Charlie showed up early the next morning as Jenny finished breakfast. She washed her dishes quickly in her tiny sink and put them in the cabinet.
"You know" she told him "I like having a tiny house. It's a lot easier to organize". Charlie could recall several memorable incidents of "bad organization" and nodded. One time she'd lost a paycheck.
Jenny pulled at the hem of her navy t-shirt "Is this OK?" The navy shirt flattered her warm complexion, dark hair, and green eyes. The jeans seemed to strike a good balance between fit and comfort.
"Looks fine to me" he responded. "Do your jeans have elastic?" Jenny nodded, baffled. "I've found they work better." he continued, running his hand down his thigh.
Jenny chattered nervously as they got in his midsize SUV. Princess was a silly girl, and loved to hog the bed. Charlie explained their day:
They'd go to the wholesale warehouse first. NO personal shopping; they were there to work. Jenny winced, remembering Charlie had witnessed some of her worst manic spending sprees - he wouldn't believe her medication had her level now.
After the warehouse, they'd go to his warehouse, to load up on soda. Afterwards, they'd go to the primary location, an 8 story office building. He needed to stock the food, snack, and soda machines. "It's a lot of work" he warned her. "I'm probably an idiot for doing this. You'll hate me by 4 PM." Jenny laughed at him and flexed a muscle.
A few hours later, Charlie had given her a key (on a lanyard), and obtained an ID badge from building management. Jenny looked down at the card, fingering it. "I feel like I should be wearing heels and walking in a big hurry, carrying a file folder". Charlie grinned. "You'd look great."
They took the folding handcart out of the SUV and began to load. Charlie was surprised how naturally she worked, understanding his wishes before he even spoke. "It's easy" she explained. "Stocking is all the same, and the heavy things always go on the bottom". The cart loaded, he began to pull it into the facility.
A few minutes later he stopped in the vending area. Vending machines lined one wall. Another wall of windows looked out at the parking lot, and a third wall held the sink, coffee pot, and microwave. A teal carpet covered the floor. "This is nice" Jenny remarked.
A few hours later, exhausted, they pulled the empty hand cart out of the building and loaded it into the SUV. "I can see why you're thin" Jenny remarked. He certainly wasn't skinny - but well muscled in all the right places.
"Vending is a great workout" he said, pushing his sweaty hair back off his forehead and finger-combing it into place.
"I hope you didn't mind me making all those notes" she replied, worried. Had she been a pain?
"I with my other people had been so diligent. I know you only ask questions because you don't know the answer. I swear one guy kept asking me the most basic questions just to annoy me. He could barely open a vending machine!" Jenny nodded. It seemed like employees were Charlie's biggest work issue.
She could help with that.
"Are you up for tomorrow?" Charlie asked, a worried light in his eyes.
Jenny nodded.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Chapter 43
Jenny was very quiet as they walked back home, her arms swinging. They stopped at the gas station and bought some cold drinks.
Jenny looked around a little in the front window "I've always thought I'd love to get a job here. The ultimate short commute, something I could do, and maybe a discount." She brushed some hair out of her face and resecured her ponytail, sighing.
Charlie tried, but he couldn't help but notice her body. She was looking good, firm in all the right places, soft in others. He sighed himself.
"Are you looking for another job?" he asked with concern "I thought you were OK with the support check." He held the door for her as she exited.
Jenny took a long drink on her Diet Dr Pepper, thinking. "Mr. Jackson's cut my hours at work. Health care." She made a sour face, picking up her pace. Charlie remembered her nearly running on more than one occasion, when she was upset. "I lost the other job, which I was using for my emergency fund. The grocery store pays my day to day and that's been cut. I need something."
Jenny looked at Charlie, sideways. He looked good as always, a few lines in his forehead as he listened. He brushed his thick blonde hair back as she continued talking. "I won't ask you for more money. I can live on my own, I've proved it. I don't nee..."
"Jen." Charlie spoke gently but firmly, cutting her off. "Jenny!" She stopped talking and gaped at him.
"Remember my employee? He went to prison. I'm sick of letting strangers handle my money." Jenny took a deep breath. Surely he wouldn't.... "How would you like to work for me? You have a great visual memory, hard worker, great customer service. If I found you off the street I'd hire you." Jenny opened her mouth to object. "I'll provide the transport. I just need help filling my machines. Please. I don't want to get ripped off again."
Charlie winced as he recalled the wad of cash he'd recieved. "Sorry man." His employee had said "It was just too easy. This is about half of it."
Jenny thought it out as she walked home, opened and closed the gate, and let Princess into the trailer. The poor cat really missed her cat door. Jenny sat on the loveseat.
"When can I start?"
Jenny looked around a little in the front window "I've always thought I'd love to get a job here. The ultimate short commute, something I could do, and maybe a discount." She brushed some hair out of her face and resecured her ponytail, sighing.
Charlie tried, but he couldn't help but notice her body. She was looking good, firm in all the right places, soft in others. He sighed himself.
"Are you looking for another job?" he asked with concern "I thought you were OK with the support check." He held the door for her as she exited.
Jenny took a long drink on her Diet Dr Pepper, thinking. "Mr. Jackson's cut my hours at work. Health care." She made a sour face, picking up her pace. Charlie remembered her nearly running on more than one occasion, when she was upset. "I lost the other job, which I was using for my emergency fund. The grocery store pays my day to day and that's been cut. I need something."
Jenny looked at Charlie, sideways. He looked good as always, a few lines in his forehead as he listened. He brushed his thick blonde hair back as she continued talking. "I won't ask you for more money. I can live on my own, I've proved it. I don't nee..."
"Jen." Charlie spoke gently but firmly, cutting her off. "Jenny!" She stopped talking and gaped at him.
"Remember my employee? He went to prison. I'm sick of letting strangers handle my money." Jenny took a deep breath. Surely he wouldn't.... "How would you like to work for me? You have a great visual memory, hard worker, great customer service. If I found you off the street I'd hire you." Jenny opened her mouth to object. "I'll provide the transport. I just need help filling my machines. Please. I don't want to get ripped off again."
Charlie winced as he recalled the wad of cash he'd recieved. "Sorry man." His employee had said "It was just too easy. This is about half of it."
Jenny thought it out as she walked home, opened and closed the gate, and let Princess into the trailer. The poor cat really missed her cat door. Jenny sat on the loveseat.
"When can I start?"
Thursday, December 12, 2013
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."
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."
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Chapter 41
Jenny always turned her phone off at work. She'd seen at least a dozen people fired for texting on the job. Mr. Jackson was a very tolerant boss, Jenny felt, but he wanted his people to work. She took it out of her locker, flipping it open and closed, finally turning it on.
She had 3 messages from Mr.Jones. She called him back. "Hey, sweetheart!" he caroled "I found something great for you. It's a nice horse trailer with a water trough. You can put hay on the floor when you need to..." Jenny howled with laughter. "Actually, I found something a little better than that, but I need you to make a promise. You have to take it. I know you hate to accept anything, from anyone. You don't even take a disability check. But I want you to take this, OK?" Jenny wondered just what he'd gotten her, and was silent a moment. "Why are you doing this?"
Jack Jones, JJ to his friends, ran his hand over his bald head. "I'm doing this because you're like a daughter to me." Jenny gulped as her eyes filled with tears. Her own father had walked off years ago. A tear rolled down her cheek as Lavon rose from his chair, alarmed. She waved him down again, turning to face the wall. "I wouldn't leave my daughter out in the cold, so I want you to have this. Just. Please. Take. It!" Jenny agreed, wondering what she'd gotten herself into.
Charlie met Jenny at the bus stop and offered to drive her home. She looked up at the sky, dark with rain, and agreed. As they rounded the corner, Jenny clapped with glee as she saw the pickup truck with a travel trailer, in her driveway. Mr Jones sat proudly in his wheelchair, the scars on his head catching the light as he waved.
Charlie gulped. Who was this guy? And what the heck was that? He braked quickly, out of the way, and leapt out to inspect the travel trailer.
Jenny squealed with glee as she looked around it, then frowned at Mr Jones. "Does it have a bed and a toilet?" He grinned "All that and a tub, even!" Jenny gaped as he gave her a key. "It's a little old but it ought to do the trick for you." He frowned at Charlie "Until you figure something out."
Jenny bounced inside, spotting a nice queen bed on the right. The bathroom sat in front of her, a simple and modest arrangement of sink, shower, toilet. To her her left lay a tiny kitchen, table, and sofa. She began gushing as she stuck her head back out to yell at Mr. Jones.
"Please" he finally told her "I've asked you a million times, call me JJ? Please? That's what I want for this" he said with finality "Call me JJ." Jenny blinked back tears as a large, tattooed man began connecting the trailer to her utilities.
Shortly afterward, the spare container arrived, thanks to Jeff, along with supply of boxes.
She had 3 messages from Mr.Jones. She called him back. "Hey, sweetheart!" he caroled "I found something great for you. It's a nice horse trailer with a water trough. You can put hay on the floor when you need to..." Jenny howled with laughter. "Actually, I found something a little better than that, but I need you to make a promise. You have to take it. I know you hate to accept anything, from anyone. You don't even take a disability check. But I want you to take this, OK?" Jenny wondered just what he'd gotten her, and was silent a moment. "Why are you doing this?"
Jack Jones, JJ to his friends, ran his hand over his bald head. "I'm doing this because you're like a daughter to me." Jenny gulped as her eyes filled with tears. Her own father had walked off years ago. A tear rolled down her cheek as Lavon rose from his chair, alarmed. She waved him down again, turning to face the wall. "I wouldn't leave my daughter out in the cold, so I want you to have this. Just. Please. Take. It!" Jenny agreed, wondering what she'd gotten herself into.
Charlie met Jenny at the bus stop and offered to drive her home. She looked up at the sky, dark with rain, and agreed. As they rounded the corner, Jenny clapped with glee as she saw the pickup truck with a travel trailer, in her driveway. Mr Jones sat proudly in his wheelchair, the scars on his head catching the light as he waved.
Charlie gulped. Who was this guy? And what the heck was that? He braked quickly, out of the way, and leapt out to inspect the travel trailer.
Jenny squealed with glee as she looked around it, then frowned at Mr Jones. "Does it have a bed and a toilet?" He grinned "All that and a tub, even!" Jenny gaped as he gave her a key. "It's a little old but it ought to do the trick for you." He frowned at Charlie "Until you figure something out."
Jenny bounced inside, spotting a nice queen bed on the right. The bathroom sat in front of her, a simple and modest arrangement of sink, shower, toilet. To her her left lay a tiny kitchen, table, and sofa. She began gushing as she stuck her head back out to yell at Mr. Jones.
"Please" he finally told her "I've asked you a million times, call me JJ? Please? That's what I want for this" he said with finality "Call me JJ." Jenny blinked back tears as a large, tattooed man began connecting the trailer to her utilities.
Shortly afterward, the spare container arrived, thanks to Jeff, along with supply of boxes.
Chapter 40
Steve nodded somberly as he heard the bad news. "I don't know what to do with her" Charlie admitted. It was killing him to ask this guy for help, but sadly, he knew Charlie's wife better than Charlie did. "Have you got any ideas?"
Steve shrugged "You could put her up in one of those residential motels. We have one down the street - she might agree to that one." The one where it looked like people did drugs in the parking lot? Charlie choked. "She can't stay with me, clearly. What about you?" Charlie shook his head sadly, full of regret. He cursed himself under his breath, said goodbye, and headed back to the wholesale warehouse, where they'd actually held his merchandise.
Jenny cried for a bit, furious. It wasn't all men who vexed her, she decided, just certain men named Williams! They came into her life, wrecked it, and then wanted to save her! Well, no thanks! She could... she sighed.
She couldn't fix this on her own. She got herself a Diet Dr Pepper and prayed about it for half an hour. Mr Jones kept coming to mind.
As in "Right On!" used car dealer Mr Jones. Maybe he could help her find something. She called him, explaining her situation. "All I need is a bed and a toilet.." she continued. She could always join a gym. She held the phone away from her ear as Mr Jones cackled in her ear "You gonna use the hose, girl?" She smiled and started to explain the gym idea as he hushed her.
"Don't worry. I've got this. You've done a lot for me over the years." He teared up, thinking of the tiny Christmas tree she'd brought for his bedside the first year after his accident. He brought it out every year. The constant stream of delicious, manic-baked goods and frozen dinners, her tender care of his dying yard - transforming it into an oasis of easy-care. Taking him, on paratransit, to the animal shelter, where he'd found Orange, his fat orange tabby. He hung up, and called the lot.
Jenny tried to sleep as best she could, tossing and turning. She considered the by-the-week motel, then rejected it. It looked like people did drugs in the parking lot, and the expense would burn through her savings quickly. Mom would be happy to have her, but she hovered.
God, she prayed, please fix this.
Steve shrugged "You could put her up in one of those residential motels. We have one down the street - she might agree to that one." The one where it looked like people did drugs in the parking lot? Charlie choked. "She can't stay with me, clearly. What about you?" Charlie shook his head sadly, full of regret. He cursed himself under his breath, said goodbye, and headed back to the wholesale warehouse, where they'd actually held his merchandise.
Jenny cried for a bit, furious. It wasn't all men who vexed her, she decided, just certain men named Williams! They came into her life, wrecked it, and then wanted to save her! Well, no thanks! She could... she sighed.
She couldn't fix this on her own. She got herself a Diet Dr Pepper and prayed about it for half an hour. Mr Jones kept coming to mind.
As in "Right On!" used car dealer Mr Jones. Maybe he could help her find something. She called him, explaining her situation. "All I need is a bed and a toilet.." she continued. She could always join a gym. She held the phone away from her ear as Mr Jones cackled in her ear "You gonna use the hose, girl?" She smiled and started to explain the gym idea as he hushed her.
"Don't worry. I've got this. You've done a lot for me over the years." He teared up, thinking of the tiny Christmas tree she'd brought for his bedside the first year after his accident. He brought it out every year. The constant stream of delicious, manic-baked goods and frozen dinners, her tender care of his dying yard - transforming it into an oasis of easy-care. Taking him, on paratransit, to the animal shelter, where he'd found Orange, his fat orange tabby. He hung up, and called the lot.
Jenny tried to sleep as best she could, tossing and turning. She considered the by-the-week motel, then rejected it. It looked like people did drugs in the parking lot, and the expense would burn through her savings quickly. Mom would be happy to have her, but she hovered.
God, she prayed, please fix this.
Chapter 39
Charlie cursed inside as he patted Jenny's back. He'd hoped her house wasn't that bad, a busy work weekend with some guys from the church and...
"You need to be out of this house in a week" Jeff continued, somberly. "I'll have a storage unit delivered for your stuff. I'm sure Charlie can get some guys to help" Charlie nodded absently. Looks like they'd have that work weekend. Jeff looked from Jenny to Charlie, and back.
"How are things with you two? Can you stay with Paul for a bit?" Jenny tensed immediately and sat up, shaking her head. She wouldn't put herself in his power again! Look what he'd done last time! She looked around the tiny, cluttered, living room, assessing her treasures.
Charlie cursed inwardly. Plan B was shot. He'd planned to sleep on his couch, but Jeff had just killed that one.
Paul sighed and ran a hand through his neatly trimmed light brown hair, sticking out at all angles after his work outside. Jenny offered him another drink, which he accepted. He apologized again and left.
Charlie stood up, looming over Jenny. She immediately rose and stared him in the eye. "Don't say it, Charlie! You have no right to tell me how to live my life!"
"But" Charlie felt himself whining "What will you..."
"I will handle it." She snapped. "Go!" She pointed at the door.
Jenny had boundaries, alright, Charlie thought. It had been so easy, years ago, to turn a no into a yes with her, but clearly those days were past.
Charlie left, crossing the street to talk to Steve.
"You need to be out of this house in a week" Jeff continued, somberly. "I'll have a storage unit delivered for your stuff. I'm sure Charlie can get some guys to help" Charlie nodded absently. Looks like they'd have that work weekend. Jeff looked from Jenny to Charlie, and back.
"How are things with you two? Can you stay with Paul for a bit?" Jenny tensed immediately and sat up, shaking her head. She wouldn't put herself in his power again! Look what he'd done last time! She looked around the tiny, cluttered, living room, assessing her treasures.
Charlie cursed inwardly. Plan B was shot. He'd planned to sleep on his couch, but Jeff had just killed that one.
Paul sighed and ran a hand through his neatly trimmed light brown hair, sticking out at all angles after his work outside. Jenny offered him another drink, which he accepted. He apologized again and left.
Charlie stood up, looming over Jenny. She immediately rose and stared him in the eye. "Don't say it, Charlie! You have no right to tell me how to live my life!"
"But" Charlie felt himself whining "What will you..."
"I will handle it." She snapped. "Go!" She pointed at the door.
Jenny had boundaries, alright, Charlie thought. It had been so easy, years ago, to turn a no into a yes with her, but clearly those days were past.
Charlie left, crossing the street to talk to Steve.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Chapter 38
Charlie, wearing his work uniform, was working his way through the wholesale club when his brother called. "You really need to come by" Jeff had said, somberly. "I did the inspection."
Charlie left the flatbed full of merchandise in the middle of the warehouse and sprinted to his SUV, driving quickly to Jenny's house. He jumped out and looked around, finding Jenny on a porch across the street.
He tried not to frown as he noticed the man giving her a bottle of Diet Dr Pepper. Jenny loved that soda. He must know her awfully well.
He felt the old jealousy rising up, and reminded himself if she had a connection, it was his fault. He'd rejected her, neglected her, and ignored her. If he wanted her, he'd have to win her back.
He tried his best to smile as he wandered up to the chain link fence. Caught aback, he admired the roses for a moment and smiled. "These are lovely".
Steve nodded quietly, watching him, as they sized each other up. They introduced themselves. Damn. Why did Jenny have to fall for a doctor? How could he measure up?
Jenny swallowed, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and capped the soda. "Jeff's waiting, Char, let's go." She turned and bade Steve goodbye, her voice warm.
Charlie floundered, offering his elbow like a wedding usher. She smiled gently at him and took it. "Thank you, sir." She told him how she'd come home to find Jeff on her house, thinking he was a hallucination.
"Happily Steve saw him too so I didn't have to call my doctor." Charlie thought, sourly, that Dr Steve would have been happy to fix her up. Bad thoughts. Gotta work on the bad thoughts.
He'd read that in Jenny's blog. She'd been strangely quiet of late, ever since he told her he'd been reading. He felt bad about that.
The three of them sat down in Jenny's living room as Jeff asked Jenny various questions. What was her water bill? Did outlets ever go out for no reason? Did she have leaks? Jenny answered them as best she could, and sat back to wait for Jeff's reply.
"Your house should be condemned" he began, as Jenny gasped. She didn't process a lot of the following statements, but noted Charlie making notes on a sheet of paper. Plumbing leaks. Foundation issues. Termites. Electrical issues. Fire hazard. Roofing issues. Thousands - not just thousands, but dozens of thousands of dollars in repairs.
Jenny began to hyperventilate and put her head between her knees, as Charlie placed a comforting hand on her back.
Charlie left the flatbed full of merchandise in the middle of the warehouse and sprinted to his SUV, driving quickly to Jenny's house. He jumped out and looked around, finding Jenny on a porch across the street.
He tried not to frown as he noticed the man giving her a bottle of Diet Dr Pepper. Jenny loved that soda. He must know her awfully well.
He felt the old jealousy rising up, and reminded himself if she had a connection, it was his fault. He'd rejected her, neglected her, and ignored her. If he wanted her, he'd have to win her back.
He tried his best to smile as he wandered up to the chain link fence. Caught aback, he admired the roses for a moment and smiled. "These are lovely".
Steve nodded quietly, watching him, as they sized each other up. They introduced themselves. Damn. Why did Jenny have to fall for a doctor? How could he measure up?
Jenny swallowed, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and capped the soda. "Jeff's waiting, Char, let's go." She turned and bade Steve goodbye, her voice warm.
Charlie floundered, offering his elbow like a wedding usher. She smiled gently at him and took it. "Thank you, sir." She told him how she'd come home to find Jeff on her house, thinking he was a hallucination.
"Happily Steve saw him too so I didn't have to call my doctor." Charlie thought, sourly, that Dr Steve would have been happy to fix her up. Bad thoughts. Gotta work on the bad thoughts.
He'd read that in Jenny's blog. She'd been strangely quiet of late, ever since he told her he'd been reading. He felt bad about that.
The three of them sat down in Jenny's living room as Jeff asked Jenny various questions. What was her water bill? Did outlets ever go out for no reason? Did she have leaks? Jenny answered them as best she could, and sat back to wait for Jeff's reply.
"Your house should be condemned" he began, as Jenny gasped. She didn't process a lot of the following statements, but noted Charlie making notes on a sheet of paper. Plumbing leaks. Foundation issues. Termites. Electrical issues. Fire hazard. Roofing issues. Thousands - not just thousands, but dozens of thousands of dollars in repairs.
Jenny began to hyperventilate and put her head between her knees, as Charlie placed a comforting hand on her back.
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