Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
THEO
Cleaning the house was much harder than I had expected.
I seem to have underestimated just how thick the layers of dust had accumulated.
Even after scrubbing and spraying and a little zap of magic, there’s a good amount of residue that just won’t come up.
But I have to say, just getting rid of most of the dust and cobwebs has made a huge difference.
It’s only the start of a long process of tidying and repairs, but it’s something.
I expected Kennedy to arrive back later this evening, but I hear her coming through the door mid-afternoon. She enters the front room with a glowing expression, clearly happy about whatever she got up to today. Or perhaps she met someone, and that’s what brought about the look on her face.
I hastily shove all of Aidan’s cleaning supplies into the pantry in the kitchen while also stuffing away the tinge of jealousy I feel.
The further up my body it travels, the more likely I am to say something ridiculous.
Kennedy appears at the island just as I’m closing the door.
I turn and press my back to it, hoping everything’s been put out of sight.
She peers at me curiously, her nose scrunched.
“What have you been doing in here?” she asks.
I clear my throat. “What? Why?”
Great response, Theo. Not suspicious at all.
She tucks her chin, scrutinizing me beneath narrowed brows. “You were in the kitchen looking for something when I left, and now I find you in here again?” She tilts her head. “Is this where you sleep?”
“No!” I press my fingers against my temples and shut my eyes. Being in my physical body again has given me a tension headache. “Sorry,” I grumble, then open my eyes. “I didn’t mean to shout.”
Kennedy removes her puffy jacket and places it on the counter, revealing a purple long-sleeved crewneck. She takes in the newly dusted cabinets. “Did you clean up in here?”
I follow her in a circle around the island as she inspects the room, dragging her index finger along different surfaces. “You dusted,” she states matter-of-factly. “And scrubbed the cabinets." She eyes my filthy clothes knowingly, waiting for me to confirm.
“W-why do you say that?” I stutter.
She deadpans. “Because the dust is gone.” She shoots her hand upward, pointing to the cabinet door above her. “And this was gray. Now it’s blue. But your white shirt is now grey... Interesting,” she smiles.
I clasp my hands behind my back, hoping they don’t smell like bleach. “Are you sure? I always thought it was more of a grayish blue.”
“Theo!” she bellows, but there’s a laugh behind my name. “What are you up to? You’re being weird.” The lines beside her eyes crinkle, and I lower my defenses.
“Yes, I cleaned,” I admit with a sag of my shoulders.
I can admit to that, but I don’t think I want to tell her about leaving the house. It doesn’t feel fully earned yet, despite the pride I feel. I need to work my way up to walking those small-town sidewalks in my physical body. Then I’ll be ready to share what I’ve accomplished.
Her mouth drops open, no doubt wanting to congratulate me on doing the bare minimum, but she closes it quickly. “Why were you trying to hide it?”
I shrug and lean against the rusted sink. I’m not embarrassed per say, I just don’t want her to know that this was all for her.
“I wasn’t able to do the second level, so your bedroom is still a mess,” I tell her.
Her blue eyes catch the light from the window and I see the slightest sparkle of a tear. She drops her head and wipes it away. “I don’t mind. This is a great start.” Her eyes lift to mine, now completely dry. “I can help you. It’s past time I started pulling my weight around here.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I murmur.
“Sure I do. You’ve given me a place to stay. This can be my way of thanking you.”
Does this mean she plans to stay? Why would she want to put her energy into a place that’s temporary?
I swallow rapidly and nod. “Okay. We can start this weekend.”
She bounces up and down. “Let’s start right now! This will be fun! Then, when we’re done with the cleanup, I can help you decorate. Oh my gosh, how long has it been since there was fresh paint on these walls? This is very exciting, Theo.” She claps her hands in quick succession and beams at me.
I force a bright smile to match her newfound energy, but in my head all I can think is: she wants to paint the walls.
She wants to stay.