I lost my job due to the pandemic and the many, many business closures across the country. I had some savings, but not enough to last. Once my unemployment ran out, I needed to save on cash as much as possible, so I looked into giving up my one-bedroom apartment. At thirty-eight, I was still young enough that I felt I had good prospects for finding employment. Alas, that proved not to be the case.
Jobless, and potentially homeless, I reached out to friends and family. My forty-one year old sister, who lived one state over, gave me an open offer: I could stay with her as long as I needed until I found a new job and was back on my feet. I gratefully accepted, and took up the bedroom vacated by my niece who had gotten married the year before.
My sister, Tabitha, was all too happy to have me around. Divorced, she had only had her daughter, Laney, to keep her company. Once Laney got married, Tabitha was all alone.
When I arrived, she met me at the door and gave me a tight hug. "I'm so happy you're here!" she said.
I was embarrassed by the reason why, and accepted her warmth and hospitality with humility and gratitude. "I really appreciate this, sis," I said as I dragged my duffle across the threshold. "I mean it."
Tab showed me to what would be "my room". It was sort of small, and still had that "girl's room" kind of vibe to it-white walls and pink-and-white striped wallpaper. But it was private, and I could have my time alone, and I was thankful.
"Oh, you can decorate it if you wish," my sister said as she saw my eyes scan my new accommodations. "Laney won't mind. And I need to accept that she's grown and moved on with her life." Tabitha sounded a bit sad, but I was tired from my trip and simply nodded.
"Thanks," I mumbled again. "This is-fine. Great! This is great."
My sister gave me a look and smiled appreciatively. "Well, the bathroom is down the hall. Just a shower and toilet. I have the only bath," she went on as she showed me around the house.
"And that's about it," Tabitha finished and turned around to face me. We had ended in the kitchen after she showed me the laundry room, right off the garage. "Towels and linens are in the hall, right outside Laney's-I mean, your-room."
I stood there numb as the reality of all I had lost sank in. "Thank you, Tab," I said. "I hope it won't be for long."
My sister pooh-poohed me. "Don't worry," she said. "As long as you want. I just hope I don't scare you away!"
I smiled tiredly down at her. "You won't."
She glanced up at me and then grew shy. "Well, I am off to watch a little television. You're welcome to join me! I do have my usual programs I like to watch, but if there's anything you want to watch instead...?"
I shrugged. "I'm sure it will be fine. I'm beat, to be honest, and might just want to grab a quick shower and a nap."
Tabitha nodded. "Very well," she said. "I'll make you something when you get up."
"You don't have to do that," I said.
"Oh, I'd be doing it anyway," she replied. "Is there anything you like? Anything in particular? Do you eat meat, still?"
I nodded. "Yep. Meat, carbs-all the things that aren't good for me," I laughed.
Tabitha chuckled. "Me, too." She paused. "Do you still like lasagna?"
I smiled. "You remember!"
Tabitha laughed. "Of course! You made Mom make it for you for almost every birthday. That, and pie for dessert instead of cake!"
I chuckled. "Cherry pie," I said. "I remember. God, so many years ago. I haven't had that in ages!"
"I'll see if I can find some cherry pie," Tabitha told me.
"Really-don't go to any trouble. I don't want to add to your expenses."
"Don't be silly," my sister said and got up and wrote "pie" on her grocery list. "Just write down anything you need and I'll get it when I go to the store. I only make a trip once a week...".
I nodded. "I did the same. This COVID thing changed-well, a LOT of things. No more frequent trips to the store; no movies; no..."
"Job?" Tabitha said. She gazed at me sympathetically. "Really, Brian-I don't mind you being here. We'll get through this together. And I really am happy to have you here! A big, strong man around the house-well, it has been a while, I can tell you. I-I'll feel safer knowing you are around."
I smiled. "Thank you."
We had "a moment"-shared gratitude for each other's presence-and then it got awkward and we shifted, each going our separate ways, me to shower and her to the den.
It felt good to take a hot shower after my nine-hour drive. And with nothing else to do, I unpacked and then took a nap. I woke to the smell of garlic and meat and wandered out to the kitchen. Tabitha was making spaghetti with a meat sauce, and it smelled fantastic.
"Mmmm! Smells good, sis!" I told her as I wafted aromas over my face from the stove.
Tab smiled. "I just hope it tastes good."
"I'm sure it will be great," I said.
Standing there, I looked her over, noting the fullness of her breasts beneath her T-shirt, and experienced a stirring of arousal in my body. I felt a rush of embarrassment and quickly diverted my attention, but was surprised when I felt my sister's arms around me, giving me a warm hug.
"Oh, I am so happy you are here!" she said again, and hugged me tight.
I awkwardly extricated myself, doing that weird backward thrust of the waist to keep my semi-rigid, stirring pocket snake from being felt by accident. "I'm happy, too," I said.
My sister looked me up and down and motioned for me to sit. "Well, I hope you're hungry. You look like you've lost weight."
I shrugged. "It's possible. I haven't been trying, mind you, but I did scale back on my meals to save a little money."
"Well, you won't have to worry about that, now," Tabitha said and brought me a heaping plate of spaghetti. She poured a ton of sauce on it and set it in front of me. "Wine?" she asked, holding a bottle of red.
"Uh-sure," I replied. Carbs and wine-I'd be sleeping deeply in not too short an order with that combination.
