Chapter 7

• Soma’s POV
• The day seemed to go by fast, I was busy and I was exhausted, my mind wandered back to the cop. I wasn’t sure why he was threatening me. I was new to this place and he didn’t have to be so mean. I went to the coffee shop once, maybe I should say something to the owners of the shop just so they know a police officer is going around telling people about them. I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea or not. I didn’t want enemies and I didn’t want problems either.
• Locking up the money, and cleaning up the little bit of mess. I stocked the shelves so I didn’t have to do it tomorrow before I opened. I yawned, I didn’t want to drive home, even if it was only a few minutes from here, I wish I had a bed in the back, tonight it would have been awesome to sleep here.
• Turning off the lights, and locking up the store, a cold breeze sent shivers down my spine, I knew winter was coming, but damn I wasn’t ready for it just yet.
• My hands trembled as I unlocked the car, I felt watched, but I didn’t look in the direction I felt the eyes. I still wasn’t sure what I would do about the cop, maybe I would try and play nice just to make sure he doesn’t hurt my store or me. I wasn’t even sure what he was capable of.
• Mouse greeted me at the door, I was glad to be home. Locking the door I planted myself on the couch. I wasn’t sure why I was exhausted, but I needed to soak first. I knew the store was going to be hard, but I needed food for myself and Mouse. Maybe it was time for me to hire someone to help out. Thankfully tomorrow was Sunday, I made it a whole week by myself. Tomorrow I would sleep and rest as much as possible. My body didn’t want me to move from that spot and I thought about staying right there and sleeping but I knew that wasn’t a good idea either.
• I fed Mouse and then started my bath. I wanted to go to bed without the bath but knew my body would scream at me in the morning if I didn’t allow the muscles to relax. I didn’t stay in long, just long enough to feel relaxed. After I was finished with my bath I got dressed and fell on my bed exhausted.
• Mouse joined me in bed, I didn’t even feel like reading, my body shut down and I was out like a light. I slept solidly until the sun came up. Getting dressed and brushing my hair and teeth, I drank some tea before she headed out the door to do some shopping. I would go and get the groceries first, and then I would do a little window shopping later that day. If I felt like going back out after putting the food away anyway.
• Walking through the grocery store was a chore. There were loads of people down each aisle, I wanted to yell at them to move out of the way since most of them weren’t even getting anything, but I waited patiently.
• Walking over to the meat section, I needed to get some chicken and some lamb. I never ate much meat because it wasn’t as healthy as veggies and fruit, but I liked it every once and a while.
• “Hello.” A familiar voice said.
• I looked up, Oliver Stone stood there with his red basket. “Hey, seems we keep running into each other.”’ I said holding my hand to my chest. I could feel the heat on my face, I hoped I wasn’t blushing.
• “Small world.” He said chuckling. “I came to get some chicken, we are having a BBQ.”
• “Sounds like fun,” I said pushing my cart out of the way so he could look as well. I grabbed a couple of packs of boneless chicken breasts. “Take care.” I smiled and walked away.
• The rest of the trip was simple and quick. I checked out and walked to my car. Getting chills down my back, I glanced around the parking lot. I felt like I was being watched, but there was no one there that I could see.
• Putting my groceries in my trunk, I got into the car and headed home. I didn’t feel like going back out to go shopping, but I needed to get some new clothes, I was dying for something new.
• Feeding Mouse a little more since he didn’t get very much in the morning, and putting the groceries away, I headed out the door again. I went to the local mall and walked around there. Some of the stores were out there and crazy, so I avoided them. I wanted to get a coffee but wanted to wait to go to the coffee shop near my store hoping to run into Oliver even though he said they were doing a BBQ.
• Driving to my tea shop, there was a notice on the door. I went and pulled it off. I read it. “This notice is notifying the order of a raid happening tomorrow during store hours. Please be available so the detectives can speak with you. if you are not here, we will force entry, and you will be forced to close.”
• “What the hell!” I snapped, throwing the paper into my purse. I walked over to the coffee shop. I was stressed, what did I do to piss off the police? Closing my eyes I wondered what Detective Marks wanted from me? Was he just doing this to show he had power over me because I was new in town? Or was he showing me that he was going to be around to mess with me when he wanted to?
• The smell of fresh-baked cookies hit my nose, it instantly calmed me down. “Hello, welcome what can I get you?” the man at the register asked.
• “Mocha latte and some oatmeal cookies.” I half smiled trying to show I wasn’t stressed.
• “If I remember from last time this was on the house?” he said looking at me. “Soma right?”
• “Yeah, I half-smiled. “ No, I rather pay, please. You don’t have to give me free coffee every time I come in here.”
• “Boss’s orders.” He smiled handing me coffee and an extra cookie.
• “Thanks,” I said taking a seat next to the window, I looked at my shop. I knew this wasn’t going to be the end to it. They weren’t going to leave me alone now, and they were going to force me to quit. I worked my ass off for this, and it was all going to shit. I was furious, and I was going to let the Detective know just how pissed off I was.
• Watching the passing cars I wondered if opening the shop was a mistake, I wondered if going home would be a good idea. I thought about what my family would say if I came home, would they laugh at me because I came home and told them it was all over a stupid cop that bullied me into submission that forced me to close.
• “No, we’re not going home,” I whispered to myself.