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Authors: Rose von Barnsley

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BOOK: Home Is Wherever You Are
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Chapter 5 – Gift Horses

 

I woke up the next morning to the smell of oatmeal. I smiled, folding up my blankets, before I headed into the kitchen. “Good morning,” I said, and she turned around and smiled.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” she giggled. She was looking at the top of my head with a smirk. I had forgotten that when my hair was short, it tended to stand on end in the morning.

I tried to pat it down a little, and she just giggled more. “I have a brush in my bathroom drawer.”

I rolled my eyes. “I have a comb in my pack with my other toiletries.”

“Oh, you can put them in the bathroom. I don’t mind. The bottom drawer is empty, so you’re free to use it.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I worked all morning and made sure all the outlets in her room worked, along with the hall lights and outlets. I hoped she would be pleased with my work. Instead of ripping out the whole wall, I only took out lined sections around where the wires had been ripped out and worked around the existing wall, using an old hanger to pull the wire through where I needed it. I had gotten quite a bit done and took a break to meet her for lunch. She snuck out to pick up her phone and GPS, and I headed back to the house to continue working.

I had followed the books to the letter, but I realized once I was done that I didn’t have any lightbulbs. I ran to the gas station up the street. I didn’t have any cash, but they did have multiple bulbs in their bathroom light fixture. I took one out, and I promised myself when I got the chance that I would replace it. I hurried back to Addy’s and put the bulb in the hallway light fixture. It was the most basic, plain light fixture you could buy, but it worked. 

Addy came home a few minutes after I had put the bulb in.

“Hey, Addy, come look!” I called and flipped on the switch when she came into view.

She smiled widely. “That’s great!”

“Yeah, I got all the sockets in the hall and your room hooked up, too. I haven’t done the sheetrock work yet, because an inspector has to come through and look at it, but at least they’re working.”

“Thank you, Matthew. That’s just wonderful.”

“Well, that’s what I’m here for. So, were you able to get your phone?”

“Yes!” she held it up grinning. “I was able to get it and my GPS, without having to go on a date with Officer Nelson,” she said, rolling her eyes.

She moved over to the stove and started warming up our dinner. I decided to help by setting the table.

“So, Matthew, I was thinking maybe I should leave my phone with you. I have the diner’s number programmed in, so if you need something, you can call me at work. That way I can get ahold of you as well if something comes up.”

“Okay?” I didn’t see why I would need a phone, but she passed me hers, anyway.

“It also has unlimited minutes nationwide, if you want to call your family.”

“Oh.” That was why. I just nodded in thanks.

I ate quietly after that. If Addy wanted me to call my parents, I guess I could. My dad’s birthday was coming up soon.

After dinner, she walked into the spare room and looked into the hole-filled walls. She frowned a little. “Matthew, do you think that’s termite damage?”

I shrugged. I didn’t have a clue. She let out a sigh. “This whole wall is going to need to be replaced and treated with pesticides, so they don’t spread if it is. If I give you some money, could you drop me off at work and take the truck to the store to get some supplies?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Do you have a driver’s license?” she asked.

I pulled out my wallet and handed it to her. She looked at it and smiled. “You were a cute kid.” It still had my eighteen-year-old picture on it. 

“Matthew Abraham Martin, not a bad name, and your birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. It also looks like this expires then. You’ll be…” She was doing the math in her head, but I thought I would save her the trouble.

“I’m twenty-four.  I’ll be twenty-five.”

“Huh…well, old man, I’m only twenty-three.”

I chuckled, reaching for my ID. “Are you done making fun of me?”

“For now,” she grinned. She walked over to where her work apron was hanging and pulled out a roll of money, which I assumed were her tips. She counted out forty dollars and handed it to me. It had been a while since I’d had so much cash in my hands.

She pulled out her work notepad and pen and made a list of things we would need to fix the wall and kill the termites. “Just get what you can, and if you need more, I’ll give you more tomorrow.”

I really hoped I wouldn’t need more tomorrow.

The next morning was much like the rest, except I woke up earlier than usual. I headed for the bathroom and was shocked by what I saw. Addy was naked and reaching for the towel cabinet, much like I had done the day before. I gasped and quickly turned my back, but I had startled her, and I heard her hit the floor.

“Addy, are you okay?” I asked, as I heard a groan. I focused on the towels and quickly grabbed her one, covering her and took another and tucked it under her hair. “Hey, are you alright?”

“Yes, I just hit my stupid funny bone.”             

I helped her up off the floor, so she could hold onto her towel. It was then I noticed how soft and warm her skin was, and that it was a beautiful creamy pale color. She cleared her throat, and my eyes snapped up to her face, as I let go of her. “Sorry, I’ll just go wait in the kitchen,” I mumbled before running off.

The gravity of the situation suddenly hit me, when I sat down at the table. I had seen her naked and in a tiny towel. I really hoped she wouldn’t kick me out for that. I honestly hadn’t meant to do it, and as soon as she walked into the kitchen, I told her so.

“It’s alright, Matthew. I forgot my towel. It’s not as if I haven’t seen you naked. Now we’re even,” she said dismissively. I was so relieved.  I really wanted to stay and help her.

Once I dropped her off at work, I headed straight to the home improvement store. I knew they would be open early, so I figured I would get what I needed right away.

I was able to get everything I needed and spoke with the lumber guy about how to replace a wall. It looked like I was going to have to make another trip to the library. I needed to make sure I wasn’t trying to remove what he called a load-bearing wall, and if I did, I would need to support it while I replaced it.

I really didn’t want all of Addy’s hard work to go to waste, so once I dropped off her stuff in the shed, I went to the library. The librarian, Mary, seemed much nicer this time and even smiled at me, when I went to the section on construction. I grabbed a few books and then headed for a computer. I noticed there was a window already open. I looked around and didn’t see anyone.

The website that was up as www.freecycle.com, and it was open to an ad for some animal tanks. I hit the back button, and it went to a different listing, and then a new one just popped up.


Evicted tenant. Free furniture, household stuff and clothes, all on the curb in front of 219 Mulberry Street, come and get it.”
 

I stopped what I was doing and ran out to the truck. I knew Addy didn’t have money, but free she could afford.

I was lucky to pull up just as another guy did, and he scoffed at the big old-fashioned, elaborately-carved bedframe and older queen-sized mattress set leaning over the curb. There were several bags with all kinds of women’s clothes, toiletries and stuff sitting beside it he had ignored. I lifted them up and found a big box of men’s clothes and things that looked like they might be my size, so I grabbed them and stuffed them into the cab and started loading the bed.

Underneath the headboard and footboard was a few bags with some matching sheets, a bedspread and a bunch of bed pillows. Under that was a couple of boxes with a bunch of curtains and curtain rods, enough for the windows in the whole house, and another big bag full of odd and end bedding and blankets, another with table linens, towels, a nice shower curtain set, and some bathmats.

When I moved the mattress and box springs, I hit the jackpot.  There was a small microwave, several lamps, a small canister vacuum, an old stereo system with speakers, and several big boxes of what looked like all kinds of small kitchen appliances, pots and pans, baking stuff, and kitchen gadgets. There was another larger bin full of dishes, utensils and glasses, and a couple of large mixed bins of other miscellaneous things for around the house.  I grabbed them and quickly dragged them over by the truck, claiming them before the other guy noticed them.  Addy would have fun digging through those bins.

The other guy was busy irritating the landlord. He didn’t like the pink floral couch the landlord had brought out, either, but I sure didn’t care and helped the landlord load that into the truck, too, along with a pair of nightstands and a dresser that matched the wooden bedframe. I thought Addy might like them.

The other guy took off annoyed, which I thought was stupid, because I mean, the stuff was free! What did he expect, anyway? Having been there, I felt kind of bad for the evicted tenants, but their misfortune was going to help a very nice lady, so I said a quick prayer for them and gave thanks for the help for Addy.

A few minutes later, the landlord came out pulling a dolly with an older-model TV and VCR. I told him to put them right into the truck. There was a small dining set as well, which I disassembled and loaded onto the top of the cab, along with a small coffee table, a couple of matching end tables, a couple of rolled-up rugs of different sizes, and a pink recliner which matched the couch.  He was very nice and helped me load everything, and then he asked if I wanted the contents of the pantry and refrigerator. I nodded enthusiastically.  Free food worked, too.

The last thing the landlord brought out was a large old-fashioned gearless green cruiser bicycle. He helped me hoist it up on top of the hood of the truck, since the truck bed and cab were loaded to overflowing. 

I literally could have kissed the man.

Chapter 6 – Of Mice and Men

 

Thankfully, I didn’t have far to drive, and after profusely thanking the landlord, I pulled out very slowly. I didn’t care if I looked like I was filming an episode of
The
Beverly Hillbillies
, this stuff was going to help Addy, and that was all I cared about. I was thrilled with my productive curbside shopping trip, as I headed back to Addy’s house. I hoped she would be thrilled, too.

I drove extra slowly to make sure I wouldn’t lose the load. I was almost there, when I realized how late it was. I’d missed lunch at the diner, but I figured it was worth it for all the stuff I had been able to get for Addy.  However, it was getting dark.  I had to unload the stuff fast and see if she needed me to pick her up from work.

When I pulled up to her house, I got my answer.

She came storming out of the house, absolutely furious. “Where the heck have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for hours! Do you know what an idiot I felt like, giving a homeless man my phone, truck and money, just to have you disappear on me? Do you know how freaked out I was?” she shouted at me. I could see her point, but it didn’t mean I liked the way she was making it. She looked at the truck, and her eyes popped open wide. “What the heck? Did you rob someone? Is that what took you so long?”

“No, I didn’t rob anyone!” I huffed, offended. “This stuff was all free.”

“Yeah, right.”

“No, really, some lady was evicted, or deported, actually.  Her visa expired, and she was picked up and shipped out, leaving a whole apartment full of stuff, and so her landlord was giving it away free.  He just needed it gone, so he could rent the apartment out right away. Apparently, he has a family moving in this weekend.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Yeah, I found a website at the library. It was ‘Free stuff’ or something like that. It said to pick up the stuff on the curb in front of 219 Mulberry Street.”

“Free stuff?”             

“No, free…something or other. I don’t know, I was just going to look up how to recognize a load-bearing wall, but some guy had left the free something website window open. He was getting some free animal tanks. I hit the back button, and it went to the main list, and then the new ad for the evicted chick’s stuff popped up. I hauled butt over there as fast as I could to see what I could claim. I swear, I’m telling the truth.  If you don’t believe me, I can take you to the apartment manager’s place. He helped me load everything up and tie it down.”

“What was his name?”

Crap, I had to remember his name. “Um...”

“Don’t worry about it. I believe you.”

“You do?”

“Yup, if you were lying, you would’ve just said the first name that popped into your head, not try to remember the guy’s name.”

Wow, she was right. “Cool, so will you help me unload this stuff and see all the awesome free stuff you got?”

She started helping me unload and gradually got more and more excited with each new thing we took down. I told her about the idiot guy who had scoffed at the pink floral furniture. Seriously, it was free! Come on, you couldn’t be picky about it! She agreed with me. She suggested we move her old full-size bed into the front room, and I could sleep on it, while I worked on the spare room. Then once I was done with that room, she said I could move it in there and use that room. I was a little shocked by the offer, but she didn’t notice. She was too busy admiring her new matching curtains. 

I set her old bed up behind the pink floral couch, so it felt a little like a separate area. I put together the dining room table and then set the four matching chairs around it, smiling widely. I tucked the two old folding chairs at the ends and moved the tiny old folding table to the living room.  Addy pulled out a pink tablecloth from one of the bags and draped it over the little table, and then I set up the TV and stereo. Addy ran an orange extension cord into the living room from the hallway, and we plugged them in to test them. Amazingly enough, they worked just fine, which made Addy smile even wider.

There were several boxes of kitchenware, clothes, décor, video tapes, and other miscellaneous stuff that were just stacked to the side. I set the countertop microwave on the kitchen counter and plugged it in. There was no power yet, but there would be once I was done with the place. Maybe we could use the extension cord until then.

Addy brought our dinner to the new table and sat down, smiling as she looked at the real wood.  I couldn’t help but chuckle, as I saw her gently run her hand over the surface and then push on the edge, grinning widely when it didn’t wobble. 

“Those boxes have all kinds of kitchen and household stuff in them, and the big black bags have tons of women’s clothes and things in them.  The clothes looked close to your size, but I don’t know if any of them will fit you for sure.  There’s a bunch of shoes and purses and stuff in there you can probably use, though.”

She reached into one of the bags of shoes, pulling out a pair of high heels and slipped them on, grinning widely when they fit her. She began pulling clothes out of another bag, grinning even wider because they were her size. She looked like a kid on Christmas morning, and it made me feel like I had done well.

“There’s also one big box of men’s clothes, too. I think she must’ve had a boyfriend who’d stay over sometimes, because that was the only sign of a guy in the whole place.”

“Yes, she seemed very girly, all pink.”

“I don’t see pink, I see free and comfortable.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Matthew, for going and getting all this stuff.  Loading all of this had to have been hard work.”

“Hey, no problem, but don’t thank me, thank the landlord who listed it and gave it out for free. He even helped me load it. He was awesome.”

“So, will the men’s clothes fit you?”

“They looked like it when I eyeballed them, but I didn’t stop to try anything on. I just wanted to get everything on the truck, before someone else came by and tried to take it.”

She nodded and let out a yawn. I looked over at the clock on the stove and saw it was going on eleven. “I’m sorry, I’ve kept you up too late with all this moving stuff. You should’ve gone to bed by now.”

She waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. It was worth it. I have a new big bed with lots of pillows, some cute nightstands, and an actual dresser.  My room feels like a real bedroom now, not like I’m just sleeping in a vacant house. It was all totally worth the sacrificed Z’s.”

“Alright, goodnight then, Addy.”

“Night, Matthew, sleep tight.”

I did the dishes and went to sleep with a full stomach, on a real bed, in a real house. When I woke up the next day, Addy was already gone. She had left me a bowl of oatmeal and her library card. I was glad she’d remembered to leave it, because I would have forgotten.

I dug out the big box of men’s clothes to try them on. Most of the stuff was in really good condition, some of it almost like new.  I was excited to find a few nearly-new dress shirts, a handful of ties that weren’t too crazy, and a few pairs of nice slacks. It looked like the boyfriend had good taste in clothes. There were a number of pairs of jeans, plain t-shirts and casual polo-style shirts. In the bottom of the box, there were a bunch of pairs of socks, underwear and undershirts that would come in really handy, too. There was even a brand new pack of men’s boxer brief underwear with funny prints on them that had never been opened.  Apparently, her guy didn’t like those.  I didn’t mind them, though.  They were free, clean underwear without holes, which was more than I could say about my only two pair.

All of the shirts fit, but the jeans and slacks were a tiny bit loose around the waist. With a few more regular meals, that wouldn’t be a problem. I just tightened my belt a notch, so they would work for me. There were four pairs of shoes, and they all fit, plus a hoodie, a sweater, some pajamas, and a blazer.

I picked the sneakers, which looked fairly new, a pair of dark-wash jeans, and a dark red long-sleeved Henley shirt.  I shaved and took a quick shower, before dressing. I put on the black hoodie and headed to the library.

Mary saw me and flagged me down with a huge smile. She pulled out a stack of books from under the counter and set them on top. “Hey, Matthew, these are all the books you left by the computer when you rushed out yesterday. Will you be needing them?”

“Yes, please. Can I check them out now and still use the computer?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, taking Addy’s card from me.

I printed out what I needed and then headed back to the house. I changed back into my old clothes, before I got to work. By the time Addy came home, I had all the old sheetrock in the spare room pulled down, broken up and stacked, the old rock wool insulation removed and bagged, and I was just finishing up pulling out the damaged wood. “When is trash day?” I asked.

“Monday and Thursday.”

“Good, I have a day to get this stuff out of here then,” I said, brushing some of the dust off of me.

“You should hop in the shower before dinner. You don’t want to be eating that stuff,” she said, pointing to the pile of debris. She was right, so I shook my head, knocking free some of the dust, and grabbed a pair of sleep pants from the box I had spotted earlier. I remembered a towel this time, too.

As I showered, I thought of how nice it was to be doing something useful for such a nice person.  Addy was sweet and kind, and I was going to hate leaving her when the time came, but I couldn’t mooch off of her forever. She was working double shifts to make ends meet, and I could tell by how she lived so conservatively that she was just barely making it as it was.  She didn’t need me hanging around her neck, adding to the strain on her already-tentative finances.

I was wearing just the pajama pants and drying my hair, when I stepped out into the hallway. After just a few days of regular meals, heavy lifting and working around Addy’s house, I had noticed that my body was quickly returning to its once-defined appearance, and when Addy took in my form, I noticed her staring at my bare chest.  I guess it was obvious to her, too, from the look on her face. I rubbed the towel slowly across it a little self-consciously under her gaze. Her eyes snapped up to meet mine, and her cheeks pinked.

“Towel,” she finally mumbled, and I handed it to her. She stuck it into the washer right away.

I started down the hall, but stopped at the end and looked back to see her resting her head against the dryer. Her shoulders were shaking slightly, and she looked like she had the weight of the world on them. I stood silently, unbeknownst to her, and listened to her quiet rant.

“He doesn’t like you like that, you idiot, so just stop drooling. You’re just embarrassing yourself, you stupid mouse.” She took a deep breath and stepped back, and then I saw her reach up and wipe a tear from her cheek. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like that she was so upset at herself for looking at me. Before I registered what I was doing, I was standing in front of her, wiping tears from her other cheek. “Please don’t cry.”

She looked up at me surprised, and then more tears started to fall. I didn’t know what I’d done, but I pulled her to my chest and held her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” I apologized. My father had taught me at a young age that no matter what, if the woman was crying, it was your fault, and you’d better apologize, but that didn’t seem to help in this matter.

I scooped her up and carried her to the couch, afraid if we stood there any longer, she would become hysterical. I wasn’t used to dealing with crying women. Hell, I wasn’t used to dealing with women period. I sat her on my lap, holding her in my arms. I knew I was being bold with my actions, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Matthew,” she said so softly I almost missed it. She sniffled and settled down. “I’m sorry if I freaked you out.”

I smiled and brushed her hair back from her face. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. Can you tell me why you’re upset?” I asked. She blushed the cutest pink and shook her head no. I suspected she liked me from what I had overheard, but I didn’t want to mistake it. “Addy, did you call yourself a mouse?”

Her sad eyes looked up at me and watered a little. I knew then it was a derogatory term for herself.

“You know, Addy, I’ve seen a lot of mice in my day, some cute and some not, but if I were comparing you to a mouse, which by the way pales in comparison to you, I’d go with the adorable little brown field mouse. I swear I had half a mind to invite them to curl up in my bedroll, with their soft shiny brown hair,” I said, running my fingers through hers, “and their cute little pink ears,” I said, tracing up her cheek to her ears, “and their beautiful deep brown eyes that you could just fall into,” I said, looking at her eyes, but then I noticed she was looking at my lips. That was all it took for me to cross the line.  I kissed her.

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