Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
21
GABE
After working late, later than I was expecting, it’s well past dark by the time I head home. Gramps came back out to tell Carsynn I wasn’t going to be home for dinner, and he took my place at the dinner table. A whole lot of shit went sideways today. Her car took a fucking minute to pull out of the ditch, with a shit ton of onlookers, including Sheriff Sanders, who came out to look at the situation himself. It took everything I had not to send my fist flying into his ugly mug. When he commented that she was lucky to be alive, the look I sent his way had him lifting his hands up and walking backward. Still, it pissed me off. Gramps asked for help, so he should have been out looking for a citizen of Plaine Hill, but he abandoned his duty. I towed her car back to the shop and put a tarp over it, not that it wasn’t shot to shit with the snow melting into water and slush. What I should have done was take Carsynn to the shop with me this morning, grab her a phone, and then drop her off at Gramps’. I wasn’t thinking things through, more worried about keeping my fairy calm while in the car.
“Boyo, you make it home?” Gramps asks when I walk through the door of Carsynn’s apartment. She doesn’t have a lot in the way of clothes or shoes at my place, and I noticed she’s on the last few pages of her book.
“Yep, well, I’m at Carsynn’s old place. I’m picking up a few of her things before I make my way home.” I’m taking my phone off Bluetooth, ready to step out into the cold night air.
“Won’t do you any good. She had me help her pack all of her belongings tonight.” My gut tightens, wondering where this conversation is going. We spoke twice today after I left. Once at lunch, the last at dinnertime when Gramps was over.
“What do you mean she packed everything?” I cut him off. Where the hell would she go?
“If you hadn’t cut me off, you damn idiot, you’d have known she decided to move all of her things from the apartment to the main house. You’re welcome, by the way.” There’s a smugness to his tone. The worry leaves me. I close the door to my truck, turn the ignition back on, put my phone on speaker phone, and back out of the now empty apartment's small driveway.
“Thank you. Jesus, you about gave me a heart attack, old man.”
“Well, the feeling’s mutual. Carsynn about gave me one, too, when she wouldn’t let me lift a freaking box. I was on stand there and watch duty. Bullshit, I tell you. At least she used my truck. I’m pretty damn sure she’d have walked back and forth until every last box was at the main house.” I’m hitting the garage button, hard, out of my mind with the need to see my woman, to celebrate the fact she’s right where she belongs. Finally, the damn thing starts to lift, and I’m racing to get my truck parked in the garage.
“I’d like to say I’m surprised, but I’m not. Thanks, Gramps, for being with Carsynn tonight. I’ve got her a phone and a set of keys, and tomorrow, the guys are going to bring the SUV up to the house for her. Then she can start working again,” I tell him as I put the truck in Park yet again, take my keys out of the ignition, and hit the button to close the doors behind my vehicle. This weekend, I’ll have to clear a spot out for her SUV. For the time being, I’ll park in the driveway.
“Alright, it’s late. Go see your girl, and we’ll talk tomorrow. I’m proud of you, Gabe. I knew Carsynn would be the one for you. Love her like I love your Grams.”
“I will. Love you, old man.” I climb out of my truck, ready to finish this conversation and celebrate with my woman.
“Love you, too. Talk tomorrow.” He hangs up the phone. I’m already up the steps, opening the door and ripping off my jacket now that my hands are free. I kick my boots off, place them in the boot tray, hang my jacket up, and start walking through the house while unbuttoning the flannel I wore today. I should probably take a shower before even thinking about touching Carsynn. Too bad that’s not going to happen.
“Fairy, I’m home!” I call out into the mostly dark house. There’s a lamp on in the living room, the fireplace has a few coals burning, but she’s nowhere in sight. A few books sit on the coffee table, as well as a new candle. It’s unlit but is set up in a way she’s putting a stamp on our home. Fuck, I love that she took what I said to heart. The whole reason for me stopping at the apartment was to pack all her shit, regardless of what I told Gramps. He doesn’t need to know how obsessed with Carsynn I am that I’d move her in while she was sleeping.