself up with a grunt, like a big old machine unlatching itself from being still too long.

“I’m in dire need of groceries, so how about you go on down to Fausto’s. There’s bicycles over by the side entrance, or you can take the Vespa. Up to you.”

“What is Fausto’s?” Asher asks.

Bell stops, swings herself around. “How long you been here, sugar?”

“We drove into town this morning.”

Bell considers this and takes off for the office again. “Fausto’s is the only grocery store where I’ll trade. Just go up this street here.” She thrusts a tourist’s map at Asher. She settles herself back at the desk and puts on her glasses. “Dog can stay right here with me.” Shady slumps down at her feet and curls up like he can speak her language. “He’ll be fine. And take the Vespa. It’s faster.”

So Asher has a job. And they have a home. On Olivia Street with the bougainvillea. “Olivia Bougainvillea,” Justin says, as if he has read his father’s mind. Asher lets out a wearied breath. They have either reached a dead end or a whole new beginning.

6

6

Asher has never been on a scooter before, but he figures out how to run the Vespa. Once or twice Bell leans out the doorway to see if he is going to be able to start it, but she doesn’t offer any instructions, and he doesn’t ask. When the engine finally fires, he tells Justin to hold on, and they are off.

Two days ago Asher had been going crazy in that little trailer out on Cheatham Lake, and now he feels as if they are in a different country.