Chapter 4
David
Looking around my empty apartment, I expect to feel some sadness at leaving the place I’ve called home for the past three years, but there’s no sense of nostalgia.
Instead, there’s a bit of relief. I moved here as an easy option when I got my first school as a principal, but it never really felt like home.
The past month has been hard. Being away from Delilah, as I wrapped up everything before making my move to Thistle Creek, was worse than I imagined.
The first weekend after I returned, I was supposed to head back to town to visit, but my grandmother became ill and since my parents were out of town, it fell on me to check on her.
Delilah was understanding, but after the second time I had to cancel on her, I could feel her pulling away a little. Guarding herself.
It’s understandable, but I need to hold her and show her that we’re it. Endgame.
Locking my door, I drop my keys in the drop box of my super’s office. We already did our move out walk through.
The drive to Thistle Creek is long, but soon I see the towering grain elevator, the scaffolding around it shining in the sun.
As I navigate through the tiny town to my new apartment, my phone rings with the name of my building manager across the screen. “Hello?”
“Hello, is this David Markham?” The female voice on the other end is all business.
“It is.”
“Hi, Mr. Markham.” Her voice shifts a little, taking on a tone that has my guard up. “I have some bad news. Unfortunately, the unit above yours flooded and it trickled through your ceiling. It’s a disaster.”
“Oh. Well, that’s okay, I am open to another apartment.” Pressing my lips together, I pull over and park alongside some little florist shop.
She clears her throat, her tone shifting again. “That’s why I’m calling. There are no other apartments. We have repaid your damage deposit, and I am truly sorry for this, but we’re full.”
Well, shit. She prattles off some different places, but none of them are in town. “It’s fine, I will find something.”
Hanging up, I type in Delilah’s address. She’s not expecting me, but with my rented moving trailer attached to my SUV, I don’t know what else to do. I’m supposed to be at the school Monday morning and I have nowhere to live.
The drive to her house is a blink of an eye. I think she said Thistle Creek has a little over fifteen hundred people, and everything is located within less than a ten-minute drive.
Parking outside her house, I take a moment to look at it. It’s quaint, the stone feature pieces making it look like a cottage from a storybook. She clearly maintains the property well. Everything is neat and tidy.
Her front door is a soft pink and her mailbox looks like a fairy house with a small sign that says “Delilah Graham” on it.
In my thirty-eight years, I never expected to just show up at someone’s door to practically invite myself to live with them, but I also never thought I would be living in a town with only two apartment buildings and a basically non-existent rental market.
I feel the start of a stress headache and knock on her door before I decide to just sleep in my car rather than ask for her help. I hate imposing, but I know she would be upset if I didn’t ask.
Delilah opens the door, concern etched on her face when she sees me. “David! I wasn’t expecting you until later. Come in. Is everything okay?”
I follow her in, my gaze sweeping over the tiny room to the side of the entryway. It’s floor to ceiling bookshelves, full of books. Of course she has a library in her house.
“My new apartment flooded and is no longer available for me to move in.” I put my shoes in her hall closet, frowning as I meet her gaze. “I don’t want to impose, but there’s nowhere else in town available. I have nowhere to go.”
She steps forward, wrapping her arms around me and hugging me close. “Of course you can stay. Before you get settled, why don’t you come have some lunch? I have lots because my new friend, Morgan, came by for a visit.”
She leads me to the back of the house. The entire house has the same cottagey feel as the outside, it feels very warm and welcoming.
Entering the kitchen, I smile at the woman sitting at the table. She’s very petite, and has a warm, kind face.
“David, this is Morgan. She’s actually a new teacher at your school. It’s great you’re here because now there will be a friendly face on Monday.” Delilah goes to the counter and grabs a plate while I sit at the empty spot at the table.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m the new principal.” I smile warmly.
The job at the school opened quite suddenly when the old principal fell ill and decided to retire.
“It’s nice to meet you as well.”
Delilah hands me the plate and sits down. “Morgan managed to find a rental house on a farm not too far from town.”
“I couldn’t help but overhear what happened. It’s definitely challenging to find space here.” Morgan shares some stories about the places she stayed and soon we’re done eating.
Not long after lunch, Morgan excuses herself and I’m left with Delilah.
She makes quick work of showing me around the rest of the house. There’s an office, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The basement houses a sweet media set up that I can’t wait to try out.
Delilah helps me bring in my necessities before settling into her library with a book while I unpack.
Despite her lack of hesitancy over inviting me to stay, I still feel a small wall between us.
It seems like she’s guarding herself, worried about getting hurt again.
It was hard on us both to go the entire month without seeing each other in person, but I don’t want to start our new beginning with unspoken questions.
I finish unpacking and head to the library. Delilah’s in an oversized chair under a blanket. Leaning against the doorframe, I grin.
“It’s summer and you’re in here under a blanket,” I tease.
She looks up at me, her lips twitching. “There’s something about reading in here that calls for a blanket.”
She marks her place, before setting aside the book.
“You’re all settled?” Her expression is relaxed. Maybe I’m reading too much into my perceived tone of her messages, but I need to be sure.
“I am… Are you sure this is okay? Things have felt off the past month.” I move to sit on the edge of her chair, wanting to be closer to her.
She crosses her legs, leaning forward. “Of course things have felt a little weird. We went from not seeing each other in four years, to naked, to agreeing to trying again… and then you were gone. And all our plans kept being cancelled. But that doesn’t mean we’re not okay.”
Delilah shifts closer, wrapping her arms around me.
“I’m glad. And you’re positive me staying here is okay?” I press again, noticing she bypassed the question.
She presses a kiss into my back. “Sure. Look, we may as well see where this goes and jump in. It doesn’t make sense for you to lease an apartment when we know you’re going to be here most of the time anyway.”
Turning, I pull her into my arms and kiss her. “I like that.”