by Debby Mayne
Chapter 14
THE WHOLE AFTERNOON seemed long, but the last hour really dragged. The time finally arrived so she could leave.
Fifteen minutes later, Cissy was knocking at Charlene’s door.
Charlene flung the door open and opened her arms wide for a hug. “Hey, neighbor, ready to get started on your new digs?”
“I am.” Cissy waved her hand in front of her outfit. “But Uncle Forest reminded me that I’m not exactly dressed for manual labor.”
Charlene lifted a finger. “I’ve got the perfect cleaning clothes ready and waiting.” She glanced down at Cissy’s shoes. “But I don’t think you’ll fit into my shoes.”
Cissy stepped out of her high heels. “I’m used to goin’ barefoot.”
“Then take these things . . . ” Charlene lifted some sweat-pants and a T-shirt from her sofa bed. “You can change in the bathroom.”
The pants were a couple of inches too short, and the T-shirt hung loose, but that didn’t matter. Cissy planned to change back before leaving anyway.
She bounded out of the bathroom with flourish. “Ta-da! Say hi to Washerwoman Cissy.”
Charlene chuckled. “Let’s get this show on the road. I don’t think it’ll take long if we get right to it.” She pointed to a bucket on the floor. “You grab that, and I’ll get the broom and mop.”
Cissy shoved the key into the door of her brand-new apartment. It took a few jiggles, but she finally got it to turn. As the door creaked open, the stench overtook her. Whoa. It was even worse than she remembered.
“Why don’t we open the window and let it air out for a few minutes before we get started?” Charlene crossed the room and tugged at the window. After a brief struggle the window yielded, and outdoor air began to drift in.
Cissy set down her bucket filled with cleaning supplies. “I don’t even know where to begin.” She stood in the middle of the room looking around.
“Here,” Charlene crossed the room and stooped down to get a sponge and a can of scrubbing foam. “You start in the bathroom, and I’ll tackle the kitchen. Then we can meet out here and finish up.”
Cissy nodded. She had had some dirty roommates in her time; cleaning here shouldn’t be much different. She went into the bathroom, sprayed the foam all over the shower, took a deep breath, and began to scrub. An hour later, reeling from the cleaner fumes, she took a step out of the bathroom and looked at her work. It didn’t exactly sparkle, but it did look and smell a thousand times better.
“I did the kitchen already, so all we have left is the rest of the room.” Charlene tossed a rag onto the side of the bucket and pulled out a clean one.
She and Charlene cleaned the windowsill, baseboards, and hardwood floor together. “So how was work today?” Charlene asked. “Getting the hang of it yet?”
Cissy told her about her monumental sales error. “I’m not so sure Uncle Forest would have asked me to come here if he’d known how much of a flub-up I am.”
“That’s nonsense. You’re just as competent as the next person. You just need proper training, that’s all.”
“You really think so?”
“Of course.” Charlene straightened up and looked Cissy in the eye. “You are a Southern belle, Cissy, and I mean that in the best sense of the word. You are just as smart as you are pretty, and you are strong without being abrupt or crass.”
Cissy studied Charlene. “Do you ever get homesick?”
“Boy howdy, do I ever.” Charlene grinned. “But maybe things will get better now that you’re here. When I hear you talk, I can almost pretend I’m back home.”
The sound of footsteps in the hallway silenced them. Cissy expected them to go past her apartment, but they stopped and a knock sounded. Cissy jumped and sent Charlene a slightly guilty look.
She’d forgotten about Tom until now. “That would be Tom. I told him he could stop by to see my new place, but I didn’t even think about seeing him in . . . ” She glanced down at the too-short sweatpants and oversized T-shirt.
Charlene laughed. “Don’t worry. You look cute, no matter what you wear.” She jumped up and followed behind Cissy as she opened the door.
“Need help?” Tom asked, gesturing at the dust rags still clutched in their hands.
Charlene scooted out the door, waving. “I’ll be at my apartment if you need me. Leave the cleaning supplies outside my door on your way out.”
Dropping her cleaning cloth, Cissy turned back to Tom and gave him a goofy grin. “I got all dressed up just for you.”
He looked her over and gave her a thumbs-up. “I see that. Very nice and . . . cleaning lady chic.”
“That’s what I’m going for.” She motioned for him to follow her. “Thanks for coming. We just finished cleaning, so it will be fun to show off my new place. Interested?”
“Absolutely.” She gestured grandly, giggling. “You are now in my foyer. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it.” He took another step. “And now you’re in my kitchen.” One more step, and her giggles erupted into snorting laughter. “Welcome to my living-room-slash-bedroom.”
“Very nice. Compact but clean.”
“Don’t laugh.”
He lifted his hands as he took a step toward her. “I’m not laughing. In fact, I think you’re doing great, considering you haven’t been in town long.”
“Really?” Her cheeks flamed hotter than ever as she studied his face and tried to see if he was serious. And safe. Dave’s warning about the competition still rang in her ears.
“Absolutely. It takes some people months of being on waiting lists before they’re able to settle in. Apartments so close to everything are in high demand. I’ve known people to commute two hours each way until something came open.”
“I thought Charlene was exaggerating.” Cissy relaxed a little and glanced around with a new appreciation. “I reckon I have her to thank. She’s the one who told me about it.”
“And she must have pulled some strings to make it happen for you.”
Her breath became shaky as she realized how close he stood to her. If she’d been back home, she would have assumed he was getting ready to put a move on her, but she wasn’t sure about big-city people. Maybe they just liked to stand close.
Cissy started to turn away from him when she felt his hand on her shoulder. When she spun around, the look in his eyes spoke a language she knew. He liked her. A lot.
Heart hammering, she forced a smile. “Thanks for letting me know how fortunate I am.” Oh, she sure did want to kiss those perfect lips, but she needed to keep her wits about her. “I’ll have to pick up a little something for Charlene to show my appreciation.” She had to stop and lick her lips before they stuck to her teeth. “She and I will probably hang out a lot.” Her mouth was on autopilot. What was she saying?
Tom removed his hand, but he continued grinning down at her. “I can’t get over how cute you are.”
With a quivering hand, she tucked a hank of hair behind one ear. “Why, thank you, Tom. That’s very sweet. I’m sure you’re just being nice, though, since I’m a mess after working all day, and—”
He laughed. “You always have something to say. What was that phrase you used before?”
She took a deep breath, held it long enough to get a little more oxygen to her brain but not long enough to pass out, and slowly exhaled. “Motor Mouth?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m talking about.” His gaze moved from her to the tiny kitchenette along the wall. “Do you need any more help here?”
“No thanks. Like I said, Charlene and I got it all done.” She reached for her cell phone and glanced at the time. “I better be getting on back to the office. I don’t want Uncle Forest wondering where I am or what I’m up to.”
Tom nodded. “Let me know if you need anything.” He took a couple steps toward the door before turning around. “When will you start staying here?”
“I was hoping Saturday night, but since I’m going to church with Aunt Bootsie on Sunday morning, probably no
t until that night.”
“Interested in a short walking tour late Sunday afternoon?” he asked.
Giddiness overwhelmed her until she remembered how long Aunt Bootsie’s Sunday dinners could last. “What time?”
“Whenever you get back. Just call me when you get home.”
Home. His words echoed through her head as she took another look around her apartment. This was now her home. “I’ll do that.”
“I wish I could help you move in, but there’s no point in antagonizing your uncle.”
She twirled a piece of hair. “I know. But I don’t think it’ll take all that long since we don’t have much room for stuff. As it is, I think I’m going to have to store some of my clothes in their house.”
He headed for the door. “I look forward to your call on Sunday.”
“Thanks for stopping by,” Cissy said, waving. A smile twitched her lips, and when Charlene stuck her head out of her apartment door with a questioning look, Cissy grinned back at her so wide her cheeks burned.
Charlene waved her toward her apartment, grabbed her by the arm when she got close enough, pulled her inside, then pushed her into a chair. “What did he say?” she demanded.
“I don’t have long. Uncle Forest—”
Charlene waved her index finger back and forth. “You’re not gettin’ away with leaving until you at least give me some kind of details. Does he like your apartment? Did he kiss you?”
Cissy laughed. “At least let me change back into my work clothes, and then I’ll talk.”
“Yeah, don’t think you’re gonna scoot out on me . . . not after the way I saw him lookin’ at you.”
It took Cissy about three minutes to take off the cleaning clothes and put her work outfit back on. When she came out, she saw Charlene standing there still waiting, arms folded, eyebrows raised, toe tapping.
“Want something to drink?” Charlene asked.
“Sure.” She sat on one of the two chairs at the tiny table. “But I have to make it quick. He said he thought the place looked clean and said I was fortunate to have found this place and that you must have pulled a few strings since these places are hard to come by.”
“Yeah, well . . . ” Charlene put a glass down in front of Cissy and sat across from her. “What else did he say?”
“He’s taking me on a walking tour late Sunday afternoon.”
“Look at you! I’ve been here almost a year, and nothin’ like this has ever happened to me, but you’re here a week, and you have guys waitin’ in line.”
Cissy tilted her head back and laughed. “Guys? I don’t think so. More like one guy who is somewhat interested and wants to get to know me better.”
“Honey, that’s how it all starts.”
Cissy stood, carried her glass over to the sink, and turned around to face Charlene. “I have to admit, I’m a little nervous about this thing with Tom.”
“I know you are, but relax. It’s not like you have to marry the guy. Go out with him, let him buy you dinner, have a little fun . . . ” She tilted her head as a few seconds of silence fell between them. “When you’re with him, ask questions. If you don’t like his answers, you can stop seeing him at any time. However . . . ” She paused and wiggled her eyebrows. “If you like what you hear, you’re still in the game.”
“But my uncle—”
“The fact that he and your uncle are competitors can be a challenge, but as long as the Lord is in charge, you might be amazed by how things can work out. I’ve seen some miracles and changed hearts in my life.”
Cissy took in everything Charlene said and finally nodded. “I’ve only known you a little while, but you’ve given me some of the best advice I’ve ever heard.”
Charlene chuckled. “Now if I could learn to take my own advice, we’ll both be set.” She pointed to the door. “You better scoot on outta here so your uncle won’t be mad.”
Cissy gave Charlene another hug before leaving. All the way back to the office she rehashed seeing Tom and then her conversation with Charlene afterward. She’d take Charlene’s advice and pray that she would let the Lord be in charge of whatever happened.
Chapter 15
NOTHING MAJOR HAPPENED on Thursday or Friday, which in Cissy’s mind was a miracle, considering what had been going on lately.
Cissy’s eyes popped open early Saturday morning, and her mind started racing right away. A momentary twinge of regret made her wonder at the logic behind her decision to throw away half her salary for independence just to be able to go out with her uncle’s biggest competitor without having to answer questions and face Uncle Forest’s angry scowls. But deep down Cissy knew her decision was based on much more than being able to see a cute guy. She needed to prove to herself and everyone who knew her that she wasn’t nearly as flighty as everyone thought. She needed to make it on her own, and doing it in New York was the ultimate test.
After lying there, staring up at the ceiling for a while, she finally forced herself to roll out of bed. Time to start packing her clothes. As she carefully placed everything in her suitcase, her conviction that this was something she had to do grew stronger. In the past she relied on the safety net that someone was always there to catch her, even when she made monumental mistakes from her impulsive actions. Now she’d be forced to think things through because she only had herself to answer to. Then she thought about how her safety net was still there with Uncle Forest and Aunt Bootsie nearby, only now she was determined not to use it.
A gleam of sunlight crept into her room, and she crossed to the curtains, lifting them to peer outside. The sky was clear and showed no signs of rain. Thank you, Lord! Moving would be difficult enough without bad weather. She forced herself to sit back down on the edge of the bed to say a longer, more detailed prayer of thanks.
When she opened her eyes, she felt her burden fade and her mood lighten. With a smile on her lips and joy in her heart, Cissy made her bed, changed into jeans and a T-shirt, and skipped down the stairs to join her aunt and uncle for breakfast. Uncle Forest glanced up from his newspaper and watched her as she poured a cup of coffee.
“Happy about the move?”
“I’m so excited I can’t stand it,” she said. And it was true. Excitement had replaced the trepidation that crept into her head every once in a while since she’d made her decision to take the apartment.
“We have a lot of work to do.” He folded the pages he’d been reading and placed them with the rest of the newspaper. “Do you have everything ready to go?”
She nodded. “I just finished up, and my bags are waiting outside the guest room.”
“Then go ahead and eat so we can get your things loaded in the car. We’re supposed to meet the furniture guy at ten thirty.”
Cissy nibbled a piece of toast, but she was too excited to eat a big breakfast. She got up from her chair, rinsed her dish, and stuck it in the dishwasher before hugging her aunt. “Thank you so much for everything. You have been the most amazing person ever.”
“You’ll be back tonight, right?” Aunt Bootsie said. “I have a big Sunday dinner planned and—”
“Yes, of course I’m coming back. I wouldn’t miss going to church with you for anything, much less miss out on the best food in New York.”
Aunt Bootsie smiled as she tried to hide her relief by tossing the dish towel over her shoulder. “I’ll have a nice supper waiting for you and Forest when y’all get back.”
It took Cissy and Uncle Forest less than half an hour to get everything loaded. Even with so few things, she worried about where they would fit in her apartment.
“I hope this all fits,” Uncle Forest said as she slid into the passenger seat beside him. Had he read her thoughts? “If not, you can leave some stuff in the guest room for a month or two, but after that . . . ” He shook his head. “You’ll have to find a place to put it.”
She had no idea what she’d do with it, but she nodded her agreement. “Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out. I only left a few things b
ehind. As soon as I find a place to put what I’ve already packed, I’ll get the rest.”
He reached over and turned on the radio. As classical music filled the air, she settled back in her seat and thought about the new life she was about to begin. It had happened so quickly, but she’d never been one to drag things out once she made up her mind to do something.
In less than half an hour she was knocking on Charlene’s door. Charlene stuck her head out of her apartment. “I’ll be right out to help y’all,” she said.
It took the three of them two trips each to get all of Cissy’s belongings into the apartment. Uncle Forest remained silent as the two women chattered nonstop. Every now and then Cissy glanced at him and wondered if what she saw was disapproval.
“Well, what do you think?” she finally asked.
He took another look around, but his expression was devoid of emotion. “It’s small.”
Charlene took over. “It may be small, but there’s so much she can do with this space. My place is just like it, and I love it.”
He grunted. Cissy resisted the urge to try to convince him she was fine with it. She was tired of explaining.
“I’ll go get us some coffee while we wait,” Charlene said. “I would invite y’all in, but my place is a mess.”
Uncle Forest pursed his lips. “That’s quite all right. I’m not sticking around long anyway.”
The furniture guys arrived with the daybed in pieces. It took them all of fifteen minutes to assemble it. Cissy stood back and looked at the twin-sized bed-slash-couch and marveled at how humongous it looked in this tiny room.
Once the guys were gone, Uncle Forest looked at Cissy without smiling. “Are you sure you don’t need a ride back to the house?”
“Positive. I can ride the train and bus.”
“I’ll be in the office for a couple of hours if you change your mind.”
