Page 7 of Unknowingly Adopting the Alpha
“New,” I answered, feeling every bit the outsider I was. “Just moved in yesterday actually.”
“Well, then welcome to Groove Vale. I'm Harry and I own this store. My wife, Dalia, runs the butcher shop just on the other side of the street.”
“You each run a store?” I questioned. It seemed odd in my opinion. Why not just work together in one place?
“We sure do,” he replied with a proud smile. “My dad owned this store and ran it with my mom, and I always knew I’d take over someday. It was the same with my wife. Her dad was the town butcher and she wanted to take over when he retired. He’s long gone now, so she honors him by keeping his store working and running.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling a tad embarrassed. People never seemed to offer so much personal information in the city, and I actually had no idea how to respond to all of that.
“Yeah,” he grinned. “You’ll find a lot of the stores here in town are family owned, often by several generations.”
“I like that,” I admitted, putting my stuff away in a recyclable bag.
“Say, you’re not Inar’s grandchild, are you?”
“I am,” I nodded. “I only ever met him once, but I inherited his house.”
“He was a nice man, too bad we all can’t live forever,” he sighed. “But that old house of his… I truly thought it would get demolished or something. No offense or anything,” he hurried to add the last part.
I laughed. “None taken. I was also taken aback by its condition. There’s a lot to do, but I want to make it work.” I shrugged and added, “I never felt like the city life was for me, so I’m determined to stay.”
If possible, his smile turned even wider. “I like you, kid. Many would’ve run screaming for the hills.”
Ignoring the fact that I cried this morning, I simply smiled back at him and said my goodbyes.
I made it back home just in time it seemed. A truck pulled into my driveway only five minutes after I’d gotten home. I’d foolishly searched for Red, only to once again have the inner talk with myself. He was only a figment of my imagination, that was all.
I hurried outside and approached the truck.
“Hey, there!” the man greeted and stepped out of his truck. “Made it here as fast as I could.”
I smiled and offered him my hand. “I’m Cassian, nice to meet you.”
“Jeffrey,” he replied, shaking my hand firmly. “Now, let me take a look, just need my ladder.”
I waved and left him to it, letting him know I was just inside if he needed me. Then, because I’d forgotten all about the damn window, I added it to the list and searched on google where to get windows that would fit older homes. I made three calls before I found a place that could help me. After emailing them a picture of one of the other windows, they informed me theywould come by in five hours to install it. The price was way higher than I’d expected, but then again, I’d never had to replace any windows before. The thought of maybe having to change all of them soon had my stomach in knots. It was just so damn expensive being a home owner already.
Jeffrey’s news wasn’t good either. The roof hadn’t been changed in over 50 years and according to Jeffrey, this sort of roof needed to be changed every 25 years if not sooner.
A whole new roof was needed.
As soon as Jeffrey left with the promise of sending me an invoice and an estimate on when he and his coworkers could start the work on my roof, I slid down onto my stained carpet and sobbed for the second time today.
Several hours later, I’d cleaned the house as best as I could. Then I’d driven to the neighboring town to buy primer and paint for the tiles, two paintbrushes and a roller. The expense added up, but damn it if I was taking another shower in that creepy room.
When I returned home the window was replaced, the pristine white standing out against all of the old and damaged stuff… but at least it would help keep the house warm. I’d gotten their card and an estimate for replacing all the windows. I’d simplythanked them and hoped I could put off replacing everything a bit longer.
I was in no mood to cook and too damn tired to care. I made a sandwich and ate it alone in the living room, eyeing the floor where Red had or hadn’t been sitting yesterday.
Another tear fell and I let it.
Just then, my front door was thrown off its hinges, banging loudly as it hit the wall. I flew up from the couch, thinking a bear or something had to be the culprit, but instead three men filed into my living room, looking all dangerous and mad.
One sniffed the air, then his eyes met mine and a slow spreading smile crept over his face.
“Oh, yes. He’s our guy.”
I was about to ask who, hoping I had someone hiding behind me, but as fast as freaking lightning, they grabbed me.
