Page 1 of Biker On The Hill
CHAPTER ONE
–RYETT –
With a heavy heart I glance around the room and have no idea where to start.Evina Trent, the only person left in my life I considered family passed away two weeks ago.I’ve known Evina all my life.Thirty years ago, my mother bought the house down the hill, right next to Evina’s property.At the time my mother was six months pregnant with me.
Being neighbors, and single women, my mother and Evina became friends.When I grew up, Evina became my babysitter.Later in life she was my best friend.Evina has been a solid figure in my life for as long as I’ve lived.
Evina’s house is on a hill, and I remember vividly how I used to slide down with my sled every damn time it snowed.This house, along with the hill it’s on, is surrounded with memories.Years ago, when I moved away to college, my mother sold her house because it was too big for just her.Though, we kept visiting Evina on a regular basis.
My mother passed away a little over a year ago.A brain aneurysm, she was alive and well when I left to get groceries, and when I came back, she was gone.Evina became my mother figure and a few months later I moved into her home to help take care of her.
Evina’s death was different than my mom’s.We had doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, and knew the time was coming when the doctors told us her liver and kidneys were failing.They made her as comfortable as they could, and she died in her sleep.
She was snoring when I left the room.Her cat, Mina, was curled up next to her.When I walked back in with the fresh tea I made?Silence thickened the air and her color was all wrong.
My mother and Evina had always been there for me no matter what.So many things happen on this planet every damn second without any of us giving it a second thought.Fun stuff, bad stuff, tragic, or exciting things.We process, suffer, enjoy, relish...we live life without thinking the next second of a loved one could be their last.
I let my fingers glide over Evina’s books and the corner of my mouth twitches when a memory hits me.When she was bedridden, I wanted to read to her.I grabbed her favorite romance book from the bookcase and read the first sentence of the first chapter...it started with “She was dead.”Yeah, I shoved that book right back and simply sat next to Evina’s bed telling her about my day.
I drop my hand and leave the books where they are.Maybe I should start with boxing up the clothes and giving them to Goodwill.My chest tightens and I feel my eyes burn.My phone starts to ring, and I jolt into action to grab it.I definitely need the distraction to avoid becoming a crying mess.All that will give me is a headache while it won’t change shit.
“Ryett,” I grumble into the phone and lift one of the tiny cat statues sitting on the desk.
“Hey, Ry, it’s me, Delcy.”My best friend’s voice fills my ear, at least I still have her.“Everything is fine here at the bookstore.Well, except for Nel finally returning the book two weeks overdue.No worries, she baked us brownies as extra payment.They look good, but we both know how awful her baking skills are.So, I kindly thanked her and threw them into the trash.How’s your day going?”
How is my day going?Dark and sad, like every other day for the past few weeks.At least Delcy is helping me run the bookstore.
Placing the tiny statue down I stare at the large pieces of furniture and tell her, “I’m trying to sort out Evina’s stuff.There’s a lot of things to do and I might need to hire some help to dismantle some of the larger pieces of furniture.I’d rather be at the store dealing with Nel, though.”
Delcy sighs.“You don’t want to deal with Nel, sweetie.Like you mentioned yesterday, it’s time to deal with things at home.Maybe you should hire someone.Oh, better yet, get a roommate.Maybe a sexy manhunk, now that would be useful around the house.Not to mention, orgasms to lighten your day.It’s actually a perfect solution to have a guy around to fix the place up, help you with heavy chores and stuff.”
“Maybe,” I murmur and step out of Evina’s room.“Or maybe I should look for an apartment or whatever and sell this place.”
“You’re kidding me, right?No way you’re gonna sell that damn house.You already had to sell your mom’s place after she died to deal with all her debts.You like this house even more.It’s right next to where you were freaking born, it’s more than a house, Ryett.It’s a connection to Evina, and your mother.Thank fuck things are different this time around where you don’t have to deal with debts or are being forced to sell the house.Evina leaving you everything is a momentum to honor her wishes.It’s your home now.You’ve been living there for months, even before Evina slowly got worse.It might seem like you want to start over fresh, but I’m telling you, sweetie...think before you act.”
Walking to the refrigerator, I take out a bottle of water.Deep down I know Delcy is right.For now, I have too much to deal with anyway to make a decision.To be honest?I don’t care about the house and the money Evina left me.I’d rather have her here than all the material things.
I feel the sadness wrap around my heart like a tight fist slowly squeezing the life out of me.
Swallowing hard, I mumble, “I will.Talk later.”
“Talk later,” Delcy replies before she hangs up.
Delcy and I shared a room at college, we’ve been friends ever since.When I opened the secondhand bookstore, she was there every step of the way to cheer me on.Delcy lost her secretary job last year, and when I offered her a part-time job at my store she accepted.
Well, her condition was that we’d take shifts instead of working together.Something about keeping our friend-time separate from the boss employee-time.It’s been working out very well, and the past few weeks she’s stepped up to give me some much-needed free time.
First to help Evina when she got worse, and when she died three weeks later with enough time to make all the arrangements.
“Meow.”
My heart jolts inside my chest.Evina’s cat, Mina, jumps on the counter.She always does these things and it freaks the fuck out of me.Reaching out, I pet her and Mina starts to purr.She’s a Seal Point Ragdoll with blue eyes and a silky soft distinct colorpoint coat.
“I’m glad you’re still here,” I muse.“Even if you like to scare the crap out of me, wake me up way too early, and keep–”
“Meow.”
“That.”I chuckle.“Always with the meow.Loud and lots.”
