3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Eliza
If you had told me, two months ago, that I’d soon be single, unemployed, and moving in with my eighty-year-old grandmother, I would’ve laughed in your face.
But here I am; my car packed to the brim with everything I own.
I take a deep breath as I pull into Granny’s driveway, immediately noticing the rutted-out gravel drive.
Ugh. My poor car.
However, as much as I want to hate on the bumpy driveway, I can’t deny the charm of the old, 50’s style, white farmhouse with its wrap-around porch and colorful flower pots hanging by the windows. The house emits a sense of comfort and nostalgia. It’s just too bad that it’s located smack dab in the middle of West Falls, a tiny town, far from civilization.
Well, far from Chicago, anyway.
As I put the car in park, the front door swings open, and out walks my granny, looking just as eccentric as ever with her wild white hair and brightly colored outfit. She’s waving at me with so much force, her arm might just break. I smile and give her a wave half the size.
“Eliza! You made it!” she calls out the moment I slide out into the cool, crisp September air. I gulp it in, wondering just how much I’ve poisoned my lungs back in the city. “You look good. ”
“I think you look good,” I shoot back at her, knowing good and well I look like a hot mess in my leggings and oversized T-shirt. “How’re you feeling today?”
She gives me an annoyed look as I pop the trunk to get my luggage. “I am just fine. Now, I know your mama and daddy think you’re staying here to help me out, but don’t get it twisted, I’m doing this for you, too,” she quips.
I laugh as I grab two of my oversized bags. “I know, I know. You don’t need any help.”
She’s always been the epitome of stubbornness, and as much as her arthritis bothers my parents, she’s convinced that no one needs to be here to help her.
“Those bags are as big as you are, Eliza.” Granny shields her eyes from the sun as I make my way across the dying lawn with my two, fifty-pound suitcases. The fall air has already set in this tiny town, and I can’t complain. I enjoy the changing of the colors, which is something I never saw much of in the city.
I grunt as I make it to the bottom of the ramp that leads to the front porch and take in the rickety old wood that’s now warped and nearly rotten. “Granny, this thing needs some work.”
“It’s fine for now. Just watch out for those holes.” She gestures to a hole the size of my face at the mid-landing.
Oh my goodness. This is not safe.
For a moment, I hesitate, trying to decide if I should carry both of my bags across this sketchy ramp. I debate whether to leave one behind and come back for it, but that would mean more trips, and I’m so tired from the seven-hour drive, so the less trips the better. I just want to get this over with.
“I’ve got dinner in the oven. I’ll be right back to help you carry your bags,” Granny says before disappearing inside the house.
I nod, but there’s no way in heck that I’m letting her carry any of my luggage. She’s eighty, and I’m not even thirty yet. I think it’s fair to say that I can handle these on my own.
Using the bags as balance, I make my way up the rickety ramp, and the boards groan beneath me.
Jeez. I’m not that heavy…
My arms are burning by the time I make it to the mid-landing, and I realize that I really need to start working out again. Losing my job and getting broken up on the same day was pretty devastating for me; which led to way too many nights of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream…
Ugh .
I shake off the heartbreak, but I don’t get far, the sound of splitting wood splintering beneath me.
“ Oof! ” The noise erupts from my throat as pain sears through my right leg.
My brain feels jostled as I realize what’s just happened to me.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
My left knee is now in my face and my right leg is buried up to my mid-thigh. My arms are wrapped around my bags, and I do my best to push them out of the way as I try to wriggle my leg free…
But it doesn’t budge.
My face grows heated as I glance around, realizing the awkward position that I’m now situated in. “Granny!” I call out.
That’s when I spot Granny’s next-door neighbor outside—an older gentleman with striking white hair. He’s got a funny, lopsided grin on his face. I facepalm myself, already imagining what he must be thinking about the newest arrival to this small town.
And before Granny is even out the front door to see for herself, the neighbor guy is heading over. “You need some help, young lady?” he asks in a scratchy voice as he crosses the street. “That’s a heck of a fall you just had. I think the whole road mighta heard it.”
“Yeah, very unexpected,” I squeak out, my eyes jutting over to Granny, whose eyes are as wide as a country mile.
“Did ya hit the hole?” she calls out.
“I think I made a brand-new one,” I choke out.
“Time to have Nick redo this ramp, Marilyn,” Neighbor Guy comments in a gruff tone .
“Yeah, I know, Frank,” she spits back, rolling her eyes. “Just help me get my granddaughter free.”
“I’ll give it my best shot,” he says with a shrug.
I watch as he limps up the ramp, and I realize that he’s in no better shape than Granny is.
There’s no way this is going to be smooth sailing .
“Well, no wonder she fell through,” Frank grunts as he pulls my bags away from me. “What you got in here? Rocks?”
My shoulders slump as my cheeks redden. “Books.”
Granny and Frank spend a good fifteen minutes trying to finagle me out of the hole, but nothing works, and now, my entire leg is numb.
“You sure are stuck, Eliza,” Frank huffs, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Gonna have to call the fire department, I’m afraid,”
“Alright, I’ll run inside and give them a shout,” Granny says with a nonchalant shrug. I facepalm myself again, severe humiliation settling in.
This is not the first impression I was hoping to make on the town.
Minutes tick by as the three of us hang around and wait—me hanging literally, of course. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, a red, one-ton pickup truck with flashers pulls up outside of the house.
And only one guy gets out.
This is the fire department? One guy and a truck? Better hope I don’t have a house fire .
“Hello, Nick!” Frank greets the so-called fireman who’s dressed in pants and a white t-shirt. I don’t pay attention to his immaculate physique, his sharp jawline, or the bright baby blue eyes dancing over me with amusement.
Nope, I don’t pay attention at all.
I’ve sworn off love and men.
“What’s happened here?” His deep voice sends a jitter of even more humiliation down my spine.
“Well, clearly, she’s had a bit of a fall.” Granny laughs, gesturing to me. “Nick, this is my granddaughter, Eliza Kate; the one I told you was coming here to start over.”
Oh no, she’s told the whole town I’ve hit rock bottom.
“Sure is nice of you to come here to help your grandma.” Nick’s attention shifts to me as he kneels down, his eyes level with mine.
I nod, appreciating that he left out the fact that I had no other choice. “Thanks. Not quite the start I was hoping for.”
He chuckles, his chocolate wavy locks shiny beneath the sun. “Well, this ramp needs some TLC, that’s for sure. You’d be surprised at how often things like this happen.” He assures me. “Alright, let’s see if I can pull you out. Is that okay, Eliza?”
I meet his gaze, and I realize my hazel-blonde hair is all up in my face right now. I quickly push it away and nod, hoping like heck he doesn’t notice how red my face is right now. “Just get me out of here,” I mutter.
For some reason he finds that funny as he stands to his feet. “Alright, I want you to grab onto my wrists, and I’ll hold onto yours.” He reaches down, offering out his hands. “I think I can pull you straight up and out of that hole you’ve made.”
Great.
I do as he says, ignoring the way my stomach is doing flip flops.
It’s just the embarrassment getting to me .
This situation is ten times as bad now that I’m stuck in the presence of a handsome fireman.
Why couldn’t Frank have been the fireman?
Right, because then I’d be stuck forever.
“Here we go,” Nick instructs. “One, two … three. ” In one very swift motion, he pulls me straight up and out of the hole.
I let out the most obnoxious sigh of relief.
“See. All good.” Nick beams, giving me a bright, toothy grin that makes my heart skip a beat. Well, not really. It’s probably just anxiety and pure humiliation. This guy is being beyond kind.
He’s got to be making fun of me in his head.
I mean, I would be.
“Thank you so much.” Granny takes a step toward him, but then retreats when the ramp creaks loud enough to make Frank back away. “Maybe it’s time to replace this thing. Or maybe I should just use the stairs,” she says.
Nick shakes his head. “You ought to just have this ramp fixed, Ms. Marilyn. It’s in pretty dire condition. Eliza here can take this kind of fall, but you don’t need to be risking it. ”
The way he addresses my granny reminds me of a perfect gentleman, and I raise my eyebrows. He’s either straight from heaven, or the devil in disguise…
And my guess is the latter.
“How’s the leg?” Nick kneels down to my level again.
“Fine,” I lie, not bothering to mention that the feeling hasn’t completely returned. The last thing I need is a trip to the hospital or something.
“It’ll probably be sore, but if it’s not causing you a lot of pain right now, it’s probably not broken,” he continues, his eyes slipping down my legging clad body.
I maintain my eyes on his chin. It’s clearly much hotter in West Falls than what I initially thought because I am sweating.
“I’ll make sure to keep an eye on her,” Granny says.
Suddenly, Nick’s radio on his hip goes off—someone’s saying something about a cow stuck in the mud. I nearly laugh at the call but stifle it; I don’t want any more attention in my direction.
“Well, duty calls.” Nick chuckles before looking over to me. “It was really nice to meet you, Eliza.” His gaze lingers in a way that I try to ignore.
“Yeah, likewise,” I grunt, meeting his gaze for a split second before looking away as my cheeks grow hot again. I keep my eyes there as I hear him walk away, both Frank and Granny bidding him goodbye.
“He is such a nice young man,” Granny muses as the truck pulls away. “Sure is great to have someone like that around town.”
Yeah, and I’m so embarrassed right now, I hope I never have to see him again.