Epilogue
EPILOGUE
MAR
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Turns out, I was meant to develop the minds of our youth, just not as a traditional teacher, but as a librarian who can show them the world through books. One of my favorite special skills as the town librarian is the ability to make sense of bits and pieces of information. Helping someone find a book when all they can remember is the color of the cover or one line from a random chapter.
It took months, but now my bald spot is gone and my hair is growing. Slowly, but growing.
I am thankful to Jackie Sue for staying on and working evening shifts at both the library and the cafe. She brought another friend from school to help at the library on the days she’s working at the cafe, and it’s worked out for the most part. Miriam, retired, yet still finds her way into the library once a week to rearrange things. I let her because I know it can’t be easy giving it up.
Verdi has mostly been running Coffey Cafe on her own since I’m at the library more often than not. She hired extra help. One ended up being Jackie Sue’s boyfriend, Andrew. He shows up on time, does his job, and is quiet. I’m worried what will happen when they inevitably break up. We’ll keep Jackie Sue, but it will hurt to lose such a hard worker.
Verdi and Sheila are attempting to make their long-distance relationship work. They seem to be okay with it, for now. We decided to close the coffee shop early on Sundays at noon and open late on Mondays to give Verdi one night away.
Mom and Dad are loving retired life on the golf course. They’ve only been home once to bring imported coffee, and I don’t think they would have come back then, but the shop needed it. I can’t blame them; there isn’t any need for them up here in River Falls at the moment.
I’ve been living in their house alone for three months. It’s been nice and odd. I’ve scared myself a few times watching old horror films or reading a thriller late at night. I still haven’t allowed Sihn to stay over, even though I’ve stayed at his place often. I don’t think my parents would care, but it’s been nice having my own space. I’m not sure if I’m ready to give up my individual free time.
When I pick my phone up to call Sihn, a call comes through from my mom.
“Hey, Mom,” I answer as I dig in the refrigerator for something to eat.
“Hey, it’s me. Your father wanted me to call and invite you down. We would invite Verdi too, but we can’t have the both of you out of town at the same time.”
“That’s nice of you to offer, but I don’t feel good leaving the library right now.” I’ve only really started taking over on my own and now would not be a good time.
“What about coming down here for Thanksgiving? You could have a long weekend. The library always closes extra for it.”
She’s not wrong. The library is only open for two days on Thanksgiving week. “I’ll think about it.”
Almost as if she knows I’m thinking about Sihn, she says, “Bring the boy too. We’d like to officially meet him.” They briefly met him when I was sick.
“I’ll see if he’d like to come. Hey, I have a question.” Now’s as good a time as ever to broach the topic.
Her voice is thin-sounding when she asks, “What is it, Amarynth? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “I was thinking that now that you and Dad are settled in Florida and don’t seem to be coming directly back, would you guys mind if I move Sihn in the house with me?”
“Is his name really Sihn, Amarynth?”
“No, it’s Elwood.” I never thought about it, but now that he’s no longer playing The Sihnner every Friday night, would he want to go back to Elwood?
“Oh.”
“Do I have your blessing?”
I invited Sihn over. I asked him what he would like to eat, and he said meatloaf with macaroni and cheese. I made both with recipes I found on the internet. They are both edible, and I hope he enjoys them.
He went to use the restroom as I set the table. I even placed a vase of wildflowers in the middle and lit a candle.
“What did I do to deserve such a nice evening with you, milady.”
“What happened to Pretty One?”
He shrugs. “I was trying something different. Too weird?”
I shrug back.
“Can I touch you?”
I nod.
Suddenly I’m snuggled into his chest, breathing in his scent as he leaves feather-light kisses on the top of my head.
His calling me something I’m not used to reminds me of his real first name. “Do you want me to continue to call you Sihn or Elwood?”
He talks into my hair. “I prefer Sihn, now. Elwood is just…my name. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t think my mom is comfortable with Sihn, but she’ll get over it.”
“My mom used to call me Woody. She could call me that.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
He takes my hand and leads me to my seat, pulling it out for me. I sit, and he takes the seat next to me instead of the one opposite where his plate is.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He pulls his plate across the table in front of him. “I like being close to you.”
After several bites, Sihn says, “This meatloaf is delicious. Thank you.”
Once I’ve finished my dinner, I say, “I’ve been contemplating asking you to move in. I think you should. You could help me move all of my things into the master bedroom.” I haven’t started moving myself in there yet, but if he moves in, that’s were we should sleep. The bed is much bigger in there.
He puts his fork down and gives me his full attention. “Are you asking for the Muscle Movers’ specialty?”
“I have no clue what that is, but I want you to help me move the stuff. We don’t need Ruin.”
“You’re right, we don’t.”
SIHN
I’ve been on the phone talking to Harvey for the last half hour about giving up wrestling. It’s weird because even though I know he hated wrestling and what it did to Mom, he sounded sad for me.
“Harvey, before I go, I wanted to let you know I’m moving in with my girlfriend, and I’d like for you to meet her.”
“Having a girlfriend is news to me. You’ve never mentioned a girl before. I thought you might be gay.”
I chuckle, “Nope, not gay. Just smitten with this one.”
“Bring her by sometime. I’d love to meet her. What’s her name?”
“Mar and I think I will, soon.”
When I hang up with Harvey, there is a knock at my door.
“Come on in,” I tell him, knowing it’s Ruin.
“Someone said you needed help packing up.” He holds up several broken-down boxes.
“No one said that, but thanks.” When he asked for a guys’ night, I told him I couldn’t because I was packing.
“Well, shit. I was hoping to at least get a pizza and a few beers out of you for all my troubles.”
“Says the guy who charges a little old lady to move her couch across the room once a week…”
“You do it, too, dick!” He tosses the packing boxes on the floor. “Nancy has two new clients for us, by the way.”
Nancy has been our number-one client for the past few months. Never cancels and always pays upfront. “Really?”
“Yep. One would like her kitchen table moved every other week and another said she would like us to dust once a month.”
I shake my head. “Dust? I ain’t a fucking maid. I don’t even dust my own shit.” I wonder if Mar will ask me to dust or if we’ll share household chores.
He begins folding boxes together. “Yeah, I told her we don’t do that.”
“Good. I feel bad enough taking money from these old broads, but I’m not about to become a housekeeper. I’m not that hard up for cash.”
“You selling this place?” Ruin asks.
It’s my childhood home. I wanted to suggest to Mar that we move here, but her place is nicer. “Not yet. Maybe at some point.”
“Yeah, probably best in case…” He trails off. “Well, if you want someone to occupy this place…”
“Didn’t you say Gia has been staying at your place practically every night for the last month?”
He shrugs. “The sex is good. Like really good. I don’t have any trouble at all, man. I ain’t letting this one go, that’s for damn sure.”
Mar stands before me, barefoot in a gray top and a short, black floral skirt. “You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen on two legs.”
She winks and bites her bottom lip. “Sometimes on four.” When she turns, her skirt flows up, showing me that she’s wearing pink panties. She really has no idea how hot she is. I am so lucky that she’s decided to give me her love. She carries the smallest box I brought up the stairs. I watch her legs as the muscles contract with each step.
“Are you coming?” she calls over her shoulder.
Soon, I hope. I carry three boxes up and follow her into a room.
When Mar bends over to set the box down, her skirt rides up just enough for me to see the curves of her ass cheeks and her panty line. It immediately causes my cock to go from half-chub to rigid, and I find the nearest surface to take a seat. It ends up being a desk chair.
Mar turns around and asks, “What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.” I cannot believe this gorgeous woman has finally let me in, fully.
Her mouth pulls into a mischievous smile. “Why are you sitting down?”
I open my arms up. “Because my dick is doing all the thinking. It would like you to ride it in this chair, now.”