“All I know is that they fight constantly. Tonight she came to me with hand marks around her neck. She’s a mess, claiming she’s got nowhere else to go. Is she going to be charged? I feel terrible because I called you all.”
“Domestic cases are complicated, ma’am. She assaulted an officer.”
“Please. If I promise to keep her at my house under my supervision will you reconsider? She just needs help. I can give it to her.”
He held up a finger for me to wait a second. I crossed my arms in front of my body and watched him go to speak with the other officer. He then walked over and pulled Callie out of the vehicle, uncuffing her. Sadly, she ambled over in my direction. “Thanks, Patty.”
I put my arm inside of hers. “You don’t need to be locked up because your boyfriend is a piece of shit. Go home and get some of your things. You can stay with me until you figure out what’s next.”
“But he lives right across the street.”
“We’ll figure something out. For tonight you’re safe. You don’t have to deal with that nonsense. Come back to my place, get a good night’s sleep, and then we’ll talk in the morning.”
I watched the police cars driving away, then Callie headed over to her place. For a while after going back inside I thought she wasn’t going to take me up on my offer. Then, after nearly thirty minutes, she knocked on my door.
Figuring out the new maintenance man was going to have to wait. I had more pressing matters to take care of first.
Chapter 6
Brice
I’d just kicked off my shoes, planted my ass in front of the television with the casserole dish of pasta, and flipped on the old television to a local channel when I heard the sirens. Still after all these months they were alarming to me. It brought back so many memories.
I started to get up to see what it was all about, since it was obviously coming from somewhere in the park, but then decided it wasn’t my concern. For the first time I had my own place, and I planned on taking full advantage of it.
After eating almost the rest of the dish, I headed into the bathroom and took the longest shower I could ever remember taking. The hot beads of water felt fantastic, and although the woman said the pressure wasn’t good, I found it to be perfect. Imagine taking a shower at the same time as ten other people. We never had good pressure in prison, and not one of us was going to complain, because they’d probably take away the privilege altogether.
I stayed in until the hot turned to cold. Since I hadn’t purchased towels, I dried off with a clean shirt, deciding to go without putting one on. Then I discovered there were a few towels in a nearby linen closet. I knew the place was furnished, but I figured I’d have to buy my own blankets and towels.
Then it was quiet¸ peaceful even, but it wasn’t what I wanted. My life had been quiet for too long. I didn’t like crowds, but I hated the sound of nothing; the sound like I was going to be alone forever.
After a while I stepped outside on the small wooden porch and looked out into the woods. The sounds of insects and small critters surrounded me. This was what I needed. After standing there until mosquitos began to bite, I went inside and opened every single window, not caring how hot I would get while trying to sleep.
With the distant hums of those sounds filling the tiny cabin, I retreated into the bedroom. Thankfully, I did have a blanket I’d acquired from a motel I’d stayed in. Someone had left a fitted sheet on the mattress. Most people would be leery about staying in a place like this, but not me. It was luxury from what I was used to.
Falling asleep was never difficult either. I’d learned to deal with strange sounds, cries, and even nothing. It’s funny, most people prefer the quiet, but for me it makes me feel trapped.
That next morning I awoke to the sound of birds singing- another thing I’d missed.
I walked outside and admired the morning dew on the trees. It had a certain smell to it that I’d probably never noticed until I’d gone without it. I took in my surroundings, noticing the nearest cabins were closer than I’d first assumed. I could tell one wasn’t being used, while towels hung off the other porch railing. After only walking half of the grounds I knew it was going to take me a while to remember names and faces.
Since it was still pretty early, I went inside in hopes of finding some coffee. It was something I was sure would still be in one of the cabinets. As I searched each one, hoping for a miracle, I heard someone knocking on my door.
Carrying a thermos and a brown bag, Patty smiled and waited for me to open the door. “Good morning neighbor,” she said as she walked past me.
“It’s gorgeous out. I was hoping you were an early riser. If not I was just going to leave the coffee and come back later.”
When I turned to face her I noticed she was staring at my bare chest. I couldn’t tell if it was the muscles or tattoos catching her attention. A long time ago I would have said something witty, asking if she liked what she saw, but times had changed. I was more interested in keeping the peace. “Please tell me that’s coffee.”
“It is,” she answered while handing me the brushed nickel toned container. “I added cream, but brought the sugar, just in case you didn’t like it.”
I smiled and searched for two coffee cups. “I’ll take it however I can get it.”
While I poured, she kept talking. “You missed all the drama after you left last night.”
“I thought I heard police sirens.”
“Yep, they were right outside of my house. It was a disaster. That girl, Callie, the one you met, she had it out with her boyfriend. They were going to arrest both of them, but I convinced the cops I’d be responsible for her. That poor girl feels obligated to stay with that asshole. I can’t get over it.”
I clenched my jaws, trying my hardest to not seem too interested. “Do you have trouble like that a lot here?”
Patty shook her head. “No. Not really. Everyone knows everyone. It’s a nice place to live, in my opinion. I suppose there’s always bad apples in every bunch.” She sipped her drink before continuing. “Actually, one good thing came out of last night’s drama.”
“Oh yeah,” I asked. “What?”
“You have another job to do. A chair got thrown through a window. It will need to be repaired before it rains. You might want to do it before you fix my steps. I can wait.”
The idea of fixing my daughter’s window left me feeling uncomfortable, but a bit excited. If she was around I’d get to be close to her. If she wasn’t home I could look around and see if there were any remnants of me left in her life. I don’t know what I expected. It wasn’t like she’d hang my picture up on the wall. I just hoped for something little. Maybe a reminder of her childhood; something to give me a reason to be optimistic.
Then, before I could respond she continued. “You’ll have to go to the management building with a work order. They’ll sign off and give you a card to charge the materials on. I’m sure after this stunt the couple will be evicted. This isn’t the first time they’ve damaged property. I don’t think the security deposit will cover everything they’ve ruined since they moved in.”
“That’s a damn shame.” It was all I could come up with. “I suppose we can go over and take a look at it. I reckon I’ll have to order the particular window, so it will need to be boarded up until it’s ready.”
She leaned forward on the countertop, giving me a perfect view of a lot of cleavage. Her light hair was up in a ponytail and she was wearing a pair of cutoff jean shorts. Up until this point I hadn’t been paying attention to it on account of her talking about Callie and what had transpired the previous night. Unlike the first two times I’d been around her, she was giving off different vibes. I got the feeling she was interested in knowing me on a personal level, I just wasn’t sure if I could handle it. Not only had it been way too long, but I was already focused on another goal.
I concentrated on her eyes, so blue and beautiful. “It appears you have a full day’s worth of work ahead of you.
How about we ride into town together? You can pick up what you need at the hardware store and grab some groceries to fill these cabinets. Just so you know, I put a filter with coffee in the machine when I was here last. I figured you’d want some in the morning and check to see if it was clean inside.”
I backed up and looked in the machine. Sure enough there was a filter with coffee sitting in the machine. Even the water level had been filled to the max. “Damn, I was looking all over for the can. I never thought to check the machine.”
She snickered. “It’s okay. I suppose I’m a little OCD when it comes to things. As soon as I finish my pot in the morning, I refill it for the next day.”
“That’s actually a good idea.” I took another gulp. “I’m game if you are.”
“About what?” Had she just forgotten she’d offered to take me into town?
“Going into town.” For a second I could have sworn she assumed I was hitting on her.
“Oh yeah. Sorry. My mind is in the gutter from all this heat we’ve been having.”
I raised my brows while hiding the rest of my face in the cup as I finished. “I bet.”
After we both finished our drinks, we headed out. It was important for me to stop by the main office so I could get the keys to the maintenance truck I’d be using as my vehicle while holding the position. After turning in two work-orders, I was given a company card to use for materials.
When I swung back by Patty’s house to retrieve her, I saw Callie coming out of her trailer. Since I knew I’d be working there it was important to accommodate a good time to get started.
Callie rolled her eyes when she spotted me getting out of the truck to approach her. She crossed her arms over her chest. “What now?”
“I’m going to need to get inside your place today. I’m going to cover the hole until we can order the right size window to repair it.”
“Yeah, whatever. I don’t give a shit what you do. I won’t be there.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not supposed to do inside work without the resident present.”
“I don’t live there anymore. I’m sure my ex will be getting out of jail soon. Arrange the work with him.”
“Wait,” I said as she started to walk away.
“Look mister, I get you’re trying to do your new job, but I’ve got too much to deal with today. Seriously, do what you need to do. I’m out of here.” She turned and pulled her keys from a small purse and headed to a beat up Volkswagen bug. I wanted to smile at her choice of transportation since her mother drove almost the exact model. I wonder if she knew that, or if it was a coincidence. The sound of a chirpy motor ignited, and she backed up swiftly, not looking before going about it. The sounds of tires against gravel distracted me as she blew by, determined to get as far away from this place as possible.
Patty came outside and climbed into the truck. I joined her and smiled when our eyes met. “What’s up with her? Is she moving out?”
“God no. She’s staying with me. That girl doesn’t have a pot to piss in. I know I’m going to kick myself for allowing it, but I can’t sleep at night knowing she’d go back to that scum just to have a roof over her head.”
“That’s very kind of you. Some folks would just throw her out with the trash.”
“Yeah, well I think everyone deserves a second chance.”
Her words left me speechless, momentarily at a loss for how to reply. I’d waited over fifteen years to hear someone say that to me; for someone to give me another chance at happiness. I’d paid penance for a crime I hadn’t fully committed. The person who pulled the trigger was now in jail, but not for the murder of his sister. He’d come there that night to take them away from me. All I did was fight for them – for my family and our future. Being high wasn’t a good choice. I’d like to think that I would have eventually gotten clean on my own.
None of that matters now. I’d lost my wife. A part of my heart was dead and buried. All I had left was my daughter. There had to be a way to get a second chance. I just didn’t know how to begin to make it happen when her life was clearly in turmoil. I’d add extra stress she probably didn’t want. For now it was hopeless.
We spent the rest of the morning getting the materials for the repairs and stopping by a grocery store to pick up some much needed items for my cabin. I didn’t have much money to spare. Since I’d been out of jail I’d worked on a construction crew, just until I’d saved enough to get me out of state and here. With only a couple hundred bucks to my name I knew it would last until my first paycheck. I was able to get plenty of food, toiletries, and even some snacks. Being in a grocery store again was like a child at Disney. There were so many new products I wanted to try. If Patty hadn’t been with me I probably would have gone well over my budget.
I explained the weird reactions on having lived a very conservative lifestyle. I told her I was once a vegetarian, but wanted to enjoy my life and eat what I’d been missing, including fresh cooked bacon.
We headed back to my cabin first to put the food away. Patty helped me, never complaining that I was taking away from her day. She explained that she worked at a doctor’s office three days a week, and was certified to do medical billing the other two from her home. She claimed that she was paid by the hour, and could do it any time she wanted to, even if it turned out to be the same day she went into the office.
I wasn’t lucky enough to have a degree or certification. I worked with my hands, and if there was a problem I could usually figure out a way to fix it, unless it was regarding my daughter. Then I was at a loss.
Covering the window was manageable from outside the trailer. The manager’s assistant stopped by halfway through the job. She tacked an eviction notice on the front door and asked if I’d seen the guy since I’d been there. I found it funny how I didn’t even know his name, not that I cared. The further he stayed away from my daughter the better. Him sticking around was going to a be problem I’d have to handle on my own terms, and frankly I was afraid what I’d be willing to do to make him disappear.
I didn’t get started on Patty’s steps until after three. She kept bringing me out ice tea and telling me about the area, and the people in the community.
As far as friends went, I’d say she was my only, or as close to one as I’d had in a while. In fact, she’d insisted that I stay for dinner. A part of me wanted to go home and take a long shower, but then Callie showed up. She wasn’t in her car. That was the first thing I noticed. The next was that she was carrying a large suitcase. What took me back in time was the fact that it had belonged to her mother. I remembered buying it on a whim when she saw it in the window of a popular store. We’d always planned on traveling, so that upcoming Mother’s day I purchased it for her and enclosed a note promising to take her all over the world.
That promise would never be kept. The fact that Callie had the luggage made me wonder if she had more items from our past – perhaps something of mine.
Turning down dinner would have been a mistake. I needed to be close to her, even if I was risking my identity. So far she seemed to have no clue who I really was. It was reassuring and heart wrenching. Spending time with her was my only goal in life, and I had the opportunity to do it. Nothing was going to stop me.
Chapter 7
Patty
The longer he was around the more I wanted him to stay. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t in love with him after two days, but I did find him to be good company. It had been a while since I’d shared my time with a handsome man, and let’s face it, I wasn’t getting any younger. Reaching my thirties had left me feeling like time was slipping away from me. It was probably too late for me to have children of my own, so I always found myself volunteering to babysit, or in this case, take in strays that had nowhere else to go. Callie may have been rough around the edges, but she wasn’t terrible to be around. As soon as she came in from being out she asked if there was something she could help with. Since I’d invited Brice to stay for dinner, I accepted her offer and let h
er chop the vegetables.
We’d never gotten to know one another, so this dinner wasn’t just about being around Brice. It gave me the chance to feel this girl out and find out how I could help her improve her current situation.
We had burgers – nothing fancy, with a garden salad and some macaroni. I had to admit how nice it was to sit around my kitchen table with other people. So many nights I’d cooked for only me, placing leftovers in containers because I always made too much. This made me happy.
Unlike the vibes I was getting from Brice the night before, he was a gentleman around Callie. He helped her carry everything to the table, and passed each dish like we’d been doing this sort of thing for years. Every once in a while I caught his gaze and butterflies would fill my stomach. We’d spent the whole day together, and I certainly wasn’t ready for it to end.
I liked Brice, probably way too much for it only being a full day. I could tell we’d be friends, but I wasn’t sure how much more it would change. I kept reminding myself to take things slow – that every relationship I’d ever had was rushed and failed miserably. This wasn’t a person I could avoid. Our community was small, and I’d already made the guy welcome.
Callie made conversation first, probably to avoid getting questioned. “So, Brice, where are you from?”
“Pennsylvania,” he answered while chewing.
“I was born there. We moved when I was five,” she tapped her fork on the table as she spoke. “And we went to an amusement park somewhere in the state when I was a kid.”
“With your parents?” I assumed.
“No.” She looked down at her plate. “Both of my parents died before I was five.”
“Oh my heavens. That’s terrible.”
“I was raised by my grandparents. They were good people. They did their best.”
“Do you visit them often?” Brice inquired.
“They’re dead now too. Grandma had a stroke after my uncle went to jail. I guess I was around fifteen. Then Pop’s diabetes got out of control without her there to monitor his eating. First he went into a home, and then he finally gave up two years later.”
Summer Maintenance Page 4
