Dancing in the Oaks

Asking, but no

I took the half mile walk home carrying the milk. I hooked the small containers of curds and whey onto my belt. Once again, my mind kept focusing on Nicholas' theory. Everything is just too coincidental and I certainly don't like that. This whole thing is ridiculous. I did not know that I would be getting myself right in the middle of a 'hotheaded' murder case with a murder on the rampage. How the heck did this happen? I guess I just bring a lot of bad luck and pure terror everywhere I go.

Once I arrived home I was greeted by my mother. My stomach growled as I was in need of some food, but my mother began scolding me again.  "Norah, what took you so long? You got milk and curds and whey!" I was shocked that she finally gave me some good words for what I do.

"Oh of course! I had to get some. Curds and whey are my favorite. In fact, that's what is going to be on the side with our dinner 'night." My mind struggled to find honest words to explain. "Yeah sorry, I was talking to a friend."

"You were talking to Nicholas weren't you? Norey Dorey, come on! Just admit it." Her face gave me a smile. "Happy birthday Norah."

"Admit what?" I felt embarrassed, but hid it very well.

"You like him. Norey Dorey, it's okay." Her eyes rolled. I could tell that she clearly wanted to know my answer to her question. I didn't want to give the answer. This is already an odd situation.

"Can you please stop calling me Norey Dorey. I'm 18. Sometimes you forget that. Nick is just a friend, who cares. Y'all are just overwhelmed, and I understand. I'm gonna make a pie for 'night. We still got a frozen one?"

"Yeah we have one downstairs. Preheat the oven to 370 and put it in. It's one of our pies. Get the one marked CPP: cinnamon peach pie. Norah, I don't know if I want you goin' to that hoedown 'night."

"Mom, why?" I frowned and placed a disgusted look on my face.

"There was a murder this morning. The suspect is still out there. I don't want you to die." Her eyes were crossed staring at her fingers. It didn't seem that she was letting me do anything any time soon. I was trapped and I was not going to that hoedown according to her.

"I have something to say and I don't know if you're going to like it. I trust Nicholas. I will not leave his side the entire time! I will stay with him where other people can see me and make sure I'm okay. You know what? I do like Nicholas as a friend and nothing more. He's a great person that actually cares. I am fully aware of the murder this mornin'. Nicholas knows about it too. Listen I don't know how to explain this." My foot tapped one the wooden floor. "Look at this okay! 12 years ago our barn caught on fire, exactly 12 years before that happened it caught off fire, and 12 years before that it happened again. Every twelve months Farmer Joe has the hoedown. Every 12 months a disappearance happens. Nick and I are 12 months apart. Our birthdays are both October 12th. I don't know how else to explain it."

"Alright, Norah it just has to be a coincidence of nothing interrelated. The number 12 is just a popular number. Don't worry. You do like Nicholas! He doesn't happen to work at both the department store and the milk stand?"

"It's all connected, not to mention, the fact that the realtor never told us about this. How else would the number 12 show up that many times? It's not just a coincidence, there has to be reasoning. Mom! Our barn could burn down tonight. Yes, his family owns the dairy farm: Red Reed Dairy. I only like him as a friend. I swear."

"Norah, His mother went missing 12 months ago. Your father and I met the Reed family last year. There's somethin' off 'bout his father. I believe his name is Dareck. The wife, Nancy, went missing last year. Stay away from them, alright."

"So I cannot hang around Nick!" My voice expressed anger. I just stood and hoped for the answer I wanted to hear. I should say that I heard what I wanted to hear. I don't want to sound like the biggest brat in this world, but my parents prevent me from doing a lot of things. It seems as if I am only useful for completing chores.

"You stay away from his father. I'll let you just this once, and this once only. Use your good judgment and stay out of trouble."

"Mom, when have I ever been in trouble? I will stay away and keep my distance. I will be safe, you don't have to worry. I'm not gonna be back 'til later."

"True. You have always been a good person. I just don't want you getting killed because a murder is at large. That's alright." She actually let out a smile and chuckle. I was immediately relieved.

"Thanks mom."

I retrieved the pie out of the freezer and warmed it in the oven. We love to make pies and freeze them, because who doesn't like a slice of pie during the entire year? It's a great way to have extra food and be a li'l lazy. As soon as I had finished I fixed my hair into a bun. I made sure that my hair made my face look fine. I put on my red plaid flannel shirt and blue jeans. It was kind of nice to wear my fall clothing.