Making Home – Chap 7 by MsEloiseDeane..,

Chapter Seven:

The weekend went by slowly now that I had something to look forward to. I still had work-study until Thursday, but I would begin my new job today. I hoped that there wouldn’t be too much overlap and I would still be able to study for my last two finals. I had just finished my last final for the day and was getting ready to text Mr. Crawford that I was ready to be picked up. The paperwork he sent was straightforward and Patricia had sent an email this morning that my background check had cleared. I was all set. I pulled out my phone and noticed a new text:

“Where’s my money?”

I should have known that he wouldn’t give up. I quickly typed out a reply:

“It’s coming. I need more time.”

That jerk. I needed to figure out a way to get my mom away from him. Or get him away from my mom. Another text came through:

“So buy it. An extra $250 will get you a week.”

I felt like slamming my phone down on the sidewalk as I walked, but also couldn’t afford the drama right now. Or a new personal phone.

“Fine.”

I put away my phone and took out the work phone. It was going to be a lot for me to manage two phones and I debated just putting Mr. Crawford’s numbers in my own phone. My fingers moved across the smooth screen as I decided to figure it out later. He replied shortly that Amanda would be by to pick me up, and I tried not to run back to the house. When I packed my things on Sunday, everything fit into three bags. At least it would be an easy move. Jess had also orchestrated a going away dinner for me that night, and it was a good way to say my goodbyes.

I heaved my belongings into the living room as I waited for Amanda to pull up. She arrived sooner than later and grabbed one of my bags without hesitation to carry to the vehicle. We threw my bags into the trunk together and she moved to open the backseat door for me.

I expected her to be quiet again, but was surprised as she spoke to me, “Avery. How are you this afternoon?”

I slid onto the heated leather and reclined with a sigh. “I’m doing good. I just finished with my last final for the day. Only two more to go.”

She closed the door and walked to the driver’s door. After she slid into her own seat and buckled her safety belt, her eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. “And how do you think you did?”

“I think I did really well, actually. Physics lecture final and I’m a bit of a math whiz. But even if I wasn’t, if you know unit analysis, you basically know physics.”

She chuckled. “I don’t know unit analysis, so I’ll take your word for it.” She backed out of the drive and began toward the main highway.

After we turned off of the highway south of the city, the drive to Mr. Crawford’s house took a turn down many streets I didn’t know. We seemed to be traveling to an area much further out of the city and a little bit more remote than I was used to. At first there were houses with plenty of space between them, and then the homes became large expanses of yard between each brick or wrought iron fence. We finally turned to a road where the path was long and lead to a large home with a three-car garage. The driveway was a large rectangle set in front of the home and garage on the side.

The house was made of brick with tall, peaked gables. Decorative coniferous evergreen shrubs were strategically placed to hide the majority of the home from the road and added a touch of greenery to the snowy landscape. She pulled into the garage and parked in a space that I assumed was reserved for the vehicle she drove. I moved to open my door as she exited the vehicle as well. She gave me a smile as we removed my bags and walked up to the entrance.

“You know, it’s kind of my job to get the doors for you.”

“Oh, sorry. I guess I’m not used to that.”

“No need for apologies.” She hurried in front of me and opened the door to allow me in. We walked through a hallway and the kitchen to the foyer. If the exterior looked like a castle, the interior was much warmer than I would have guessed. Immediately in the main entrance was a sweeping staircase that led up to a catwalk on the second floor. The woodwork was detailed with an heirloom quality. The color made it look like a type of cherry, but I wasn’t too familiar with those sorts of things. Wood slats covered the floor, and the shine was so bright I felt as if my face would be reflected in it.

“Your coat?” Amanda stood behind me, waiting for me to shrug myself out of the puffy second-hand store Columbia jacket wrapped around me.

“Oh, sure.” I set my bags down and unzipped my coat, letting it slide from my arms as Amanda took it. I toed off my boots.

“If you walk through there, you’ll come to the dining room. Mr. Crawford is already seated and waiting to take supper with you. I’ll bring your things upstairs.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I smiled at her, attempted to shrug off a chill, and wrapped my arms around my chest to rub at my shoulders. His house was gorgeous and way out of my league.

True to her word, Mr. Crawford was seated at the dining table with a tablet propped up in front of him and a tumbler nestled in his hand. The dining room was at the front of the house with a large set of windows looking into the front yard. It was already starting to get dark outside, the daylight cut short as we approached winter solstice.

“Ah. Good evening, Avery. Would you care to join me?” Mr. Crawford motioned to a seat at his right.

I quietly sat down in the high-quality chair, afraid to stain the white cushion. One chair was probably worth what I made in a week as a work study.

“Your home is gorgeous.”

“Thank you. This is the current house that I’m occupying. I also have one up north and a condo in the metro, but that’s a conversation for a later date.” He closed the tablet he was swiping on and smiled at me.

His hair was slightly tousled, and he had a five o’clock shadow of stubble on his face. He was dressed in usual dress slacks and a white button down, but with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms. I was taken aback to see him in such a casual state. I hadn’t expected him to be so normal. He looked even more inviting than the house. My heart pulled at my brain as I tried to rationalize against fantasizing over him. I swallowed and looked away, unable to stare at him for too long.

There was some noise coming from the kitchen, and I looked over to see a man working at the stove and countertops. After setting a few things down, he rushed over to a fridge and pulled out a bottle, opened it, and poured the contents into a glass. He walked it over to the table.

“Tonic water with lemon.” He set it down in front of me.

“Oh, thank you.”

Mr. Crawford looked up at him. “Thank you, Clyde. This is Ms. Avery Mitts. She will be staying with us for a while.”

He looked down at me and gave me a warm smile. “Nice to meet you, miss.”

“Nice to meet you as well. Do you need any help in the kitchen?”

His laugh was rich and bubbly. I immediately knew that I was going to like him. “Oh, no. I’m quite at home and very particular about how I handle the kitchen. Just leave it to me.”