Epic. Kelly Wilson

do you need me to walk you to your next destination?”

      “Oh my dear boy, that would be wonderful. The streets at this time of night are not as safe as when I was Scotia’s age.” Betty winked at me.

      “My pleasure, madam.”

      “How did you know that Betty and I don’t live together?” I asked, curious.

      Kellan smiled and pointed in the direction of the nook. “One bed and no other bedrooms.”

      I was sad that Kellan was leaving. Would I ever see him again? I secretly hoped so, although I wasn’t going to hold my breath on that one.

      “Will we be seeing you again?” Betty asked. I was grateful for her forwardness.

      “You never know when or where chance will throw people together,” Kellen replied cagily.

      “Well then, Scotia, you take care and I’ll be here in the morning to help you settle in. Keep icing your ankle and if it doesn’t look any better in the morning, we’ll go to the A&E.”

      “A&E?” I asked.

      “Oh right—-the accident and emergency, or as you probably call it, the emergency department,” Betty explained. “Also, Scotia, I did a big trip to the market just yesterday, so you will be delighted to know that the fridge and pantry are both fully stocked. If you get hungry, there’s lots for you to choose from. And in case you need to get a hold of me, I’ll write my number down and leave it on the desk by the front door. The phone, however, you will soon notice, is in the most unconventional spot: inside the bathroom, on the wall beside the toilet. A quirky location, thanks to my late husband.”

      Betty smiled, leaned in and gave me a hug, then walked toward the long hallway, leaving Kellan staring at me.

      “Take your time, Kellan. I need to go down to the bakery for a minute. I’ll call up to you when I’m ready.”

      Betty hurried out of the apartment and I heard her shoes clomping down each step until she reached the bottom.

      “Well, Scotia, I should go.”

      “Wait, ummm, Betty said that she would call up to you when she was ready. Please stay a little longer.”

      I moved my swollen leg off the sofa and motioned for Kellan to sit beside me once again. He hesitated but then perched on its edge.

      “Do you live close by?”

      “Pretty close.”

      “Will I get the opportunity to see you again?”

      “Perhaps. Listen, Scotia, you are an incredibly beautiful young woman, and I would like nothing more than to get to know you better, but my life is, well…complicated.”

      “You’re involved.”

      “Not in the way you think.”

      I was growing tired of Kellan’s cryptic responses. At that moment, Betty called for him.

      “Good-bye, Scotia.”

      I thought when he leaned in that he was going to kiss me, but instead he did something strange. He actually sniffed my forehead and my hair, then he let his lips linger on my neck. He let out a groan and stood abruptly, walking down the hallway and out the door without another word. I was left staring after him like a lost puppy. I heard him meet up with Betty at the bottom of the stairs. Leaping off the sofa, I hobbled over to the window seat to stare after him. He must have sensed me at the window because he looked up.

      Our eyes met and then I blacked out.