Page 6 of Moved
After I peeled off my gloves, I vacuumed. I moved from room to room, shuffling around boxes as needed. The variegated, neutral carpeting didn’t seem too dated and didn’t show any wear. If it weren’t for the thick dust in the corners, I would have guessed it recently installed. After vacuuming, I stopped for my own breakfast. Eating first thing in the morning never appealed to me.
Dad and I had packed a small cooler from home. It’d started out with a half-gallon of milk and some soda for the road. The soda hadn’t lasted past dinner, making the milk the sole occupant of the fridge. On top of the fridge sat my bag of marshmallow cereal, the only food I’d brought for myself. The bagels Dad had thrown in his duffel. He knew I didn’t like watching him dunk them in his coffee and wisely hid them away from me.
Holding my bowl of cereal, I spooned in several bites as I wandered around the apartment to check my progress. My room consisted of a nightstand, all the pieces for my bed, and a few boxes. I set the bowl on the nightstand and dug through the boxes until I found my mom’s jewelry box. I set it on the nightstand and brushed my fingers over its top before picking up my bowl and continuing my inspection.
The second bedroom stored all of the empty boxes. If Dad visited often, he’d bring another twin bed for it. The living room had the futon, a little end table, and a slightly larger table for my small TV. With so few furnishings, the small apartment seemed very spacious and, now, very clean. I inhaled deeply. I had a pumpkin pie scented candle lit in the kitchen, which made it feel like home.
I placed my empty bowl by the sink and continued cleaning.
By the time I heard footsteps on the stairs, I had finished cleaning and unpacking. I moved to the kitchen and opened the door, expecting Dad; instead, I surprised Racer and myself. There were no shadows or knit cap to hide his features this time. Shaggy brown hair. Beautiful eyes. A proud nose that looked like it had encountered more than one fight. Short whiskers spread over his jaw and upper lip, shadowing the skin beneath. I struggled to maintain the welcoming smile on my face instead of sighing. Then I saw it. He still wore the same frown from the night before as he stood there with numerous bags looped over his arms.
Moving aside, I motioned him in. “Hi. Sorry. Thought it was Dad.”
“He’s coming up.” Racer set the mountain of plastic bags on the table.
“What’s all that?”
“Food.” He turned and walked out.
Okay…friendly. I left the door open and started unpacking groceries. This time when I heard footsteps on the stairs, I didn’t look up.
“I was thinking,” Dad said as he walked through to door. “I could stay a few extra—”
“Oh, no you don’t.” It was bad enough I was exiled out here. I didn’t want him hovering over me the whole time. Plus, I had questions I wanted to ask Racer. “You have work and I have class. I’ve heard the online classes are harder than attending classes.” I started stuffing the groceries into the cabinets. “I checked the wireless connection and it works. Not the best, but it’ll do. I’ll be busy and safe, Dad. Don’t worry.”
He sighed and agreed.
While I put a can in a cupboard, I debated asking Dad about Racer. I decided to go for it but tried to sound only idly interested. “So how exactly are Racer and I related?”
Dad didn’t answer. In fact, I couldn’t hear him at all. I turned around to look for him. He stood with one hand in a grocery bag while staring at me in concern.
“What?”
A flush crept up his neck and into his cheeks. “Are you saying that you’re interested...”
I rolled my eyes. “Jeez, Dad. No.” Sure, I’d noticed Racer was good looking but I thought my dad a handsome man, too. It’s called paying attention. But now that he was worried about it, I knew I’d need to clarify or he’d start packing me up to move again. “I was just wondering if he might remember Mom. I thought I could ask him some questions. Talk. You know?”
Dad heaved a huge sigh of relief. “Oh. Good.” Then he frowned at me. “He’s not related at all, and he won’t answer any of your questions about your mother’s family. So don’t bother asking.”
I couldn’t keep the shock off my face. Not that he told me not to ask Racer. I was used to Dad being closemouthed about Mom. “You lied?”
His eyebrows rose. “No. Larry mentioned Racer. He was close to where the dart hit. Closer than any of your Mom’s family.” He turned away and started digging through the groceries. “You’re safe here. That’s all that matters.”
Chapter 3
I stood on the steps and waved as my dad pulled down the driveway. My smile stayed put until he was out of sight. As soon as he disappeared, so did it. He’d stayed the two days, but he hadn’t found a car for me or relented to move me somewhere near my mom’s family. When he’d asked why it was so important to me that I meet my mom’s family, I’d stopped talking. I couldn’t tell him. So instead, I stayed where I was—in the middle of nowhere—and watched him leave.
I was now at the mercy of my crabby, very unrelated neighbor who, according to Dad, had happily agreed to take me anywhere I needed. Imagining Racer “happily” doing anything was a stretch for me. Each time we had run into each other, he’d been abrupt. Not in an overly rude way, more of an I’m-not-here-to-chat way.
Sighing, I turned and went back inside. After arriving in the cold rain, yesterday and today had remained mild. I opened my windows and booted up my laptop.
Hours later, I closed the lid in agitation. I liked learning. I liked reading. I even liked the quiet. But at the moment, all three were annoying the heck out of me. How was I going to finish my classes like this? Stupid Chuck. Darn overprotective, misleading Dad.
I changed into jogging clothes and pulled on a light windbreaker. My problem wasn’t school or people. I was annoyed and had too much energy. After all the cleaning yesterday, I wasn’t sure how having too much energy was even possible. I jogged down the steps and sat on the last one to lace up my runners.
“Going somewhere?”
Racer’s voice startled me, but I managed not to react and kept tying my shoe.
