The Last Genie: A Novella

Chapter 29

After changing clothes, they drove over to Grace's old apartment, while she prayed that Kari wouldn't be there. She wasn't ready to talk to her. She had too many other things on her mind to think about their relationship. Ithel, for his part, was happy to complete the drive in silence.

To her great relief, Kari wasn't home, but when she saw all of the pictures of them on the walls, she started to second guess her decision to move out. They had been friends for so long. Was she really ready to just leave that all behind? And not only that, if she left, what would Kari be left with? The couch, the coffee table, the TV, the kitchen table, just about everything in this apartment was hers.

Ithel asked, "Where should we start," pulling Grace out of her thoughts.

After one more quick look around the living room, she said, "Let's start in the bedroom."

Ithel started hauling away her furniture, while Grace packed up her clothes, and she couldn't stop herself cutting the occasional glance at Ithel's rippling muscles as he easily carried her nightstand, her mattress, her box spring, and even her dresser out of her room. She had even asked if he needed her help, and he just shook his head no. And, he did it all with such a focus that it didn't seem like he was trying to impress or degrade her. Her really just seemed to be enjoying doing it.

And, Grace was right. Ithel always liked physical labor. It was almost cathartic to him. He could just focus on the strain of muscles and the task right in front and block out all his other worries or problems. And that's just what he did.

Much faster than Grace had expected, they had finished her bedroom, the kitchen, and were moving into the living room.

Ithel asked, "What are we taking in here?"

A wave of guilt washed over Grace, and she said, "Just the book case and some of the pictures." Then, she remembered that Kari had a TV in her room, so she added, "And the TV, and its stand."

Ithel said, "Got it," and walked towards the TV.

After Ithel had walked out with the last box of her pictures, Grace looked around at the now mostly bare apartment and felt bad. She had to do something. So, she went into Kari's room, found some paper, and a pen and wrote:

Kari I had to move out, but I haven't gone far. I'm very disappointed by what you did, but I will always be your friend, and if you ever need my help, I will always be there.

Love

Grace.

Then, she stuck the note on the refrigerator and left.

Grace was feeling quite depressed as she walked over to her new apartment, but when she opened her front door, she was delighted to see that Ithel had already set up her TV and had hung her pictures on the wall. The apartment still looked pretty empty without a couch or chair or anything, but the pictures made it feel a little like home, and she was unbelievably grateful that Ithel had thought to do it.

Ithel walked out of the kitchen with a glass of water and asked, "Do the pictures look alright?"

"They look wonderful," beamed Grace.

"Good, I had to make a few changes to your bedroom because the closet is in a different place, but I think it'll work."

Grace walked into her bedroom, and it was perfect. She really couldn't believe that Ithel had been able to set this all up so quickly.

Then, as she was looking at her bed, she thought, "What is Ithel going to sleep on?" She definitely didn't want to deal with another situation like last night. So, she walked back into the living room and said, "Let's go buy you a bed."

"Why?"

"What else are you going to sleep on?"

"I can just sleep on the floor."

"No."

"I have a sleeping bag."

Grace said, "I'm not going to let you sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag in my apartment, so let's go," and headed towards the door.

Ithel could tell by the tone in her voice thatGrace meant business, so he quickly followed after her.