CHASE
“Imade dinner. It’s not much, just chicken and rice.” I’m not a bad cook, but I’ve never really cooked for anyone else. When we were together, Kelley did most of the cooking around our house. That was more practical than anything else. My hours weren’t predictable, so if we wanted food on the table before ten, she had to do it.
Back in my bachelor days, I lived on simple meals meant to meet all the requirements of my diet. They weren’t great, but they did the job.
“You really didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” We stand in the kitchen, the small runner between us. I’ve been staring at the damn thing every morning since I got here. It’s a bunch of books on a shelf. I haven’t read a single one of them, but I recognize them as the ones I was supposed to read in school. It’s one of the few things here that fits with Nix’s personality. Everything else is so bland it’s hard to believe he picked any of it.
“Well, then, thank you. I don’t remember the last time someone cooked for me. Restaurants don’t count.”
At least we agree on that part. “Sit. I’ll bring it to you.”
“Chase, you really don’t have to. You’re the guest.”
“Sit,” I demand, but in a nice voice. Nix is the kindest person I’ve ever met. Giving me his rental property—no charge—provides me with food, a job, and friendship. Dinner is literally the least I can do.
“Did you talk to the plumber?” I ask to break the silence while I plate our food. Probably the worst thing I could bring up, but I get anxious in the quiet spaces between us. There’s something here I can’t put my finger on. Normally, I’m happy to sit in complete silence for hours on end. Now? Any lull in conversation needs to be filled. Except I’m out of good somethings and down to the dregs.
“Yeah, he can start work tomorrow.” He groans, and there’s a thump when his head hits the table. “It’s going to take at least a week before I can be back in the place and another month or two before everything’s done.”
“That sucks. I swear houses are always falling apart.” I’ve never owned anything old. A newish condo, then a new-construction home. They still had problems. From the looks of Nix’s place, I’m guessing it was built about a hundred years ago.
“My great-aunt loved that house. I think it’s half the reason she never wanted to leave the town.” He picks his head up and smiles softly. “That place is filled with so much of her personality. I’ve changed a few things, but I left most of it. I don’t know why, but I think she’d hate it if I came in and changed things too much.”
“It’s probably why she wanted you to have it. She knew you’d be a good steward of it into the future.”
“Yeah, well, we all see how that worked out.”
“Don’t.” I bring the plates over to the table and sit down across from Nix. “The house is old. This would’ve happened no matter who owned it. The important thing is that you’re getting it taken care of now.”
“I knew the house was old, obviously, when I inherited it. I don’t think I fully appreciated what that meant until recently.” He picks up his fork and digs in like he hasn’t eaten all day. Then again, maybe he hasn’t. There was the cinnamon roll I brought him, but I didn’t see him with anything else. That’s something I can help with around here. Making sure Nix takes breaks to eat and drink. It’s not much, especially compared to what he does for me, but it’s something.
“Yeah, it definitely increases the amount of time and money you spend maintaining it. But I bet it has a ton of character.” I got a glimpse inside when I visited today. The place is impressive, gorgeous wood and built-ins everywhere. It’s the kind of home I dreamed of owning as a teenager, long before I understood the price tag that came with it.
My own place hadn’t come cheap, but it was new construction. The floors weren’t real wood or anything, but it’d been nice enough for me to feel comfortable inviting work clients over for the occasional dinner party.
“It’s my favorite place. Always has been. I used to spend summers here, way back when I was in elementary school. Usually at least a month, sometimes more. I’d get to come up to Sleighbell Springs and spend time with Aunt May.” He gets this far-off, wistful expression on his face. “It was always my favorite part of the year. Time went by differently here. It’s like I wasn’t only on vacation, but I got a vacation. From all the parts of my life.”
There’s a given peace at the end of that. A lump forms in my throat. Some of this I’ve heard from Russ. However, I wasn’t paying close attention. The curse of being a teenager.Anything that didn’t personally affect me disappeared into the background.
“It’s a great house. You’ll see. Once all the work is done, it’ll be even better.”
“You think so? Really?” He sets his fork on his plate and leans in. If only I had more to offer him. There’s little I can do other than provide some reassurance.
“I do.” At least I hope. After making that kind of promise to him, I’d hate to be wrong.
While we eat, Nix tells me all about the various customers who came through the store today. I always thought those TV shows and movies about small towns played up the drama and kookiness for ratings. From what I’m hearing, they actually ratcheted it down to make it believable.
“So, now I’m sold out of the second and third book in the series, but have plenty of the first and fourth.” He sighs. “I’ll order more, but in the meantime, I hope no one’s working their way through. I’d hate to tell someone who just got to the cliffhanger at the end of the first book that they’ll have to wait a week to find out what happens next.”
Couldn’t they just get the e-book?I almost ask the question aloud but think better of it. Personally, on the rare occasions when I read something that’s not on my computer, myiPadworks perfectly fine. Having a bunch of hard copies of books lying around would be inconvenient. Plus, it’s very heavy to move.
“Since you cooked, I’ll do the dishes.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to put them in the dishwasher anyway.” It’s a small one, tucked away in a drawer, perfectly suited to a place like this, but it doesn’t hold more than a day’s worth of dishes.
“I can help.”
