“You’re killing me, smalls,” I bitched.
“Hush,” Coop ordered, squeezing the arm that was still around him. “I really like this room,” he said. “The color is relaxing,” he added, picking up the framed photo of my parents from the dresser. “I love this picture of them. They look so happy, don’t ya think?” he asked, laying his head on my shoulder.
“They do,” I agreed, drawing a circle around Mom’s head as if she had a halo there. She didn’t but she deserved one, nonetheless.
Coop gave me a quick kiss. “I love you, Michael Hill,” he said, looking me directly in the eye. I adored it when he called me Michael. I thought of Mom when he did since she was the only person I liked calling me by my formal name besides him.
“I’ll be right out after my coffee.”
“Your mug is already on the counter,” Coop said, turning and heading back outside.
I walked to the kitchen, most of it completely gutted and redone since Mom ruled the room. The French doors remained though because just like her, I liked having easy access to the garden, where her marigolds brightened the flower beds around the deck.
I poured coffee into my oversized ceramic mug which used to be Mom’s. The words on it read:I’m not from this universe but I’m friendly.
I let out a laugh like I did most times when I thought of how silly the saying was, but also knowing it fit her to a tee.
Cooper wasn’t in the driveway when I stepped out the front door. I checked across the street and saw him and his dad rummaging through the garage looking for something Coop probably wanted to borrow. The sun felt nice on my bare chest as I meandered around the yard, making my wayto the driveway edge that needed my attention.
“Hello, young man,” a voice said from beside me. I jumped slightly, not expecting anyone next door since the house had recently sold. “I’m your new neighbor,” a pleasant woman stated, extending her hand for me to shake. “Katie,” she introduced.
“Mike,” I acknowledged. “Welcome to the neighborhood.”
She was a pleasant looking woman, maybe in her fifties. Her eyes unnerved me with their color. I’d only seen that color of green on one other person.
“I’m sorry if I startled you,” she apologized.
“No problem,” I said. “It’s just been awhile since we’ve had neighbors next door. My husband is over there,” I said pointing across the street, not sure why I needed the new neighbor to know I had a husband.
“Yes, I’ve met Cooper,” she said, smiling. “Him and I were talking about your flowers over there near the walkway. My cat was laying in the middle of them earlier.”
“So you have a cat?” I asked. “Cooper is a veterinarian,” I added.
“Yes, he told me that when he picked Sunday out of your flower beds. She seemed to take to him right away.”
“Your cat’s name is Sunday?” I asked. “That’s kind of an unusual name for a cat.”
As soon as my words left my mouth, a black cat came out of her open garage door and headed straight for me and encircled my legs.
“She likes you, Mike,” she said. “Sunday doesn’t normally like anyone but me.”
I bent over to pet the affectionate cat. I’d never had a cat as a child because my father was allergic to them. I could take or leave them but this cat was friendly. I stood up and watched as the cat headed for the flower beds again.
“Anyone else live with you,” I asked, hoping I wasn’t being too forward, but I wanted to like our new neighbor since we’d been very close to the old neighbors.
“Nope. Just me,” she answered, seeming nonplussed by my question.
I couldn’t help myself. “Kind of a large house for one person.”
“That’s what the realtor said,” she replied. “But I guess the house just spoke to me.”
She was warm and her personality was refreshing. I felt compelled to know this woman after three short minutes. “Where’d you move from?” I asked.
“Seattle,” she offered. “I lost my husband a few years ago and wanted to find a smaller town to live in so I have the opportunity to bond with more folks. Seattle can be a little uptight and I like people,” she added.
“I’ve heard about the Seattle chill. I almost attended college there but landed at Washington State instead,” I said.
“Yes, Cooper told me you both graduated from WSU.”
