starts
snowing.”
I nodded in agreement looking at our small backyard. It
reminded me of the Newton’s and I suffered an uncomfortable moment of longing
before I clamped down on the feeling. A new looking barn-red wooden fence
separated our backyard from the neighbor’s behind us, while evergreen hedges barred
the rest of the yard from the neighbors on each side. With the deck and
garage, there really wasn’t a lot of grass to mow in back, but the front yard
made up for it a bit.
During the tour, Sam remained quiet closely looking over the
house, trailing behind us. Outside, he stood beside me studying the backyard
as well. After a few moments of quiet, he sighed and said, “Well, Gabby, looks
like you’ll be comfortable here. I’d better start heading back. You need
anything, let me know.” He patted my cheek and stepped off the deck, neither
of us good with drawn out good byes.
I watched him climb into his truck and waved when he looked
back. Again, my emotions ran amuck for a few moments as I watched him pull
away, nostalgia robbing me of my moment. I’d been so ready to leave and start
out on my own I’d not inspected my feelings for Sam too closely. Now I knew.
I’d miss him a lot.
Rachel seemed to understand and chatted as we went back into
the house to settle me in.
“You have a nice Grandpa,” she said sitting on my bed as I unpacked.
I agreed, trying to shake the unhappiness I felt. Less than
five hours ago, I looked forward to making my own rules. Here, in this house,
I had the freedom I’d wanted. No more obligatory weekends in Canada. No meeting
men I didn’t want to meet. My internal pep talk began to work and I started to
unpack with more enthusiasm.
Rachel took a few of the wire hangers from the closet and helped
hang the t-shirts I’d crammed into a bag. “Please tell me there is more in
these bags than t-shirts,” she said sitting on the bed again. “I don’t mind
them, they’re comfy, but where’s the night out clothes?”
“Um, I really don’t own any.” Watching her while I said it,
I didn’t miss the shocked expression that briefly flitted over her features. I
looked over my small pile of clothes, most of it already on hangers thanks to
her help. It lacked diversity. I never noticed before.
She changed the subject. “Got your bathing suit handy?
With the backyard surrounded, the deck is perfect for working on a tan.” Without
waiting for my answer, she popped up from the bed and said, “Join me when
you’re done,” as she left the room.
I finished unpacking and heard the back door a few minutes
later. Bathing suit? I didn’t even own one.
Tucking my suitcase under the bed, I put on the sheets from
Sam. Instead of feeling sad, a new feeling bloomed. Resolve. I needed this…
living here with Rachel, someone my own age. Well, close to it. And female. Normal
things like lying out in the sun had escaped me over the years. She’d help me
catch up. That she didn’t seem adversely affected by me gave me hope. Granted,
she hadn’t yet faced rejection from a man because of me. Maybe we could work
on becoming friends first. Who knew, it could help prevent the ugly hostility
I’d grown accustomed too. I liked the idea of having a real friend. Sure, I
had Paul and Henry, but I wanted a friend of the same gender.
Unpacked and bed made, I changed into the shortest shorts I
owned and a strapless top that Barb had given me for my eighteenth birthday.
I’d kept in touch with my foster parents because of their insistence that I
do. Even though they had a beautiful little girl of their own, they still
thought of me, especially on my birthday. Feeling light at heart, I headed out
to the deck.
Rachel turned her sunglassed-gaze my way when I closed the
screen door. “Where’s your suit?” she asked curiously.
“I don’t own one,” I admitted, lying on my stomach on the
cartoon beach
snowing.”
I nodded in agreement looking at our small backyard. It
reminded me of the Newton’s and I suffered an uncomfortable moment of longing
before I clamped down on the feeling. A new looking barn-red wooden fence
separated our backyard from the neighbor’s behind us, while evergreen hedges barred
the rest of the yard from the neighbors on each side. With the deck and
garage, there really wasn’t a lot of grass to mow in back, but the front yard
made up for it a bit.
During the tour, Sam remained quiet closely looking over the
house, trailing behind us. Outside, he stood beside me studying the backyard
as well. After a few moments of quiet, he sighed and said, “Well, Gabby, looks
like you’ll be comfortable here. I’d better start heading back. You need
anything, let me know.” He patted my cheek and stepped off the deck, neither
of us good with drawn out good byes.
I watched him climb into his truck and waved when he looked
back. Again, my emotions ran amuck for a few moments as I watched him pull
away, nostalgia robbing me of my moment. I’d been so ready to leave and start
out on my own I’d not inspected my feelings for Sam too closely. Now I knew.
I’d miss him a lot.
Rachel seemed to understand and chatted as we went back into
the house to settle me in.
“You have a nice Grandpa,” she said sitting on my bed as I unpacked.
I agreed, trying to shake the unhappiness I felt. Less than
five hours ago, I looked forward to making my own rules. Here, in this house,
I had the freedom I’d wanted. No more obligatory weekends in Canada. No meeting
men I didn’t want to meet. My internal pep talk began to work and I started to
unpack with more enthusiasm.
Rachel took a few of the wire hangers from the closet and helped
hang the t-shirts I’d crammed into a bag. “Please tell me there is more in
these bags than t-shirts,” she said sitting on the bed again. “I don’t mind
them, they’re comfy, but where’s the night out clothes?”
“Um, I really don’t own any.” Watching her while I said it,
I didn’t miss the shocked expression that briefly flitted over her features. I
looked over my small pile of clothes, most of it already on hangers thanks to
her help. It lacked diversity. I never noticed before.
She changed the subject. “Got your bathing suit handy?
With the backyard surrounded, the deck is perfect for working on a tan.” Without
waiting for my answer, she popped up from the bed and said, “Join me when
you’re done,” as she left the room.
I finished unpacking and heard the back door a few minutes
later. Bathing suit? I didn’t even own one.
Tucking my suitcase under the bed, I put on the sheets from
Sam. Instead of feeling sad, a new feeling bloomed. Resolve. I needed this…
living here with Rachel, someone my own age. Well, close to it. And female. Normal
things like lying out in the sun had escaped me over the years. She’d help me
catch up. That she didn’t seem adversely affected by me gave me hope. Granted,
she hadn’t yet faced rejection from a man because of me. Maybe we could work
on becoming friends first. Who knew, it could help prevent the ugly hostility
I’d grown accustomed too. I liked the idea of having a real friend. Sure, I
had Paul and Henry, but I wanted a friend of the same gender.
Unpacked and bed made, I changed into the shortest shorts I
owned and a strapless top that Barb had given me for my eighteenth birthday.
I’d kept in touch with my foster parents because of their insistence that I
do. Even though they had a beautiful little girl of their own, they still
thought of me, especially on my birthday. Feeling light at heart, I headed out
to the deck.
Rachel turned her sunglassed-gaze my way when I closed the
screen door. “Where’s your suit?” she asked curiously.
“I don’t own one,” I admitted, lying on my stomach on the
cartoon beach
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