A New Life Series - Starter Kit

by Samantha Jacobey

  With the room arrangements settled, they were faced with one fact: they had a lot of work to do. Dirt coated everything, and the carpets would all have to be removed and replaced. There were a few pieces of furniture, but most likely they were trash. Some of the walls were damaged and would have to be replaced before they could be painted; a few windows needed work or to be replaced, and cabinets refinished or replaced.

  Tori looked around, loath to confess she had little experience with carpentry and household affairs, but Michael already suspected as much. They had previously discussed the need to make most, if not all, of the repairs themselves, and were mentally preparing for the weeks of work that lay ahead of them to make the house livable.

  Walking the short distance to the local store, they loaded up two shopping carts full of supplies, including candles for the first few nights with no power. Michael picked out many of the tools they were going to need, while at the same time trying to keep from upsetting her at the amount of work that lay ahead of them. He thought to himself with a wry grin; we’re gonna need to eat this elephant one bite at a time.

  During the first outing, they were also able to get a few household necessities, such as a few towels. They discovered that the color selection was sparse in the small shop, and so they ended up with shades of brown and green for most everything. Surprisingly, the girl did not seem bothered by this, and Michael found himself wondering if she didn’t care, or if she actually liked the deep earth tones.

  While they were there, Tori stopped to inspect their selection of plates and other dishes, but they would wait to purchase those when the cabinets were ready. He liked the way she had already begun making plans for the future, and seemed to be settling in right from the start. The girl was easy to please, and she got another tally mark during the shopping.

  They looked like regular vagabonds, pushing the carts towards their new home. She confessed to him that she really didn’t know a whole lot about living in a house. “I learned a few things, I guess, in the halfway house back in LA. But it’s kind of daunting, thinking about actually doing all of this on my own.”

  “Well then, I guess I’ll teach you. And in exchange, you can teach me about motorcycles.” He had ridden for years, but certainly wasn’t a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination. His eyes dropped to gaze at her soft pink lips as he spoke, aware of the smile that curled on his own.

  With a cautious look on her face, she seemed to consider his offer carefully before accepting it. Everything was new to her, and she obviously still had issues with trust, so he tried not to let it bother him, or to push her too far, too fast.

  That night, while darkness crept into the small space, they lit some of the candles and placed them around the living area that stood in the front of the house. Spreading out their pallets and sleeping bags, they created their camp inside on the floor. Tori lay on hers for a moment, but he could see her eyeing the corner.

  Michael rolled over to face her, and talked to her in a soothing voice, focused on keeping the conversation going for as long as he could. “I need to clean out that shed pretty quick.”

  They had peeked inside, and discerned that the plethora of car parts would be of little use to them, and otherwise could be pulled out and disposed of, leaving a fine storage space for the new tools they would be purchasing to work on their new home.

  “Mmhmm,” she answered in a quiet tone. “I wish there had been some real tools in there.”

  Michael chuckled, “I see, the tools that qualify as real are the ones you use on your bikes.”

  Tori ignored his comment, her voice growing quieter, “Maybe there will be some when we open the shop. However, I suspect anything of value was sold off or removed when they sealed the buildings.”

  He could hear her energy level dropping as she spoke, and he played along until she finally drifted off, lying on the pallet.

  Watching her as she slept, he liked the way the flickering flame of the candles danced across her face. She has such delicate features, and with the scar hidden by her lying on it… she’s really a pretty girl. Putting them out, he stretched out and studied the ceiling in the quiet until he fell asleep, as well.

  The next morning, she lay staring at the dirt coated paint above her when he awoke and inquired, “So, how’d you sleep?”

  “On my side mostly,” she replied in a flat tone, “But a bit on my back.”

  Michael chuckled, “I never figured you for a sense of humor.”

  “Yeah, well, I wasn’t really trying to be funny.” She stood up and began to put her boots on, ready to get on with their day.

  Joining her, Michael felt a tingle in his palms, excitement at the realization that she accepted his being around and shared her space with him. And she made a joke. Well, I think it was a joke. Either way, she was becoming comfortable, and he liked that, even if she tried to pretend it wasn’t true.

  Over the last few days, he had been forming a plan for building their relationship in the back of his mind, and he knew he would have to take it slow if it were going to work. He wanted them to have a new beginning; a place for them where they could each belong and have a new and better life.

  Up until that point, he had been acting on his word, the promises he made to his brother and to Terry. Now he was forced to admit his motives were not so altruistic. In fact, a spark had begun to glow inside his heart. It had been small, but growing larger, faster than he could control, it warmed his spirit towards the girl so unlike any other.

  He feared saying the words yet, even to himself, but deep down, he knew what was going on. Watching her while they walked towards the café to get breakfast, he had a quiet revelation. You like her. Really like her, he thought with a sheepish smile. Taking a seat at their regular table, he could see the sour look on her soft lips, and wondered what she was thinking. You can’t change her past; you know. You have to take her as she is.

  Noticing how she avoided looking at him, he realized her history seemed less important to him. It made his heart pound when he thought about it; I don’t really care who she was with. Or how many times. Or even why. He kept his smile hidden, the freedom his thoughts afforded him staggering.

  Their plates on the table, he further noted that he had accepted that she really had no blame in the things he had witnessed so long ago, and felt somewhat guilty about all the names he had called her. Thank God I never said any of those things out loud! He wrestled with the idea that she had picked up on the vibe, even if he hadn’t, and hoped she would forgive him.

  She’s not really to blame for what happened to her, and didn’t deserve to be judged so harshly. She’s a strong woman, willing and able to take care of business, no matter how hard or unsavory it might be. He wondered if she felt the guilt that those darker choices could bring, and he admired her for her courage to make that stand.

  In a way, this realization gave him resolve to make things right for her if he could. Watching her as they ate that first day as true members of the community, he made a quiet promise to himself; I’m gonna do my best to give her the life she deserves. Not because he had given his word to anyone else that he would. He would do it because he wanted to.

  Everything Is Fine

  Back at their newly acquired property, the couple cleaned out the shed. It was a good way to pass the time until the house had electricity, when they would have some light to work by. Michael set up the small space for the tools he had purchased, and felt pleased when she allowed him to give her a lesson on how some of them were used. He noticed she remained quiet, but attentive, and he had begun to read her moods more easily by the time the truck pulled up to set their meter.

  Once they had power, Michael and Tori went to work on the house in earnest. From the very first project, he set about teaching her some carpentry and masonry during the remodel. He became impressed at how quickly she learned and her willingness to try whatever he asked of her. He was definitely in charge, as the expert, and she accepted it without argument, ma
king an excellent student.

  They started with the bathroom, as the room that they needed most urgently. The tiny rotted cabinet beneath the sink had to be cleared out before a new one could be installed. They had to do some heavy cleaning on the porcelain surfaces, as the hard water stains and buildup were tremendous.

  Eventually, Tori suggested they should purchase a new toilet and sink, and they resurfaced the bath tub, so it looked new again, as well. Michael felt pleased with the outcome, and she smiled in her shy way when he praised her choices. He noticed she did, in fact, have a fondness for dark earth tones, which he also found calming. He thought about the tally marks, as she had so many by then, and tacked one on for this, as well.

  The bathroom in order, she put a soft mat down on the bare concrete floor to cover it until they were ready to lay the tile. She also hung the plain towels on the racks, and he noticed that she stood in the doorway and stared into the tiny room for a long time. He became mildly curious about her thoughts, noting she spent a great deal of time reflecting. He had quickly realized asking only seemed to prompt a foul mood, so he left well enough alone, knowing she would share when she felt ready.

  They had electricity, but the water heater was shot. Michael longed for a decent shower, rather than the cold water spritzes they had been using to refresh themselves since they moved in. She got another tally mark for her good nature, as he could tell the lack of facilities bothered her as well, but she never complained. He liked that she took things in stride.

  Since they had been in the house a week, Michael persuaded her to make a trip to the motel that evening to have a real shower and refresh themselves a bit. He had thought they might spend the night in the comfortable room, but once she had cleaned herself, Tori expressed a desire to go home. He silently agreed, as she slept on her mat without argument, and he wanted to continue the headway she was making.

  Strolling through the dark to their small work in progress, they discussed the purchase of the water heater. He took the opportunity to pitch their need for a washer and dryer unit as well, “If we get them now, it’ll add a little convenience to our schedule. You know, work smarter, not harder.” He smiled encouragingly, but noticed she wore a stoic expression.

  “But we’re not finished with the floor,” she protested.

  “Naw, it’s ok though, we can pull them outside when it’s time to lay the tile. Until then, at least we’ll be able to do laundry without so much hassle.” He gave her a sideways glance as he made his case, knowing she didn’t like to be pushed.

  Tori only sighed in response, keeping her thoughts to herself.

  They made it back to their haven, and she wandered to the back of the house to survey their work and the laundry area before bed. When she returned to the living area, she found he had laid out her bedding for her, and she stretched out across it to stare at the ceiling, wishing he would stop doing things for her; I can take care of myself, she thought almost angrily.

  “You know, I’m not domesticated,” she made her point bluntly, irritated with the man next to her.

  “Yeah, I got that,” he agreed, “But it’s not a bad thing. You just have to decide it’s something you want. Or which parts you want. However you care to put it.” He glanced over at her and smiled; at least she’s able to think about having a normal life.

  Without taking her eyes off the ceiling above her, she sighed, “Ok, well, we can get the laundry room stuff then. But don’t expect me to be washing your clothes or anything.”

  Michael snorted a laugh, “Yeah, listen. I’m a big boy. I can do that kinda stuff for myself. No worries.” He watched her, a little disappointed she didn’t return his gaze, noting she had actually turned her back on him to stare at the wall. Exhaling loudly, he rolled to face the other one. Small steps, but at least we’re moving.

  The next morning warranted a trip to the hardware store, where they were able to pick out a washer and dryer from the small selection they had on hand, and they were delivered later that afternoon. At the same time, they ordered a water heater to be installed a few days later. They needed one that would fit in the small space, and decided to opt for a tank free model that would mean an endless supply of hot water.

  Tori refused to admit it, but she felt more relaxed after she gained the ability to have a hot shower when she wanted one. She also became comfortable taking up her morning workouts, which were a great release for her frustrations. Michael made free to join her a few times a week, and she chose not to make a scene about it, even though she would’ve preferred that she have that time alone.

  As everything in the house seemed to need something, the couple spent endless hours working side by side, and Tori found herself chatting with him more as talking eased the boredom. Deep down, these endless days wore on her nerves, as she still felt plagued by the idea that he shouldn’t be there, and she would need to find a way to get rid of him, sooner or later.

  Michael, however, liked her company and the fact she seemed to be enjoying his, as well. He had reached the point of almost seeing the two of them as friends. They had so much more in common than he had first suspected, and were finding peace in their interactions, albeit he discovered he had to watch himself most of the time to maintain it.

  He wondered if she felt the same way, but had learned that asking direct questions was less effective with this elusive female who seemed more guarded than anyone he had ever known. He had to take care, allowing her to come to him in many ways, so he did not push her to explain herself or how she felt about things.

  Having the bathroom completed, the couple began work on the kitchen. He showed her how to strip the cabinets and apply new stain. Michael liked the way her face became tense when she focused on doing a good job at something, like applying the thin layers of pigment on the wooden doors. They had chosen a deep mahogany, and were able to find a small table to match that had deep green legs and chairs.

  They purchased black for the oven and fridge, and she commented offhandedly that fire was a much healthier way to cook as she refused the installation of a microwave. She watched patiently while he hooked up the lines to the stove and a trip to the local grocery was in order.

  They stocked the small pantry that stood next to the hallway with cooking materials, but Tori insisted most things needed to be fresh rather than processed. This meant the grocery store became a near daily adventure as well, and Michael noted that she seemed to take comfort in having a pattern to their days, almost like a strict routine that threw her off when things were done out of the allotted time slot.

  Tori felt somewhat eager to try her hand at cooking their first meal in their new place. Visibly disappointed at the result, her roommate reassured her it would get easier with practice. She stared at him as he ate the meal hungrily, as he had no intentions of hurting her feelings by complaining. She took his actions as a type of deception, and wondered if he was actually scared of pissing her off.

  That night, they rolled out the sleeping pads, as usual, and she stretched out on hers comfortably. Watching her, Michael felt a familiar ache in his chest, glad they were working on the common areas first. This way, she’s having time to get used to sleeping on the pad until her bedroom is complete. By the time they were ready for beds, he hoped she would be able to move into one. It’s practically the same thing, and if I have to, I’ll put the mattress on the floor and move it onto a stand later.

  “What’re you thinking about?” Tori’s voice cut sharply through his conniving. He lay staring at her profile, deciding how to respond. Rolling onto her side, she glared straight at him. “Don’t lie to me, either,” her poor attempt at dinner and his inability to call a spade a spade fresh in her mind, she felt ready to throw a fit at the first hint of deception.

  Michael’s face grew pale, as he contemplated her suspicion of him. “What do you think I’m thinking about?” he tried to turn the tables.

  Rotating onto her back again, she glowered at the ceiling, “I want to work on the shop. I�
��m tired of messing with the house.”

  He sighed in relief, “Yeah, actually I was thinking the same thing.” He lied smoothly, and Tori seemed content with his acquiescence.

  As had become the norm, she turned her back to him and faced the large glass window that stood in the front of the house. He could tell something bothered her, but once again, he avoided making an issue over her idiosyncrasies.

  Michael lay watching her breathe, her dark curls shimmering in the moonlight that shone in and lay across her body. He sighed deeply, hearing the steady inhale and exhale that meant she had fallen asleep. I may be in over my head here, but I can’t let it go. The thought sifted through his mind as he, too, drifted off to dream land, fighting the urge to reach out and touch her as she slept.

  The next morning, he woke up early to find the house empty, and surmised she was off for her workout. He pulled his clothes on and made his way outside, where he found her doing stretches on a small patch of still green grass under her favorite tree. Trying to appear calm as he sauntered up to her, he squatted down next to the tree and inquired nonchalantly, “So, what’re we up to this morning?”

  “Don’t you recognize exercise when you see it?” she asked in a mocking tone.

  “Ha, Ha,” he countered. He had been up with her several times to train, but had quickly learned she was much more hard-core about it than he was. At the moment, he felt content to watch, not able to take his eyes off of the spandex as it hugged the contour of her rear end when she bent over.

  For a split second, she caught him gawking before he tore his eyes away. Straightening slowly, she glared at him for a long moment. “Is something going on?” He gave her a purely innocent stare. “I’m serious, Michael. You’re really scaring me.”

  His eyes grew wide at her words, and he stood up from where he had been crouching next to the tree. Tossing his head back and raising his chin towards her in a challenge, he countered, “What am I doing that scares you?”