Shelter.

Chapter Two

Lizzie jumped in the bed with Poppy and Flynn as music blasted from their Bluetooth speaker. They were all such big fans of The Smiths. Lizzie loved Morrisey even though he had a troubled past, but she couldn't ever stop obsessing over his voice, his songs and how he flounced around on stage. She remembered being in high school, lying about having a sleepover with her friends when really she was going on a date and she got to go see Morrisey. Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now was Lizzie and her kid's favorite song because they loved the beat, they would dance around in their big shirts, dance like Morrissey.

Lizzie jumps in front of Flynn, she had her fist balled as if she was holding a microphone in her hand. “In my life, why do I smile at people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?” She sang out and Flynn runs his hands through his hair as he swings his body around like Morrisey who looked like a princess on stage. Poppy laughs as Lizzie lifts her up, she jumps around the bed. Early mornings like this were never okay back when they lived in New York. Loud music was barbaric to Warren, he'd slap Lizzie silly if they did all this.

Lizzie jumps down onto the bed and she lays back, her children dance around her and she smiles as she stares at them. For once they were happy with their lives. There was no yelling and no constant living in fear. She raised up, and she got out of bed. The mother walks into the bathroom; she takes her bonnet off, and she hummed. Poppy comes into the bathroom and she hops onto the counter, then she pulls off her bonnet. The child looks at her Mom as she begins to undo her braids, Poppy copies. Lizzie smiled a little because Poppy always copied her mom every morning.

Lizzie leans closer to the mirror as she batted her eyelashes, Poppy leaned closer and she batted her eyelashes. Lizzie stands behind Poppy and she kisses her cheek, she smiles as she undoes Poppy’s braids, finishing the results with a neat braid out. Lizzie puts her cheek against Poppy as she looks into the mirror, she smiles as she rests her hand on Poppy’s other cheek. “My gorgeous, remember what I told you, Poppy. You’re a black princess and don’t let them take your crown.” Lizzie smiles and Poppy nodded as she stared at herself. Flynn pushes between the two, and Poppy whined, Flynn crawls between them. “I want to be a black princess too.” Flynn says, and Lizzie chuckles. “You mean a black prince?” Lizzie remarked and Flynn looks at his mother as he takes his bonnet off as well because Flynn took pride in his hair as much as the girls did.

“I know what I said, Mommy.” Flynn retorted.

Lizzie held up her hands in defense, she smiles and she shrugged. “I-okay, be whatever you want to be champ.” She says to him, and Flynn starts brushing his hair. 

They all put on their clothes and they had their breakfast, then an hour or two of TV time before leaving their house to the ports. 

                                                                                                          ~

It was a misty afternoon; the flowers are coated with drops of rainwater. Rain boots and raincoats were the attire. Lizzie walked behind her children as they jumped in the puddles. Lizzie watched Poppy hold Flynn’s hand as they jumped together. Such good siblings they were, Lizzie had five brothers, and they hated her guts. She was the only girl and the youngest of them all so they were always left with her to watch, there was a ten-year gap between her older brother then it differed from the rest of them. All Lizzie wanted was to be with her brothers, to go on their little nights out and adventures, but she was too small, too girly to go when she was just as human to join them.

Lizzie jumped into a puddle and she smiled as little he followed behind her children, she hopped behind them and cars drove by witnessing them jump in the muddy puddles. 

They get the ports and Flynn were in complete awe of all the boats that parked at the ports. There were boats of all sorts, big boats, small boats. White, pink and even a baby blue boat that had flowers all over it.

But there was this nice boat that stood out, even though there were more bizarre and colorful boats. “Mommy, look-look at that boat!” Flynn exclaimed and there was this pretty, big white boat that had some Russian name on the back of it. Someone comes from the deck of the boat and Lizzie rolled her eyes as she sees the man from yesterday. The man looked at her and her kids, he grimaced a little. “It’s gonna rain soon newcomer, you should be preparing for the storm instead of lollygagging out here.” The Russian man deadpanned, and Lizzie put her hand on her hip. “If I survived Hurricane Katrina, then I’ll be fine here.” Lizzie says, and the man shakes his head but his eyes drift to Flynn who was staring at the boat as if it’s the best thing he has ever seen.

The Russian man walks to the edge of the boat, and he looks down at Flynn. “It’s a 1989 Silverton Cabin Cruiser, her name is Svetlana.” The Russian man says, and Flynn’s mouth parted as he rubs his fingers against the boat. “You want to come on the boat?” The man asked him and Lizzie steps in front of Flynn. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Lizzie says, and Flynn groans as he looks up at his Mom. “Please Momma, I’ve always been a good boy and I've never been on a boat.” Flynn begged, and Lizzie sighs as she rubs her forehead. Lizzie looks at the man, and she sighs. “What’s your name?” Lizzie asked him, and the man looked her up and down. “It’s Saveli, Saveli Sokolov.” Saveli says and Lizzie hummed, she looks at the boat then she looks at Flynn. “Fine, no funny business.” Lizzie deadpanned, and Flynn squeals as he climbs up the ladder of the boat.

Lizzie and Poppy get on the boat, Lizzie watches carefully as she follows behind Flynn and Saveli. Saveli showed Flynn around his boat, he seemed like a really decent man if he didn’t talk to Lizzie. Saveli tried his very best to push away his heavy accent and his words dragged a little and they were cursive and slanted when he spoke. He seemed to not know too much English, but he sure knew how to use a decent amount of English to piss off Lizzie.

Lizzie watches Poppy pretend she’s driving the boat as she sat down, Saveli shows how to set the boat to sail. “Momma, can we sail with Saveli?” Flynn asks his mother and Lizzie immediately shakes her head as she gets up. “No, no, no, I don’t like open water.” Lizzie says, and Flynn whines as he looks up at the sky. Saveli walked closer to her, and he smirked. Saveli wore a khaki-colored short-sleeved button-up with blue jeans and black boots, his hair was messy and curly today. “You scared of a little water, Kisa (Keesa)?” Saveli teased and Lizzie rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. “First of all, my name is Lizzie not.. Kee.. whatever the hell you just called me and I said no,  so no.” Lizzie says and Flynn frowned, Poppy grabs her Momma’s hand. 

Flynn nodded, understandably because Lizzie taught him that a woman or a girl says no once she means it, she shouldn’t have to repeat herself. 

Saveli clicked his tongue, and he bit his lip. “You’re very stubborn and I may seem like this big bad Russian guy but I don’t hurt children. We won’t go far and Flynn seems like he’s… he’s very passionate about the boat. I put it on my life that your kid will come back to you and nothing will happen to him. You may not like me but trust me for about twenty minutes, just twenty minutes.” Saveli stated and Lizzie sighs as she runs her hands through her hair, she blinked twice and she looked away from Saveli. “Fine, me and Poppy—”

“I want to go too.” Poppy whined.

Lizzie sighed, and she nodded as she looked at Poppy. “Yes, you can go but you better listen to Saveli and Flynn, and if Saveli tells me you didn’t listen, then there’s no TV tonight.” Lizzie says and Poppy nodded her head giddily as she got up. “Yes, ma’am.” Poppy rushed out, and she ran to where Flynn stood.

Lizzie gets up, and she looks Saveli in the eye, and she steps closer to him. Saveli smirked a little because she didn’t scare him, not one bit. She was like an angry little bunny, and it amused him. There was no fear, but there was intimidation that went unnoticed. “I don’t ever leave my kids with anyone… they’re my entire life and if anything happens to them, I’ll kill you.” Lizzie whispered the last part, Saveli simply nodded even though Lizzie always stood by her word and she meant what she said.

Lizzie got off of the boat and she stood on the port, she watched him open the sails. 

They moved from the port and she sits at the edge of the port, her boots skimming the top of the water. She crossed her arms as she watched them. Saveli stood behind Flynn as he showed him how to drive the boat while Poppy stood next to them, smiling ear to ear as the wind blew through her hair.

Lizzie smiles a little and she would be out there with them but she was terrified of open water and couldn’t bear being too far out in the water.

Lightning suddenly crackled through the sky making Lizzie jump, she looked up at the dark sky. It seemed to get darker and darker by the minute. She sees them come back to the dock and she could see Flynn smiling so big that she has never seen him smile so wide before. Flynn and Poppy get off the boat, Flynn jumps up and down. “Mommy, it was so cool. I know how to drive a boat, a big boat!” Flynn exclaimed and Lizzie held out her hand, Flynn gave her a high five. “I’m so happy for you.” Lizzie smiled, and Flynn looks at Saveli who comes down the ladder. He dusts his hands off, and he looks at Flynn. “You got yourself a smart kid.” Saveli says and Lizzie smiled, she tilted her head. “Because he has a smart mother.” Lizzie remarked.

“Sure.” Saveli mumbled.

Lizzie's head poked forward as she gives Saveli a side-eye, she wanted to backhand him but he was quite bigger than her and she has been kicked and smacked around her entire life but this time around there was gonna be none of that. “Flynn go take your sister to that little gift shop.” Lizzie says giving them some money and Flynn nodded with a smile as he runs off with his sister to the little shop.

Lizzie stepped up to him, she looks at his exposed chest and there was a tattoo that said f**k you on his chest, her mouth parted but she redirected her gaze to his green eyes. “What have I done to you to make you be so mean to me? Is it because I’m black? Are you a racist? I knew you were a racist..” Lizzie looked him up and down as she rolled her neck, she sassily hummed and she rolled her eyes. “I knew it.” She says under her breath and Saveli smirks. “Where I grew up, people who had skin as dark as yours would get spit on. Trust me, I’m not racist at all because I hate people of all kinds. Plus, you remind me of my mother, I hated my mother.” Saveli mumbled and Lizzie's mouth fell flat open, lightning and thunder crackled through the sky. 

Lizzie was lost for words and she looks away from, she turns around and her hand went over her mouth as she grabbed her lips because she was seconds away from saying something disrespectful but her parents raised her better and to not entertain foolishness but Lizzie couldn’t help it, she was the queen of pettiness. “You love being an asshole, don’t you? You in your big ass eyes, tall body, and your cold demeanor and your stupid tattoos.. You think I’m scared of you?” Lizzie says as she slowly walks back towards him. Saveli let out a chuckle, and he shook his head. “No, or you just happen to be sensitive. I don’t expect you to fear me, but I don’t see how you think I should fear you.” Saveli answers and Lizzie sticks her tongue out at him timidly, then she walks off. “I hate your stickin’ guts.” She huffed and Saveli watched her leave, he crossed his arms and he watched her go. He hated her presence, but he sure loved to see her go.

Poppy decided to take her children to a restaurant called Sallys.

Lizzie walked in while holding Flynn and Poppy’s hands, she looked around the restaurant and it was a dazzling and festive restaurant. It had bright neon signs, pictures of different movie posters, and a wall of celebrities that visited the place. It had black and red booths and tables, the waitress and cooks wore all black with the name of the restaurant name on their shirt. 

A woman with long red hair, freckles, and a crooked smile approaches them. She seemed very preppy by the way she walked with a small jump in her steps. “Hello, welcome to Sallys, would you like a table or a booth?” The woman asks, and Lizzie smiles as she looks at Flynn. Flynn tapped his finger against his chin. “Can we have a booth?” Flynn asked and Lizzie cleared her throat, Flynn looked at his Mom and his gaze returned to the woman. “May we have a booth please?” Flynn asked her and the woman cooed softly. “Aww, of course, you can.” She answered and motioned for them to follow her. 

They were seated at a booth and the children were given menus that they can color on while Lizzie had a regular menu. “I’m Paisley, I’m your waiter for the evening. What can I start you off with?” She asked them politely. Poppy stood up in the booth. “Apple juice, please.” Poppy says, and Flynn nodded with a smile. “Me too.” Flynn stated and Lizzie makes Poppy sit back down in the booth. “I would like lemon water, thank you.” Lizzie grinned, and the woman nodded, then she walked off. Lizzie looks through the menu, and she feels a set of eyes looking at her.

Lizzie lowered her menu, and she looks around, there was nothing but older people and they weren’t paying attention to her but a guy in a flannel. He had long blonde curly hair that curled at the end. He had a very nice soft looking peach tone skin. He was sitting and drinking coffee with a newspaper in his hands. He smiles and Lizzie looks away without giving him a smile or any kind gesture because the last time she trusted a pretty face and a smile; she ended up in a marriage that ruined her life.

The single mother goes back to the menu, and Paisley comes backs with their drinks. Paisley sees the man stare at Lizzie, she smirks a little. “Not to be that person but you have an admirer.” Paisley says, and Lizzie takes a sip from her lemon water. She looked at the man once again, he winked at her and Lizzie’s eyes darted from the man to Paisley. “No thank you, can I get the chicken and waffles please?” Lizzie asked, and Paisley nodded, and she looked at the children. “What would you two darlings would like?” She asked and Flynn smiles as he looks from his menu. “I would like pancakes with chocolate chips and Poppy wants the same thing but with bananas on hers.” Flynn replied and Poppy nodded as she agreed with their order.

“I will be back with your food.” Paisley says, and she takes Lizzie’s menu.

“Thank you.” The three chimed, and the perky waiter walked away.

Lizzie focused her attention on the crossword puzzle that Flynn had on the back of his menu. She sees a figure stopped in front of their booth; she looks up, and her eyes furrowed. “Hello?” She spoke, and it was the blonde-haired guy that kept gazing at her flirtatiously. “Hi. You look to be new in town. I’m Christopher.” The man introduced himself, he was a lot taller than what Lizzie expected. He had crystal blue eyes, he had a very warm presence that Lizzie couldn’t explain but she was no fool, at least not anymore. 

“Yes, I am.. I’m Lizzie, it’s nice to meet you.” Lizzie says, and she nods at him.

Christopher looks at Flynn and Poppy who seemed to not care that Christopher was there. “These are your children?” He asked, and Lizzie nodded with a small smile. Yes.” She replied, and he looked at Flynn and Poppy. “They’re beautiful, you and your husband made very beautiful children.” Christopher says, and Lizzie chuckles, she shrugged. “Eh, my ex-husband is pretty ugly. They favor a lot of me.” Lizzie says and Christopher quirked his eyebrows up, he chuckled a little.”You're divorced? You are too gorgeous to be divorced.” Christopher says with confusion, and Lizzie rolls her eyes gently, she looks away from him. “Well, stuff happens.” Lizzie remarked, and Christopher slowly nodded.

“If you need anyone to show you around, or if you need someone to talk to give me a call.” Christopher remarked as he gave her his business card. 

Lizzie looked at the card, and it was a business card to a boat company. She gave him a half smile. “Thank you.” She forces a grin, and she sighs as she licks her lips, she shoves the card in her side pocket. She looks over at her children and she rubs her head as she rests her arms against the table, she leans her head down and she cocoons herself. She did it quite a lot, she has done it ever since she was a child. 

“Here’s your food loves.” Paisley says, and she brings their plates over.

The kids cheer as she sat their plates in front of them, Lizzie smiles and thanks Paisley as the redhead sat her plate in front of Lizzie. “Your welcome and… Christopher is a real hunk of the town.” Paisley says and Lizzie shrugged as she looks down. “I don’t care.” Lizzie muttered and Paisley slowly nods, she looks down and she grabs her fork from her silverware. “Oh… since you’re new in town, I was wondering if you like to come to this social gathering in town. It’s at Barnaby's, it's a bar that a lot of the locals come to. You should come around. It’s tomorrow at eight.”

Lizzie looks at Paisley and she grinned a little, she clears her throat. “I don’t think so… I have children and they’re not in daycare or anything just yet, I have no one to watch them.” Lizzie says, and Paisley smiles as she reaches into her pocket, then pulls out a piece of paper. “This is my number. I have a little sister who has a babysitting business, and she’s watching a little girl tomorrow night as well. She’s very good with children and she’s an amazing babysitter. She is CPR certified, she has a license to be a nanny as well. She is on that Nanny website, you can search her up if you’re unsure.” Paisley says and Lizzie bites her lip, she thought about,

Lizzie has never set foot in a bar without Warren parading behind her or having her on this invisible leash. “Okay, I will see how tomorrow goes and maybe I will consider.” Lizzie gives in and Paisley smiles, she looks around and she sits down in front of Paisley. “I hope you come, I don’t really talk to a lot of people here in town. I’m widowed and I have a little boy, so I know.. How it’s like… to be alone even though necessarily you’re not.” Paisley smiled sadly at the end and Lizzie stared at Paisley because it was like the woman was reading her or Lizzie had a sad, broken and torn down single mother of two written across her forehead.

Lizzie says she wanted to start fresh, make new friends and get around because it seemed impossible back when she was in New York. “I’m Lizzie Davis by the way, I don’t think I gave you my name and I apologize.. I sometimes don’t even know if I do.” Lizzie says holding out her hand and Paisley smiles as she shakes her hand. “It’s okay.. I’m Paisley, Paisley Harpe.” The redhead smiled, and they both pulled their hands away.

Lizzie smirked, and she looked at Paisley’s number, she nodded her head. “I will come.” Lizzie smiled, and she started eating her food. Flynn starts making beatboxing noises while Poppy stands up, she starts dancing, and Lizzie clicks her tongue. “You two are silly children,” Lizzie says, and she makes Poppy sit back down. Paisley chuckles as she looks at Lizzie's kids, Lizzie looks at Paisley and she smiles as she stares at her while Paisley starts talking and having a casual conversation with Lizzie. Lizzie made her first friend.