by Rita Hestand
"Really, I guess for a girl it can be a bit overwhelming, but even though this building is a little older than some, it is relatively safe. I know the maintenance guys looks scary but he's innocent as a fly on the wall. So, don't worry about him. Besides, he's gay."
"Really?"
He smiled, "You couldn't tell?"
"No, I thought I caught him checking me out."
"Well, I might be wrong, but I've never seen him with a girl."
She filed that information away. Funny how she had grown so skeptical of others lately. "It's probably just me. I'm not sure what my schedules are going to be yet. But I'd appreciate bumming a ride every now and then. I figured on having to walk some days. My car is not that dependable. That's why I wanted an apartment close enough I could walk." She admitted.
"That's a good idea. If I'm available, you won't have to walk. And even though I said it's safe, walking at night, alone might not be such a good idea. But I have another suggestion for you too. Get yourself a little bike it'd be a bit faster and when I'm not available maybe safer too." He smiled and waved at her. "Thanks for the coffee." He smiled over his shoulder at her.
She turned and closed her door then, satisfied that she'd made a new friend and someone that might offer a lift every now and then, she turned to wash her cups out.
She hadn't given a bike a thought, but it might be better than walking. She'd look into that.
Things were looking up, and he was kind of handsome. What was she saying, he was gorgeous? She laughed aloud. She liked the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, and that dimple sure caught her eye. If she'd been awake she'd been embarrassed to even open the door to him in her pjs. She'd done it so many times at the dorm, she didn't think a thing about it, but she imagined Dex might have.
She truly wished she had someone to celebrate with, but there was no one. She'd never been quite this alone in all her life and she wasn't sure she liked it. But she was a big girl now and she'd have to get used to her life here. Her work was here.
All the kids were headed in different directions from college. But she knew that she'd entered a new phase of her life. All her college friends were scattering. She'd be lucky to stay in touch with Corrinne. Well, it was clearly time to get on with her life.
She sighed heavily and made out a grocery list.
She went to the grocery store and she found a little portable basket she could carry her groceries in so she bought it. It had wheels so it would come in handy dragging her groceries in it upstairs. At least she had an elevator to her floor, she liked that.
Unpacking her groceries and putting everything in its place she decided to go look around the neighborhood for some second-hand furniture like her mother suggested.
She found a quaint little shop not far from the apartment that sold odd and end kinds of furniture. She found a foldable couch, and a rocking chair she loved, and an unusual coffee table. She bought them all, and the man at the store helped her put it in her car. He scratched his head and looked at her funny as he loaded the furniture.
Now all she had to do was drag it up to her apartment. She sure wished she had a boyfriend right now. She should have planned this better.
Dex was going to his car when he spotted her.
"Need some help?" He asked as he came up to her.
She grabbed her chest, she hadn't seen him coming. "Oh, well, yes, that would be nice. Thank you."
"Say, you are a little skittish, aren't you?"
She took her hand off her chest, "I guess I am. I'm sorry."
He grinned and helped her take her furniture into her apartment.
"What do you think?" She asked when she got the last piece up.
"Nothing matches, but it's workable." He grinned.
"I know; it looks a bit funky. But I love the rocking chair."
"You can't go wrong with that now." He grinned again.
"I'll get some better stuff after a few paychecks." She decided.
"Well I better run, I promised to pick someone up." He told her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to detain you." She apologized, and walked him to the door. "Thanks for all your help."
"Sure, no problem, see ya later." He smiled. "And hey, don't hesitate to call on me if I can help you out. I was new here once too." He grinned at her.
She nodded.
"Darlene," He called a friend obviously as he was walking out the door. "Yeah, I'll be there in a few. Just helping a neighbor move some furniture in." He told her and waved at Melanie.
So, Mr. Gorgeous had a girlfriend, that was good. She didn't need the distraction right now. At least he might give her a ride every now and then. She'd do her best not to rely on him though.
She turned to look at what she'd bought and nearly burst out laughing. Not one thing matched or went with the other. "I need an interior decorator." She giggled.
Her mother called back, "We're coming to see you tomorrow, and I wanted to ask, is it okay if we bring Jesse?"
"Jesse?" Melanie questioned. Now why on earth would they do that?
Hearing a hesitation in her voice, her mother explained. "Yes, you see, he offered to drive us up. Your father wasn't too keen on driving; I think he's having some eye trouble these days. But it's a man thing, he doesn't want to admit he's getting older."
"Sure mom, Jesse is always welcome. And I appreciate him bringing you." Melanie answered.
"Good. See you about eleven tomorrow morning then." She hung up.
Melanie whirled about. She hadn't planned on seeing Jesse again. And look at her furniture. Well, it would have to do. They'd all have to understand that she'd just moved in and wasn't ready for entertaining.
Chapter Four
Melanie was cleaning her apartment when the doorbell rang. She shut off the vacuum and answered the door. She was excited to see her parents and Jesse again. Her mother and father grabbed her and hugged her as soon as she opened the door, barely giving her time to say hello. Her mother was already checking her place out, and her father seemed happier than usual. They walked in, glancing about the place with amusement.
Jesse smiled but didn't reach to hug her. He didn't touch her in fact. But the look he gave her startled her a bit. His eyes glittered into hers, as though he was happy to see her. She gave him a quick appraisal, noting how he'd filled out. He had put on a little weight, so that he was no longer the gangly teenager she'd known. His hair was still as full rode high and full on his head, and his eyes warm brown eyed penetrated her as he stared at her.
They'd always been good friends, but suddenly he was very quiet, almost distant. Why was he acting that way? Even though they hadn't seen each other in a long while, she counted him an old friend, at one time her best frien, and maybe more.
"Good to see you again, Melanie," He smiled lazily and walked in. He had a natural swagger to his walk now, and his grin was infectious. She'd forgotten just how handsome he was. She felt her heart flutter even though she had schooled it before he showed up.
He almost had to duck to get through the door, he was so tall. He had matured some and he looked better than ever. He was all muscle and brawn now. His gawkish teenage years were gone. He had matured into a handsome man. But her instincts told her something had changed within him. Friendly but distant. She watched him out of the corner of her eyes. He didn't act like the Jesse she knew. What had changed?
Her parents walked around the apartment and smiled at her. Her mother touched the back of the rocker, admiring it. She sat down in it and smiled. "I like this…"
"Thanks." Melanie smiled at her.
"Please have a seat, can I get you all some coffee?" She asked. Her father sat on the fold-up couch with Jesse who seemed to swallow the couch.
"Melanie sat down in the bean bag chair and glanced at all of them.
"Coffee would be nice, did you buy a coffee pot dear?" Her mother asked following her into the kitchen. "I love the color of the counters. You couldn't see dirt there if you were looking for it."
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br /> "Yeah, they are nice. As a matter of fact, I did buy a coffee pot mom. I found one at the grocery store." Melanie told her as her Mom glanced about the place. "I picked up several little things for the place. I guess a little at a time will do it."
"I see you took my advice and got some second-hand furniture." Her mother looked at her seriously. Her mother found a crumb on the counter and went to wash it off, as though to say, she needed to clean better. Her mother considered herself an excellent housekeeper, mainly because she had been a housekeeper all her life. Melanie could count on her inspecting Melanie's place. Melanie had grown to expect it. In the dorm she didn't much care, because all the mess wasn’t hers. But now she had her own place, she wanted to think she kept things clean and neat. Still in a way she understood it, because her mother took such pride in her home. Most women worked outside the home, but her mother had considered herself a professional housewife.
"Yes, but I'm afraid I need an interior decorator, as nothing matches." She laughed. "Just got some stuff that looked comfortable and usable for now. I don't plan on having much company for a while. I was really a little shocked that you came up so soon, I mean, I haven't had time nor money to invest in the place yet. I'm just finding out what I'm going to need to make this place livable."
"That's alright, it's functional for now. After you've managed to save a little you can decide what kind of furniture you want. Although you could easily take that money out of your savings and use it for furniture and a new car." Her mother told her. Her mother was all on board for her making her way in life, but her father was angry that she didn't wasnt any financial help. "But I love that rocking chair, it's charming."
"Yeah, I fell in love with it too, Mom. The man said it was hand carved." Melanie sighed. "It was a bit pricy, but I just had to have it."
She noticed Jesse and her father talking up a storm as she got the cups out of the cupboard. "They are sure getting along, aren't they?" She mused.
"Oh yeah, they are buddies these days." Her mother glanced at the two of them and then back at Melanie.
"Really." Melanie eyed Jesse a moment. That was odd too. The last few times her and Jesse had gone out, her parents didn't act as though they approved. Now they were buddies? It made no sense to her. But then, she guessed many things had changed since she'd been home. She'd only visited on holidays while in college and then just for a day or two. She hadn't really been home since she left for college.
"So, have you met any new neighbors?"
"Just one, he wanted to borrow some coffee." Melanie told her. "His name is Dex."
"Dex?"
"Dexter. He lives down the hall. He helped me get my furniture I bought into the apartment. Cal, from the college helped me move my bed and stuff over from the dorm. You remember him?"
"Vaguely."
"Big guy, football player." Melanie told her.
"Oh, oh, yes. Well. That's nice. Are you dating him?"
"No mother." Melanie had already told her she wasn't dating anyone, why did she bring that up? But then she knew. It was her parents dream that she settle down, marry and have a family like most the other girls in town. The fact that she wanted to go to college and become a nurse put a kink in their finely laid plans.
"He's moving to College Station. He's going to play football for Texas A&M. To tell the truth I just haven't had the time for dating. What with moving in, and moving stuff out and finding furniture. It certainly hasn't been on my mind. I imagine once I'm settled into my job and apartment, things might work out for me to date. But right now, I've got other things on my mind."
"I suppose there's plenty of time for that. I thought maybe Jesse might be interested in you again, since he offered to drive us up here. You and he used to really get along well."
"Well mom," she saw Jesse staring at her, "right now, I've got enough on my mind with my new job, and this place. Dating will come later, I'm sure. Besides, Jesse is still long distance from me and I didn't think you liked me dating him a while back."
"Well, perhaps but he was much younger then and hadn't really done much with himself. He's doing very well now."
"Really, good to know, Mom." Melanie rolled her eyes and tried to be patient with her mother, hoping her dad and Jesse hadn't overheard them.
Melanie knew what she was hinting at, but her and Jesse had little in common these days. Besides, his greeting wasn't exactly about a man that was interested in her.
When the coffee was done her and her mother took them each a cup and dragging out her old alma mater tray she presented them with cream and sugar. Her mother doctored her father's coffee to suit, and Melanie remembered that Jesse took his black.
He noticed she remembered and smiled.
"Well it looks as though you've got yourself established here, dear. Do you think you are gonna like working at the hospital?" Her father asked.
"I don't know. I haven't even been up there yet. I've concentrated on getting the place here fixed so I can function and haven't worried with work. I am so glad I'm moved out of the dorm though. I wanted to get settled here before I worry about the hospital. I'll have plenty of time to think about my job once I start. I'm hoping I get Pediatrics, but there was no promise. I'm just lucky to have gotten the job, I'm told. My neighbor, Dex, told me Pediatrics is a good place to be, but I don't know yet. I hope I'm lucky enough to get that station, but who knows. I'm certainly not able to demand it."
Jesse said very little, but he did stare a bit. There was a haunting in his stare that Melanie couldn't quite make out. That first glance he shot her at the door was warm and inviting, but now he stayed so silent.
"How would this Dex know anything about where you work?" Her father asked.
"He works there too dad." Her father's brow shot up in question. "Several people here, work there."
"Really."
"Well, it's just down the street. And I'm told there are a couple of girl's downstairs who work there too. So, a lot of people are familiar with the hospital around here."
"I guess."
Melanie eyed them all. Her mother was dressed in a cream-colored pantsuit that made her look rather elegant, her blonde hair was short but well-manicured. Her father's hair had grayed some from its rich natural brown, but his eyes looked clear blue and he was trim for a man his age.
If she were honest with herself she'd admit she'd been just a tad paranoid about moving and starting her new job and the people around her. She felt strangely as though someone were watching her all the time. It led her to be a bit jumpy and quite uneasy. She couldn't shake the feeling. And men…right now, she had a hard time trusting them. Perhaps Brad had something to do with that, she wasn't sure.
"So, Jesse, how have you been?" She wanted to include him in the conversation.
"I'm doing okay. I opened a plumbing business in town and its holding its own, so far."
"Really, that's great. You must be doing well then, to open your own business. I'm proud for you."
"He's being modest dear, he's doing very well, he has the best plumbing business in town and everyone goes to him from all around. He put George Dupont out of business, can you imagine?"
"Wow, George had been there for years." Melanie surmised with surprise.
"Well it's his own damned fault, he never improved his stock nor renovated the place." Her father glanced at her.
Melanie nodded, "That's a shame. It's sad when a person in a small town goes out of business. I guess because you usually know them better than say a big conglomerate. But George was getting up in age."
Jesse didn't look apologetic though. It was like Jesse to be modest about his success. But what was with her parents bragging on him and making such a fuss over him. That was unusual. She was the one with the new job and new apartment. Her folks seemed to be pushing Jesse off on her and she didn't like that. When she found someone, she wanted to date, she would move forward on it, but right now. Dating wasn't on her agenda. Besides, she didn't want to get close to Jesse and
be hurt again.
"So. are you excited about starting at the hospital?" Jesse asked as he flicked a piece of lent from his jeans as though that were important.
"Yeah, and scared." His head jerked up at that comment, she noticed.
"Scared?" He questioned.
"You know, a new job, new place, everything is different now that I'm really on my own.
"You always were an independent person." He smiled again.
That smile, shy, and yet charming. He should do that more often, Melanie thought to herself.
She watched what he was doing. He seemed preoccupied, but with what? Perhaps she was being too suspicious of everyone. It seemed she had been more so lately, and she wasn't sure why.
Oddly though, it was Jesse who made her feel so uncomfortable with her parents. There was no reason she could think of but the tension in the room seemed to magnify.
"I'm anxious to start my new job, but it is a huge hospital and it's going to take some getting used to. I only hope I can get a good station. And living alone, is a new experience for me too. At the dorm, it was loud and always something going on, here it's quiet and you can hear a pin drop."
"You'll do fine, I'm sure." Jesse assured her.
"Be thankful it is quiet. Some places have loud noises and lots of disruptions." Her father told her. "Well, we are famished, why don't we all go out and get something to eat?" Her father insisted.
"Sounds good."
Melanie shut the coffee off, turned the light out and got her keys and purse.
They went to a little Italian place that Melanie had been to a few times and her family seemed to like it.
Her father and mother ordered Lasagna and Jesse ordered spaghetti. She ordered a Spinach Linguini dish she liked. It was all served with salads and home-made French bread.
All during the meal Jesse didn't talk much, but he seemed to stare at her every now and then. Her mother tried to keep her talking but it became strained before they left the restaurant. She didn't want this obvious gap with her folks, but she honestly didn't know how to talk to them any longer. They weren't very interested in her life here. Or so it would seem. Jesse had asked about her more than they did.