Chapter 42

Jenny pressed a hand to her aching back as she stood up and stretched.  They'd moved almost everything out of her house and into the container. 

Jeff and Charlie assured her they'd be moving the stove, fridge, washer and dryer.  They were old appliances but they worked and she was fond of them.  The water heater could stay, the one in her trailer was fantastic. 

She wiped her face with an old microfiber cloth, sticking it back in her pocket.  Thank God she had her sweatbands.  She'd worn one for moving day. Charlie had taken one look at her and asked for one himself.  He looked pretty cute, his blonde hair damp with sweat, sticking up everywhere.  The headband circled his lightly freckled face, and he wore and old t-shirt and knit cotton shorts. 

He had a light spicy fragrance but nothing strong.  He must have remembered her migraines; they could be triggered, or aggravated, by a strong fragrance.  Some of the guys at work were like to kill her, at least until Mr Jackson had a talk. 

She asked Charlie about it, and he blushed lightly as he admitted "It's my deodorant".  Jennie grinned.  "Thanks for wearing it!"  She was feeling a little daring today.  She sniffed her own armpit.  "Whew!  Holding on!"  Charlie snorted. 

Jennie adjusted her own oversized t-shirt, pulling at the sleeves nervously.  She was always so shy about her scars.  I think I'd rather take off my bra than show my arms in public she thought.  I'd rather go naked than show my back.  She shivered.  Carl had done a lot of damage to her back, but he'd also liked to use her arms as his ashtray.  He'd snicker as she squirmed and cried.  Once, he'd broken her arm. 

The apathetic ER doctor had taken one look at her X-rays, another at her arms and back, and taken her off "For testing".  He'd kept her away from Carl and her aunt until a kindly woman had asked her some questions about "touching."  Horrified, the caseworker and doctor had immediately called the police. 

"I'm not losing another one." the doctor'd stated grimly.  It had taken her a while to understand what he meant.  That poor man. 

Jenny idly wondered how long Carl might have "had" her if he hadn't broken her arm while raping her.  His loss, and now he was burning in hell. 

She shook it off and turned to the task at hand.  The container was burning up.  That was a problem. 

"Uh, Charlie?"  Charlie turned to her, stretching his own back and sighing happily. 

"I'm so glad you don't have a lot of junk." 

She smiled at him.  "I watch that hoarder show.  I'm very careful what I buy when I'm manic.  I also try to purge when I'm manic."  He grinned approval.  She might be messy, but you could get around.  He'd watched that show himself. 

"I have a problem." she continued.  "I have some, ah.. supplies."  He watched her intently.  "Stuff that needs room temperature."  He nodded.  "Can you help me figure something out?"  This had been bothering her for days.  She had a disaster kit because she knew, better than most, how quickly a life could change. 

Charlie pointed over the back fence, topped with round spirals of razor wire.  "What's that?"  She thought a moment.  "A storage unit." 

Charlie nodded.  "Climate control?" 

Jenny shrugged.  "Let's go take a walk." 

Sure enough, they did have climate control units.  Jenny walked into a 5x5 and smiled approvingly.  The air was nice and mild, perfect for her food storage.  At least until she got something else..

The clerk, an older black lady, asked for her information and she gave it.  Charlie stood behind her and pulled a credit card out of his wallet, winking at the clerk. 

Jenny giggled as she realized the lady had picked her roses, growing through the fence.  "I love these roses!"  The clerk sighed and took a deep whiff of the beautiful red and white blooms. 

"So do I.  They grow through the fence.  I'd love to meet the woman who lives there!"  Jenny began to giggle.
 
"Why's that?"
"I want to know what this is so I can grow it in my yard." 
"It's a Cramoisi Superieur" Jenny answered absently. 
"Really?  Does it come in a bush?"  Jenny nodded and shared some information on the roses, writing down a few websites. 

The clerk, wearing a company uniform of slacks and polo, leaned back in her desk chair.  "I'm so glad you came by.  I'm giving you two month's rent free." 

Jenny gaped.  "You live back there, right?  You must be having some problems with your home.  I saw the trailer, all the moving, etc.  You were nice enough to plant the roses.  You came by and answered all my questions.  You're only getting a 5x5.  I'm the owner; this is a franchise.  I can do what I want."  Jenny teared up a little - she hated that she showed emotion so easily. 

The older woman, her brown skin gleaming, leaned over and put a kindly hand on Jenny's scarred arm. "You've had a hard life.  Do you know Jesus?" 

Jenny nodded.  "So, you know Him and you have this fine man here." 

Charlie spoke up, stepping behind her and putting his left hand on Jenny's shoulder, showing his wedding ring. 

"Her husband... I got a little lost but I'm back."