Lucy
“Lulu? You back there?” my aunt called a few days later as I stood in the back of her shed, bewildered by the years of stuff she’d accumulated. I’d offered to help her sort through it.
Stuff, not junk, I chanted mentally.
“Yeah, take a left at Fur Coat Lane and a right on Chipped Dishes Avenue,” I called back.
“Smart-ass.” She chuckled as she appeared in my line of sight, dressed in jeans and a flannel, clearly ready to get dusty, and rightfully so. I’d already sneezed more than a handful of times.
“You sure you want to spend your Saturday going through old junk with an old woman?” She cocked her head to the side.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not old, and it’s not junk. Well, not all of it,” I amended, making her laugh. “And I have the time. I’ve gotten a lot done the last few days.”
And I had. I’d spent the last few days getting my internet set up and was now able to get back to work, already completing the editing on the manuscripts my boss had sent over. I’d run a few times with Katie and visited with Greta at the bakery, enjoying my new friends.
I felt surprisingly settled, but Green River was just that kind of place, or at least it was for me.
My phone pinged with a text, and I reached into my back pocket to look at it. As always, Hudson’s name on my screen had my heart pounding. We’d texted a few times recently, keeping things light. I still didn’t quite know what to make of him, or my reaction to him.
Hudson: Headed into town, can I pick you up a coffee?
Lucy: I’m actually at my aunt’s. Current predicament:
I sent him a picture of the shed piled high.
Hudson: Seems like a run to the dump will be in order.
Lucy: Several.
Hudson: Well, good thing I’m free then. See you in a few.
“What!” I exclaimed out loud, staring at my screen.
“What’s going on?” My aunt peered over the boxes in the back corner.
“Hudson, he said he’s coming over to help,” I exclaimed in a panic. “I didn’t even invite him, and I look like this.” I pointed to my hair piled in a haphazard bun on the top of my head.
“You look gorgeous,” she assured me. “And if that man is willing to dig through my old things just to spend time with you, I’m all for it.”
“I like him,” I blurted, admitting it for the first time. “I mean, I think I do—what I know so far anyway. But I just moved here, and I just broke up with Josh. It’s too fast,” I rambled.
“When something’s right, there’s no speed limit.
And, honey, Josh was an asshole,” she stated, making me snort at her trademark blunt demeanor.
“He treated you like shit, and you walking away was the best thing you’ve ever done.
You don’t need to waste time grieving a relationship you shouldn’t have been in in the first place. ”
Her words hit me right over the head, an avenging sledgehammer releasing me of guilt I hadn’t been aware I was carrying. “You’re right.” I didn’t owe Josh anything. Not my time and certainly not remorse.
“Of course I’m right.” She waved a hand. “Just enjoy life, Lulu, in whatever form it comes in.”
“I’ll try,” I agreed quietly as the rumble of a truck coming up her drive sounded in the distance. “Oh God, I feel like I’m going to throw up.” My nerves were practically rattling my frame.
“Ah, the good old days.” She smiled. “I could barely eat I was so excited when your uncle and I started dating. And he still made my heart pound after thirty years. I lost him early, but I was so lucky to have him at all. Some never have a love like ours.” She twirled the wedding band on her finger, still wearing it—and likely always would.
I wondered if she’d ever seek love again—or at the very least try dating a bit. She still had so much living to do, so much joy to share. But I wouldn’t be surprised if she chose to walk that road alone.
“Ladies.” Hudson’s deep voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked over, nearly swallowing my tongue at the sight of him standing in the doorway of the shed.
Dressed in worn blue jeans, work boots, and a green tee, he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.
He didn’t have a hat on today. His brown hair was cut short and caught the light as he peered into the shed.
When he spotted me, his full lips turned up into a smile as he took me in, his gaze full of appreciation despite the leggings and ratty sweatshirt I wore.
“Hey,” he greeted.
“Hi.”
“Hi, Hud, thanks for coming by. We certainly could use an extra set of hands. This one is more intent on teasing me than helping.” Goodie hooked a thumb in my direction.
“Have you seen the collection of bell-bottoms in here?” I demanded. “You’re lucky I’ve kept a straight face at all.”
Hudson chuckled, stepping into the space and immediately sneezing. God, even his sneeze was somehow attractive. I was so screwed.
“I’ll go fix some lunch,” Goodie announced, despite it being far too early in the day.
I narrowed my eyes at her obvious excuse to leave us alone before turning to Hudson. “Are you sure you want to do this? I’ve sneezed about twenty times already,” I admitted. “And it’s hardly the most fun way to spend a Saturday.”
“Oh, I don’t know, the potential for a seventies fashion show and hearing if your sneeze is as cute as the rest of you? I think I’ll manage.” He winked.
I held up a pair of bell-bottoms. “These are not going on my body. And I sneeze like a truck driver.”
He laughed, a deep infectious belly laugh, and I couldn’t help but grin in response. Maybe if I could get past my nerves, we could have some fun after all.
His gaze dropped to my bare hands. “No gloves?”
I shrugged. “I don’t have any, and honestly I don’t think I’ll need them.”
“I have an extra pair in the truck,” he replied, already turning to jog toward his truck, returning a moment later with a pair of work gloves that would no doubt swallow my hands.
I slid them on without a word, somehow knowing I’d have a fight on my hands if I protested, and turned my attention to the box closest to me.
For a while, we worked in tandem, throwing items for the dump in one pile and items I thought she might want to keep or donate in another.
When I pulled out a familiar flannel jacket, I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat, bringing it to my nose to take in the familiar smell that somehow still lingered there.
“This was my uncle’s,” I explained when Hudson eyed me curiously. “I don’t think Goodie realizes this is out here. He wore it all the time” I stroked the soft fabric.
“It does look familiar,” Hudson agreed. “Though I think he likely had about a million of them. Every time I saw him, regardless of the weather, he had a flannel on and blue jeans.”
“It was his uniform.” A fond smile graced my lips. “Even when they came to visit in DC, he wore the same thing. But he somehow managed to never look out of place. He and my aunt always had that in common. Neither cared what anyone else thought; I always envied that ability.”
He watched me, patiently waiting for me to continue. I was so used to being interrupted or disagreed with. It was refreshing to be given the space to get my thoughts out on my own terms.
“I worry that she’s lonely,” I admitted, my gaze toward the house where my aunt had disappeared. “She puts on such a brave face, but it’s been five years, and I don’t think she’s moved on at all.”
“She may never move on, darlin’.” He stepped closer as he looked down at me, his expression soft. “Not completely. And she does put on a brave face, but Goodie is strong as hell. She’ll just have to work through what the next chapter looks like, and knowing her, she’ll do that on her own terms.”
I looked up at him, impressed with his observations and knowing he was also right.
“I’d imagine you being here helps,” he added with a soft smile.
“I hope so.” I shrugged. “She and my cousin have been more of a family to me than my own parents. I want to help.”
“You already are,” he assured me. “Now, what do you think we do with this thing?” Amused, he held up a cracked mirror that looked like it belonged in a Sleeping Beauty horror remake.
“Dump, definitely.” I made a face.
By the time Goodie returned, carrying a platter of sandwiches and two beers, we had three large piles ready for her to look through. She waved us off, stating she needed to think in peace.
I shot Hudson a knowing look, betting a good number of items would disappear from the junk pile by the time we returned. He merely shrugged with a smile and took the platter, gesturing for me to lead the way.
I’d always loved my aunt and uncle’s large property. With the open pasture and apple orchards, there’d been so much space to explore as a kid. But the creek had always been my favorite, which was where I led us now.
We found a grassy patch of ground beside the water and sat side by side. I immediately dug into my sandwich, starving from my early morning run followed by the morning’s manual labor.
Hudson shot me an amused glance, and I immediately put my sandwich down, blushing. Josh had regularly criticized my appetite. Despite always being fit, he’d claimed I needed to lose weight and carry myself more like a lady—whatever the hell that meant.
“What’s wrong?” he asked immediately. “Darlin’, I was admiring your appetite. You do everything so honestly. It’s just refreshing is all,” he explained, flooring me with how attuned he seemed to be to me.
He watched me wordlessly as I picked up my sandwich and continued eating.
Appeased, he nodded and turned his attention to the creek. “This’ll be roaring in the spring,” he commented. “You can tell fall is in the air. The air’s got that slight bite to it.”
I handed him the beer I’d opened. “I’m excited to be here for all of it. I only ever visited in the summer. But fall has always been my favorite season.” I sighed, looking up into the aspen trees above.
“I love it too. Thanksgiving’s always been my favorite holiday. My mom’s always treated it like the most important day of the year. I guess it rubbed off on me.”
“She hosts then?” I asked.