Chapter 24 #2
Once all my purchases were inside, I made a quick call to the cable company to set up an appointment for service and then dragged furniture into the center of the bedroom so I could prepare to paint.
In addition to the periwinkle-violet, I’d also chosen a soft eggshell white for the baseboards and trim.
The woman at the hardware store explained what to do.
First up was taping off. After about forty-five minutes of climbing up and down a chair, taping off the ceiling and trim, my arms were sore and I was seriously rethinking doing this on my own.
But I took another look at the paint sample and decided I just needed a late lunch break before I began painting.
I checked my watch, correcting that to an early dinner break.
“Come on, sweets. Let’s get some grub.” Chaucer was up like a shot and down the stairs before I had a chance to jump from the chair. Didn’t have to ask him twice.
I’d just sat down to a leftover rice dish when Chaucer stood alert and woofed toward the front of the house.
A minute later, a knock sounded. Chaucer and I padded through the house.
I opened the door, expecting Aiden or maybe Mr. Cavanaugh, but was instead confronted by a man in a cable uniform.
His face had the slightly bloated look of a long-time alcoholic. Bruise-colored skin circled his eyes.
I took an involuntary step back. There was no logical reason for my sudden fear, but it was there, and Chaucer sensed it, pushing into the doorway in front of me. It was the man’s turn to take a step back, his eyes wary as they took in the sheer size and strength of my dog.
He smiled, and that was somehow worse.
“Ma’am.” He pointed to the patch on his shirt identifying him as Joe and an employee of Island Cable. “I’m from the cable company. You called for a hookup?” His eyes dragged over me.
“Yes. I did. They said someone would be out in a couple of days.” I was more than willing to wait a few days for a different installer.
“That’s right, but I was working nearby and had a cancellation, so they sent me over.” There was a challenge in his eyes, one that said he was aware of how uncomfortable he made me.
I was sick of being afraid. I could take care of myself, and I had a big protective dog to help. “All right. Come in. I’ll show you where I want the cable installed.” I stepped back to let him through. Chaucer was still tense, but I was doing my best to appear relaxed and in charge.
Joe stepped in and looked around, his eyes scanning quickly. “Nice place,” he mumbled as he walked through the living room toward the back of the house.
“We’re going upstairs. I want the TV in the bedroom. I’m actually painting up there today, but I’m sure we can work around each other.” Not to mention I wasn’t planning on leaving him unattended in my home.
I showed him the little flat-screen I’d purchased earlier in the day, still in its box.
I pointed to a long, low bureau. “I’d like to set it up on top of that, so it’s visible from the bed.
” I glanced over at the pile of drop cloths, paint trays, brushes, blue tape, and rags that were currently burying my bed.
“It’s in the center of the room so I can paint, but it’s normally against that wall.
” I pointed. “And the bureau is against this opposite one. Can the cable be installed in here?”
He looked around, focusing a little too intently on me, and I shivered.
Why hadn’t I just said I was busy and couldn’t do the installation now?
I’d ignored the survival instinct telling me to slam and lock the front door.
Or perhaps I was being a narrow-minded, superficial bitch, equating a scary face with a black heart.
He didn’t wait to see if I came to any conclusions about beauty image and preconceived notions of good and evil, instead hunkering down near the wall and the electrical outlet.
“You’re going to need wireless cable. We don’t have a cable line to hook into way out here.
I need to check to see if you can get a strong enough signal before I start. ”
I hadn’t considered that, big-city girl that I was. “My grandmother had a TV. Wouldn’t that mean that she had cable?”
He just stared at me a minute, his expression clearly stating that I was too stupid to live.
“No.” He turned back around to the device in his hand that had lights streaking up and down it.
“It should work. The reception won’t be as good as if you had the signal coming through a cable into the box, but it’ll be a hell of a lot better than you’d get without it.
And no drilled holes, which usually makes people happy.
” He checked his clipboard. “You also want internet, right?”
I nodded. “Yes, I do.” Somehow I had ended up on the other side of the room. I’d been backing away from him without even realizing it. This shit had to stop.
“I’ll install the internet hub right here, as well. It’s a small house. You should get a signal on a laptop pretty easy, probably even out on the porch.”
He turned back to continue working, and I decided that I’d been reading evil intent into sagging, sallow features.
By the time I’d finished taping off the trim, he was done. He walked me through how everything worked, demonstrated the remote, and gave me the instructions and passwords to get on the internet. He handed me the work order to sign and looked around again, noting the new TV and the bags on the bed.
“You’ve got a lot of nice stuff here. Is it just you?”
I quickly walked him downstairs, wanting to have a locked door between us. He stopped, his eyes raking over me again.
I leaned forward and turned the knob, opening the door.
He reached out for my arm and had opened his mouth to say something when we heard a voice call out from the back of the house.
“Katie? You home?”
Whatever Joe was going to do or say dried up as we heard the back door close. Joe’s mouth snapped shut and he took off, pointedly not rushing.
Turning to meet Mr. Cavanaugh as he came out of the kitchen, I leaned against the closed door, trying to appear more comfortable and confident than I was.
“Say, the furniture looks nice in here, doesn’t it?
” He assessed the rooms, nodding, before approaching me cautiously.
“I’m sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have walked in like that.
It was habit when Nellie was here. I’ll try to remember to knock first. In fact, you should keep the door locked, so even if I forget, I still can’t come in.
” He smiled tentatively, waiting to see what kind of reception he’d receive.
I stepped forward and gave him a big hug, which I think surprised him as much as it did me. I was so relieved to have Joe gone and this man in his place, not to mention grateful for my furnished home, that I threw myself at him. He gave me a tight squeeze and chuckled.
“Well, now. This is a surprise. I can’t remember the last time I had a cute little redhead in my arms. I could get used to this. Forget what I said earlier. You leave that door unlocked for me.”
There was something about being surrounded by a strong, protective male that helped me relax. I tucked my head under his chin, his strong arms encircling me. I allowed myself to sink into the hug.
“Are you trembling?” He leaned his head back, trying to get a better look at me.
Muffled by his chest, I said, “Nope.” I’d never understood young women who married septuagenarians. I’d assumed it was for money, but maybe not. Maybe it was for this—strength and warmth and concern.
Another car pulled into the gravel drive and I flinched. Mr. Cavanaugh rubbed his hands up and down my back. “It’s just Aiden.”
I knew I’d have to step away in a second but not yet.
The steps slowed on the porch. A strange stillness enveloped us all, two on this side of the door, one on the other.
The beveled glass panels in the front door didn’t offer much privacy, but it wasn’t the hug that needed to be hidden.
It was my need for it. I felt movement behind me and the front door quietly opened.
I stepped back, not looking at Aiden. “Thank you for all the beautiful furniture, Mr. Cavanaugh. It feels like home now. I’ll just, um, go get some coffee started.” As I left the room, I heard the low rumble of concerned male voices.
When the men walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, they were wary and observant. Aiden sat at the kitchen table and Mr. Cavanaugh came over to me. “Can I help with the coffee?” He put his arm casually around me, as though we did this all the time.
“Nope. Almost done. You guys want some dinner? I can throw something together.” I still hadn’t turned around, hadn’t looked at Aiden. Did he always have to be around when I was falling apart?
“Sure. I love rice. We might need to heat it up, though,” Aiden said.
I glanced over, looking at my abandoned meal. “I forgot about that. The cable man interrupted my paint break.” I gave Mr. Cavanaugh’s hand at my shoulder a quick squeeze before I walked across the kitchen to check the refrigerator for dinner options.
He leaned against the counter, a smile playing over his lips. “Cable, huh? Does that mean you bought a TV today, too?”
Nodding, I started pulling items from the refrigerator. “Yep. I’m not letting a little thing like no job get me down. I’m going to do some home improvements while I look for work. I may need to go off the island to find a job, but I have a car.”
Aiden shifted in his chair. “Wait. Paint break? What are you painting?”
Hunting through the fridge drawers, I found a chicken breast. I could whip up a skillet fry for dinner. “I got some new bedding and a gallon of paint. I’m starting in the bedroom.” I checked Mr. Cavanaugh’s reaction to that. “You don’t think Gran would mind my changing things, do you?”
He was staring at the floor, lost in thought.
At Aiden’s quiet throat clearing, he looked up and beamed at me.
“Sorry, just missing my Nellie. I think she’d be very happy that you were making her home all your own.
It’s what she wanted.” His nod and smile were bittersweet as he took a seat at the table with Aiden.
Chicken, rice, broccoli, green bell peppers, snow peas, carrots, garlic, soy sauce.
I’d been shopping since Aiden had brought me some much-needed staples.
I piled everything on the counter and then pulled down a skillet and got to work while the men discussed town news.
It was all very normal, yet strangely foreign.
“Mmm, that smells good. What are you making us, and are you sure we can’t help?” Mr. Cavanaugh’s chair scraped against the floor, easing back, ready to lend a hand.
“I’m happy to have you both, Mr. Cavanaugh. Not that Chaucer isn’t wonderful company, but it can get a little lonely around here.” The skillet was sizzling, tangy aromas warming the kitchen. It did smell good. I could do this. I could take care of myself and maybe even a few other people.
“Call me Connor. Please.”
I nodded, my heart swelling.
“You cook. We’ll clean up,” Aiden said, settling the discussion.
“Perfect. Looks like we’re just about ready.” I put out the plates and silverware. “What would you both like to drink? I think there’s some beer and some wine in there.”
“Now, I wouldn’t say no to a beer,” Connor said. Aiden hummed his agreement.
Once we were all settled and eating, I took a minute to sit back and watch the men at my table. Forty odd years separated them, but they were mirror images of each other, both tall and strong, gruffness hiding a well of compassion.
Aiden looked up. “Good dinner. So, do you want help painting?”
I intended to thank him for his offer but beg off. I liked the idea of doing it all myself...
Connor rubbed his hands together. “Oh, now that’s an idea.
I haven’t painted in years.” He obviously saw the look in my eyes and quickly headed off any argument by reminding me, “You’re going to need our help.
Little thing like you can’t reach the tops of the walls.
My back’s not so good anymore, so if you paint the bottom half of the walls, we’ll take the top.
” Then he looked at his grandson. “Aiden, Katie and I are going to sit right here and chat while you tape off the room.” He winked at me and said conspiratorially, “I hate taping.”
Aiden threw down his napkin. “Now, listen, old man, you’re not sticking me?—”
“I already taped the room.” I cut in to stem the argument.
They both looked at me and smiled. “Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go paint your room,” Aiden said.