Chapter Seven
CHAPTER SEVEN
All evening at the station, Canon’s phone blew up. He’d wanted to keep it handy in case Grammie Nan or Albie needed him, but they remained silent. However, all his book club guys had texted or called him, trying to find out what he needed. But when they found out about Albie, they rallied the troops, sending feelers out for clothes, furniture, or anything for a home.
The guys kept inquiring what Albie liked. Canon didn’t know much about her, but found himself curious and wanting to get to know her more.
Canon had to wash the trucks. They had one call at two a.m., taking an older gentleman who’d fallen to the hospital. Luckily, he’d not broken anything and only had a slight bump on his head.
After work, around ten that morning, Canon picked up Albie. She’d gone to the store and bought a couple sets of clothes, and now wore a pair of jeans and a cute tailored purple top. They stopped by their apartment building. Albie gaped at the large hole in the wall where her bedroom had been.
“Mister Doodles.” With her shoulders slumped, she covered her face.
“I’m sorry, Albie,” Canon said, covering her hand with his. “Let’s take a look.”
Albie inhaled and wiped her face. “Okay.”
Canon didn’t take the steps two at a time like usual but held Albie’s hand as they ascended. The smell of incinerated plastic, burnt wood, and scorched metal hung in the air. The siding had melted, resembling limp spaghetti noodles.
For a moment, they paused, staring at the charred remains of Albie’s apartment. She stepped inside, but the floor bowed. On the counter, a lone bowl remained pristine amidst the carnage. “It’s my grandma’s” She picked it up and cradled it.
The floor creaked and Canon tugged on her arm. “It’s not safe.”
She clung to Canon, shivering. “If you hadn’t come for me…”
“I’ve got you,” he said, pulling her against him and holding her. She exhaled a shuddering breath and clasped her hands behind his back.
“Should we see if your apartment survived?” she asked, stepping away.
Canon held his breath as he pushed open the apartment door. Humidity hung in the air and the carpet squished under his feet. “What a soggy mess. The electronics… Oh man.”
He didn’t want to think about the money he’d shelled out for that setup. But it was just stuff.
There was standing water on the kitchen floor, and soot streaked the walls near the ceiling. He opened a cabinet and found the items dusty but salvageable.
Canon continued into his bedroom, pleasantly surprised to see the room intact. The smokey mattress and sheet set would need to be tossed, but the furniture was sound.
He called Brad Davidson. “Hey, I’m at my apartment. My bed and dresser are okay. There are things in the kitchen, like pots and pans too. I’m pretty sure my TV is ruined.”
“All right, Canon, I’ll get the club and my son-in-law. We’ll come get your furniture and whatever else you need.” Brad said, “Lunch’s on me, too.”
“I appreciate your help, but you might have to fight my Grammie on the food. She loves to feed people. She calls it her ministry.” Canon laughed.
“We’ll see.” Brad chuckled. “See you soon.”
Something in the other room thumped and Canon jogged into the living room, finding Albie focused on the end table in the corner. The lamp rolled on the floor where it had recently fallen.
“Something is in here,” she whispered, keeping her hazel gaze trained on the corner.
A small animal mewed.
Canon bent, staring into the darkness under the table. Golden eyes reflected in the light. “It’s a cat. How the heck did a cat get in here?”
“Did you leave your door open the night of the fire?” Albie asked, trying to see past him.
Canon couldn’t remember. He thought he had closed his door, but getting out had been his priority and those types of details slipped his mind.
He checked to make sure the door was shut tight now. “If we’re going to help the little guy, we can’t have him fleeing into the parking lot. I don’t want him to get hit by a car. Can you tell if it’s Mr. Doodles?”
Albie knelt and strained to see. She gasped and nodded, glancing at Canon with happy tears streaking her face.
Canon found a clean bowl and filled it with water. He sat it down by the corner and stepped back.
“Come on, kitty.” Albie coaxed. Eventually the tiny tabby stumbled out with a “mew.”
He lapped at the water and revved his motor when Albie stroked his grimy fur. His tail stuck straight in the air. When he’d had his fill, he rubbed on Albie’s knee. She picked him up; he batted at her hair.
A knock sounded, and the kitty jumped out of Albie’s hands and returned to his hidey-hole.
“Hey,” Canon said, opening his door to Jasen and B.J.
“We’re here because somebody ordered muscles.” B.J. flexed and Jasen laughed.
“That’s why I’m with you. I’ll work while you talk.”
“Before y’all start moving stuff, I need to get Mr. Doodles to the truck,” Canon said.
“Doodles? You got a dog?” B.J. asked, glancing around.
Albie moved, catching the men’s attention. B.J. smiled his spider-sizing-up-a-fly grin, and Canon’s stomach churned.
“This is my neighbor and friend, Albie. That big black hole over there was her home.” Canon pointed across the landing. “We just found her kitten. He’s one of the few things that survived the fire.”
“We’ll help you catch the damn cat,” B.J. said, stalking into the room.
“It’s okay. He’s easy. Watch this.” Albie opened the pantry and found a box of pasta.
“When I tell you to shake this box, shake it,” she said, thrusting the box at Canon.
She squatted down next to Canon’s feet. “Now.”
He shook the box of elbow macaroni and the little cat peeked his head out of his cubby. “Come on, kitty,” Canon called, “I’ve got some nice crunchy noodles for you, Mr. Doodles.”
The kitten ran over, and Albie scooped him up. “He thinks it’s his treats.”
Albie cuddled the kitty, and he purred again. She stuck out her hand, palm up, and Canon passed over his keys. She left with the bundle of fur. Canon couldn’t help watching the way she practically skipped outside, her happiness bubbling up.
“Ah,” B.J. said, “you didn’t tell me your neighbor is hot. Maybe she started the fire.”
Canon frowned and turned toward B.J. “I didn’t know. She wore oversized clothes and always had her hair up. But she is cute.”
“Why didn’t you shake your love noodle at her?” Jasen teased.
B.J. snickered and nudged his friend. “Good one. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Brad, along with daughter Jessie and son-in-law Josiah, crowded the doorway. “The gang is all here,” Brad announced.
“Not quite. We’re missing the Greene ginger and the sexual deviant.” B.J. laughed.
“Greene ginger present.” Forrest squeezed past Brad and into the room. “RIP flat screen. You will be missed, but only until you’re replaced.”
“The sexual deviant has plans with his wife today,” Brad said. “I’m pretty sure Parker would like that nickname.”
“At least Lisa would,” Jessie added with a giggle.
“I’ve got my SUV, Josiah brought his truck, and I saw B.J.’s too, so we’ve got enough vehicles to move your furniture.”
“I brought my extra totes,” Jessie said.
“Really?” Canon breathed. “I can’t believe it.”
“They’re just storage totes, Canon.” Jessie cocked her head to the side, putting her hands on her hips.
“But they’re for romance books. Your grandma’s book stash. The original dare.” Canon picked up a tote with a wide smile.
“Good ol’ Armando.” B.J. declared as he winked at Jessie.
“Who’s Armando?” Albie asked from the doorway.
“A sexy hero from a book,” Jessie said, sticking her hand out for Albie. The women shook. “I’m Jessie Barnes. This is my husband, Josiah, and my daddy, Brad.” The men waved.
“Do you like romance?” B.J. asked Albie.
Her cheeks flared red. “I, uh—” She glanced at Canon.
“Jessie lives in the house where the romance novel fad started. Her grandma collected the books.” Canon came to stand next to Albie.
“She hoarded the damn things,” B.J. added. “But Jessie dared me to read a few, and then I dared others. And, voilà, we have our book club.”
“Speaking of dares…” Forrest’s gaze slid from Canon to Albie.
“Not today,” Canon groaned, rubbing his face.
“Canon is right. Let’s load up his stuff.” Brad said, coming to his rescue.
Jessie and Albie sorted the kitchen items, and Forrest and B.J. carried out the full totes. Jasen orchestrated the move like a conductor. They emptied Canon’s dresser and nightstand into the totes then hoisted them to the trucks. They propped the mattress against the wall and removed the bed slats.
Jessie and Albie moved to the bathroom and emptied the medicine cabinet and the cabinet under the sink. “I think your storage space is bigger than mine,” Albie said to Canon as he passed in the hallway.
“Probably not,” Jasen said, sticking his head in the room. “Canon is a neat freak.”
“Just a little,” Canon admitted, holding part of the headboard. He lowered the board and wiped his hands on his jeans.
“I have something for you, Albie,” Jessie said.
“What’s that?” Albie said softly.
“I called Canon’s grandma and had her spy, so I had the right size. I brought you a bra and panty set.” Jessie owned Double D Intimates, a high end lingerie business that made each piece by hand.
“Thank you,” Albie said, sounding emotional.
“Let’s take a break, and I’ll show you.” Jessie stepped out and almost squashed Canon’s foot with her cowgirl boot. “Oops,” she said, tilting her head and zeroing on his crimson face.
“Come on, Canon,” Josiah barked. “Let’s get this out of the way.” He kissed Jessie on the cheek, then lifted his end. Canon led the way down the stairs, and they loaded it onto Josiah’s truck.
Jessie and Albie followed them. When Canon met Albie’s gaze, she quickly glanced away with a deep blush. His stomach fluttered, and he clutched it.
Josiah slapped a hand on Canon’s shoulder. “Be patient. She’ll come around.”
Canon started, “But I didn’t say—”
“Everyone can tell,” Josiah said with a wink.
“Tell what?”
“She’s totally into you.” Josiah walked away.
Canon stayed outside, digesting what Josiah had revealed. Could it be true? Heat pooled, and he longed to find out.