Chapter 14
Clem
The last few days have been the best I remember for years. Working with my brother as it should have always been. No stress on his shoulders has made him far more light-hearted, and with Whitney having Oren after school we don’t have him underfoot for the last half of the afternoon.
Tonight, I’m going to finish clearing the front yard of snow. The drive is nearly done, but if we keep running our trucks over it, it won’t be long before it’s a sheet of ice.
I finish cashing up the register, which doesn’t hold much cash, if truth be told. Most people these days pay with a card. But we still have to bank what we get, and we have to keep the accountant updated each month.
Myles walks into the office and takes a seat in front of the desk while wiping his hands on a rag. “That Toyota is done and ready for collection. I’ll work on the truck next.”
“Okay, I’ll call them to come pick it up, and if you can get the truck done today, I’ll get the Ford done. I reckon about ninety minutes will see me done.”
Standing again and looking tired, Myles nods. “I’ll get it done before we close. Tonight, do you still want to finish clearing the front yard? I can do it, and you can do Whitney’s. Her drive was getting deep, and I reckon it’ll take a bit to clear it.”
“Okay, we can do that. I’m going to invest in a snow blower or a snowplow blade for the truck. We can leave that here unless we need it. But a snow shovel will have to do for now. I’ll pick up two on the way home because the one we have is about useless.”
Two hours later, we lock up the garage because the snow is coming down again. It’s not as heavy as it was yesterday, but it’s enough to want to get on top of the drive and yard before it gets too bad.
I’m shoveling Whitney’s drive, and she came out to help at one point, but she was slow compared to me. I had to keep saying ‘Excuse me’ to get past her. In the end, she huffed and went back indoors.
Looking over the hedge, I shake my head because Myles has finished shoveling and is now using the snow to build a snowman. It will work with the scene, and I’m betting Oren will be excited when he sees it.
Whitney walks out of the cottage and is unlocking her car when I shout to her. “Where are you going?”
“I need some things from the store. I promised Oren I’d make some Christmas cookies to hang on the tree.”
I walk over and pick her up by the waist and carry her over to my truck. “You are not driving. I’ll take you, and I’m not arguing with you. I take you, or you don’t go.”
Now, I can see the rebellion in her eyes, but when Myles steps over to us and gives her a serious look, I see the argument draining away. “Okay, but you can push the cart, pay for the shopping, and you can carry it indoors when we get back.”
Myles chuckles and I smirk because if she thinks that is a bad threat she is mistaken. “Okay, no problem.”
It doesn’t take long to get to the store, and I take her to the local one as I don’t want to travel to Walmart or Target.
I watch Whitney closely as her body language changes from anger to calm as she enjoys shopping while I push the cart.
The cart is filling up, and I’m sure this is my punishment, but it’s all good. I can afford to buy the stuff. Throwing in cereal, marshmallows, tomatoes, peanut butter, and oatmeal all without a word. I just keep pushing the cart and watching.
“Clem! Clem!” Turning to see who is shouting me I cringe a little as Erica, who I used to date in high school, rushes over. Goddamn, why did she have to see me now?
“Hi, Erica. How are you?” I ask politely, but make sure the damn cart stays between her and me.
“I’m good. I wanted to ask you to go out on a date…”
Now, I am not stupid. I know this could turn sour quickly, but my concern is Whitney’s reaction.
“Hey, I have a girlfriend, and she’s standing right there.
” I point at Whitney, who gives me a look I’m not sure of.
I reach out and grab her hand, drawing her to me.
I quickly throw my arm around her shoulders and kiss the top of her head.
I’m trying to reassure her and to get Erica to move along.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had hooked up with someone.” Erica tries to look coy, but it doesn’t work.
Whitney surprises me when she wraps her arms around my waist and turns her head to Erica. “Yeah, we’ve hooked up, and you know it’s not good to rush up to a man and throw yourself at him.”
Erica splutters, but tries to come back with a smart remark. “I’ve known Clem since high school. We went out for a while back then.”
“Well, that was a loooong time ago,” Whitney draws the word long out, and I struggle to hold back the smirk. “Move along we have things to do, people to see, you know…” Turning to me with a sexy smile, Whitney croons, “Come on, baby, let’s move along.”
Fuck, that’s damn sexy as all hell. I move along alright and don’t give Erica another look. In fact, I don’t even say goodbye.
After I’ve taken the shopping into the cottage, I corner Whitney, and kiss her silly before I head home. Whistling with satisfaction at the look on Whitney’s face. Thoroughly kissed, and it shows.
Oren doesn’t go to Whitney right away as we grab him as he gets off the school bus. Myles grins when Oren gets excited at seeing the snowman. I’m happy the relationship Myles has with Oren is better than the one we had with our father.
I’m sure our father loved us. We were not abused at all.
He wasn’t warm with us, though. His entire purpose for living was Momma.
He worshiped her, and nothing else mattered to him.
Momma was blind to most things that went on.
She was so airheaded that unless something was pushed at her, she never saw a thing.
When they went on vacation and decided to stay in Canada, we were not hurt or surprised.
Myles was twenty at the time and I was eighteen.
According to our father, we were adults, and he had done his bit.
Now we had to get on with our lives. Cold, yeah, but we had each other.
We’ve not heard from either of them since.
I’m sure my mother thought she’d never had us at that point because she’d not spoken to me in months prior.
“Come on, Oren, let’s get your school clothes off.” Myles guides Oren inside and gives me a ‘come on’ nod.
In the kitchen, I wait quietly while Oren rushes back down, all dressed in his after-school gear. “Take a seat, Oren. I want to talk to you about something.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Oren throws himself at the chair Myles is holding out.
“How much do you like Whitney?” Myles starts by asking.
“I really like her. She’s great. The best auntie I could ever have.” Oren looks at Myles knowing something is going on.
Myles continues. “You want her to stay around. You know, as family?”
Oren nods, but is suspicious now. “Yes.”
“Well, your Uncle Clem is going to marry her at some stage. She doesn’t know yet, but it’ll happen. Now, how about you wanting a cousin?” Myles drops that bomb into the conversation smoothly.
“Cousin?”
“Yeah. How about if Clem and Whitney have a baby? That would be your cousin.”
I’m keeping quiet and watching all this because I know Myles will get Oren into our way of thinking.
“Yeah. Aunt Whitney wouldn’t leave me if she married Uncle Clem and had a baby.”
I can see the wheel turning and look at Myles.
“We need to keep dropping hints that she needs to marry Clem and have a baby of their own. So, you know, you can have the cousin that we want.” Myles is looking closely at Oren. “Do you think you can help with that?”
Oren gives Myles a huge smile. “I can do that.”
“Piece of cake,” Myles says, but I chuckle when Oren replies, “Yes, please.”
Saturday comes around quickly, and we find ourselves at the mall ready for the carol singing session to start. There are a lot of people here. At a guess, I would think up to a hundred, and it’s stopping anyone shopping as they can’t get to the shops through the crowd.
A young woman steps onto a temporary stage area and welcomes everyone. The setup they have is neatly on one side of the stage with a barrier around it. Everyone is waiting for her to start the ball rolling because I think everyone is bored with standing around.
“Welcome to our Christmas Singalong,” the young woman eventually says. “Let’s not waste time and start singing. I wish you all an enjoyable hour and a Happy Christmas.”
The first song is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Oren is singing along loudly, while holding Whitney’s phone where she found the lyrics for him.
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bell Rock and the classic White Christmas are all sung with enthusiasm by the crowd. It has turned out to be a successful singalong.
I’m ready to be done, and I think Oren is too, as he is fidgeting rather than singing at this point. Whitney leans down and whispers in his ear. He nods and takes Whitney’s hand. Both Myles and I follow behind as Whitney edges her way through the crowd.
Stopping outside the mall at a stall that has been erected for selling hot dogs and hot drinks, we all get one. I can tell you now, they are great, and we were all ready to have something to eat.
“If you had a baby, it would be my cousin,” Oren throws out suddenly to Whitney. She’s taken by surprise and splutters the coffee she was drinking.
“Would it now?” Whitney replies.
“Yeah. When he grows up, I will be able to play with him. I’ll watch that he’s not bullied at school, Aunt Whitney.” Oren is looking at Whitney with such earnestness that it really pulls your heartstrings.
“Hm, that's a serious thought, and you know, Oren, it is something to be considered. What if it's a girl?”
“Oh, it is considered, Aunt Whitney, and I’m okay if it’s a girl. I can still play with her. My daddy said it was a great idea for you to have a baby.”
Turning to look at Myles, she gives him a dirty look. “Seriously?”
Myles shrugs and then points at me. “He’s the one who will be the father, not me.”
“Spill the beans, Clem.” Whitney gives me a wicked look now, but we all smile when Oren asks, “You want me to help you pick up the beans, Aunt Whitney?”
I kiss Whitney on the forehead and whisper, “Later, Whitney, later.”