World of If

Elsie

Shortly after they crossed the border Dahlia pulled out her phone and punched a number.

"Calling Elsie." She mumbled to Danny as the phone started ringing.

Her cousin answered on the second ring.

"Dolly, what's up? Your bus isn't supposed to be here for another 30 minutes."

"I have a favor to ask," Dahlia began carefully. "I was wondering if I could bring someone to stay for a while."

"You met someone?" Her cousin sounded skeptical. "You didn't mention anyone when I talk to you last week."

"Well..." Dahlia hedged. "We kind of just met, like yesterday."

If Elsie didn't sound skeptical before she did now.

"Wait, you want me to open my house to a complete stranger you say you only just met? This wouldn't happen to be a guy would it?"

Dahlia didn't answer, which answered her cousin's question.

"I suppose a few days wouldn't hurt... We'll figure it out when you get here."

"Great!" Dahlia replied back to her normal breezy self. "See you soon!"

Elsie laughed.

"See you soon."

The 30 minute drive was made in companionable silence.

"You wouldn't mind telling me why you were so cagey at the border would you?" Dahlia whispered to Danny.

"I'll tell you later." Danny whispered back. "I'd rather not bring your cousin into it." He looked apologetic.

"Well soon as we have a free minute of privacy-spill it!"

Danny only nodded.

"Fair enough."

The view Danny had of Canada from the bus window didn't do the country or city he was in justice and as soon as he was settled he was looking forward to exploring, but he had so many things he had to figure out that came first. He still had to find a place to live and a job. He wondered if he could find a temporary position through the holidays... Maybe they would hire him permanently after the first of the year. He could only hope.

Finally the bus rolled into the terminal and he and Dahlia began gathering their bags. Danny didn't have much just the shopping bags he had acquired over the past week or so and his duffel. Dahlia was still giving him weird looks but he figured she would know soon enough.

As soon as they got off the bus Dahlia began looking around several minutes later she was half walking half running towards a woman about her age with short brown hair. Elise had a similar build but her coloring was the total opposite of Dahlia. Her casual styles said she didn't really care what people thought.

After the woman greeted each other Dahlia introduced Danny.

"Elsie, this is Danny."

Danny extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

Elsie gave him an appraising look.

"Likewise." She replied flatly. She didn't quite seem sure of him and Danny didn't really blame her.

Afterwards they hauled all their stuff to Elsie's car and headed for the house. Danny made himself comfortable in the backseat since the trunk wouldn't hold all his stuff and Dahlia's... Not like her cousin had been expecting another guest.

Canada was interesting, Danny decided. There were things about it that reminded him of the US and others not quite, just enough to remind him it was a different country. While they weren't in the biggest city it certainly felt bigger than his little Indiana town.

"We have a lot of restaurants around here." Dahlia said excitedly, "Maybe I can show you a few."

"Are you asking me out?" Danny quipped with a grin.

Dahlia smirked.

"Maybe."

"Oh, will you two shut up!" Elsie exclaimed, "You are going to make me puke!"

"Don't mind her," Dahlia told Danny easily, "she's just sore because her boyfriend broke up with her a couple of weeks ago."

"Before the holidays?" Danny asked conversationally, "That's harsh."

"I don't see how Philip and I are any of your business." Elsie huffed, "besides for holidays it's barely Halloween."

The rest of the drive was made in silence and finally they pulled onto a residential street that looked like any other though it looked polished and the architecture was older than he was used to. Finally Elsie pulled up to a townhouse asking Dahlia for help as she slammed the door and popped the trunk. Danny grabbed his bag, he thought he might as well make himself useful as he was already imposing on their time.

The house, despite looking old looked neat and trim and more put together than most of the houses on the block. Across the street he could see kids playing despite the cooler weather and the tinny honk of cars as they drove by on the narrow streets.

He was still taking everything in by the time Dahlia grabbed her bags.

"Come on, don't just stand there, let's go."

Shouldering his bag, he followed the two women up the walkway

The house inside was just as classy as it was outside. Clearly Elsie had no kids or pets and the house was immaculate and smelled of scented cleaner.

"Dolly, the guestroom is ready upstairs if you want to dump your stuff." Elsie told her cousin.

"What about Danny?" Dahlia asked.

"He can have the futon in the back room, it just needs clean sheets."

"I'm tossing that duvet." Dahlia responded, "if it's how I remember it's probably still breeding dust bunnies."

Elsie rolled her eyes.

"You know I hardly ever use that room. The last time I used it was when Aunt Helen got the flu."

"Well that explains it then," Dahlia tossed over her shoulder as she headed upstairs. This left Danny on his own heading towards the back room with the infamous dust bunny breeding duvet.