Page 120 of Old Habits

Chapter 30

Will

Hank Ross’ house is like a time capsule.

Not that I spent much time here to begin with. Jovie always insisted on meeting me outside instead of me coming to the door. Hank’s hatred of me aside, I think she was just embarrassed about where she came from. I honestly never asked.

It’s a small house, about twice as small as mine and I live by myself. The cramped living room is barely large enough for the couch and chair that sits inside. The kitchen hasn’t been upgraded in at least two decades. An entire house locked in time.

I follow Jovie to her bedroom, my eyes instantly rising to the set of photos lining the short hallway wall. Newborn baby Jovie. Teething Jovie. Second birthday Jovie. Dimpled cheeks and little brown eyes.

I pause on the last one. Toddler Jovie sitting on her mother’s lap in what’s obviously a hospital bed.

Joanne. I stare at her cheekbones and the way her smile curls to one side, just like Jovie’s does. She holds a picture book with cartoon dinosaurs in front of them, keeping little Jovie occupied. IV tubes stick out the back of her hand and a red bandanna sits loosely on her head.

“Will.”

I pull my eyes away to glance at Jovie, admiring the similar structure and beauty in their faces.

“Come on.” She taps her nail against the door. “I don’t have much. It won’t take long.”

I point to the picture. “You look just like her.”

“So I hear.”

She ducks back inside her room and I know not to bring it up again.

As I enter the room, Jovie yanks two old suitcases out from under the bed and lays them open on top. “Okay, so, it’s mostly just clothing,” she says.

I scan the walls. They’re a faded pink color, no doubt left over from when this was her nursery. It’s covered up now by various posters and photos of cities and places around the world Jovie always talked about going to.

Jovie retreats into her closet and starts sifting through the hangers.

I walk to the dresser in the corner. “Anything from here?” I ask.

“Everything in the top drawer.”

I slide it open and smirk at the multi-colored delicates hidden inside. “Oh, yeah.”

“Stop it.” She chuckles. “Don’t even know if it all fits anymore.”

“Well, can I watch you test them out?” I joke.

“Sure.”

I snatch up as many panties and bras as I can in my hands and drop them into an open suitcase.

“You know,” I say, “I’d be more than happy to lend you some money to—”

“No.”

“—buy some new clothes.”

Jovie exhales as she carries out a stack of shirts. “I don’t want to rely on anybody for this. I’ll save up and buy them myself.”

“It’s not a problem.”

“You’ve done enough, Will. I’ve already compromised my morals on my car repairs and the rent situation.”