“Thanks so much,”Isaid asIlingered in the doorway with a grocery bag hooked around my arm. “Itwas so nice to meet you.”
“Of course, of course.Youlet us know if you need anything else, darling.Juniperwas one of ours.SoisJack.Thatmakes you one of ours too.”Thelady turned and gave the burned wreckage a forlorn look. “Sucha shame.We’reglad you’re all right.Now.Ifyou’re looking for work and need a reference, you put my name down first.Andif you run out of anything, just holler.”
I didn’t even remember the lady’s name.Frankly,Iwasn’t entirely sure she had told me.Shewas one in a long line of pop-in visitorsIhad gotten atJack’shouse today.Theystarted as soon as the sun rose, bringing clothes, toiletries, gift cards, and casseroles.
I wasn’t sure why we needed casseroles.Jack’shouse was fine.Butthe thought was kind, nonetheless.
I carted the haul the lady had left into the house and added it to the growing pile in the living room.Atfirst,Ihad left the bags in the corner.Butthe pile kept growing, soIhad started sorting it all.
The door opened and closed asIadded the shampoo and conditioner to the hair products pile.
I had been given enough shampoo, deodorant, and soap to get me through the year.Theinstant community action brought tears to my eyes.Thiswas the stuff of books.
Well, not my books.MaybeWillow’s.
The door opened and closed asJacklet himself in.Iheard the drop of his station bag at the door.Itwas a familiar soundIhad become accustomed to over the last week.
“Honey,I’mhome,” he teased.
“In the living room,”Icalled back.
Jack popped his head in and went slack-jawed. “Sowe don’t need to do that trip to the store, do we?”
I rested my hands on my hips and looked at the spread. “Honestly, if you’re okay with rose-scented deodorant and soap,I’dsay we’re both set for the next year or so.”
He chuckled as he leaned in for a kiss. “I’llstick with mine.”Thepeck was soft and quick, but warmed me immediately.Itwas a familiar helloIwould never get tired of. “ButIlike the sound of you being here in a year or so.”
I chewed on my lip. “Thisis way more stuff thanIneed.”
“People just want to love on you.It’swhat we do around here, so get used to it.”
“AndIappreciate that.Also, we don’t have to cook for a long, long time.”Ilooked at the pile of brand-new toiletries, clothes that were too big or small for me, the hair supplies thatIcouldn’t possibly go through in a decade, and makeup thatIrarely wore. “Isthere a women’s shelter around thatIcan donate some of this stuff to?Don’tget me wrong,I’llkeep whatIneed, but it seems wasteful for me to keep it all.”
“Bring it by the station when you’re done sorting it all.Wesend donations down to the one inMoreheadCityevery month.”
“How was work?”
“Not that bad, actually,”Jacksaid as he headed into the bedroom and changed out of his station clothes. “Gota few calls before midnight, butIgot to sleep from one to six.”Hecracked a smile when he came back out, pulling on a fresh t-shirt. “ThatmeansDrew’sabout to have a bad day today.”
“You and your superstitions . . .”
He handed his phone over. “Yourmom texted and said the insurance adjuster will be out to inspect the house the day after tomorrow.”
I glanced at the message, then pawed through the stack of papers on the kitchen table. “I’malmost done with the inventory list of everything that was in the house.Itwas a good thingWhitneytook pictures during the party.Itmade it easier to remember what was inside.”
Jack towered behind me, bracing his hands on either side of the table to cage me in. “Howlong will it take for insurance to pay your mom?”
“A week or two for the adjuster to do the investigation, a month for the paperwork, and the payout will happen a week or two after that.”Idug my hands into my hair. “Mostof it has to go to clearing the site so we can sell the land, then paying back the renovation costs so my mom isn't on the hook for it.”
His hand gently rubbing my back was soothing. “Willyou get anything from the sale of the land?”
“Maybe eventually.Butit’ll be a lot longer than we were anticipating, and it won’t be nearly as much.”
He kissed the back of my head. “I’vegot you.”
I hung my head. “Youshouldn’t have to.Youdidn’t sign up for this.”
“You didn’t sign up for it either.Don’t, for one second, pretend that you knew what you were getting into with this house.”
