Chapter Text
Rook’s dead on her feet, she knows this, she’s sure everyone around her knows this, but there’s no food in the house and she’s starved.
Her eyes skip over boxes of cereal and granola bars, trying—for the sake of her kid—to pick out something not made completely out of sugar. She fails, because Ellie has her puppy eyes down already, and huffs a dejected sigh when she tosses a box of Lucky Charms into the cart.
“Next week we’re getting something else,” she mutters,” and Ellie just giggles, feet swinging from where she’s sat in the cart. She’s four, getting a little big for the small seat that’s offered, but Rook’s tired and she won’t be able to keep up with Ellie today. So she’ll let parents who think they know better stare. She doesn’t flinch when they meet her head on and gaze at her curiously. Thinking that she looks too young to have a four year old. Maybe they’re wondering why her child doesn’t look like her save for her dazzling blue eyes.
“It’s my birthday.” Ellie smiles at Rook like that’s all the only payment she needs for those Lucky Charms.
Rook winces, pushes down the guilt and regret that always comes along with Ellie’s birthday as she rounds the corner and heads down the next aisle. “Yes it is, kiddo.” She reaches out to ruffle Ellie’s hair and wonders if she should have more of it at her age. Wonders if she’s doing something wrong, if she’s not growing right or something.
She shoves that thought down, her mind is frazzled from moving halfway across the country and she can’t function right now.
Rook glances up on the shelves and frowns, maybe she’s more tired than she thinks because they definitely do not own a dog and yet she’s staring down dozens of doggy treats.
New town. New layout of the grocery story. Right, she knows this.
“Are we having cake, mommy?”
Rook snaps her eyes down to Ellie, has to remind herself that it’s the kids birthday before her hands tighten on the cart and she keeps moving. Tries not to get hung up over the fact that she’s not Ellie’s mom, that her sister deserves that title. She shouldn’t be trying to play house, but she doesn’t have much of a choice.
“We will.” Then after the resounding cheer that draws a few stares, “tonight, after dinner.”
Ellie nods, time is just a concept of fiction in a child’s head. And it’s only when Rook’s halfway down the dog food aisle when Ellie’s pure excitement apparently can’t be contained anymore.
She quite literally reaches out to grab at the nearest person and holds him tight. Her grip is strong, too damn strong than any child should be, and when Rook keeps walking she does not let go.
Rook’s eyes snap up at the offended, surprised noise that comes from whoever Ellie grabbed hold of. Her face goes pale from shock. She’s new and she totally doesn’t need this.
“It’s my birthday!”
Rook winces at Ellie’s oblivious tone. Expecting some sort of gruff response. Maybe a subtle jab at how she should control her kid.
“I-ah...is it now?”
Rook blinks real slow. Takes in the man who’s now turned towards her. Giving her daughter his full attention. As if he’s not busy, like he isn’t struggling to hold a pound of dog food in his arms.
“Well happy birthday, darling.”
She’s never seen him before, but that doesn't mean much, they've only been in Hope County for a week. Half of that time was spent indoors, trying to organize the furniture they've accrued over the years. The people Rook has met have been nothing but welcoming, if a bit too curious about her background, and this man is no different when he glances up to cast her a smile.
It’s almost sweet, the way he lingers there in the aisle with her.
“I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure,” the stranger extends his hand and for the first time she notices the tattoos there, sparse as they may be. Though she wouldn't put it past him to have more covered up by his shirt. “John Seed.”
Rook nods, eyes wide. Right. It takes two to have a conversation. She grasps his palm, throat suddenly dry as he diverts all his focus on her. Easing the dog food onto the floor and twisting his wrist with a wince.
“Rook.”
“Rook?” He tests her name on his tongue and smiles, “are you just passing through?
“No, no, we just moved her.”
“Ah, so it’s permanent then.”
Rook pulls her hand away after that, trying and failing to hide her wince. His words hurt more than he knows. She knows she only has herself to blame for that. She’s the one who left out the part that she probably won't be staying for long. That this is the third time she had to relocate. That an obsessive man is following her and making any sort of connections—friend or otherwise—would be selfish when they inevitably faced said man’s wrath.
Instead she jerks her head in a nod.
He stares at her with his head tilted, acting as if she’s some kind of puzzle to solve. “Then maybe I’ll see you again.” He reaches out to touch her again, a hand that permeated warmth on her forearm even through her layers of clothes.
She shrugs, doesn't really count on it. “Sure.” Then she shoves at her cart and shakes out of his grasp just as Ellie begins to squirm--uninterested now--even if John’s brief meeting was so very welcome.