Bonnie has let me know without a doubt that she hates the new house. She makes me sad. In many ways, she was the only mom I had growing up. If only she weren't so stubbornly unintelligent! Why can't she see how great it is out here? She can't. All she sees is a cramped space where she feels she has no privacy. She goes to the gym to shower because she says it's ironic that she feels like it's more private there. A shower doesn't have to have walls to be private! There is no one out here! There aren't even many, if any at all, boats out on the water! And for that matter, we wear our swimsuits. But she doesn't see it that way.
My phone rings. "Hi, Dad!" I say into it happily.
"Hey, sweetheart. I didn't really expect you to answer. I thought you'd be busy," he says, sounding surprised.
I laugh half-heartedly. "No. Just out here in the garden even if it doesn't really need me at the moment. I think I'm going to go buy a small bench so I can sit out here."
He invites Bonnie and me over to dinner, and I tell him that I know I, at least, will be there. Then, my phone beeps, indicating I have another call. I end the one I'm on with Dad.
"Hello?" I ask.
"Anastasia! It is so good to hear your voice again," a familiar voice says on the other end of the line in a relieved way, and my backbone gets prickly.
"Yes. I realize you're miffed at me, but let me ex-"
"You don't have to explain anything! Believe me, I've heard all about it! I thought I made it perfectly clear I'm not interested in being anyone's mistress. I can't believe-"
"I DON'T WANT HELEN!" he yells, taking his turn interrupting. I get quiet, shocked, and he continues in a pleading voice, "If I could just see you, I'll explain everything. Let me take you to dinner tonight."
"I'm sorry!" he quickly gets in when I take a breath.
"The answer is no, Joseph. I'd sooner be single the rest of my life," I say and hang up.
Needing to clean something to work off my anger, I go inside and gather all the laundry. We really need to come up with a system to deal with our dirty clothes other than leave them all over the floor like this.
After I've calmed down, I call Bonnie. I end up leaving her a message about the dinner at Dad's tonight.
Once I get to Dad's, I hear from him that she isn't coming because she has a date. After dinner, Mom takes Serenity and me out shopping, having heard I want to buy a little bench for my garden. Mom has great taste. I love it! It's a bench with cushions and latticework up the side with ivy growing on the latticework. It looks perfect in my garden.
Bonnie doesn't come home tonight. She sleeps at her date's house. I can't wait to lay into her about how I had to explain that to Serenity.
After seeing Serenity on the bus to school, I walk over to my garden, ready for some relaxing work. I'd just planted some rare seeds, and they need watering and fertilizing.
"Good morning," he says with calm cheer, lifting his eyes for a moment from the book in his hands.
"My mother bought me that bench yesterday," I say in place of a greeting.
He smiles a tiny smile, his gaze popping up to me for a quick glance before returning to the pages. "I assumed it was a recent purchase. It's really quite nifty, and this is the perfect spot for it. It's like it was made to go here."
"I thought so too," I tell him, waiting for him to get up. Whether or not he gets the hint, he doesn't. He just keeps reading. The row of plants I need to work on is right there starting at his feet! Why is he here?! Rent isn't due for another week.
"I keep waiting for you to ask me to fix the flagstones and support beam, but you never have," he says, finally speaking again. I'd not realized I'd been waiting for him to.
"It's not necessary," I tell him, dismissing the concern in his voice. Honestly, after our last conversation, I hadn't wanted to talk to him about anything, even if I know I need to discuss purchasing this property. But now that he's here...maybe.
He closes the book and fully looks at me. "It's completely necessary. That washer will wear down the ground under it with its weight, eroding the soil and thereby work at compromising the ground around the foundation of the house. The support beam needs to be moved so that it can better, well, support the roof. Why haven't you called about it?"
I stand up and sass to him, "If it's so utterly important, why haven't you just come by and fixed it?"
He blinks twice. "Because I wanted to do it at a time when it's convenient for you."
I pinch the bridge of my nose in irritation. "Edward, I'm here almost all the time since I have no interest in going to town except to visit my parents. Pick a time and have done with it." I walk to the house to escape.
"I also want to discuss the rent," he says, and I get the distinct impression he's perturbed I left without him giving me leave to do so. I stop, and he gets up to follow me.
"Well, I noticed you haven't had anything you've been able to sell from your garden. I'm not saying you won't in future, but if you need an extension on this month's rent, it's not a problem." He smiles like he sees himself as a benevolent benefactor. The look in his eyes makes me want to shove him face-first into the grass.
"You think I'd start something like this and not be able to afford the first month's rent? Or even the next one's? Or the next's?" I ask angrily. Does he think I'm that irresponsible? OF COURSE I would know it takes a while to really get a garden going!
His mouth drops. "I was only saying that with my observations that... that..."
I finish for him. "That that's exactly what you thought." I take in and let out a seething breath. "One moment, sir, and I'll get you your precious rent money," I snap, stomp into the house, get the money, and storm over to him. I take his hand and shove the cash into it. "Here!"
Before I can jerk my hand back, he grabs it. I expect him to snap right back at me, but his voice sounds calm when he says, "Ana... I never meant for it to sound like that."
My heart jumps up and starts beating too fast, making it hard for me to breathe, but I do my best to ignore it. Why is he holding onto my hand? Maybe he's sick of me snapping at him. Maybe he doesn't want me to walk off in a huffy mood again and is holding my hand to keep me from doing that. But he always does stuff that makes me mad! He said he doesn't mean for the things he says to come out wrong. "You seem to do that a lot around me," I observe aloud. Or maybe it's me taking everything you say in the wrong way.
We get quiet. If he would just let go of my hand, I'd be able to think clearly and come up with a reason for him to leave or for me to find something else to do. But all he does is move his fingers so he can hold it better.
Somehow, he's able to magically pick back up the conversation. "I always seem to say the wrong thing around you." He lets out a breath like he's laughing at himself. "I have good intentions when I open my mouth, honest."
He said mouth, and I start staring at his. It's by no means the nicest mouth I've ever seen, but that doesn't mean it's a bad one. And his jaw looks better on him than it does on his sister. His sister... His sister that I can't STAND!
"Ana..."
I don't want him to say whatever it is he's going to say because something about this whole scene makes me nervous, so I interrupt again, albeit nicer this time. "Thank you, then, for the offer of the extension. Yes, I suppose that's a nice thing to do, even if it wasn't necessary."
"But, I..."
"I'm sorry, but I really have to go. I'd promised my mom I'd help her get the nursery ready," I lie. Well, it's not actually a 'lie,' more of an excuse. Mom had vaguely mentioned welcoming my help. To answer his look, I say, "Oh, she's not expecting, but it's only a matter of time." I blush. "Not that that's common knowledge!"
"My lips are sealed," he says quietly.
"Thank you. And... thank you," I say again, referring to the extension once more. I pull my hand free. "I'll see you later!" I call out as I all but run to the street and my magical taxi. On the way to my surprise visit to my parents, I realize I'd yet again forgotten to mention to Edward how I want to buy the property.
Next time.
----------------------------------------
btw, that really was Joseph calling to ask her out. The nerve!
Click here to go to 3.5
I see Bonnie wanting to move out soon. Although living with her sister does give her a live in sitter for times when she just decides to not come home.
ReplyDeleteEdward does have a thing for Ana. That is an uphill battle he's about to fight. Lol
That is a definite possibility. She just doesn't see the house the way Ana does. Yeah, she does like having Ana there as an automatic babysitter when she doesn't feel like coming home, though.
DeleteAh, yes, I think even Ana's catching onto that, even though she doesn't want to consciously admit to it yet.
Poor guy has to fight against her own negative self-image, her hatred for his sister, plus her distrust of people in general. Have to see how this goes!