Chapter 3 #3
He knew who she was but didn’t bother with introductions.
As soon as he was at his house, he picked up his toolbox and ordered dinner for the two of them too to be delivered.
He had a feeling that she hadn’t eaten all day, which was why she looked so defeated.
He would be too if he had to move into his place again without the help of his brothers.
Just as he was pulling into the parking lot, it started to rain like the heavens had opened up.
He rushed into the apartment and was already soaked.
“I don’t even know who you are, and here I am allowing you to help me put together my bed.
I must really be tired to have done that.
I’m usually very cautious.” He told her how he’d ordered food for the two of them and told her his name.
“Knox Erickson. I’m betting you’re one of the Ericksons that pretty much run things around here.
” She looked at him oddly. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.
I’m just really stressed out and hungry.
You were right in thinking that I hadn’t eaten all day. ”
They got the bed put together in no time at all, and the rental truck was locked up for the night by the time they got all the boxes of things that she’d gotten as well.
She’d gotten a lot of things locally for which he was proud of her for and the few things that she’d had to get out of town were things that he knew wouldn’t have been something that the local shops would have sold.
The mattress and box springs being one of them.
It took them until ten to get things put away.
After eating their subs, they stood around talking about the new job she had, and he was glad that he’d been able to make sure that her background checks had been done in a timely manner.
Once he was finished with the last of the boxes, he took them out to the dumpster and tossed them inside.
He felt good about helping Elaine and was happy that she trusted him enough to allow him to help.
“I’m afraid it would have taken me days to get things finished without your help.
If you’d allow me to pay you something for your help, I’d be appreciative.
It was a lot of work that, like I said, would have taken me forever to get finished and cleaned up.
” He told her that it had been his pleasure.
“I’m sure that it wasn’t. Who wants to spend a Tuesday night unpacking boxes and putting things together? But I do thank you so much.”
“It really was my pleasure. I’ve not done anything like this since I moved into my own home, and it brought back a lot of memories.
Good ones. I love to open a box and not know what’s in it until then.
Yours were a little less guessing as they had right on the box what was in them.
” She said that she’d started out fresh today.
“Good for you. It must be nice to wipe the slate clean and start over. Sometimes I think that I’d like to do that, but I have too many memories in the things that I have. ”
“I’ve been overseas for some time now and didn’t have a lot to begin with.
So this was easy. I made myself a list and stuck to it so that I’d not get too many things that I didn’t need.
” He said that he understood that. “I bet you would. I’ve heard from the townspeople that you only came here with the shirts on your backs when you broke down in front of what was then called the Grable Mansion. It’s a beautiful home.”
“My brother and his wife live there now. It’s called the Erickson Mansion.
” He told her how Martha Grable had left it to Locke for taking such good care of her when she’d been alive.
“He became a nurse so that when she needed him, he was right there for her. Now he’s a doctor and doing very well for himself.
Alex is a hoot, and we all love her to pieces. ”
By eleven, he was headed home. He’d not meant to stay that long, but the company was good, and they’d gotten a great deal of work finished.
Getting him something to tide him over, he opened the lid on the stew and shut the refrigerator before sampling some of it before going to bed.
He got himself a bowl of cereal before going to bed, and that was all he’d allow himself.
He couldn’t wait until tomorrow night to have some of the best stew in all the counties.
Knox felt good when he got into bed, like he’d used a few muscles that he hadn’t in a while, but didn’t strain himself too much where he’d be sore in the morning. It was a good kind of work that made him feel good about himself. And he liked Elaine, too. She was fun to be around.
The next morning, when he got up, he felt a little tender in his shoulders, but was all right after a little bit of walking around and stretching.
As soon as he got into his office, he wanted to call Elaine and see if she was sore too, and decided that they didn’t know each other that well for him to be checking on how she slept.
He found himself thinking about her all morning and into the afternoon, so much so that he finally broke down and called her.
“I was just calling to see if you’re all right today. I’m just a little sore.” She laughed and told him that she was sore but not too bad right now. “I think that I’d help you again, but try to be in better shape when I do.”
“Same here. But it was nice to be able to get up this morning and not have a mess to deal with, so I can’t thank you enough for your help.
The cup of tea helped too, as I usually have one in the morning before I get going for the day.
” He said that he did as well; it gave him a little boost when he needed it.
“I have to get my books ready for the school year as I’m going to start on Monday.
Mr. Sheen said that I could run by at any time and look around the classroom.
They’ve been having a sub teach the class for the last month, and he wants to make sure that I have everything I need. ”
“I’m going to be heading into town later today.
If you need anything, I can pick it up for you.
And by town, I mean the next town over. It’s one of the larger cities before you get to the major ones.
” He told her the name of the city he was headed to.
“I don’t mind picking up anything that you might have forgotten too. ”
“I think I’m all right. I do have some things that I need to pick up for the classroom, but I want to check with the school first to see what is there.
Thank you, however.” He told her that she had his number if she thought of something.
“I do, and I appreciate you calling me. It’s nice to have a friend in town.
I’m supposed to meet up with your sisters-in-laws for dinner tomorrow night.
I’m both looking forward to that and not.
There will be so many of them that I don’t know, so I’m a little nervous about meeting them for dinner. ”
“You’ll like them. They’re a little pushy but very good to have in your corner. And I guess you’ve met Shipley.” She said that she had and was happy that she had. “Good. I’ll talk to you later. Don’t forget, you owe me dinner for helping you out.”
“I won’t forget. I’m looking forward to that as well.” When he hung up, he wanted to call her back just so he’d have someone to talk to. Shaking his head, he decided that he’d better get to work on his paperwork or he’d be behind again. He hated to be behind when it came to his job.