I stopped, taking a break, and looked at my new home. I had recently divorced, and decided that a move was what I needed to get my head straight. I had moved from Kansas City, Missouri to Houston, Texas.
I looked over at the other boxes that I had piled in the yard, most of my stuff moving men had brought to the house, but there were a few things that I didn't trust them with and had loaded them into my car to move myself. I sighed and circled my shoulders, the boxes were heavy, and I wasn't sure if I had enough energy left to take them in the house.
As I stood contemplating the boxes and rubbing my forehead, a habit I have when I'm feeling extra stressed out, I heard a voice to my left. I turned to greet whoever was speaking.
"Hello, new neighbor!"
I smiled, and raised a hand to the man getting out of his car, maybe I could get him to help with these boxes.
"Good evening."
I watched him walk across his yard into mine. He smiled down and extended his hand. I took it and studied his face. I knew it, his handsome features, his dark brown hair and brown eyes. His mouth was softer at the moment, held in a friendly smile.
I hadn't told anyone but my immediate family that I was moving. None of my on-line friends knew, but to move right next door to him was a bonus that I could be quite happy about.
I wondered if he recognized me, he'd surely seen enough pictures to know what I looked like, but at the moment I didn't think he did. Not, that I looked much different, just then I wasn't wearing any make-up, my glasses were on, and my red hair, that I had recently taken ten inches off of, was swept back into a barrette to help keep it from falling into my face.
My thoughts were broken when he spoke again.
"I was wondering who was going to move into this house."
"Well it was me."
"You fairing well so far?"
"Yeah, only been here for a couple of hours, and those have been spent moving boxes."
"That's the only thing that sucks about moving."
"Yeah, you're right about that."
"Where're you from?"
"Kansas City."
"Oh yeah."
His eyes squinted and he studied my face for a while.
"Yep."
"Hmmm."
"What?"
I tilted my head and gave an inquisitive smile. He shook his and smiled back.
"Nothing, you need some help with these boxes?"
"That would be wonderful."
We got the rest of the boxes inside, and he looked around the living room.
"Please excuse the mess, it won't look like this for long, I promise."
He laughed, "you plan on getting this all done tonight?"
"Yep, can't have clutter, drives me insane."
"If you need any help just give me a holler."
"Thanks. Would you like something to drink? I don't know where my manners went, you helped me with those boxes, you must be thirsty."
"No I'm fine, thanks. I should probably be getting on home now, and leave you to your work."
"Okay."
I walked him to the front door and he turned and smiled.
"Oh by the way, I'm Theron."
"Hello, Theron. I'm Jessica."
I quirked my eyebrow up and gave a small smile when I saw his eyes widen.
"Jessica from Grandview."
I'd never said exactly where I was from, and I smiled. Grandview is a suburb of Kansas City, it sits about twenty minutes south of the downtown area. "That's right Sir."
"Hmmm...okay then, I'll see you later."
"Great, have a good night."
I set to work unpacking the boxes, happy that the moving men had put all the furniture exactly where I wanted it, so I wouldn't have to deal with moving it around. As I unpacked I thought about Theron. He definitely knew who I was, he'd told me exactly what city I had lived in, and I wondered what he was up to. I'd play along, it would be exciting to see what came of this little game.
The next evening there was a knock on the door. I was busy hanging up artwork, and I yelled at the door that it was open. Theron came in and stood there for a second watching me straighten the picture.
"Not wise just to tell people to come in. You don't know who they are."
"I had a feeling it was you."
"Oh yeah, how?"
"Call it intuition."
"You have a good sense of it do you?"
"I'd say so."
I hopped down from the chair, threw my hammer on the couch, and smiled up at him.
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"What'cha got?"
I laughed, "Not much really, haven't done any major shopping yet. I got some coffee, just made a fresh pot, got some water, and some milk."
He laughed and shook his head.
"Those my only choices?"
"Yep."
"I guess coffee will be fine."
"You take it black."
"Yes I do."
"Okay, I'll be right back." I went into the kitchen and poured two cups of coffee, mine taking a little more work than his, and I searched around for the sugar. I was always hiding things from myself. He came in the kitchen.
"Sure is taken you along time."
"Can't find the sugar."
"Isn't it right there?"
I turned around and saw the bag on the other counter.
"Oh, why would I have put it all the way over there?"
He laughed, "not sure."
I shrugged my shoulders and smiled as I grabbed the sugar.