DustyDog: Don’t fuck this up. I need your ass in here by next Thursday, or sooner if you can swing it. I can only do part-time for now, since I’m also paying Boyd while he’s on leave, but I should have more work by late spring.
Me: On it, boss man.
Amused, I shook my head as I read back through our chat. Moving out was its own special hell, especially with the fallout from Blair’s affairs, but I was ready to start fresh.
Might as well jump in feet first and put myself on display for the gossips. Since I needed groceries, I hit the market first. Then, if I give myself an hour to pick up dessert, the diner would be next on my list.
I cataloged the changes at the market for a few minutes before I was identified.
“Jacob Brown? Is that you?”
I smiled at my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Gonzalez.
“Nice to see you again, Mrs. G.”
“I almost didn’t recognize you. You’ve gotten bigger.”
“The army does that,” I said noncommittally.
No need for her to know that weightlifting and boxing were my therapy.
“Come give an old lady a hug. How many people have you seen since you returned?” she asked.
“Not many. I saw Daniel and Patricia Williams when I moved in, but this was my first stop.”
“Ha,” she cackled. “I beat that old crone, Lucinda Mars. She’ll hate that.”
She scuttled away, delighted with herself. When I turned back to the meat counter, two more people waited for my notice.
Once they left, I was swarmed. Half the town wanted to confirm it was really me, and the other half wanted to reminisce about the good old days. It was surreal.
For the next hour, I shot the shit with people I barely remembered about situations I remembered even less, but it was surprisingly enjoyable. I received more hugs, back slaps, and handshakes than in the previous ten years.
And propositions. Dusty was spot-on about the women of Sierra Rose Ridge. A shocking number of women slipped me pieces of paper with their phone numbers and offers to show me around town since things had changed.
It was pointless. I was off women. Blair did a number on my heart, my trust, and my pride, and I don’t know which one hurt most.
Of course, I didn’t say any of that. I didn’t say anything. Since I’d been a quiet kid and the strong, silent type as a teen, no one expected much from me.
The same wasn’t true for them. At one point, there were seven or eight people talking at once. It amused me, and I couldn’t wait to laugh about it with Dani later.
Damn, being back in Sierra Rose Ridge had me ready to fall back into old habits, but she was one habit I couldn’t pick up again. If Blair fucked me up this much, no telling what Dani could do when I’d loved her most of my life.
Eventually, my luster wore off, the crowd thinned, and I bought a few groceries. When I got home, I cleaned out Old Blue to have something to do.
Since I didn’t own much, there was little to unpack and no furniture to put it on. As an unmarried soldier, I lived in the barracks. Unofficially, I spent most of my off-work hours at Blair’s apartment until the day I came home early.
I had a bedroll on the floor of the master bedroom, and my clothes were in duffel bags. The house was unfurnished, but I planned to work on it anyway, which would be easier without furniture
I spent years planning how to make this place uniquely mine. It would be hard work, but I was no stranger to that. My hands itched to tear up the ugly-ass carpet and rip off that hideous wallpaper. New ceiling fans and lighting fixtures. Fresh paint indoors and out. The kitchen was spacious but in dire need of new cabinets and appliances.
My hand cramped as I wrote everything down as I toured my house. It was a good thing I had prospects for income because this place was going to take a fuck-ton of work and money.
While I wouldn’t ever be grateful to Blair for cheating on me and cratering my dreams of family and forever, at least I had all the time in the world for my renovations and no rush to get them done.
DustyDog: You still coming for dinner tonight?
Me: Of course. I said I would. Why wouldn’t I?
