Read Online Anonymously Yours by Shirley McCann - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirley McCann
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reminded him. I never dreamed he’d buy a house so quickly.
He grinned. “I lied. I plan to stick around. I want my own place.”
It was definitely a fixer-upper, I realized, when I stepped through the doorway. An overwhelming musty smell entered my nostrils the minute I entered.
“It’s been locked up for a long time,” Justin told me. “I’ll get back over here later this week and open up the windows to let some fresh air in.”
I just nodded, hoping that Justin hadn’t gotten himself into something that was over his head. The living room boasted chipped and peeling green paint. Several bare spots claimed the worn, stained, cream-colored shag carpet in several places.
Justin bent down and pulled a piece of the carpet away from the floor. “This will be easy to fix,” he said. “Look, there’s hardwood flooring underneath it. All I have to do is rip it all out and clean up the existing floor.”
I had to admit, the house did have possibilities. A huge fireplace with a sagging mantel was the focal point in the living room. I could picture Justin and me snuggled together on a cozy rug, sipping hot chocolate in the winter months.
In the kitchen, the appliances were mismatched and out of date. “I don’t even think the stove still works,” Justin admitted, as he pulled open the oven door. “Even if it does, I don’t think I’d trust it. It looks pretty old.”
“You can use a hotplate until you get a stove,” I suggested. “And you’ll need a refrigerator,” I added, indicating the empty space where such an appliance had once been.
My gaze was drawn to the countertops. The Formica appeared to be the original top that came with the house. The speckled green and white coloring was now chipped and stained.
I reached over and turned on the faucet at the kitchen sink.
“I still have to go by and have the utilities turned on,” he explained when no water came out. He stood at the sink and placed his hands behind him on the counter. “Well, what do you think?” he asked, his expression full of pride.
I reached up and opened a cabinet. One hinge had come loose and the door tilted down.
Justin seemed to sense my skepticism. “Okay, it needs a lot of work,” he admitted with a smile. “But it’s my first home.” He turned to me, his smile wide and full of hope. “I’m pretty handy around the house, if I do say so myself. I think I can turn this place into something to be proud of.”
I squeezed his hand. “I know you can,” I told him.
His chest expanded with pride. “I was kind of hoping you’d be willing to help out,” he said. His eyes misted with longing. “I have never given up on us, Denise. I can’t tell you how many times I’d been tempted to call you over the past few years.”
I stared straight ahead. “Why didn’t you?” It was something I’d always wondered, I realized.
A long pause ensued. At first I thought he wasn’t going to answer.
“My mom told me you had left Clayfield also,” he finally said. He swallowed hard. “I guess I just figured you’d moved on without me.” He glanced at me and smiled. “Honestly, I was afraid I’d come back here and learn that you had married and now had a houseful of kids.”
I’d actually thought the same thing about him, but I didn’t mention it. I was sure if that had been the case, my parents would have told me.
Justin squeezed my hand tighter, then raised it to his lips. “I still love you, Denise,” he said softly. He kissed my hand. “I always have and I always will.”
“I love you too,” I admitted, my voice barely a croak.
****
Thirty minutes later, the rich earthy smell of the river reached my nostrils. I closed my eyes, enjoying the pleasing aroma.
“It’s gonna be a little bumpy from this point on,” Justin said, breaking into my peaceful slumber. “And this old car makes the ride even worse.” He turned and winked. “Obviously, a newer car is next on my list of major purchases.”
I smiled
He grinned. “I lied. I plan to stick around. I want my own place.”
It was definitely a fixer-upper, I realized, when I stepped through the doorway. An overwhelming musty smell entered my nostrils the minute I entered.
“It’s been locked up for a long time,” Justin told me. “I’ll get back over here later this week and open up the windows to let some fresh air in.”
I just nodded, hoping that Justin hadn’t gotten himself into something that was over his head. The living room boasted chipped and peeling green paint. Several bare spots claimed the worn, stained, cream-colored shag carpet in several places.
Justin bent down and pulled a piece of the carpet away from the floor. “This will be easy to fix,” he said. “Look, there’s hardwood flooring underneath it. All I have to do is rip it all out and clean up the existing floor.”
I had to admit, the house did have possibilities. A huge fireplace with a sagging mantel was the focal point in the living room. I could picture Justin and me snuggled together on a cozy rug, sipping hot chocolate in the winter months.
In the kitchen, the appliances were mismatched and out of date. “I don’t even think the stove still works,” Justin admitted, as he pulled open the oven door. “Even if it does, I don’t think I’d trust it. It looks pretty old.”
“You can use a hotplate until you get a stove,” I suggested. “And you’ll need a refrigerator,” I added, indicating the empty space where such an appliance had once been.
My gaze was drawn to the countertops. The Formica appeared to be the original top that came with the house. The speckled green and white coloring was now chipped and stained.
I reached over and turned on the faucet at the kitchen sink.
“I still have to go by and have the utilities turned on,” he explained when no water came out. He stood at the sink and placed his hands behind him on the counter. “Well, what do you think?” he asked, his expression full of pride.
I reached up and opened a cabinet. One hinge had come loose and the door tilted down.
Justin seemed to sense my skepticism. “Okay, it needs a lot of work,” he admitted with a smile. “But it’s my first home.” He turned to me, his smile wide and full of hope. “I’m pretty handy around the house, if I do say so myself. I think I can turn this place into something to be proud of.”
I squeezed his hand. “I know you can,” I told him.
His chest expanded with pride. “I was kind of hoping you’d be willing to help out,” he said. His eyes misted with longing. “I have never given up on us, Denise. I can’t tell you how many times I’d been tempted to call you over the past few years.”
I stared straight ahead. “Why didn’t you?” It was something I’d always wondered, I realized.
A long pause ensued. At first I thought he wasn’t going to answer.
“My mom told me you had left Clayfield also,” he finally said. He swallowed hard. “I guess I just figured you’d moved on without me.” He glanced at me and smiled. “Honestly, I was afraid I’d come back here and learn that you had married and now had a houseful of kids.”
I’d actually thought the same thing about him, but I didn’t mention it. I was sure if that had been the case, my parents would have told me.
Justin squeezed my hand tighter, then raised it to his lips. “I still love you, Denise,” he said softly. He kissed my hand. “I always have and I always will.”
“I love you too,” I admitted, my voice barely a croak.
****
Thirty minutes later, the rich earthy smell of the river reached my nostrils. I closed my eyes, enjoying the pleasing aroma.
“It’s gonna be a little bumpy from this point on,” Justin said, breaking into my peaceful slumber. “And this old car makes the ride even worse.” He turned and winked. “Obviously, a newer car is next on my list of major purchases.”
I smiled
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