Font Size:  

Since Roberta was a recovering alcoholic, Big Mike taking on wine making as a hobby was about as absurd as it got, so he didn’t reply. Jake ran back with the key.

“I’m so stoked. I hope we can see. I forgot to ask if the electricity is on.” He led the way around to the back of the building and up the staircase. “It’s this one. Number two zero three.”

After opening the door, he reached inside and felt for the wall switch. When he flicked it on, the room flooded with light.

“Oh! This is just like Lenny’s,” Roberta said, walking around. “One bedroom?”

“Yep, just the one. What do you think, Pop?”

“It’s nice, son. Good job. You’re less than two miles from home.”

“You can still eat with us,” Roberta said.

“Dear, don’t get carried away,” Big Mike replied, laughing. “He’ll want to learn to take care of himself.”

“I taught my boys how to do their own laundry and how to cook, Mike. Didn’t I, Jake? He’ll be fine on his own.”

“Are you going to be on your own? Or is Geri Angel going to move in?”

“She has her own place in town, Pop. That mid-century place by the art center.”

“I love that building,” Big Mike said.

“Okay, let’s think about this for a minute,” Roberta said. “You need a couch and a chair…”

Jake’s phone beeped. “Ma, I gotta go. Candy said they want to leave in an hour, and I need to let Geri know. I’ll move in tomorrow after church.”

“Let’s go,” Big Mike said, his hand on Roberta’s back.

All was well. Yet another son had grown up and wanted to live on his own. As sad as it was, they knew it was bound to happen sooner than later. Having an empty nest might be interesting.

The apartment got the folks’ seal of approval.

Chapter 4

The following week was Thanksgiving. Geri went back to work on Tuesday, feeling a little nervous about working with Jake after their wonderful weekend together. On Saturday, they’d gone Christmas tree shopping with Candy and Joey and their kids, and although Geri enjoyed it, she had this feeling that Candy felt superior to her, the doctor looking down her nose at the firefighter.

“You seem kind of quiet tonight,” Jake whispered when they were alone.

The tree had been purchased, the photos taken, and they were invited back to Candy and Joey’s house for beer and pizza. The fireplace was ready to go, so Jake knelt down on the hearth, arranging newspaper and kindling while the kids were put to bed.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

“It’s not that,” she said in a low voice. “I got the ‘I’m a doctor’ vibe from her. I hate small talk anyway.”

“You got that from Candy? It’s probably just the opposite. She’s probably jealous of you.”

“Why would she be jealous of me? I’m a lesbian, remember?”

“Candy defended you at the meal,” he replied. “Not that you need it, but she said the people who talked trash were probably jealous of you.”

“I rest my case,” Geri said, sighing.

“I don’t mean that,” he said, trying not to stare at her chest. “I mean she might be worried about Joey checking you out, that sort of crap men do.”

“That’s ridiculous. I think the termbrick shit housewas coined for women like Candy Saint.”

“What are you two conspiring about?”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like