Page 71 of Undone

“It’s not even seven yet. Do you mind if we start moving me out of the rental tonight?”

“If that’s what you need, we’ll do it,” Rog answered.

“The three of us should be able to get almost all of it. You didn’t move everything out here.”

“I didn’t. I stored a lot of junk in a storage unit.”

Dev laced up her sneakers. “I half hope that son-of-a-bitch comes back tonight.”

“Me, too.” Rog, muttered.

“Well, I don’t. I’m not up for seeing him anytime soon.”

“Stay here then and ice your ankle…take a nap. You look like you need one.”

So, I did. Thanking them profusely for all they did to help me. They didn’t want to hear any more of it and Rog practically shoved a sleeping pill down my throat to get me to stop. I felt safe as I fell asleep on their oversized couch with their two dogs curled up by my feet.

“You’re kidding me, right?” I dropped my bags on the ground, turning in a circle. This place was straight out of a dream. The A-frame log cabin sat in a small clearing guarded by evergreen trees that rose high in the sky. Smoke curled from the chimney. Stacks of wood were piled neatly under the overhang outside the door. It wasn’t too large or too small. The home was just perfect, and I hadn’t even stepped one foot inside.

“I-I can’t afford this.”

“Your rent will stay the same.”

“Are you sure, Rog?”

“Yep. It’ll save me the hassle from checking on the place. I had a pipe freeze last year. With you living here, I won’t have to worry about that.”

“I didn’t even know about this place or I’d have called dibs.” Dev, chuckled, linking our arms as we picked up my bags and followed Rog up the steps and inside.

“Wow, Rog—this is nicer than your house.”

He grunted. “I was planning on maybe flipping it in a few years.”

“Don’t you dare,” Dev breathed.

Old reclaimed wood plank floors ran under our feet. A huge stone hearth sat along the far wall. Everything was open. It was a house without walls. In fact, the entire back wall was a window overlooking a pond. The leaves on the trees outside were on fire. Hues of red and orange as far as I could see lit up my world. All I could think of was that I needed to capture it. I needed to paint it—immediately.

Excitement flowed through me. I attempted to skip, on my sore ankle back to Rog’s truck, to take my easel and a blank canvas out. I grabbed my box with my paint and brushes, hurrying back inside. I found the perfect spot and set up in the corner of the room. The light was perfect. Dev grinned when she saw what I was doing. Neither she or Rog complained about unloading my things while I worked. Vivid shades of green and burnt sienna quickly filled the once blank canvas.

Rog studied my painting when it was almost done. “That’s good. Real good. You should do something with that.”

“I am. It’s yours.”

He stroked his beard. “Can you paint me a few more? I need something for Sassy’s.”

“Sure. I’d love to.”

“I’ll pay ya’ whatever the going rate is for stuff like this.”

“You’re family now, Rog. It’s free.”

He grunted. “I’ll pay. Besides, I’m insulted you stopped coming to Sassy’s. And I know it ain’t my cooking.”

“I know. I just don’t want to see any members from the MC.”

“Done. I’ll kick their asses out. Just give me a twenty-minute warning whenever you want to drop by.”

“Thanks. I missed hanging out with the two of you.”

“We missed you too, doll. Stay here and unpack. I have one more trip back to your place. I’ll move the woodstove and the rest of your things from the barn studio tomorrow.”

“What’s left of it,” I winced, knowing how hard the two of them worked to make that special place for me.

“Don’t worry about that. All of this is on him,” Rog muttered as he walked out to his truck.

“I really like him, Dev. Things seem to be going, well?”

“They are. I’ve never felt like this… never dreamed I could ever feel like this. I’m so happy. He gets me. You know?”

No, I don’t. I thought I did, but I didn’t say any of that. I just smiled and continued painting. If only I could paint the future that I want to live in.

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