Chapter 23
Myles
“Come on, Clem. We need to get all this stuff out of the attic. It’s been way too long up here cluttering up the space and collecting dust,” I shout down to him from the attic.
He clambers inside and stands looking around. “There isn’t as much as I thought there was. Some of these boxes,” pointing to the corner of the space, “hold photographs. Some of the people I don’t even recognize.”
“There are boxes here with clothing stashed,” I say while digging around in a box with old dresses inside.
“No idea who that all belongs to, but let's just ditch them all. We can make this a grand space if we get rid of all the trash stored in here.” Clem looks around, then picks up a box and heads to the attic entrance, and I am thankful we have attic stairs.
I came across a box of Oren’s old toys. Things I’d forgotten he’d even had. But they are not useful to him or me anymore. I’ll take these to the nursery in town and see if they can use them. They are in good condition, and it would be a shame to trash them.
Maylee walks into the attic and starts digging into boxes, mumbling to herself about what garbage people keep and for what reason? I smirk to myself because she’s mumbling exactly what I was thinking.
Quite a few of the boxes are from my old home. Just stuff thrown into a box and sealed to deal with later. Opening one box, I come across a clock, a set of pans, and a measuring jug. I mean, really? Why on earth did I keep all this?
I pass box after box to Clem who takes them to the kitchen where Maylee and Whitney are going through them and deciding if we ditch, donate or keep.
“Most of this we can trash, Myles,” Clem grabs the last box out of my hands. “No idea why we kept it all. Even some of this from your old place should have gone in the dumpster.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right. Did you see the children's books? I’m going to take them to the nursery with the toys.”
“Good idea. Books are always good to keep, and maybe get Oren to check if any are a favorite, because you’d be in deep trouble if you gave away one he had an attachment to.”
Nodding my head at Clem, I look around at the empty attic and think it would make a great room. Maybe a library-type nook or something?
In the kitchen, Maylee and Whitney are looking at photographs, and I grin when I pick one up of me and Clem when we were in our early teens. “Remember this, Clem?” I ask as I pass him the photograph.
“Shit, yeah, that was right before we got our asses paddled.”
Both Clem and I laugh as the memory floods back.
“What happened?” Whitney asks as she wraps an arm around Clem’s waist and leans on his side when he throws an arm around her shoulder.
“We stole Mom’s truck. Trouble was we didn’t know how to drive,” Clem states with amusement in his voice.
“That truck wouldn’t stop, and we ran right into Mr. Foster’s front yard, knocking down the water feature he had.
It was like a waterfall that ran down levels into a base where he had koi. You know his pride and joy.”
I started laughing uncontrollably. “Clem and I were running around his yard trying to catch those koi before Momma found out what we’d done. But you know Mr. Foster knew us well enough that one call to Momma, and we were done for.”
We reminisce some more, but I realize I’ve not seen Oren for a while. I look for Oren and find him in the living room. He’s playing with toys. Toys he hasn’t played with in a long time.
“Look, I found my fire truck and police cruiser.” Oren holds up the toys and has a huge smile on his face.
“That’s great. Keep what you want, but put them away in your bedroom. The rest we’ll take to the nursery for other kids to play with.”
Maylee steps into the living room and gives me a sweet smile. “I’m going around to Whitney’s to make lunch. Come over when you are ready.”
“Okay, we’ll not be long, bumblebee.” I grin when Maylee rolls her eyes at my newest endearment. It’s been fun thinking of new ones.
“Buzz, buzz…” Maylee pretends she’s a bee as she leaves the living room, and when I look down at Oren, he is laughing at her. The love he has for her shines from him, and I feel lucky they have each other. I just wish the adoption would hurry.
This afternoon we are helping Dan and Synthia move into the apartment. Their sons have left, and I know Synthia is sad and worried. But when you join the military, you do what you are told, and you go where you have to go.
I don’t think I have carried so many boxes in my life. What with the attic this morning and now hauling all these boxes up to the apartment my biceps are aching and my lower back is feeling it.
Placing the latest box on the kitchen counter, I stand a moment and watch Dan and Cassian carry a mattress into the apartment. Behind them is Oren, carrying two pillows. I grin because he’s so proud of himself for helping.
Maylee is right behind him with Ellen, and they are laughing about something. They are both carrying bags with bedding from what I can see.
“Tonight, we’ll have a takeout, Myles. We can eat here when we are finished. Then everyone gets to eat,” Maylee states, dropping the bags she’s carrying on the kitchen table.
“Okay, that’s not a problem,” I reply and head into the bedroom to help build the bed.
We work until we have everything organized. Well, organized enough that Synthia will be able to find things. I’m sure she’ll move things around until she is comfortable.
The apartment is stunning, and they have made it modern without feeling cold. I’m positive they are going to enjoy living here.
Dan has access to all the security of the garage. When we had the new system installed along with the windows and bifold doors, we made sure it covered the apartment too.
Later, long after Oren is in bed asleep, I wrap my arms around Maylee and pull her tight into my body. Her butt tucked tightly against my rising member. Christ, I can’t get enough of my wife, and I hear her giggle as she knows what’s on my mind!