Paige had already known of Uncle Roger and the fairly recent divorce. What she didn’t know was that Linney had a short, previous marriage back when Paige’s mother was still in high school. Nor did Paige know of Linney’s early-day travels as she called them. All of it came out as they made their way through the dusty hours of de-hoarding part of the living room.
“Sturgis? You were at Sturgis?”
“Sure.” Linney took a swig of root beer. “That was with Steve. No. Bob? I forget. Don’t tell your mother.”
“That you went on a motorcycle with some guy to a motorcycle rally?!”
“No. That I forgot his name. She knows I went to the rally. Gotta have someone to tell so that in case things go wrong…”
“My mom was there?”
“No, Paige, Not-So-Sage. I just kept in touch with her. Can you see your mom on a cycle? Ha!”
Paige couldn’t picture it either. “So, Auntie, who was your favorite?”
“My favorite what?” Linney hoisted another bundle of crumbling papers onto the cart.
“Your favorite man. No, make it your favorite love. The one.” Paige must have hit a nerve. Her aunt stopped and shrugged.
“Was it Roger?” Paige asked quietly.
“Might have been apart from my youth.”
Something didn’t sit right. It didn’t seem to be Roger. The way her aunt answered, though, Paige knew to change the subject and mood. “Well, maybe it’s time you get a new favorite.”
“Yeah, right.” She looked at her niece. “Oh hon, I don’t mean to be cynical, but look at me. Maybe my time has come and gone. You’re young. Your turn to go explore, and from the looks of Oneida man, you are doing just that. Good for you.” Linney pushed the full cart to the door, as if to signal an end to the conversation.
Paige would have none of it. “You’re still a sexy woman under all that gruffness. Just lose the gruff.”
“Ha! And several pounds. Did you know I was skinny as a rail and could eat anything back when? Sort of like you.”
“Aww, thanks, Auntie. I sort of like you, too.” Paige left the room to transfer the laundry before her aunt could throw anything at her.
****
The living room was cleared to actually more than just a tunnel between antique and random furniture pieces. It had some space. It had a desk. Progress.
Paige sifted through the box of appliances in the kitchen to find her favorite lamp. She and her aunt struggled to unearth a second task chair so working desks could be available both downstairs and in Paige’s makeshift bedroom. Very rudimentary, all of it but functional. By the end of the day, both women felt good but filthy. Linney claimed the shower first.
Paige returned to the kitchen in search of her displaced underthings to bring up to her room when she noticed the house phone. A land line, and it was up for grabs! No issues with lack of signal with that.
After leaving a quick voice message to Michael, Paige took the opportunity to give her mom a much-needed call. They shared stories of the weekend, at first keeping everything about Michael on a mild, mom’s need-to-know basis. There was no way to explain her intense feelings for him after such a short period of time. Perhaps it was being locked away with him in an ice storm as practically strangers or how unexpectedly gallant he had been in helping her transition to where she was to live now. Paige instead deflected the conversation to the appalling state of the house and Linney’s baking, which also happened to be appalling. Paige made promises to send photos, of the house, not the brownies.
“Why not?”
“I grated off the burnt parts, and we ate them. Just about all of them. They softened nicely in tea or coffee.” Paige dunked the last bite in her tea, as if in demonstration. It still crunched somewhat. Then, still sitting in the warm kitchen, tea in hand, her own mixer, pans and appliances jammed in cabinets, others stacked to the side, she felt a pang, at least for the ease of her formal lifestyle.
“Mom, do you realize less than a week ago, I was working, capable, and organized? Now my things are strewn, in halls, jammed in a tiny bedroom with peeling wallpaper or on a broken desk, held up by books. I have no idea what I am doing with my life other than prepping rooms for renovation and wanting to be with Michael.” She realized her error in admitting the importance of Michael to her mother. It didn’t help that her fingers were toying the cloth of one of her panties.
“Before you say anything,” she continued, “I know you think it’s too fast, but it’s like we skipped the simple dating and went to…to…well… something else. I like Michael, and just trust me, he is someone special.” Before her mother could answer, she spilled more. “I feel younger around him, though. He helps out so much. I let him take care of me. Well, not at first…but oh…he’s so under my skin. It’s not my MO. Back in the condo, I was always the responsible one. I had to take care of everyone, including Davis’s friends.” She finally took a breath.
In the pause, her mother carefully answered, “I know that, honey. You still are responsible. I think you’re surprisingly together, especially with what you just went through, moving out. That Davis Greer was less than mature. We both know that. This Michael sounds driven and maybe able to pull his own weight? You might have met your match. At least that’s what Linney said.” It had been her mother’s turn to reveal too much.
Paige nearly shouted, “You talked to her about Michael?” She waved about her purple lacy panties.
“Of course, I did, sweetheart. She’s my big sister and a curmudgeon, spy, horrible baker, super nurse, dear friend, slave driver—all of those things wrapped into one person. All I can say is that it’s good to know Michael’s staying out of the house for a few days so you can get more settled.”
“Settled? I have no clue what I’m doing, just tackling sections of this dilapidated mess. Shouldn’t I be out looking for a serious job?” Paige looked at the panties she held, then returned them to the lingerie pile. “Where the heck am I going to live after this?” She picked up the stack of undies and, with the phone held to her ear, began stomping up the stairs. “And don’t you dare say back home with you.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, actually.”
“What?” She stopped mid-step. As much as Paige didn’t want to return home, she suddenly felt even more uprooted by that comment.
“Oh, that didn’t come out right. We welcome you home, but you need to continue out on your own and finish inventing yourself. Look, Paige, you’re on a break, a detour for a bit. Consider it a vacation from work when you’re doing other things.”
Paige nodded in a mumbled agreement, continuing up the stairs.
“You’ll adjust there, and my sis will adjust to you. It’s not a forever place for you but make your home while you two are making it habitable. Carve out a space there first. You didn’t need me to tell you any of that, I bet.”
“No, I guess not, Mom.” Paige took in the look of her meager dilapidated bedroom. “I guess I can find a department store and maybe fix up my temporary room a notch above mere functioning. It really is a squatter-packed mess in most rooms here. I’ll send pics when I get to a Wi-Fi spot.”
“No rush. And Paige, it’s really not just about that house. Your aunt really was scarred by Roger, you know. In the short time you’ve been there, it sounds like you got her to laugh. I think she needs you more than she lets on.”
“I hear you.”
“One more thing, honey, remember to buy a mop with the scrubber on it and those bigger work gloves. Wouldn’t hurt if you bought a few new buckets and a solid wallpaper scrapper.”
“Thanks, Mom, for not babying me.”
“Babying? I’m just helping. Remember to floss and—”
“Eat my vegetables. Right. Love you. Grown Up Paige signing off.”
Paige hung up with a bright smile just in time to hear her aunt scream from the hall, “Shower’s yours!”
Paige found her aunt’s things accidentally left behind in the bathroom. It included underthings sur
prisingly lacier than expected and a leopard print bra. “More secrets, eh, Auntie?” She knocked on her aunt’s room. She opened the door, and Paige gasped. The room was stunning in a deep violet with light blonde furniture and an iron rail bed frame painted a buttery off-white. Different but charming. “Wow. Looks great!”
“Thanks. I kind of like my hair up in a bun, too.”
“I meant the room.”
Her aunt grinned. “I know you did, but I gotta get those compliments when I can. Planning on keeping those or can I have them back?”
Paige looked down and quickly handed the clothing to her grinning aunt. “Phone’s yours. Mom’s free.”
“I’ll call her some other time. I work in the morning, so it’s reading time for me. By the way, thanks for coming to help, Paigey. G’night.” She closed the door before Paige said another word. She got the hint and then some. Maybe she wasn’t so different from her aunt, after all. Not as brusque perhaps, but she loved her private time, too, especially reading.
After a shower, Paige padded her way down the cluttered hallway to what was now her room. She looked at the disheveled mess and felt a pang. Strangely, it was for Michael and not for her old life.
Reaching for her lamp, she noticed Michael had left the Boogle set open on top of her dresser. He spelled out letters in the box top “U R SPECIAL TO ME.”
She pulled out her cell and texted, “So are you, Groundhog Man. Thank you for the note.”
The signal was not strong enough to send. Somehow, she thought he knew. Michael was under her skin and close to her heart. Special didn’t come close to covering it. Did he feel the same as she did? He must. She knew they both felt a powerful draw to each other, one that needed to continue. What that draw was, they dare not say. Not so soon.
When she turned in, Paige inhaled the scent of the towel and folded sheets that served as her pillow. They smelled slightly of Michael. She slept alone but didn’t feel it at all. In the haze of near sleep, she sent a wish for her aunt to be open to feeling the same way again.
Chapter Six
Just as the ice and snowstorm seemed to lock everyone in one place, the melting of the snow sent everyone out in all directions. Her Aunt Linney had a new hospice care assignment starting up and drove to her appointment with the family. Paige had unpacked and organized further in her room, tucking items away, knowing she’d work on the walls first and couldn’t have everything spread out.
She needed to shop. Not the kind of shopping done in Buckhead where style and name brand were coveted at any price, especially on sale. A usable winter coat was a necessity and several other items, all practical. She assessed what was necessary to fix up her room and thought to also include the dining room, which apart from the grandfather clock, had not been attacked. She would claim that to do.
Her list grew from cleaning supplies, to include spackle, wall patch, brushes, and paints, in addition to the mop her mother mentioned. She wasn’t sure what supplies her aunt had. Armed with credit cards, some money in the bank and more of a “buy it and return it if not needed” mentality, she left the farmhouse with determination, not waiting for her aunt’s return.
“I took several wrong turns, but I ended up in Scranton,” Paige said when she’d later called home from her cell, thankful to reach her aunt.
“That’s the only way people end up in Scranton—by accident. What’s up?”
“I’m in the bedding department. Is the bed a queen size in the room I’m using?” Paige got a confirmation and reviewed home improvement purchases. When asked, she detailed the contents of her department store shopping cart to include a couple pillows, the rest of the cleaning supplies, and a winter coat. “Do you need anything else while I’m here, Aunt Linney?”
“Sure, a couple things.”
“Can you text it? Oh, right, you don’t like to text. Hold on getting paper.”
“No need, Squirt. I trust you on the cleaning stuff. Grab some work coveralls.”
Paige pulled out a paper list anyway. “What size?”
“Whatever you wear. And boots—make that waterproof work boots. You’ll need ’em.”
“That it?”
“No. Some kind of snacks for munching as a reward. Whatever you like.”
“Got it. De-hoard rewards. What else?” Paige had her pen poised.
“Just a big thank you, kid.” Her aunt hung up.
Paige’s purchases were far less lavish than her shopping sprees had been in Buckhead. Not that she missed it. At least not yet. What she did miss was the internet. Her homing instincts sent her to a coffee shop, replete with acoustic guitar music, overpriced coffee, and excellent Wi-Fi. The shop even came with a handsome bearded barista with green eyes who smiled warmly and seemed to drink in more than coffee as he looked at her. She smiled back quickly, deflecting any flirting she’d next expect. She was careful to thank him quickly, but her drawl seemed to have an effect on him.
She took off her new puffy white coat and sank into a chair far from view of the counter. She also easily sank into her competent office mentality, with her laptop open, paying bills, transferring addresses. Texts pinged in on her phone. She flew through them and sent several to friends. After the first one, Paige set the rest of Michael’s aside. His texts were to be treasured.
She noted her ex’s texts and emails had changed from pleas for her return to money requests. This time, Paige made sure to include his parents and her mother on her responding email to him. She wasn’t Davis’ puppet anymore. She explained in the email to her ex that she had paid her part of the rent through the whole month, though she had already moved out. As to the furniture, which she loved, he had a choice to keep it all. She’d transferred the final payments to his name. If he kept it, she was owed at least one half the value, receipts attached. Should he sell it, she was to get her portion which was three quarters of the value. Very detailed, professional, and precise. The fog of live-in boyfriend/girlfriend had lifted. Without her blinders on, she realized how much he’d been leaning on her and not the other way around.
“No more, Davis Martin Greer. No more. Take that!” she said to her computer. She sent the email with a flourish and took a big swallow of her coffee.
While her business acumen was in full force, she gave forwarding information to her previous employer and requested a letter of recommendation, which had been mentioned to her when they laid her off. After all, had she not accepted the promotion, she might still be employed and had been one of their best workers. Professional and calm.
She sat back for a moment on that thought. She’d felt her efficient self all day. She’d speed-shopped. Her car was packed with cost-effective purchases. She would tackle the important Wi-Fi issue for the house next. She pulled up a list of providers.
Paige stopped. The word Wi-Fi reminded her of Michael. Her mind went from sharp business mode to something far more languid. She couldn’t help herself and instead began reading the saved texts from Michael:
“I’m here at the Inn, safe but far from sound. Flee, you are on my mind. How is it that I miss you already?”
“While my program was compiling, I reviewed the best Wi-Fi for you. In case it helps, here’s the break-down for the top three…”
The text was long and detailed. It saved Paige research time. She was amazed at how thoughtful her Groundhog Man was. He didn’t gush. He helped. Again.
She read the next two texts.
“Why did I send that text instead of telling you about how I wish I could nibble my way down your chest and stomach? I know why. If I stop to think about you, my body betrays me and I’m in public.”
“I want you, Paige.”
Her eyes popped open at the last one. Heat rose to her cheeks. Okay, he gushed, too. He gushed very well.
She began to type a text.
“I miss you, too, Groundhog Man. I miss hearing your voice whisper to me. I miss touching your—”
She nearly jumped out of her skin when a cat brushed her legs. She�
��d accidentally sent the incomplete text.
“Oh, you sweet thang.” Paige picked up the cat and petted him, calming down. A text pinged in:
“Touching my what, Flee?”
She laughed and sent further texts to Michael.
“Face? Other parts?”
“All of you?”
“I’m in a coffee shop. Not sure if it was the cat or your texts that startled me most. I’m petting the cat, and my mind is racing. Just thinking about you gives me butterflies.”
She quickly sent two more texts:
“No. Make that more than butterflies. I get a whole menagerie of fluttery, crawling things.”
“Ignore that. It didn’t come out right.”
Michael’s response was fast.
“I’ll say. I was going to suggest taking a shower.”
“Cute. Thanks for the Wi-Fi list, Michael. It really helped. Thoughtful present by the way.”
“In that case, Happy Early Valentine’s Day. Saves me buying you waxy chocolate.”
Paige quickly responded.
“What about flowers?”
He just sent an emoji of roses and a note that he had to rush to another meeting. She sighed as she had been one button away from calling him.
Paige was assessing Wi-Fi options for the farmhouse when two last texts pinged in.
“Jealous of the cat, btw. Jealous of anyone who gets to spend time with you, naked or otherwise.”
“Strike that. Save the naked just for me, Paige. xox”
Paige drank the last of her coffee, with her heart racing at heat of his text. She mouthed the words she texted back to Michael.
“I want to be naked just for you, too.”
A Paige in Cupid's Book Page 5
