Dana Mentink - Flashover

The referee’s whistle blew and the court broke into spirited competition. Ivy was sucked into the game in spite of herself. Tim’s team played with practiced skill. At the half, they were behind fifteen points, but they rallied to win the game by a scant two baskets.

Tim beamed as he shook the other coach’s hand. Bleachers emptied until the court was a mass of happy parents and sweating teenagers. Ivy was surprised when Tim found her in the melee.

“Was that a great game or what?” His face was boyish, flushed with enthusiasm.

Ivy couldn’t help but smile. “It certainly was. Congratulations, coach.”

He caught up her hand. “Thanks. Hey, we’re going out to pizza to celebrate. Come with us.”

She squeezed his long fingers for a moment before she let go. “Ah, no, thanks, Tim. I’ve got something I need to do.”

His smile dimmed. “Oh, I forgot. It’s party night, huh?”

She nodded. “Do you want to come by after your pizza party? You know the guys all like you.” They were polite, certainly, but there was always a feeling that anyone who wasn’t in suppression was an outsider. She felt it, maybe even projected it, and she knew that Tim had certainly felt it, too. He doesn’t deserve to play second fiddle to anyone. The thought startled her.

“No, thanks. I’m going to take Mark to the hospital to see his mom after we eat. She’s struggling with breast cancer. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

She watched him go, his broad shoulders cutting a path through the happy throngs, wondering for a moment if she should have chosen the basketball party.

Ivy stopped to get a drink of water at the fountain before she exited the gym. The parking lot was nearly empty as she made her way along, purse slung over her good shoulder. She let her mind drift as she walked past the lot and onto the grass.

Out of nowhere came the sound of running feet. As she tensed and turned to look behind her, a heavy body plowed into her, knocking her to the ground. Her purse fell underneath her, and she felt hands prodding, scrambling to get a handhold on her bag. She tried to scream, but the man’s weight pinned her face to the ground.

Pulse pounding, she tried with all her strength to push him away, but she couldn’t budge him. The best she could do was keep curled around her purse as tightly as she could.

No way, creep. You’re not going to make a victim of me.

With his fingers wrapped around her hair, her attacker yanked so hard her eyes teared.

It was all she could do to keep fighting.

Just when she thought she would have to give in, she heard a shout.

The weight was lifted off her and she could breathe again. Vaguely she saw a man’s figure running away.

Another face peered into hers. “Ivy? Are you okay? It’s me.”

Through her tears she looked into Antonio’s handsome face.

Antonio sat with Ivy while she caught her breath. “I came to see the game, but I was too late so I stopped to talk to some friends in the parking lot. Then I saw that guy on top of you. Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded, wiping the moisture from her face. “Just winded, and my shoulder is throbbing. I thought we were safe from purse snatchings in this small town.”

“Guess there’s nowhere safe from crime anymore.” He hauled her up in his muscular arms and kept her there for a moment. His low whisper tickled her ear. “I was worried when I saw you lying there.”

She pulled away. “I thought worry was a feeling you didn’t indulge in. Too angsty, or something.” Immediately she wished she hadn’t said it.

He laughed, his teeth white in the darkness. “Oh, I give worry a few minutes out of my life sometimes. Come on, I’ll drive you home. Do you want to call the police first?”

“No. I just want to get out of here. Now.”

He led her to his SUV.

She tried to steady her body and emotions as they drove. She could feel a scrape on her knee and various bruises beginning to form.

Antonio eyed her. “Actually, I didn’t come just to see the game. I came to check on you.”

“Really?” She tried to hide the satisfaction in her voice. “That was nice of you.”

“Sure. I’m planning a hiking trip with some of the crew next week. Thought I’d invite you along.”

She didn’t dare look at him. “How does Denise feel about that?”

He waved a dismissive hand. “We aren’t exclusive. She knows that.”

She wondered if that’s what he told people when they were dating. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m taking it easy on the shoulder for a while.”

“Okay.”

He chatted away as they drove. Ivy could see why women found him irresistible. She’d thought he was everything she’d wanted in a man, a partner. Was he looking for reconciliation? Was she?

Ivy felt a surge of relief when they pulled into her parking lot and Antonio walked her to the door. Happy as she was to know he missed her, wanted her, she couldn’t forget how things had changed.

“If you change your mind about hiking, let me know,” he said, giving her a hug.

As quickly as she could, she went inside and closed the door before she said something she might possibly regret.

Ivy felt plenty old the next morning as she eased her arm into the sling after her shower. The sky was a steel gray, indicating a summer storm was on the way. It would be good for the guys, if it brought enough rain to dampen the parched vegetation on the surrounding hillsides.

The phone rang. She figured it was Tim. He made it a point to call every so often on Sundays and invite her to church. She told him in as patient a way as she could that she was not interested. He could go worship God until he ran out of breath. For her part, Ivy was still busy hating Him. Then again, it could be Antonio, she mused.

As she picked up the phone she straightened Sadie’s picture, marveling again at how lovely her sister had been, a dark-haired beauty with an easy smile. “Hello?”

A loud breathy voice filled up the phone line. “Hello, Ivy. It’s Madge.”

Ivy sighed in relief and exchanged pleasant small talk with Moe’s mother. “I’m glad you called. I had a question for you. What can you tell me about Cyril?”

“Moe’s friend?” Madge paused. “He ran the recycle shack for a while, that’s how Moe met him. He worked at the local bookstore, too, I think. But he quit early on. From what I gather he’s not above skirting the law a bit, but he’s always been sweet to my Moe and that’s what matters to me.”

“What do you mean, skirting the law?”

“Oh, I’ve just heard things. I don’t want to gossip.”

“I understand, but his house burned down, Madge. It would be good if we could locate him.”

“My goodness, burned down? He’s had a bad string of luck, poor guy. And after getting fired and all.”

“Fired? From where? Why?”

“No, now I’ve said too much. I called to ask you to check on Moe for the next few days. I’ve got to go visit my sister. She’s had surgery you see, for her appendix. I filled Moe’s refrigerator and made sure his stock of soap operas is okay. He will call me every night to check in, but I would feel better knowing you’ll look out for him.”

“Of course I will.”

“Good. Do you still have my cell number?”

“Yes. I’ll make sure he’s okay.”

Her relieved sigh was loud. “Thank goodness for you, Ivy. You’re a blessing from God. I’ll be back in a few days. Bye now.”

A blessing from God? Yeah, right.

Ivy spent the next few hours searching the Internet for any information about Cyril. It didn’t help that his last name was an unknown. “There are way too many Cyrils in the world,” she finally grumped at one thirty as she left her apartment, empty soda can in hand. The hallway was warm and stuffy compared to her air-conditioned unit. She could smell the tang of garlic and ginger from Mrs. Wang’s pork dumplings. Her mouth watered at the thought of the succulent pillows and she remembered she hadn’t eaten.