Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Two years ago, I had been working at a clothing store in Austin. My manager had asked me to stay another few hours, so we could get inventory done. I had agreed, greedy for the extra pay. When I asked my parents to pick me up late –my car was in the shop -- I didn’t think anything of it. It was just a quick trip on the highway, an easy fifteen minutes from our home to the store. I didn’t think they would both come, and I became frustrated when neither of them answered my texts.
The owner was closing up the store and found me still waiting on the sidewalk outside.
“You want a lift?” she said.
I shrugged. “Yeah, thanks.” I had no idea where my parents were or why they were so late. It wasn’t like them at all. When I got home that night, the lights were off, and my parents’ car was gone. It took me hours to figure out what had happened. They had decided that we would all go out to dinner after they picked me up, so both of them had left home on that fateful night.
They had made it halfway to the exit when a semi-truck jumped the guardrail and barreled into them. The accident had made statewide news, the leading story at eleven o’clock that night. But they didn’t release the names of any of the victims. I had to wait until the police called to learn the specifics. I was an adult, twenty-four at the time. My dad’s insurance paid for the house and the funeral and gave me enough money to rent an apartment.
I sold the house, quit my job at the clothing store, and did nothing for almost a year. I ate pizza and watched television movies. I went for long walks around the city, exploring neighborhoods far from my own. I hit up dozens of bars and danced until midnight. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew it was time to stop. I had to make a move that would bring me closure and help me to heal. That’s why I was going to stay with my cousin.
My phone rang just as I was scooping a collection of mismatched socks into the trash. The caller ID said it was Macy.
“Hey,” I answered on the third ring.
“Hey, yourself,” Macy replied. “I’m just checking in to see how things are going.”
“They’re going. Slow, but going,” I said, already exhausted.
“You sure you don’t want me to fly out to help?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m almost done. I’ve had months to work on this. It’s just down to my bedroom.”
“I’m sorry,” Macy said. “It must have been hard to make decisions about all your stuff.”
“Yeah, well.” I rolled my eyes. “I had a bunch of recipe books that I’m never going to use, and I had all my dad’s old fishing magazines. I kept some furniture and a few knickknacks, but most of it I donated or threw away.”
“You can put whatever you want into storage,” Macy pointed out. “You don’t have to throw everything away.”
“I’ll sort it all out,” I said. “How old is your littlest one now?”
“Emily is eighteen months,” Macy answered.
“My gosh, I can’t believe I haven’t seen you in that long.”
“Since the funeral,” Macy reminded me. She had been very pregnant at my parents’ graveside, her stoic husband holding a wiggling little girl.
I didn’t want to think about the funeral, so I pushed the thought from my mind. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She’s very adventurous,” Macy laughed. “I have to keep an eye on her all the time.”
“Maybe I could help,” I offered.
“I’ll take you up on that any day,” Macy said seriously.
“Do you think you’ll have any more kids?” I asked, just to make conversation.
“I think we’re done,” my cousin answered. “Three is enough.”
“But your kids are so cute.” In the background, I could hear them fighting.
“I was playing with that!” a little girl shouted.
“It’s mine,” a little boy’s voice said.
“Mom!” the girl whined. “Nicky won’t let me play with the truck.”
“It’s my truck!” Nicky yelled.
“I’m sorry, I have to go,” Macy excused herself.
“See you tomorrow,” I laughed.
I set the phone back, returning to the task at hand. I moved from the dresser to the closet. Inside, there were books and papers on the floor, a few pairs of shoes that I never wore, and some old Christmas decorations. With a sigh, I decided to donate the party lights. I wasn’t likely to own a house anytime in the near future, and Dillon and Macy would have their own decorations.
I wasn’t planning on staying with them for very long. All I needed was a job in town, and I could move out and get my own place. I liked living on my own. There was no one to look over my shoulder and tell me when I should go to bed or what I should eat. I was free to come and go as I pleased without inconveniencing anyone or worrying friends or family. My plan was to stay with Macy for a month or two, put a deposit down on an apartment, maybe buy an old truck or a sedan, and settle into small-town life.