Sunshine Valley

“I didn’t do anything wrong!”

     Rebecca stared out the window at the little White House thinking about the happy family that now lives inside. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” She whispered. 

     “I’m sorry?” Simon asked, happily cutting into his steak. 

     “I did the right thing.” 

     He was confused, “‘bout?” His mood slowly changing. 

     She took a deep breath, “I called Frankfort and lodged an interference complaint against him.”

     “Him?” Simon asked slowly. 

     “I called DCBS and told them about the homeless couple with the baby. I heard through the rumor mill that the mother and child disappeared.” She shrugged, “so I filed a complaint higher up the ladder.” She pointed her fork at Simon. “You know the sheriff had to have been involved.” She stabbed a piece of lettuce, “I mean, how else does one just ‘disappear’?” She used air quotes on disappear. 

     Simon laid his knife down. “The very people that have been feeding us.” He shook his head, “is that why Sunshine Sue left here awhile back?”

     “No, she was following up on the harassment comment I made about the sheriff’s department back in October. At least someone is paying attention.” Simon didn’t know what to say. The air had been knocked out of his lungs. Rebecca sliced into her steak. “When I call Frankfort, I might have went on a rant and called the sheriff a pedophile.” When she finally looked up, Simon’s expression was blank. “Well, say something?” 

     He didn’t, he got up from the table, leaving. His truck roared to life. Instead of going toward town, he pointed his truck in the other direction. Bile rose to her mouth at the thought of him running to the sheriff to rat her out. 

     She cleaned up the kitchen with a heavy heart. When she turned, Simon was standing in the door. “Did you have anythin’ to do with the person that ran Ms. Evelyn off the road?”

     She turned to the sink. “Why do you have to make everything about her?”

     “What about the person that shot at me while I was being a good neighbor?”

     She turned to face him, “I got laid off for a month today. Without pay.” Simon’s knees buckled under him. 

     He had to catch himself on the door frame. “What the fuck for?” The cuss word flowed from his mouth without hesitation. With force. 

     “Sara thinks I threw something at her during the revival. I can’t work until they figure it out.”

     “You’ve been suspended.” 

     “Laid off, suspended,” she shrugged. “Same difference.”

     Through gritted teeth he asked, “did you throw something at her?”

     “If I did, she’s gotta prove it.”

     Simon was gone.