A Chance at Destiny by Lilah K. London Page B

Tyler watched as the tall black guy eyed his wife while nudging his friend wiggling his eyebrows. He decided to close the gap between them. She may not be speaking to him but she was still his wife. After last night, he would kill any man who would challenge him otherwise.  The guys noticed their ring fingers and moved on to their destination.
     
    At student affairs, they turned in their paperwork, had student ID cards made and received a campus map. They loaded back in the truck to drive to married student housing on Lake Bradford road. After driving through campus, Tyler and Destiny drove past the dormitories lining up against the lake.
     
    As they crossed the bridge they saw the property where they would be staying. The large property sat on a huge tract of land. There was a large two story home on a hill with a small farmhouse. On the seven acres of land sat four duplexes that served as married student housing.  They were small studio style apartments. A small lake separated the two areas of the property.  Tyler and Destiny found their apartment number and met their host family.
     
    Before them stood a man in his late fifties and a woman in her late forties. They were both short and round. They had kind eyes and wide smiles. “Hi,” the short lady hugged Tyler, “You’re a tall fella. I'm Annie.” Then she hugged Destiny, “I assume your Tyler and Destiny, right?” They both nodded.
     
    The man walked to the door of the apartment and turned the key, “I’m Jessup. Call me Jess.” He hugged them both. Jessup had mostly silver gray hair in a neat conservative cut and blotchy skin. He wore rimless glasses that were round. He looked studious. He wore a Bradford College t-shirt tucked into his pressed blue jeans with brown sandals and a black watch.
     
    Annie was as round as she was tall with a short bobbed haircut and olive skin.  Her face was round but her smile and teeth were perfect as her smile was warm. She wore a button up blue blouse and loose fitting khaki Capri pants with white tennis shoes.
     
     
    Annie and Jessup seemed to giggle at one another quite often. “Glad to have you. We are so excited.” Annie said. She and Jessup giggled at each other again. Destiny looked at the older couple thinking how cute they were together. She could only hope to have a love like that one day. With Tyler , she thought.
     
    Both couples trailed into the studio apartment .It was fully furnished. Opening the door, Tyler and Destiny noticed the grey sofa and love seat combo.  A small flat screen TV was mounted on one wall. In the corner sat a desk. A sliding glass door opened to the lake with patio furniture in place.  It was same lake they'd noticed earlier as they drove onto the property. Across from the sliding glass door was a small dinette with four chairs that sat near the kitchen. They walked into a galley kitchen with a stove, fridge and pantry closet. Tucked at the end of the galley style kitchen was an efficiency washer and dryer.  
     
    Tyler followed Destiny around the small space watching her eyes. She was in awe of the space. He knew it wasn’t about the nice new appliances but the fact that she had a place. It was all theirs-together. They were home.
     
    They continued to walk just off the sitting area where there was a bedroom. Inside the bedroom was a full size bed and full bathroom to the left of the bed. There was one dresser on the opposite side of the bed.  The floors were stained cement and the walls were brick. It was perfect.
     
    “I hope you like it. The other couple arrived this morning and they’re lovely as well. They'll be living in the unit next to you.  I know you’re tired from the drive. Our first orientation meeting is tomorrow afternoon at dinnertime. We'll cook out so everyone can get acquainted,” Annie said and placed another hug around them.
     
    “Tyler, I'll help you unload,” Jess said patting him on the back. “Let's let the ladies look around some