Chapter Thirteen #2
They appeared to have walked right into the living room. Reese had made obvious progress in the room, as there were areas cleaned, like paths leading to different parts of the room.
She stepped around Reese to stand beside her. Her foot clipped something, sending it across the floor. A vodka bottle.
“Shit, I’m sorry, I thought I got all of them in here.” Reese all but jumped to grab up the bottle before racing to a nearby bulging trash bag. “I’m so sorry. I know you’re in recovery.”
Matty waved her off. “Don’t worry about it. I’m in a good place. An empty bottle is fine. Besides, alcohol wasn’t the biggest thing for me. I’d drink it, but I preferred pills mostly. Well, and pot.”
The confession seemed to ease her a little. It was a topic she felt comfortable with. “So, depressants but not alcohol?”
“Yep. Never been a fan of hangovers.”
“If you drink long enough, you don’t get them anymore.”
“Funny what the body will adapt to, huh? So, take me to the shower.”
Reese raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on her lips.
“Oh, in a platonic way. Playing in the shower loses its appeal if there’s no water. So check back in once it’s running.”
“Jesus, Matty, you’re such a mess." Reese rolled her eyes before looking shy. “I’m sorry it’s so bad. I swear I’ve been working on it.”
“Hey, don’t keep apologizing. It’s a huge task you’ve been stuck with. And I can definitely tell there’s been work done.”
“Thanks, Matty. I was fully prepared for you to run right out of here.”
“Nah, takes a lot more than this.”
Matty noticed the difference in the spaces Reese inhabited, clear as day. The stairs were free of debris, and the room she lived in was tidy.
“There’s only one bathroom. This is my room. I stay holed up in here unless I’m cleaning.”
The light purple walls were welcoming, and the smell improved instantly as she ducked in.
The bed was neatly made. A little food area was on a folding table.
On top were a microwave and an air fryer, along with a little coffee maker.
Underneath was a small dorm-room-sized refrigerator.
A wash tub sat beside a pile of clean dishes.
“You’ve got a nice setup here.”
She spied a television next to what she assumed was a closet. The carpet beneath her boots was clean, and she momentarily worried she would track dirt over it.
“I’ve tried to make it as comfortable and usable as possible, and I’ve accomplished as much as I can outside of cleaning the hoard or asking for help, which is where you come in.
I need a fully working bathroom. I don’t think I can mentally keep this up.
I worked so long yesterday. I was filthy, and all I could do was try to get as clean as possible using the sink.
Not to mention I was supposed to be able to take a shower at my best friend’s house today, but she’s extended her time out of town. I have to work tomorrow. I can’t—”
She stopped as her lip began to tremble. Matty’s heart leapt into her throat. This was taking a toll on her.
“I’ll get in, and we’ll fix you up. If it’s something major and will need more than today, then you’ll come home with me and shower, but we’ll definitely get this fixed.”
Shiny eyes met her own. “Thank you, Matty. Come on, I’ll show you the bathroom.”
Just like the bedroom, the bathroom was clean and welcoming.
“Okay, I’m totally digging the dancing rubber ducky shower curtain.”
Reese laughed. “I thought it was so funny and cute. I had to get it.”
“So, what’s wrong with the shower? Is it just not running water?”
“Yeah, when I turn the knob, nothing comes out.”
“But the sink and toilet work?”
“Uh huh. Nothing wrong with them.”
“Does the kitchen sink work?”
Reese bit her lip, and it was utterly cute but made Matty acutely aware of how small the space they were in was. “I don’t know. I haven’t gotten that far in the hoard.”
“That’s okay. Do you know if the water valve is accessible? It’s usually near the water heater or in a laundry room.”
Reese grimaced. “Sorry, haven’t gotten into that area either. I’ve been going to the laundromat.”
Matty blew out a breath, then smiled. “I’ll go shut it off at the road. That should do it.”
After a little hunting around, she was able to find the water valve outside.
The cover was almost completely camouflaged by grass.
It occurred to her as she was going back in that there would probably be a lot of things in need of repair.
She smiled selfishly to herself at the thought of maybe getting to come over and help more.
Anything to get to know Reese a little more.
“Did you find it?” Reese asked hopefully when she returned.
“Yep, we’re all closed off now.”
Matty stepped into the tub, twisting the knobs, but nothing happened. It obviously was an issue isolated to the shower since the sink and toilet worked fine. She’d start by taking off the faucet first, hoping that she didn’t have to tear out part of the wall.
“Do you mind me watching you work?”
“Not at all. Have a seat,” she instructed with a grin as she motioned to the toilet.
Reese put the lid down, then settled onto it.
Matty squatted down, leaning on the edge to pull her backpack toward her.
She unzipped it, then pulled out her tool belt.
She needed a Phillips head screwdriver. As she was pulling out the tool belt, she watched in horror as the GED pamphlet Elsie had given her dropped out and slid directly in front of Reese.
She lunged to grab it, but Reese beat her to it.
Somehow Matty’s heart had stopped but was also slamming against her chest at the same time.
Reese flipped it over to the front, her eyes skimming it as the life slowly drained right out of Matty. When Reese looked up, Matty’s face must have given her fear away. Reese frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” rushed Matty as she snatched up the pamphlet and stuffed it in her bag. She turned back to the taps. “Uh, so I think the best thing to do would be to check behind this handle.”
“Matty?”
“Hmm?” she answered, focusing on taking the screws out.
“Your face when I looked at that pamphlet looked like what I imagined mine looked like on the porch earlier.”
Matty sucked in her bottom lip, abusing it with her teeth.
“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
A screw popped out, and she placed it on the ledge of the tub. She took her time meeting Reese’s gaze. It would seem the tables had turned. She swallowed hard. “No, it’s okay. You shared your secret with me. I guess it’s only fair to share mine.”
“You don’t have to.”
Matty cocked a half smile. “It’s okay.”
“Is it for you or someone you’re friends with?”
She could lie. Say it’s for a friend or relative.
But that felt wrong. What if they began really having a friendship and then found out it wasn’t the truth?
The burden of a lie wasn’t worth it. “It’s for me.
I was thinking about, uh, taking it.” She heard Grammy’s voice in the back of her head, telling her how useless it would be.
“It’s probably a waste of time, though. Not really worth it. ”
“Why do you say that?”
Matty shrugged as she unscrewed another screw. She didn’t have a good answer to that. She knew logically it was a good idea. It really was. But the doubt in her ability to pass the test only magnified with Grammy’s critique. The screw joined the other one. “I don’t know.”
“Liar.”
Matty whipped her head around, her mouth dropping. Had she heard that correctly? “Excuse me?”
“I don’t know much about you, Matty, but what I do know is that you’re intelligent. It’s not that you don’t know the answer. It’s that you’re unsure of a new next step.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What did I tell you about going all counselor-y on me?”
Reese belted out a laugh. “I’m sorry; it’s hard to turn off.”
Unable to suppress a smile, she just rolled her eyes as she pried the cover plate off. “You’re right, though. Ever since getting clean and actually staying clean this time, I’ve been nervous about change.”
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
“I fail, and that pushes me into a self-deprecating spiral?”
Reese just raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, okay, I have a better handle on rejection than that, I think. I guess I’m just scared to fail in general.”
“What’s the upside of taking it?”
“We’re really doing this, huh?”
“Yep.”
Sighing, Matty pointed to the toolbox that was out of reach. “Can you slide that closer?”
Reese did as she was asked. She didn’t speak as she patiently waited for Matty to answer her question.
“Well, I suppose the biggest upside is better job opportunities. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but I only got it because they overlooked that I didn’t graduate.
It was a favor basically. But if I lost the job or wanted to apply for a promotion or a better position somewhere else, I really need it.
Most places won’t hire without at least one. ”
“Very true. I like that you’re looking ahead at its usefulness. You deserve to make the most of your life. This is a good step.”
“Okay, I’m going to need you to keep the validation to a minimum.”
“Sorry, force of habit,” she apologized, wincing. “Is there another downside?”
Matty grabbed the size of wrench she needed to detach the mixer cartridge valve.
“Well, I guess the time and cost. But I talked to Elsie at work, and she said she had a study guide I could have, and she would look into getting a voucher. The money really isn’t an issue, I guess. I’ve got a nice little nest egg.”
“Do you have time to commit to it?”
The valve was being stubborn, and two sides were covered in limescale.
The nut didn’t want to budge. She gritted her teeth as she pushed on it with more force.
It finally gave. “Oh yeah, I have such a huge social life. I sit at home reading with my cat, or I go to a meeting. I have a monthly dinner date with Kenny. I occasionally drive one of the vans for weekend meetings at work. So much going on.”