Chapter 7 #3
“They tried to make that work for them, but they just couldn’t get it right.
I tried to get them to sell it; they could have well afforded a newer home, but they said that they were going to work on it until they died.
I guess they did at that. However, they didn’t want to leave the house for someone else to be upset about, and that’s why they stayed there.
Even the additions to the house didn’t improve it all that much.
” She asked him if they’d really disliked the house.
“Oh, for sure. And when we talked about it, we said how they hoped you’d sell it and get something more for yourself.
I think they’d be pleased with your decisions and getting a new home. ”
“It’s not too far from here. It’s within walking distance of the downtown area as well.
And it has a bit of land that goes with it.
” He asked for the address and was told it.
Howard did wonder if she would have told Debra if she asked, too, and decided that she wouldn’t.
She said that she didn’t trust her mother, and with good reason.
He didn’t think that she’d be that forthcoming of her address if Debra was threatening them with shooting them.
“You’ll have to come and visit us when we get moved in.
The other couple, the Monroes, said that they’d be out in a few weeks.
They’d already started packing their things up since they put it on the market. ”
“I’ll be happy to see your new home.” He found that he was delighted that she wanted to spend any time with him, and he was going to take it when he could get it.
“I will have to move closer to you so that we can have a relationship now. I’ve been living in a rental since my divorce, and it’s time that I got myself something else to live in. ”
“I have a condo if that’s the way you want to go.
It’s two bedrooms and a nice kitchen. I’d gladly let you have it if you want.
” He said he’d think about that, knowing that he’d take the condo over having to look for a house anytime.
“My brother lives not too far away from the one that I had. But he’s looking for a house now as well.
I think he figures that he’s going to need a house when his mate comes along anyway, he might as well find one to start with. ”
“That’s wonderful news.” He told him that the condo wasn’t too far from their house, either, so he’d be able to walk there when he wanted to visit.
“That’s even better news. I love to walk.
I keep getting my steps in every day so that I can keep in shape.
No point in my getting out of shape this late in my life. ”
They talked about her childhood, and he told her how he’d paid for her school.
She seemed to think it was her uncle, and he was all right with that.
She’d been such a good student that when she’d gone to college like she had, there was money for her to use as well.
He also showed her the pictures that he had of her from a baby to adulthood.
“Robert was really good at making sure I knew a lot about you. When he’d get your school pictures, he’d share them with me.
I have a box full of things that you did while in school that he gave me.
He was a good man and one that I’m going to miss a great deal.
” She told him how she had loved them both and that she, too, was going to miss them.
“They were a great couple, the two of them. And they provided me with enough information over the years that I knew more about you than I think your mother ever did.”
“Once I was sent away to school, she never had anything to do with me. Never once did she visit me at the school, nor did she come to any of the plays I was in.” She smiled, such a sad smile that he wanted to hold her in his arms. “Uncle Robert was there for everything. Aunt Cindy, too, when she didn’t have plans.
Her work kept her on her toes for a long time, I guess. ”
“Your aunt was devoted to her job. She was good at it, too.” She asked if she’d been able to retire from working as a nurse for the emergency department at the local hospital.
“I don’t think she planned on ever retiring.
She always said that she’d die first. I guess she was right.
I miss Cindy so much as well.” They didn’t say anything for a while, and then they were called to dinner.
He had only noticed then that the two of them were the only two in the living room where they’d been talking.
He appreciated the time alone with his daughter.
“Do you suppose we bored them by talking about our lives apart?”
“I heard from Ivan, and he told me that they were enjoying themselves in the kitchen. He told me that it was the place where they met when they had things to talk about. It’s going to be the heart of our home, too, I hope.
We’re going to have to hire staff to keep up with the house; it’s bigger than I thought when we started touring it.
” He asked her if they were taking the furniture from her other home.
“Most of it. I really like the things that they collected over the years, and I want to tell any children that we have about their great aunt and uncle. The memories were hard at the house, but I think I’ll be fine with a place of my own.
Besides, as I said, the house wasn’t meant to be for a family. It was just too hard to get around.”
“I agree.” They went into the dining room together, and he was surprised to see that the family was all there.
They must have come in while he was getting to know his daughter, and he was delighted to be able to meet all of Ivan’s family.
They were a big group of men, and he liked them immediately.
“My goodness, it must have been hard on your family to feed the six of you. You’re hard to feed now, I’m betting. ”
He didn’t know what he’d said, but it was Ivan who told him how they’d come from an abusive family.
He was also told how their mother had killed their father and an officer when she’d been trying to blame them for his murder.
They each had a story to tell about their parents, and he was sorry that he’d said what he had.
They assured him that he was all right; how was he supposed to know, but he did feel bad for bringing the room down a little.
However, it wasn’t long before they were in a great mood again, and he enjoyed himself.
When it was time for him to leave, they’d begged him to stay later, but he had things to do; he made his way back to the hotel that he’d been staying in since hearing that Robert and Cindy had been killed.
Getting to the desk before going up to his room, he was handed several messages, and all of them were from Debra.
Since they were time-stamped with the time that she’d called, he knew, as the notes gathered, she was getting angrier and angrier as she left each note.
The last one only said for him to call her, and she’d talk to him, but he wasn’t going to do that.
He had his own memories that he wanted to have with his daughter, and Debra wasn’t going to mess those up with her demands.
Going to bed that night, he was amazed at how much he’d enjoyed himself this evening.
He’d not been able to speak to Serenity before like he had tonight, and he had learned a great deal about her.
As he rolled to his side to sleep, he wondered if he’d ever get enough of his daughter before she got bored with him and laughed.
His daughter was something else, and he couldn’t wait to spend time with her now. He doubted that would ever change.