CHAPTER NINETEEN
-:- BLAKE -:-
Bitty is hammering at the front door, shouting, “Let me in, Blake, it’s too early to be standing out here.” Looking at my alarm on the bedside table, I blink as it is saying it's only 5:30 am…!
Scrambling out of bed and down the stairs, I shout, “I’m coming! Hang on, Bitty.”
The door opens and in storms Bitty, looking like she needs another few hours in her bed. “Mom, momma, ma, mammy, mama…got it?”
“Wow, who upset you this morning, mama?” I grin when I see her deflate somewhat and starts the fixing for a coffee.
“I’m going to get dressed. I’ll be back in a minute.” I rush back up the stairs and grab my clothes for work, do my morning routine, missing out the shower, dress and run downstairs to the kitchen where Bitty is sitting calmly, now sipping coffee.
“Okay, mama, what’s going on that you are here so early in the morning?”
“Well, I was speaking with Amelia and Sybil and we decided we are going to go over to speak with Yax one last time. But you need to go to speak with Sheriff Forest. Ask him to go in and remove that terrible bitch so we can get the place cleaned out and sold. Now, as your mama, I’m not going to watch some disgusting people take you for a ride, and keep living in the house you are working hard to supply. Let me do this Blake, and you get our boy Forest to move their arses.”
Arses? Now, I don’t think I’ve heard that expression before. But if it’s the same as ass, then okay, I understand, and to be truthful, I’m ready to get the house gone and finished with.
“This has gotten you well riled up, mama. But we will get them out of the house and have it sold. I’ll make a call to Sheriff Forest and see if he can do anything to get them removed, but we know with a child involved, a court would not make them homeless.”
Bitty shot to her feet, and snarled…and I mean snarled like a frickin’ Pitbull terrier in attack mode. “I’ll get them out of that house within the next three days. Don’t bother with Forest as I’ll deal with him too. You are witness to my words.”
I watch, open-mouthed in shock as Bitty throws her cup into the sink, which smashes into pieces and storms out of the house. The door slams so hard the window panes rattle and I catch a cat ornament I had on a shelf in the kitchen next to where I’m standing. ‘Wow, she has one heck of a temper,’ I mumble to myself, place the cat back and get ready for work.
The day sped past, and Friday evening as I’m stepping into Ed’s place, I notice he is already standing waiting for me in the kitchen. “Evening Ed, how are you this evening?” I ask as I make my way to the kitchen, placing yet another zip-lock bag of cookies on his kitchen counter.
“I’m good. I went to your place, and the people came and took the table and chairs. They were great people and were very polite and courteous.”
Turning to look at Ed, I can see he’s just bursting to tell me more, so I pour us both a coffee from his machine and take a seat, pointing for him to sit too. Which I notice he does without a limp and takes his mug with no finger issues. Hmm, seems I am right in thinking he’s a little con man.
Sitting here watching Ed, I can’t help but think if I had a grandfather I’d want him to be like Ed, who is so animated at this moment by relaying what he’d gotten up to at my house.
“You listening, Blake?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m listening.” Sheesh, I best keep my wits about me!
“Okay then. I took the cab over to your place and waited until the people came for the table and chairs. They were great, as I said, and they didn’t rush to leave either. I made them a drink, and we talked for quite some time. I also sweet-talked them some…”
He made them a drink…with his bad hands…and sweet-talked them! Well, I never, it gets better and better. I keep a straight face as he is telling me all this, but I want to burst out laughing because he has no idea he just outed himself. But, he continues.
“I walked over to Bitty’s with them, who was thankfully home packing boxes ready for her move. Oh, she had that nosey biddy with her, you know Sybil something-or-other. Anyway, these nice people took Bitty’s table and chairs to your house, so now you don’t have to worry about that. They also brought the washing machine Bitty said you wanted, and they took the old one away with them.” Ed folds his arms over his chest and gives me a smile so broad there is no way I’m going to ask him how he managed all that with his ailments.
“Well, that is so kind of you. I saw the table and chairs and presumed Bitty had organized it all being brought to my house. But I’m so grateful to you, that was such a lovely thing for you to do,” I give it a bit of gushy thankfulness, and can see him swelling with pride in himself. “You know, Bitty has me calling her mama because she claimed me as a daughter. I would love to claim you as my grandfather if you would be willing?”
“If I would be willing? I’d be honored to have you as a granddaughter. My oh my, this is a good day. You know it’ll be good to have a family. It’s been a long time. But I will be a great PawPaw for you.” Ed steps over from his side of the table and I stand and return the hug he gives me.
Giggling, I look at Ed. “Well, PawPaw, tell me about this issue you have with walking and your hands, hm…”
“Oh…” Ed flushes a glorious shade of red, and I throw my head back, laughing.
The rest of my evening is spent with me getting all my cleaning done and Ed following me talking about what we can do together, how he’s going to be the best grandfather on the planet, and if anyone messes with me he’s going to shoot holes in their asses for them as he still has his shotgun.
Back at home, I get a message from Bitty, which surprises me, as she hardly ever sends me a text message.
Mama: I’ve got it organized
Blake: What have you organized?
Mama: Evicting that piece of trash
Blake: Um, what have you organized?
Mama: Oh, I’ve got my boy onboard, and he’s going to make sure that shit leaves the house
Blake: When is this going to happen? As it would be best for me to be present.
Mama: 9 on Sunday morning (smiling emoji)
Blake: I’ll be there
Mama: OK.
Lying in bed, I’m thinking about having a crazy mother and a grandfather that are about the same damn age, and they are both crazy coots. But I can’t hold back the smile thinking about them both. I’ve struck lucky, I’m thinking.
Saturday and date night again, I hope it is a better one than the last because I’m not going to keep trying again, and again. I like Mav, and I enjoyed our last date up to that awful woman turning up.
I rush through my morning chores with my clients, much to Ed’s upset, but when I explain I’m going on a date, he’s all ears. Of course, that meant I had to tell him all about Mav, what I know about him, anyway. I even told him about the woman and what happened, and Bitty organizing a second date. PawPaw, as I am told to think of and call him, explains he’ll be checking in with Bitty to find out if this Mav, as he called him, is responsible and worth my time.
Well, I’m ready and waiting for Mav to pick me up for our date. I’m wearing a cotton summer dress with thin straps, cowboy boots and a denim jacket. I’m not making more of an effort than I need to as we’re going to TJs and I fully expect to either fend off women that are looking for a biker, or storming out of our date once more.
Knocking on the door grabs my attention, and I pick up my purse before opening it. Mav is standing looking slick in his motorcycle jacket with clean jeans and polished biker boots. I look up and see the smirk on his face. “Like what you see?”
“God, I hope it’s not going to be an awful night,” I mumble to myself as I close and lock the front door.
“It’s going to be a good night, Blake.” Mav chuckles more to himself than to me, but he guides me to an SUV and opens the door, helping me climb in before quickly making his way around to the driver's side.
“So, have you had a pleasant week?” Mav asks.
“I have. Thank you for asking. I gained myself a grandfather.”
“What do you mean, you gained a grandfather?”
“Well, I’m working for the cleaning company, and one of my clients is a great senior. He’s bored out of his pants if I’m being honest. So, with Bitty claiming me as a daughter, I claimed Ed as a grandfather, so now I have to call him PawPaw.” I can’t stop the giggle that bursts out of me, because honestly calling him that seems so strange.
We continue with general chit chat until we arrive at TJs and quickly make our way inside. Mav has his hand resting on the bottom of my back, just before my butt, and he’s showing I’m with him, so everyone needs to stay away from us. It’s a pleasant feeling if I’m being honest with myself.
“Let’s sit in that booth. I’ll get us a drink and then we’ll get something to eat if you’re hungry?”
I take a seat and look at Mav as he’s waiting for my reply, “I’m not hungry to be honest, but I’ll have a Batanga, please,” I’ve had this once previously. It’s tequila, lime juice and coke. I will only have the one drink of Batanga before sticking to coke the rest of the evening.
Bringing our drinks and placing them on the table, Mav takes a seat and we talk about our jobs. Mav surprises me when he tells me he’s a bouncer, come doorman, depending on what you want to call them. He also has been involved in martial arts and competitive fighting matches.
I put my drink down when a couple walk past and I’m not sure if I recognize them or not, but they are wearing costumes that are from the 1920s. The woman even has one of those long cigarette holders in her hand.
My eyes flick to Mav and he’s watching my expression, which must have flicked through from surprise to amusement. I can’t help but ask, “Is it theme night? If I’d known, I would have been willing to get myself one of those dresses with fringes around the bottom, or even all over them. I would have enjoyed that, would have been fun.”
Mav leans over and kisses my cheek, “Next theme night I’ll bring you. We’ll dress to match and have a great time.”
“Okay, that’s a date,” I grin and turn to watch how the bar staff are running around showing how capable they are. It’s a delight to watch how efficiently they move from one thing to another. I notice there are a lot of men here with the same jacket as Mav and they give chin lifts as they pass our table.
The evening is relaxed and enjoyable. We even have a few dances together which surprised me how fluidly Mav dances. Honestly, he’s as hot as heck and if I was an easy kind of girl, I would have jumped his bones. But, I’m not, so I don’t, but it doesn’t mean I can’t dream about it later.