Page 21 of Five Days in July
“You’ve had a lot happen today.” I stuff my hands into my pockets because I don’t know what to do with them.
“You should’ve woken me up.” She rolls her shoulders and uncurls from the ball she folded herself into.
“It isn’t that big a deal.”
She huffs and begins gathering her purse and keys from the floorboards where they slipped when she fell asleep, pushing her feet back into her shoes. I help her down from the cab, pull her groceries out of the back of the truck, and follow her to the side door.
Usually the moon would be bright enough to illuminate the garage’s interior, but tonight it’s dark, and Lenore fumbles to find the switch inside the door. I step aside so she can use a beam of light from my headlights to find the key for the kitchen door, and then use my cell phone flashlight to guide her through the attached garage.
She opens the inner door and steps through, and I follow behind. I’m blinded by the lights when she turns them on and almost collide with her. One of the freezer bags knocks into her from the side, and I mutter a hasty apology.
While the cabin may look modest from the outside, the inside has been renovated to create an open, modern space. I can see through the kitchen and dining area to the living room. There’re hints of a cabin design, but overall, it reads high-end and luxurious.
“How’d you manage to snag this place?” I put her groceries on the counter as she takes off her shoes and settles her purse on the small table in the dining area.
“Friends of my mom own it, and when they heard I was coming to the area for work and looking for an apartment, they offered me the space and a deal on the rent in-season if I house sit during the off-season. It works out well for both of us since they’re guaranteed some rent for the season, and I get to be familiar with the property before the winter comes.”
I open one of the bags and start taking out her food.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s no problem.”
“You say that an awful lot.” She comes over and sorts through the things I pull out of the first bag: coffee grounds, crackers, creamer, ingredients for basic meals, and other kitchen essentials. In the second bag, I find the treats: ice cream, a package of cookies, fruits, and a couple of different types of trail mix.
We make quick work of it by helping each other, and soon I find that I have no logical reason to linger.
“Pick you up at eight-thirty?”
“Are you sure it’s not going to be a bother driving back and forth?” She pauses before continuing. “Never mind. I know the answer’s going to be something like ‘no problem.’”
I snort. She shows me to the door leading out to the garage.
I pause after stepping down. “I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t forget to lock up.” I tap the doorknob. She nods, but I can tell she’s exhausted. She turns the lock on the inside of the door before glancing up at me.
“The garage door doesn’t lock, so you don’t have to worry about that one.”
I nod and turn to leave, feeling her eyes on me as I make my way out of the garage.