Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

17. Home Sweet Home Pt. 1

Monday, 7:32 AM

Kylie rolled over on the mattress, suddenly awake. Checking her phone, she groaned in despair to find it was only half past seven. Kylie had hoped that she was tired enough to manage a decent sleep in – but if she was honest with herself, was also rather glad that she had woken up this early. She crawled off the mattress and wandered into her packed, cleaned and cleared kitchen. It was with another groan that she remembered blearily she had packed away the kettle very neatly into a box and as much as she wanted a cuppa, didn't want it bad enough to dismantle a box. Rather, she dug through her handbag for her purse, checking her loose change, got dressed and walked the block to the nearby café.

With enough change to order a hearty cooked breakfast, she sat outside the café watching people move about their morning. Already the sun was baking the concrete jungle that was the carpark – that prompted another small groan from Kylie. It was supposed to hit forty degrees today and the last thing she wanted to be doing was to be in and out of the car, carting box after box in such weather. Sighing, Kylie focused on the fact that with Amy and the girls helping her, they would have everything sorted probably by lunch time today, so that for the hottest time of the day, she should be inside under the air conditioner. It was with another sigh of relief that Kylie remembered she had gotten her water and electricity organised last week, so the house wouldn't be a pressurised sweatbox.

Kylie was just beginning to run through the logistics of how five women were going to manage carrying her heavier belongings, like her white goods, a dirty dual cab ute rolled to a loud stop in front of her, the driver getting out and making a sudden, surprised beeline for her.

"Fancy seeing you here!" Kylie said merrily, toasting him with her cuppa.

"G'day," he said, stopping by her two–seater table and dropping into the vacant seat opposite her.

"Chucking a sickie today, are you?" he asked with a bright, teasing grin and leaning comfortably back in the chair.

"Ha! I wish. Nah, I'm on leave for the week actually. Moving house." Kylie replied brightly, leaning back into her seat as well.

"Nice. Another rental or did you buy somewhere?"

"Got my own place, baby!" Kylie cheered, toasting him again and giggling. "I'm a proper adult now!" she added, laughing still.

"Nice. So, big week ahead then? Nice and busy." Grant chuckled, clamping his hands behind his head and stretching his legs out under the table.

"Only no more than usual. How 'bout you? I haven't heard from you in a while." Kylie said, dragging a slice of buttered toast over the spilled egg yolk across her plate.

Rubbing his face with both hands, Grant replied, "yeah ... non–stop mate. Adam and his girlfriend – I dunno, have you met Rach?" he asked, watching Kylie shake her head.

"I've seen her on Facebook but I wouldn't know her if I fell over her. Why?"

"Aw nothing – well, nah. They just found out she's knocked up –"

"– congrats! Uncle Grant!" Kylie teased, smirking wide when Grant grimaced at her.

"Jesus don't start that!" he groaned. Kylie just laughed at him.

"Suck it up princess. I had to when I was sixteen, so you're getting no sympathy from me at thirty–five."

Grant cocked a playful eyebrow at her as she laughed at him. "Gee, thanks a bunch."

Kylie shrugged and finished her drink. "You're welcome, mate." She said in a matter–of–fact tone. Grant smirked again and heaved himself to his feet, saying he had better keep moving, he had a lot to do that morning.