They were headed out the door when he heard from Wylie.He knew that he’d been seeing Rosie Donaldson, but he didn’t know that it had become serious until he said that the two of them had bought a house.He nearly missed the entire conversation in thinking that his little brother might be getting married soon.
“It’s a nice house, and we got it for twenty percent less than they were asking.I think that it needs very little work, but we’re going to have the kitchen updated while we’re waiting for them to move out.Apparently, they never use the kitchen and didn’t think about it needing new appliances and new countertops.”He asked for the address and told him he knew where that was.“I thought you might.It’s not too far from you, about twenty minutes, but it’s got a nice inground pool that we’re both going to love, and there is plenty enough room in the dining room for us all to have a meal in.You should see the living room.It’s going to be perfect when football season rolls around.And I have a renter for the other house I bought.The rent from it will cover the cost of the house payment as well as some of the house payments we’re going to have with the new house.I think I’m going to love being a landlord if it’s this easy.”
“Don’t count on it.I’ve heard of horror stories, the same as you have.”He laughingly told him thanks for bursting his bubble.“I’m sorry.But you know how people are.I hope you’re a better landlord than some I’ve heard of, too.What am I saying?Of course, you’ll be great.You’re a Pennington.”
“Thanks, I needed that.”They were in the car when he rang off with his brother.They were headed to get something to eat at a fast-food place, then the movies.
Kinsey hadn’t been to the movies in so long that he was shocked by the prices.But he kept his voice down when Meggie started to fuss at him.He just thought that twenty bucks to see a movie for two people was a great deal to pay.Then there was the bucket of popcorn that they were going to share, as well as two drinks.However, he did remember to say no ice, or he’d have nothing but ice after acouple of sips.But he paid it and kept his mouth shut.It was that or make Meggie upset with him, and he certainly didn’t want that.
The movie had been all right.It had shown all the funny parts in the commercials, but he was fine with that.They’d had a good time, and he was happy that they’d gone out.Tossing away the popcorn container, he was happy to see that it didn’t make Meggie’s belly upset.Perhaps it was the saltiness of it, rather than it just being popcorn.Whatever it was, he didn’t care.He was just happy to be out with the woman that he loved.
As they were headed home, Meggie asked for a malt, and he was more than happy to get it for her.He got one for himself, too, and was glad that they could share this one thing before going home.He thought that he was becoming sappy, but found that he didn’t care.He was about as happy as he’d ever been in his life and didn’t care who knew it.
He loved living in their home.He would forever be grateful to David for giving it to them when he and Meggie first started to be in love.The doctor told him right after his accident that he’d have trouble with his ankle for the rest of his life.If they were looking for a home, they’d be better off buying one that was all on one floor.They’d had that with the Winchester home, and he believed that it was fate that put David in their lives.
He’d treated them all as his sons.Kinsey himself looked up to him and asked him questions about things that he knew a son would ask a father.And just after the accident, David had stayed with him at the hospital day and night to make sure that he was all right.It was good to have a father figure around when his own father had been the worst sort of man.
After their father had killed their mother, strangling her to death after beating her, he’d made him and his brothers help try to cut her up into smaller pieces with a chainsaw while they held down the body.For years afterwards, he’d had nightmares, and on occasion since he’d grown up, he’d have them still.It had been horrific to be holding down the body of their mother while their father had tried to get the chainsaw started to do that.That was one thing that he’d never forgive him for was trying to get them to help with the demise of their mother’s body when the police were on their way.
He was sure that the younger ones remembered that, even if they didn’t remember their mother.The police had come to the house on a domestic call and had walked in on a bloodbath.Their father got life without parole and was currently on his twelfth year of serving that sentence.None of them had ever gone to see him since he’d been put away, and he doubted they ever would.Once, after the sale of the farm, he’d called them, but they’d made it perfectly clear that they were never going to go and see him while in prison, and he could rot there for all they cared.He was glad that he was out of their lives.It certainly made it much easier to be a wealthy man without him trying to gamble away all their wealth.
~*~
Rosie had to keep telling herself today that she loved her job.She didn’t.Not today, but she was working on it.It was one of those days that you wished you’d stayed in bed and not even pulled the covers off your head.She thought that if one more thing happened, she was going to do just that and take her sorry butt home and get back in bed.It was warmer there anyway, with Wylie sleeping when she left.
He’d been staying up late working on investments.He seemed to be having a good time figuring things out, and she was proud of him.When it came to making them money, he said that so far he’d only made one mistake and he was all right with that.The return on the rest of his money was paying well, and he was finally getting the hang of what he was doing.Wylie hoped so anyway.
The two of them had been looking at furniture for their new home.All they’d found so far were the couches that they wanted for the living room and a big, screened television.He said it was for his brothers’ entertainment, but she knew better.He wanted it so that he could enjoy the games on his own.Rosie was fine with that so long as he was happy.Because if he was, she was as well.
Wylie had also found a place where he could order a custom bed.It was going to be expensive, but it would fit the two of them perfectly when they were sleeping or making love.She couldn’t waitto see it.It was going to be epic to sleep in something so large, and she was looking forward to it.No more falling out of bed when they moved around was going to be fun, too.
The kitchen was being done by a professional cook.They had already decided to have a cook in the house, so having the kitchen done right the first time was going to be good.They were also getting new countertops to go with the new island in the middle of the room.The last people who had lived in the house had left the little table and chairs set for them, and she was happy.They could have breakfast or any meal at it and not be in the way of the cook and staff they were going to have.
“Chief, there’s trouble down at the school.There are some older kids around pestering the younger ones that have been playing down there since school’s been out.”She asked if there were any adults around.“I only saw about two of them around when I drove by.The kids didn’t seem to be upset or anything, but I thought I’d drive by again and see what’s happening.”
“All right.Just make sure that you give them the same talk as before.They’re too old to be playing on the grounds when school is out.Also, make sure that little ones have adults around.They’re supposed to do that too, but I’ve noticed that they don’t seem to be around as much as I’d like.The place is too dangerous as it is without supervision.When you get older kids down there trying to ‘play’ with them, it gets out of hand.”
“I’ll take care of it now.School starts up in about a month, so we shouldn’t have any trouble with them anymore after that.I think the bigger kids get bored and try to irritate the younger ones to get them going.”She told him to be careful.“I will.I’ll make sure they’re out of there, too, before I leave.My daughter and wife go up there, and she gets annoyed when the older kids start taking the swings from the kids.”
“I would too, I think.”After he left, she began looking at the paperwork that had been on her desk when she came in this morning.It seemed like overnight, they could pile her desk up with more paperwork than she’d see all day when she was in the office.Most of it was petty stuff; someone dropped a candy wrapper and did not pick it up.They didn’t write tickets for things like that, but they did make a note on a record in the event that it happened again.She wished they’d all stop doing the warnings and focus on the things that were important.There weren’t much in the way of important things going on in this town, day or night, but she just wanted to have a clean desk when she came to work in the morning.
It took her nearly until noon to get the files put away.She never tossed out what they did, but she didn’t file it either.Usually, there was no name associated with it, so it would go in a dead file anyway, but she kept them because they did, and that was what a good chief did.However, this chief was beginning to see that the job wasn’t so much as being chief as being a babysitter for the town.
When her cell phone rang, she smiled.It would only be one other person besides her parents, and she was glad that he’d gotten up to talk to her.Wylie was the highlight of the day, and she would never turn down a call from him.
“I’m bringing you in lunch.I hope you’ve not eaten.”She told him she’d been busy all morning and hadn’t thought of it.“Good.I’ve been hungry for a big meatball sub since you mentioned it last night, and I’ve picked up one for each of us.”She moaned.“I’m glad that you make those little noises all the time.You have no idea what they do to me.”
“You showed me last night and again this morning.”They both laughed.They’d been making love at the condo without too much trouble with the bed, and she loved it.“I have to get some things at the store on the way home.If you want to get them, that will save me from being late coming home.”
“I can do that.I have a list of my own.They’re probably the same things, so we’ll compare before I head there.What did you want to drink?I brought bottled water, but I can get you a soda if you want it.”She said that water was great, and he laughed.“I thought you’d say that.I also picked up some fries to go with it, so remember to share with me.”
“This is going to be a big meal.Maybe we won’t want any supper again until late.”He said that he’d eat a salad later with her, and he said he was nearly there.Putting her phone away, she thought of what they’d done last night.They’d eaten at eleven-thirty because as soon as she got home, he attackedher at the door and they ended up in bed again.Not that she minded all that much, he made her come so many times that she was worn out all the time, but she didn’t care about eating that late.It did weird things to her belly.
While she worked on clearing off her desk so that they could eat there, she thought of all the things that had happened since she met him.She’d fallen in love, bought a house with him, and now had someone in her life who was taking good care of her.She wondered what she’d do if he were to change his mind about loving her forever.Rosie didn’t know what she’d do if that happened and didn’t want to think about it.
“Hello, love.”The kiss to her mouth was quick and nice.He started separating out the bags of food before he sat down.There seemed to be an endless supply of things coming from them, and she wondered if he had brought out the store when he’d gone shopping for water.There were even small containers of ice cream with plastic spoons and small tubs of salad.He must have been thinking he was feeding an army, and asked him about it.“You’re wearing me out.And giving me a hardy appetite.I’m burning a lot of calories all the time being with you.”Another kiss to her mouth, and she pulled out her sub.
“You’re wearing me out too, and I have to work the next day.”He told her that she should give her notice again.“I’m not ready to do that yet.I have to work, and I know how to do this job well enough that they keep me around.I’ll quit sometime, but not just yet.”
