anything if I needed.
Then Sara was telling me how great his son was, a fire fighter too but still I was waiting. Something more was to come. I’d be rooming with someone. Or putting up with some strange clause. I read over the rental agreement repeatedly. Found nothing out of the ordinary. I watched them warily before Deacon set a pair of keys in my hand.
“Charli,” Deacon laughed gently, the sound musical to my ears, “good things happen sometimes. To the right people. I learned a little about you through Sara. Who is an expert in research so don’t believe you didn’t have that job and this place before you even set foot in Chicago. Her feeling is the same I have. You are good people; from the sounds of it, it's time you get the good stuff other people were keeping you from. Let me know when you’re ready to move in, I’ll have Cage get the place painted and have Regan furnish it for you.” Handsome and a seemingly good guy.
“Thank you si--Deacon. I can’t...I mean I can’t really tell you how huge this is for me. I thought it would be months before I found a place. Let alone was able to furnish it. Figured it would be me and some cardboard boxes and pizza for a while. I... I know its business to you sir, but its life changing to me and... I’ll pay for the paint and help if you’d like. The furniture too of course.” I knew I was babbling and they both laughed as we headed out, Deacon placing a heavy hand at my back that reminded me of my father for some reason I couldn’t place.
“Charli. My wife and I love sweets. Sara says that you might be talented in that arena. Pay us in the unhealthiest way possible. I love donuts,” He laughed and patted his trim stomach, eyes twinkling, "Gwen loves cakes. I just hate to see the place empty; it’s a house meant to be lived in.” With a long wistful look at the cute cottage, he gave my back another pat and we shared a look.
I knew then how important the place had been to him. It had been his family’s home. The house I had left back home held the same fondness for my family, which was why I hated it now. Well, hate was a harsh word, really. It was painful to walk around a house full of memories.
The first time Cash brought his baseball team home after a big win. The camp outs Colton and I used to have in a tent in our back yard. My first prom, with Tucker of course, my mother and daddy going through two rolls of film. A time when my mother and daddy shared a long look across the kitchen before he swung her into his arms and danced to no music. Each room held endless memories and I couldn’t take it anymore.
It was overflowing with bittersweet memories. Of two different lives; one before tragedy changed the path of my life, and the life after. Neither of which were really ever what I wanted for my life. I had the choice taken away from me. This house, with so many memories for Deacon and his family, was different. It no doubt had bad memories but he could see only the good. In that look, I saw he wanted someone else to be able to build good memories here too. It was more than I could ask for and I was going to take it.
We said our goodbyes, with Deacon promising his son, Cage would arrange for painters before daughters Regan and Tegan furnished it. I assured him I would be ready to move in within the week. The sooner I could settle in, the sooner I could start believing this was really my reality. Really my life.
A path I had chosen and no one else could change for me. Also I hardly wanted to spend more time at the hooker hotel than I had to. Nightly moaning and thumping against my walls had grown old.
“Perfect match you an’ the place, I think.” Sara murmured as the stood on the sidewalk, peering up at the cottage.
“I think so too. I can’t...this is scary and amazing and I don’t know why things are falling into place for me. Just sort of waiting for something to ruin it. Kind of how things go for me, Sara.” Sara had arrived with Deacon
Then Sara was telling me how great his son was, a fire fighter too but still I was waiting. Something more was to come. I’d be rooming with someone. Or putting up with some strange clause. I read over the rental agreement repeatedly. Found nothing out of the ordinary. I watched them warily before Deacon set a pair of keys in my hand.
“Charli,” Deacon laughed gently, the sound musical to my ears, “good things happen sometimes. To the right people. I learned a little about you through Sara. Who is an expert in research so don’t believe you didn’t have that job and this place before you even set foot in Chicago. Her feeling is the same I have. You are good people; from the sounds of it, it's time you get the good stuff other people were keeping you from. Let me know when you’re ready to move in, I’ll have Cage get the place painted and have Regan furnish it for you.” Handsome and a seemingly good guy.
“Thank you si--Deacon. I can’t...I mean I can’t really tell you how huge this is for me. I thought it would be months before I found a place. Let alone was able to furnish it. Figured it would be me and some cardboard boxes and pizza for a while. I... I know its business to you sir, but its life changing to me and... I’ll pay for the paint and help if you’d like. The furniture too of course.” I knew I was babbling and they both laughed as we headed out, Deacon placing a heavy hand at my back that reminded me of my father for some reason I couldn’t place.
“Charli. My wife and I love sweets. Sara says that you might be talented in that arena. Pay us in the unhealthiest way possible. I love donuts,” He laughed and patted his trim stomach, eyes twinkling, "Gwen loves cakes. I just hate to see the place empty; it’s a house meant to be lived in.” With a long wistful look at the cute cottage, he gave my back another pat and we shared a look.
I knew then how important the place had been to him. It had been his family’s home. The house I had left back home held the same fondness for my family, which was why I hated it now. Well, hate was a harsh word, really. It was painful to walk around a house full of memories.
The first time Cash brought his baseball team home after a big win. The camp outs Colton and I used to have in a tent in our back yard. My first prom, with Tucker of course, my mother and daddy going through two rolls of film. A time when my mother and daddy shared a long look across the kitchen before he swung her into his arms and danced to no music. Each room held endless memories and I couldn’t take it anymore.
It was overflowing with bittersweet memories. Of two different lives; one before tragedy changed the path of my life, and the life after. Neither of which were really ever what I wanted for my life. I had the choice taken away from me. This house, with so many memories for Deacon and his family, was different. It no doubt had bad memories but he could see only the good. In that look, I saw he wanted someone else to be able to build good memories here too. It was more than I could ask for and I was going to take it.
We said our goodbyes, with Deacon promising his son, Cage would arrange for painters before daughters Regan and Tegan furnished it. I assured him I would be ready to move in within the week. The sooner I could settle in, the sooner I could start believing this was really my reality. Really my life.
A path I had chosen and no one else could change for me. Also I hardly wanted to spend more time at the hooker hotel than I had to. Nightly moaning and thumping against my walls had grown old.
“Perfect match you an’ the place, I think.” Sara murmured as the stood on the sidewalk, peering up at the cottage.
“I think so too. I can’t...this is scary and amazing and I don’t know why things are falling into place for me. Just sort of waiting for something to ruin it. Kind of how things go for me, Sara.” Sara had arrived with Deacon
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