Tags:
United States,
Romance,
Literature & Fiction,
Short Stories,
Contemporary Fiction,
Women's Fiction,
African American,
Multicultural & Interracial,
Short Stories & Anthologies,
Two Hours or More (65-100 Pages),
Single Authors
Julie smiled when she noticed the girlish
blush on her cheeks.
“ I
don’t know why but for the first time in a long time, I
actually feel like I…I could really have something with
someone,” she said. “I almost feel hopeful that I could
have something as special as what you and Steven have.”
Julie
raised an eyebrow and smiled. She never thought she would live to see
the day.
“ Someone’s
smitten,” Julie said.
“ Well,
you can’t blame me,” Meg said. She was now pouring more
juice into her glass. “Ellis is cute and awesome.” She
took a sip and looked up. “And British,” she added. Julie
smiled and took the sandwiches out of the press. She waved an arm
around as the pain she felt registered in her brain. Meg grabbed a
plate and held it out for Julie to put the bread on.
“ I
really had not thought this through,” Julie said as she blew on
her fingers.
“ Clearly,”
Meg said as she grabbed some towels before pouring some juice into
Julie’s glass. Meg then looked around the room and sighed. “I
guess we are just going to sit here, right?” she asked. Julie
took a long deep breath and let her eyes wander. The whole
house…well, most of it was covered in moving boxes. Everywhere
she looked was a moving box. There were boxes stacked up lining the
walls and most of the floor was occupied. There was almost no room to
walk.
“ That
sounds like a brilliant idea,” Julie pointed out as she pulled
a stool at the bar.
Meg
looked around again and reached for a sandwich.
“ Are
we ever going to start unpacking these boxes?” Meg asked. Julie
looked at her and tried to hide the fact that she had a smile
threatening to get out.
“ I
love the fact that you just said ‘we’,” she said.
“ Damn
it,” Meg cursed under her breath before she took a big generous
bite. “I’m guessing it’s too late to change my
mind, right?” she asked in between bites.
Julie
smiled and nodded.
“ Oh
honey, that ship sailed long before you even thought to speak,”
she said just as the doorbell rang. “Great. More stuff,”
she countered. So far, Julie was having the longest day and apart
from the high point that was Meg’s visit, she wanted to die.
She was moving her stuff into Steven’s house after a lengthy
discussion. Initially, she had wanted Steven to move in to her condo.
It was all about giving up her space. Granted, she spent a whole lot
of her time at Steven’s place but this time it was different.
It was for life. She knew this was part of the package of the
marriage deal. And there was also the little fact that they both
wanted a family later on in life and given this fact, Steven’s
much bigger and roomier house looked like the more sensible choice.
“ This
is all ma’am…uh…Mrs. Davenport,” Aurelio,
one of the movers said, quickly correcting himself. Julie had, time
and again, told him not to call her ma’am but it always seemed
to roll off his tongue.
She
looked at him and smiled.
“ Thanks
Aurelio,” she said as she signed the phone on his clipboard.
“Wait, I need to give you a tip,” she said as she went
back into the house. She looked around the messy living room for any
sign of her purse but she couldn’t even hear herself think
thanks to the messy living room. She then grabbed Meg’s bag and
pulled a fifty from her wallet.
“ Hey!
What do you think you are doing?” Meg called when she saw Julie
tossing her purse back on the seat.
“ Relax,
I’ll give it back,” she called out as she walked to the
front door. She handed the note to Aurelio with a smile.
“ Ma…Mrs.
Davenport…this is not necessary. You have already given me
more than I had quoted,” he said.
She
shrugged.
“ Well,
you can always get Delia and Delores something nice on your way
home,” she said in reference to his wife and daughter. “Maybe
some Chinese,” she added with a smile.
“ Well,
I appreciate this Mrs. Davenport. Have a good day,” he smiled.
“ You
too,” she said
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