Chapter 21 #2
“Dammit.” I thought the issues I had with my dryer at the beginning of summer were over. It had been working fine since then. A quick search on my phone showed the error had something to do with a circuit board. Not within my area of expertise. At all.
I tapped Oscar’s name on my phone and started unloading wet clothes from the dryer.
“Hey,” Oscar said.
“Hey, can you come look at my dryer?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
I told him the error code, and he said he’d be over soon.
I hoped he’d have the right thing to fix it, but if not, I was going to need to call someone.
I could only hang clothes to dry for so long before I got sick of it and needed it fixed or replaced.
Winter would be here before I knew it, and I definitely couldn’t last through the cold weather without a working dryer.
Fifteen minutes later, Oscar was pulling my dryer apart and assuring me he knew what he was doing.
I left him to it as I draped wet clothes over every surface in my house. If I was lucky, I would have my dryer back before the end of the night and could put everything back in the machine.
I was not lucky.
Two hours later, Oscar cursed and gave up. “I don’t know what the hell is going on with this thing.”
“Shit.”
“Sorry. I’ve replaced the same thing on my own machine, but it’s not working.
There are two boards, and usually the issue is the cheaper one.
I replaced that, and it still didn’t fix it.
I replaced the other one, and it’s not working.
Something might be fried, or it could be something else entirely. I don’t know.”
I shook my head. “Thanks for looking at it. At least I can tell a repair person what’s already been done.”
“Yeah, but still. You might need a new one. How old is this?”
I shrugged. “I think I bought it when I moved in here.”
Oscar chuckled. “Yeah, you probably need a new one. It’s possible someone can fix it, but fifteen years is getting to the end of life for one of these.”
“I guess I’m lucky it’s summer and I can hang things up for now.”
“True.” Oscar stretched and rubbed his stomach. “So, what are you making me for dinner?”
I snorted and motioned for him to follow me to the kitchen. So much for dinner with Reegan.
Oscar hung around until well after dark. I offered him the couch, and he took it. I was going to have enough nights alone. Having one with a friend was just what I needed.
But that meant he was up when I was making coffee the next morning. He offered to disappear, but I told him it wasn’t necessary. Even though I missed having time with Reegan. I would have to get used to not seeing her every day when she went home.
Oscar followed me outside to have coffee with Reegan, hanging back while I explained his presence to her.
“Oscar tried to fix my broken dryer last night and crashed. He was going to duck out and pretend he was never here, but I told him he could join us.” I gave her a quick kiss and a mug of coffee.
“Of course. It’s good to see you again.” Reegan smiled at him, a look of tentative sadness keeping her smile from reaching her eyes.
“You, too,” Oscar said, taking the seat next to me. “Have you enjoyed our little town so far?”
Reegan chuckled. “Definitely. I love it here.”
“It grows on you, that’s for sure.”
“It does. I don’t have this view back in MacKellar Cove.”
“We’re pretty lucky,” Oscar said. He pointed across the bay. “That’s my house over there. The green one. I see a little more of the lake where I am, but it’s not as good for swimming. Not that it stopped my boys when they were younger.”
“How old are they?” Reegan asked.
“Eighteen and twenty-one,” Oscar answered, then told her all about his sons growing up.
I stayed quiet while they talked, wondering why it felt like Reegan was pulling away from me. We’d barely had time together since she met Evie, but she kept saying she understood. If she understood, why wasn’t she looking at me or speaking to me?
My alarm went off, letting me know it was time to get moving. “I have to go get Evie.”
“It’s moving day, isn’t it?” Oscar asked.
I stood and nodded. “It is.”
“You’re taking her today?” Reegan asked.
“Yeah. I thought I told you that.”
She shook her head and handed over the mug that had become hers in the two months since we’d met.
“It’s only an hour away, but it’s going to take a while to get her settled in.”
“You’re going to make a dozen trips to the store, too. There are so many things you don’t think you need until you get there and realize how little is in that room,” Oscar said. “Is Hannah going?”
I nodded and rubbed my neck, watching Reegan for her reaction.
She didn’t react.
“Evie wanted both of us to take her. I’m picking them up in an hour, then we’re heading down.”
Reegan smiled up at me, not getting up from her seat. “It’s a big day for all of you.”
“It is.” I bent down to kiss her. “Will I see you tomorrow morning?”
She smiled sadly. “I’ll be here.”
I nodded, then carried our mugs back to my house. Oscar said goodbye to Reegan and followed me.
“Did you piss her off?” he asked once we were inside.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. She seems off to me, too.”
“Maybe it’s just you going with Hannah.”
“Yeah, maybe.” But I didn’t think that was what it was. There was something else going on. And I needed to figure out what.
After I took my kid to college.
I leaned against the doorframe of Evie’s room and smiled at her and her new roommate.
Rachel was from an hour away, too, but into Vermont.
They bonded instantly over everything from music to fashion to overall interests.
They followed each other on social media and were laughing at posts the other had made about getting ready to go to college.
I knew Evie was going to have a good year.
A hand slid up my back, and I jerked away.
“Sorry,” Hannah said, not looking sorry at all. “I didn’t mean to startle you. How’s our girl?”
Hannah had been more affectionate than normal on the trip. She was usually not an overly touchy person, but it felt like she hadn’t kept her hands to herself all day.
She no longer had the right to touch me.
“She’s enjoying herself. I think they’re going to get along well.”
“College is such a fun time. I’m almost envious of her. A chance to go back to the beginning. Make different choices.” She stared up at me with longing in her gaze.
We met when she was in college. She was visiting Amethyst Bay for the summer, and we fell in love. She made the choice to move after she graduated, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was regretting that choice or something else.
“Yeah, well, things worked out the way they were supposed to, I guess.” I moved away from her, focusing on Evie instead of Hannah and whatever the hell was wrong with her.
“I think you’re all set,” I said to Evie. “We’re going to head out if that’s okay.”
Evie jumped off the bed and flung herself into my arms. “I love you, Dad.” She held me tight.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of my little girl. She made me feel like a better person. Everything I’d ever done in my life brought me her, and that was enough to tell me I’d made some good choices. “I love you, kid.”
She chuckled and pulled back, her eyes misty. “Thank you for getting everything set up for us.”
“Of course. I can be here in an hour if you ever need anything. And I’ll be back for parents’ weekend.”
“We both will,” Hannah said, inserting herself into our hug. She rubbed her hand down my back, settling on my waist.
I stepped away so Hannah could hug Evie, and get her damn hand off me.
“I love you, Eves,” Hannah said.
“I love you, Mom.”
I smiled at Rachel and waved. “It was nice to meet you, Rachel. I hope you enjoy the year. If you ever need anything, let me know.”
“Thanks, Mr. Morris.”
Evie walked us to the door. She didn’t go into the hall, staying in her room as we walked away from our little girl.
In my truck, Hannah asked, “Dinner?”
I shook my head. “I was going to head home. I figured you’d want to get back to Brian.”
She shrugged. “I’m not in a rush.”
“Well, I am.” I put the truck in gear and headed toward home. I turned on the radio and didn’t try for conversation.
Hannah stewed in her seat, arms crossed and an angry look on her face, but I was done catering to her moods.
We’d just dropped our kid off at college.
Hannah and I hadn’t been together in years.
I carried guilt over the way our relationship went, and always would, but that didn’t mean I was going to let her control me forever.
I pulled into her driveway fifty minutes later. Her house was dark.
“Do you want to come in for a drink?”
“Nope.”
“We could talk.”
“About what?”
“About us.”
“There is no us, Hannah.” Where the hell was that coming from? “We haven’t been together in years, and I have no interest in changing that. Plus, you’re married.”
“Brian is barely around.”
“And that means you want to fuck me? No. I’m not interested.” And I was involved with Reegan, but even if I wasn’t, I didn’t want Hannah.
“Is that so? Fine then.” She got out of my truck and slammed the door. She stalked to her house, letting herself in and closing the door without a wave.
“What the fuck?” I shook my head and headed home.
My house was dark, too. And quiet. So quiet.
I tried to ignore the quiet with the TV, but it pressed in harder.
I turned the TV off and went to Evie’s room. I sat on her bed and looked around the room. She was a good kid. Smart and kind. She would love college. And whatever else her life brought.
My phone dinged with a text. I smiled when I saw Reegan’s name on my screen.
How was the drop-off?
Good. Hard.
I can imagine. Sorry.
What are you doing?
Watching a movie with Ashlyn.
Oh. Never mind. I was going to see if you wanted to have dinner. Or spend the night.
Ashlyn had a rough day. But she said she’s okay with you coming here if you want to.
I don’t want to interrupt your night.
You’re not. I heard your truck. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Ashlyn is the one who said I should see how you are and invite you over.
If you’re sure…
Yes. We are.
I’ll be right there.
Door’s unlocked.
I smiled and left Evie’s room. I had plenty of time to be alone. For a little while longer, I was going to enjoy my time with Reegan.