Page 16 of Overdue Feelings
“Your grandmother loved that house,” Gigi said softly, her eyes glanced across the street like she’d hated what it had become too.
“Yeah,” I murmured, my gaze following hers. “She really did. I hate seeing it like that.”
“Me too,” Zae added, rubbing the back of his neck. “I tried to keep the yard up when I could, but this year… it got ahead of me.”
“I get it,” I said, nodding. “Y’all know who’s been in it last?”
Zae looked over at me, then back at Creek. “Far as I know, nobody. Your parents were the last ones in that house.”
“Seriously? I thought my dad sold it.”
“If he did,” Creek said carefully, “whoever bought it never moved in.”
Gigi stepped forward, her gaze sweeping the street like she was remembering something. Then her eyes swept over Zae, Creek, and then me.
“You know,” she started slowly, and I knew she was about to drop one on those famous Gigi lectures, “when you stop tending to things… don’t water them, don’t visit, don’t care for them, they’ll start falling apart.”
I stared at her, trying to gauge if she was talking about the house or my friendship with Creek and Zae.
“I think I needed to hear that, Gigi.”
“Well, good. This old girl still has a few gems left.”
“And do.” I stood there for a second, just soaking it all in, my eyes bouncing between the two people I used to call my best friends.
“Well,” Creek said, “we gotta get her inside.”
“Oh y-yeah… um…” I stumbled over my words. “I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
“You didn’t interrupt a thing, dear,” Gigi said. “You’re welcome anytime. You’re family.” She pulled me into a hug before pulling back and giving me one last knowing look.
“Don’t be a stranger, baby. It’s never too late to tend to the things you love… or the ones you left behind.” She started up the last step with Creek holding her hand and Zae shadowing behind them. Creek glanced back at me. Her eyes met mine just long enough to see that she still cared.
“Be safe,” Zae threw over his shoulder as I watched them disappear inside the door. With that, the block was quiet again, and I walked back across the street to my grandmother’s house. I went back through the front yard and sat on the only step that was still intact.
Heart heavy, I pulled out my phone and scrolled to the search engine. I typed in the county assessor’s office, and when the number popped up, I wasted no time pressing call.
It rang twice before I got the voicemail message.
“You’ve reached the Harvest Hills County Assessor’s Office. Our normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.”
I pressed one, cutting off the message.
“Transferring you to the voicemail.” I waited for the beep. When it sounded, I took a deep breath before leaving a message.
“Uh, yeah… This is Ares Knight. I wanted to inquire about the deed transfer process for my grandmother’s property: 2568 South Greenway. She passed over thirteen years ago, and I’mback in town now. You can call me back at 555-0147. Thanks.” I ended the call, set the phone on my lap, and just sat there. I turned to the house.
“I’ll take it from here, Grandma,” I said out loud in hopes that she was listening.
I was going to do everything in my power to get my grandmother’s house and restore its condition. I could already see it. New windows, gutters, a fixed porch, and a fresh coat of paint. I exhaled, long and low. The longer I was here, the more it was coming clear to me why the universe had sent me back.
You’d thinkafter four weeks, I’d be used to my new normal; Zae popping in for midday quickies; Ares slipping in and out of the library on eggshells, always looking like he wanted to say more than hello and good morning. I’d moved past spiraling. Now, I was a walking mess of chaos. Nothing about this felt normal— not the pretending, not the silence, and definitely not me.
“You good, Ms. Delaney?” Raylin, one of the boys from basketball practice, peeked into the library. His backpack was slung over one shoulder and sweat was still drying on his forehead.
“Yeah, just finishing up the book fair decorations,” I said, smoothing down the last laminated book fair poster and taping it to the bulletin board.
“Coach told us to wait in here until our folks came.” He walked in with three other boys trailing behind him.
