the grief, she walked. Long walks. Power walks. Meandering strolls. Whatever it takes to clear her mind. If she focused on other things, neutral things like the weather or nature, sometimes she could forget about being so lonely.
All bundled up, Lily headed outside.
It was like stepping into a time machine.
One whiff of pungent chimney smoke reeled her back to her early childhood before life took a nosedive. The familiar fragrance didn’t affect her any other day. Only certain holidays got her so choked up she couldn’t see straight. A fresh fire on Thanksgiving was more memorable than the smell of roasting turkey.
It was probably a good thing the memories with her dad were short and sweet, otherwise she’d have more to miss.
Next to the crooked For Sale sign at the end of the driveway, screaming squirrels scurried around the old maple tree where crows cawed from the canopy of branches. Withered leaves fell like rain, twirling in the breeze, swirling around her decrepit little house. Once a snappy shade of colonial blue with a sharp looking red door, it was now just a faded eyesore.
Her life started falling apart the day her father died. But when did the house start falling apart? Shingles fell off in different places during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. The broken windows were the originals since the 1960s. The irreparable crack in the foundation had been there since God knows when. There wasn’t any way to fix the shack up without tearing it all down first.
Maybe if her father were alive he would’ve taken care of it before it got so bad.
Maybe if her mother hadn’t opened up and over-extended the credit cards using Lily’s name they could’ve afforded the basic repairs.
None of that mattered now as she was too far behind on the mortgage to ever catch up. A buyer better show up soon before the bank foreclosed.
Even more reason to find a new job.
Although the Barbieris depended upon her, they couldn’t pay her any more than what they already were, and tips were slim when business was slow.
She swiped a tear and sucked back the sadness, shaking off the pains of her past.
Walking ought to release enough endorphins to improve her dreary disposition, as ominous as the opaque sky.
Almost everything was closed on Thanksgiving, so her choices were limited to grabbing a bag of beef jerky at the gas station’s mini-mart or daring to go into the dreaded diner. She didn’t like eating alone in public, which worked perfectly because she didn’t have enough cash for the bill, plus a tip.
Studying the Specials posted on the glass door, she debated on ordering something to go. She could eat it at a picnic table in the park.
A man’s thick voice behind her shook her deep contemplation. “Going in or coming out?”
“Sorry.” As Lily jumped aside to free up the doorway, she recognized Nick’s superlative smile beaming like the sun, warming every cell in her body. His nose was rosy, and his quizzical eyes shimmered with moisture as if he’d been in the frigid wind for too long. She bit her tongue to prevent any wild thoughts from rushing past her shivering lips.
“Hey, are you following me?” He winked.
“I, um…” His distinctive musk and cinnamon scent derailed her train of thought. She hid her smile while brushing away an escaped curl tickling her chin. Did her best to contain the butterflies fluttering in her belly.
“ Well ?” Nick cocked his head. “I’m cold and hungry. How about you?” He grimaced, underdressed for the blustery weather in a black leather jacket with a red scarf tucked into the collar. “Care to join me?”
Of course, she wanted to join him but the rapid fire of her treacherous heart made it difficult to breathe, let alone talk, and her feet were too stunned to move.
“You don’t have to if you don’t wanna. But why eat alone when we could eat together? Unless, of course, you’re not here alone.”
“I…I’m not here with anyone.”
“So, how ’bout it?”
Giving
All bundled up, Lily headed outside.
It was like stepping into a time machine.
One whiff of pungent chimney smoke reeled her back to her early childhood before life took a nosedive. The familiar fragrance didn’t affect her any other day. Only certain holidays got her so choked up she couldn’t see straight. A fresh fire on Thanksgiving was more memorable than the smell of roasting turkey.
It was probably a good thing the memories with her dad were short and sweet, otherwise she’d have more to miss.
Next to the crooked For Sale sign at the end of the driveway, screaming squirrels scurried around the old maple tree where crows cawed from the canopy of branches. Withered leaves fell like rain, twirling in the breeze, swirling around her decrepit little house. Once a snappy shade of colonial blue with a sharp looking red door, it was now just a faded eyesore.
Her life started falling apart the day her father died. But when did the house start falling apart? Shingles fell off in different places during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. The broken windows were the originals since the 1960s. The irreparable crack in the foundation had been there since God knows when. There wasn’t any way to fix the shack up without tearing it all down first.
Maybe if her father were alive he would’ve taken care of it before it got so bad.
Maybe if her mother hadn’t opened up and over-extended the credit cards using Lily’s name they could’ve afforded the basic repairs.
None of that mattered now as she was too far behind on the mortgage to ever catch up. A buyer better show up soon before the bank foreclosed.
Even more reason to find a new job.
Although the Barbieris depended upon her, they couldn’t pay her any more than what they already were, and tips were slim when business was slow.
She swiped a tear and sucked back the sadness, shaking off the pains of her past.
Walking ought to release enough endorphins to improve her dreary disposition, as ominous as the opaque sky.
Almost everything was closed on Thanksgiving, so her choices were limited to grabbing a bag of beef jerky at the gas station’s mini-mart or daring to go into the dreaded diner. She didn’t like eating alone in public, which worked perfectly because she didn’t have enough cash for the bill, plus a tip.
Studying the Specials posted on the glass door, she debated on ordering something to go. She could eat it at a picnic table in the park.
A man’s thick voice behind her shook her deep contemplation. “Going in or coming out?”
“Sorry.” As Lily jumped aside to free up the doorway, she recognized Nick’s superlative smile beaming like the sun, warming every cell in her body. His nose was rosy, and his quizzical eyes shimmered with moisture as if he’d been in the frigid wind for too long. She bit her tongue to prevent any wild thoughts from rushing past her shivering lips.
“Hey, are you following me?” He winked.
“I, um…” His distinctive musk and cinnamon scent derailed her train of thought. She hid her smile while brushing away an escaped curl tickling her chin. Did her best to contain the butterflies fluttering in her belly.
“ Well ?” Nick cocked his head. “I’m cold and hungry. How about you?” He grimaced, underdressed for the blustery weather in a black leather jacket with a red scarf tucked into the collar. “Care to join me?”
Of course, she wanted to join him but the rapid fire of her treacherous heart made it difficult to breathe, let alone talk, and her feet were too stunned to move.
“You don’t have to if you don’t wanna. But why eat alone when we could eat together? Unless, of course, you’re not here alone.”
“I…I’m not here with anyone.”
“So, how ’bout it?”
Giving
Similar Books
