Page 41 of Finding Us
“Jazzie,” she says, pulling me into another crashing hug. “My little girl is all grown up.”
Chapter12
Mason
This morning I got up early, showered, and after dressing, I packed up the remainder of my clothes. Today is moving day, and I’m in two minds about it. Once I carry the two suitcases downstairs, and the box that contains the stuff that wouldn’t fit in them, I grab my drill and head back up to my bedroom to pull apart my bed. I strip the sheets and drag the mattress into the hallway.
Connor will be here soon, so I’ll get him to help me carry that, and the larger items of furniture downstairs. Blake’s still asleep, so once I’m finished with my room, I’ll move to his. As long as I have it all done before the moving van arrives at ten, I’m good.
I take the drawers out of my tallboy, stacking them in a pile, and as I move the base away from the wall, I see something white sitting on the floor. Bending down, I scoop it up and it takes a second to realise what it is, but once I do, the myriad of feelings that have been raging through me the past week come rushing back to the surface.
“Fucking, Red,” I mumble under my breath as I make a fist, scrunching her G-string in my hand. I’m still pissed at her; no matter how hard I’ve tried to shake it, I can’t.
When I woke that morning and found her gone, I can’t even put into words how I felt. On one hand it brought back memories from my teenage years—waking up to find my mother had vanished during the night—leaving me behind,alonewith that monster. Of course, my dad blamed me. He said it was all my fault she was gone, and although I’ve never found out what happened to her, I have my suspicions. The woman I remember would never have abandoned me.
My situation with Red, however, was different. After searching the entire house and perimeter of the estate, my concern for her soon morphed into anger. I felt like a fool for wanting more, even if it was only going to be a few extra hours together. I’ll admit, I was also perplexed how she’d gotten out, but I didn’t have to wonder for long.
Those answers were quickly realised when I pulled up the app for my security cameras on my phone. And as mad as I was, I’ll admit I laughed out loud a couple of times as I watched my very own version of Harry Houdini make her escape. It was amusing if nothing else.
Pulling out my phone, I click on the clip I saved. My lips curve up at the corners as I rewatch her duck and roll behind the bushes after setting off the sensor light. When she limps towards the gates, I still find myself impressed with the ease in which she scales to the top. Those gates are eight foot high, and if I didn’t have the footage to prove it actually happened, I never would have believed it.
My smile grows as I watch her dress get snagged on the fence, and the tug-a-war that follows, which almost resulted in a catastrophe. The first time I watched this, my heart was in my throat, but despite the odds, she managed to hang on. I zoom in and the look of horror on her face is priceless. A part of me is proud of her, but the pissed-off side wonders if it was her karma for sneaking out the way she did. If she didn’t want to stay, she only had to say so. I would’ve made sure she got home safe.
I bark out a laugh when she bends to collect her stuff from the ground—squares her shoulders and raises her chin in the air like the kick-arse she is—and hobbles away with one of her arse cheeks hanging out, thanks to the large tear in the side of her dress.
My phone dings as the video comes to an end and Connor’s name pops up on the screen.
Connor: I’m here. I brought coffee and donuts.
I smile as I shove Red’s underwear into my pocket and type a reply. I’m grateful to have a friend like him. I didn’t even have to ask for his help today, he volunteered. I’m sad that I have to let this place go, but the silver lining in all this is I’ll be living close to him.
Mason: Coming down now.
“This is the last box,” Connor says, “where do you want it?”
“Just put it over there with the others,” I reply, flicking my chin towards the far wall.
It’s been a long day, but I can’t believe it’s finally done. I’ve officially ended another chapter in my life by moving out of the house that I called home for the past year. I can only hope Blake is happy here. He cried when we did the final walk-through, and I’ll admit I struggled to keep it together when we backed out of the driveway for the last time.
That place symbolised so much when I first bought it, so it’s sad to see it go. It was supposed to be our forever home, where I’d watch my son grow up, but in my heart, I know I’m doing the right thing. Too many people count on Bridge for their survival, so I refuse to let that place go under. We’ll eventually find our groove here, and make lots of new memories.
“Are you going to stay for pizza?” I ask.
“Nah, Jaz is cooking. You guys should come over for a home-cooked meal.”
I haven’t had a home-cooked meal since Betty passed. “Maybe another time. I need to put the bed’s together and get the TV hooked up.”
“Do you want some help with that before I go?”
“I’m good. I appreciate all you did today.”
“You’d do the same for me,” he says, and he’s right, I would. I’ve had plenty of friends over the years, but nobody like him. “Some of the guys are coming over tomorrow afternoon to watch the game … you should come. It’s been months since you’ve hung with us. Plus, my sister is looking forward to meeting you both.”
I lift one shoulder. “You know how Blake is around chicks.”
“Yeah, but Jaz is great. The absolute sweetest.”
Although I’ve missed my time with the guys, Blake’s already struggling with the move, so I don’t want to do anything that will upset him further. “I’ll think about it and let you know.”
