Page 52 of Glad You're Here
I’d asked Jo to house-sit for the year I’d be gone, which worked perfectly for her since her lease was about to end. She’d tried to offer me rent, but I didn’t want her money. I wanted her to have a year with no rent or house payment so that she could save and get ahead or even take the kids to Disneyland.
I did it because I cared about Jo and her little shits. I did it because Levi made me feel like a good person. I did it for my mom. Maybe a massive part of me had shifted, and instead of thinking of ways to leave this world, I’d spend my days showing my mom all of the reasons to stay. I thought she’d like that.
“Thank you again. Thank you a million times. We’ll take such good care of the place while you’re gone.” Jo’s blue eyes were full of sincerity that I hadn’t seen since childhood.
“I know you will.” She would. I could see the change in Jo. Maybe Jo had only needed one person to believe in her all this time.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down at the message from Levi.
She’s here!
I grinned and typed a reply.
I’ll grab Lenny!
“Is that Levi?” Jo asked with a smile.
“Yeah.” I nodded and slid my phone into my back pocket.
“He’s cute,” her smile grew. “He is not the kind of guy I thought you’d end up with, but you guys are perfect together.” Then Jo laughed. “Sorry that I kissed him that one time.”
I smiled. “I forgot about that. I needed a gut punch to wake up and realize what I felt for him. It was good for me.” I gave my art studio one last look and said, “Well, I have to run to the bar, but here are the keys for tomorrow.” I pressed the house and mailbox keys into Jo’s palm.
She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Thea. You’re giving me more than you could ever know. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you.”
“Meh. Don’t repay me. Pay it forward.”
Jo gave me a short, determined nod, and we walked out the front door together. I had one more important thing to do.
When I pulled up to Lenny’s house, she rushed out the front door. “Hi, honey!” she called. “I’m so sorry, but I have to cancel our lunch plans today. A pipe burst at the bar, and the staff needs me!”
They didn’t need her. The bar was fine. I’d told Desi to call my aunt and fake an emergency exactly two minutes ago. I had to up the stakes on this colossal surprise and really play with Lenny’s emotions. Maybe I was a decent person these days, but I still needed to maintain at least some of my exasperating ways.
“Oh no! Let me drive you there.” I donned my poker face.
“Thanks!” Lenny rushed down the driveway and climbed into my passenger seat. While I drove, she clucked over me like an auntie hen. “Did you pack your heating pad? And your wedge pillow? Will there be room for it?”
“Yeah. Both are already in the trailer. Levi left me plenty of room for my stuff.” I smiled at my aunt’s concern.
“Okay, and you have enough pairs of compression leggings? We can go shopping this evening after I finish at the bar.” Lenny frowned at the red light before us and fidgeted with her beaded bracelet.
“Lenore, I promise I have everything I need. Stop fussing.” I glanced over at her, feeling pleased with her agitated state. It would melt away the second she walked into The Station.
“Alright, alright. I’m going to miss you, and I want to make sure you’ll have everything you need.” Lenny slid her bracelet onto the opposite wrist and smoothed her green sundress.
“I’m going to miss you, too. But I’ll call every week, and it’s only a year.” I wasn’t getting choked up. That would be stupid. I swallowed the lump in my throat and made a left turn. We were almost at the bar.
Lenny sighed. “If it were any other asshole trying to take you away in a damn trailer, I’d put my foot down. This Levi is the only man I’ve ever met that I trust to take care of you.”
In the past week, my two favorite people had finally spent some quality time together. Levi delighted Lenny with his sarcasm and patience. Lenny awed Levi with her warmth and wisdom. I hoped that my aunt would become a sort of surrogate mother for my boyfriend, too. He needed her. He needed what I’d been lucky to have my entire life.
We pulled up to a nearly empty parking lot at The Station. “Oh shit,” Lenny sighed and unbuckled her seatbelt. “It must be a bad leak if Desi and Jason had to close for lunch.”
“Ugh. Yeah.” I accidentally smiled, and Lenny shot me a suspicious glare.
We walked up to the front doors, Lenny several steps ahead of me. She burst through and was not met by Desi, Jason, or a burst pipe. Instead, the bar was empty except for two people sitting in a corner booth. The painfully attractive one facing us was Levi. He smiled at the woman across from him, clearly charming her with his good nature. His warm, brown eyes met mine across the bar.
Home. Butterflies and summer breeze settled in my chest.