And I most definitely did not feel a sense of loss once he was gone.
Chapter twelve
“IfeellikeI’vebeenhit by a truck, and it backed up to check the damage,” Keely groaned, putting a hand on her back.
It was moving day, and we’d spent the last few hours organizing and packing.I’d managed to sell a lot of things throughout the week.I only had one overpriced vase left of my collection of the most useless presents.The thing was green and hideous; no wonder nobody wanted to buy it.It was most likely going to end up in the trash pile in the corner.
It had been a wedding present from Cockalorum’s Aunt Margery.I liked to call her Margarine in my head, because she had so much makeup on her face, it resembled margarine when it melted off, which it always did eventually.
Packing had been an eye-opener to how much stuff we’d accumulated over the years.The kids still had all their baby blankets and rattles in their closets.Some things I wanted to keep, of course, but nobody needed ten rattles, three tiny blankets, and about twenty baby shoes to keep as a memento.
Not to mention all the broken toys I found under the beds and stuck between the couch cushions.I’d stealthily snuck most of them into trash bags that I’d tied up so the girls wouldn’t take anything out again.
Keely had been a godsend, knocking on my door at six this morning to help.Malena had come by as well with breakfast an hour ago, and when she left, she’d taken the girls with her to Nora’s.
“Whatever doesn’t fit in the apartment will have to go.”
What was going into the cars would be hard enough to get into the tiny apartment we were moving into.
Keely put an arm around me.“You can store things at my place if you don’t want to get rid of it.”
I leaned into her.“Thanks, honey.But cleaning all this out feels good.I want to start my new life with a clean slate.And that includes getting rid of all the gadgets and trinkets that Hank was so fond of.”
Someone paid two hundred dollars for the giant giraffe statue in our living room.Together with the tools I’d sold, I’d made a tidy profit.It would pay for most of the move.
“How come he didn’t have the girls last weekend or this one?”
“He took his human bling on a trip to Aruba for an early wedding present.I think normal people call it a honeymoon, but what do I know.I wasn’t listening after he told me I’d get to keep the girls.”
And yes, he refused to communicate through his lawyer and called me.Something I had no intention of telling Vance about since I didn’t want to rock the boat.
Keely craned her neck to peer out the window at the loud engine noise outside.“Who’s that pulling into your driveway?Did you order a truck?Good idea, because I’m not sure we’ll be able to get this all moved in one day otherwise.”
Curious, I peeked out the window next to Keely, spotting a big truck.
I watched the driver get out, and my jaw dropped to the floor.Vance, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, walked up to my door.
Keely tapped my nose.“Better open the door, sunshine.”
Stalking to the entry hall, I pulled the door open with so much force it banged against the wall.Orange joined me, uncharacteristically enthusiastic, dancing around Vance’s legs.
Even the dog likes him.
Vance kneeled down, giving Orange some attention before straightening up.“Good morning, ladies.Where do you want me?”
“What are you doing here?”I blurted out.
“Helping you move.”
When he’d said he had nothing else to do today, I hadn’t taken him seriously.A lot of people said things they didn’t mean.Yet here he was.
Keely pushed me to the side when I didn’t move on my own.“That’s so nice of you.Come on in.The others should be here in about an hour.”Before I had a chance to protest, she’d opened my front door as wide as it would go, waving Vance inside.“Let’s start in the kitchen.We’ll leave the heavy lifting for when Thad and Sebastian are here.”
Keely did a little butt-wiggle dance.“This is great.I was already dreading lifting all your crap into the car.Now that we have an extra set of strong hands, it should go much easier.And we only have to drive once since the truck should fit everything.”
I silently followed her into the kitchen, playing with my necklace.
“You okay?”Vance’s deep baritone asked next to me, and I couldn’t suppress the sigh that escaped.It was a good sigh.A sigh that said, “Oh, how I wish I could hear his voice first thing in the morning.”I bet he’d look good with bed head.
