I was over the moon with his assurances that everything had been sorted out. The video of Alicia would be taken down and destroyed, hopefully in the next twenty-four hours. And better still, Devon’s been delivered, without injury, to the feds. I’d been certain the Devils would have killed him and had worried I may end up starting our relationship visiting Grumbler in jail.
While tired, I could dress and go to work feeling more lighthearted than I had for days.
Grumbler had returned that evening with a bag full of clothes. He moved into my room and we hadn’t spent any night apart since, which, I had found, was just how I wanted it. The following weekend he’d taken me up to his place—a house nestled against the backdrop of trees and desert. It was neatly maintained, by the prospects he told me, but had an unlived in feel. Casting my eye around with a feminine eye, I could spy cobwebs and dust which must have passed the prospects by.
“How often do you come here?”
“Once every two or three weeks,” he replied. “When I want to let loose in music for a while.” He found a key on his key ring and opened a cupboard. Three guitars were propped against their stands inside.
Alicia’s eyes had opened wide. “Can I play one?”
“Alicia—” I didn’t know much about the instrument, but they looked expensive to me. A cut above the cheap one I’d bought for her.
“Go ahead,” Grumbler replied, at the same time. Then he turned to me and offered an aside. “Kid knows how to treat them with respect.”
While Alicia sat with a guitar held reverently on her lap, I continued nosing around. There are four bedrooms, two with en suites, a family bath and a half bath too. All except one bedroom is empty of furniture, and that one only includes a bed, fancy enough though it is. It looked hand carved, a thing of beauty. I couldn’t help having visions of what Grumbler and I could do on that.
“Why did you buy this place if you don’t live in it?”
He shrugged. “I bought it up cheap, oh, twenty-five years or so ago, did a lot of the work. It seemed the sensible thing to do. I told myself it was a refuge when I needed time away from my brothers. Turned out, apart from playing my guitar, there’s not much I want solitude for. I don’t know.” He shakes his head. “Told myself I didn’t need company, but maybe I was kidding myself. Maybe at the back of my mind was a picture of a woman in my home. That never happened. Never even came close.”
It is a family home. It would be utterly stunning given some love. All the basics are here, not much of the decoration I’d want to change. New furniture, maybe use some of mine. Wait. Was I really imagining moving in?
I forced myself to think of the practicalities. “It’s further for me to drive to work, and there’s Alicia’s school to consider. I doubt her bus stops near here.”
“Up to you,” he’d said. “Whether you could make it work, but Alicia could have her own car. Have a little independence herself.”
Living where we do, she doesn’t need it. But she did have her learner’s permit, and I’ve allowed her to drive mine. The thought of Alicia driving herself around sent chills through me, but she’s getting older. I can’t keep her tied down forever.
Mindful of where the house is situated, I had one more question. “What’s the fire risk?”
He raised his chin as though glad I’d asked the question. “There’s a two-hundred-foot firebreak all around. The prospects keep the shrub cleared back. I’ve no propane tank, so to answer your question, minimal.”
“What do you do for power?”
He gives another grin. “Solar panels on the roof, a few more out back in the yard. And,” he pulled me to the rear window, “out there, see?” It’s a freaking windmill. Far enough away from the house so it wouldn’t be loud. “Power-wise I’m pretty independent. Sun or wind powers my home.”
I heard a noise and turned around to see Alicia putting away the guitar. “If we move here, could we have a dog? And chickens?”
“Whoa.” Grumbler laughed. “You’ll want us to have our own cow next.”
“Maybe a horse?” Alicia asked, quite seriously.
Instead of laughing at her, Grumbler smiled. “There’s a riding stable right up the road there. How about you start with having a few lessons?”
It hadn’t taken me long to decide an extra half hour onto my journey would be worth it. Alicia had been over the moon to move to what she called the country, but which was only just outside the city limits. Hence, this coming weekend we would be moving.
But first, I’ve got to get through today.
Two days ago, I’d taken a pregnancy test. I’d nearly fainted when I’d seen the results, showing me, although unlikely, that Grumbler’s seed was growing inside me. I’d rushed out, bought another test, and then a third. What are the chances of three false readings?
I’d told Grumbler immediately. So convinced I had nothing to worry about, I’d taken the tests while he wasn’t around. Just to confirm what we already knew, that we couldn’t possibly be pregnant, but as it turned out, we were.
He’d held me as I cried. Admonished me slightly for not waiting for him to be there. He’d continued to hold me as I incredulously laughed. Him, me and a baby? We’d discussed our options, whether I’d regretted not doing something about it before, whether he did and now blamed me, but Grumbler’s the good man I’d believed he was. I knew he’d stand by me in every decision, but would try not to influence me. As he said, it was my body the baby would be renting out for a further eight months. And while he wished
