The Pining

Chapter 2

She tries to think of the rest of her elder's color scheme when the ring of a doorbell throws her out of her imagination. She puts down her palette and the single clean brush she picked up on her father's lap and goes to answer the audible call. She opens the door to a middle aged man. He wears a grey beard that could be seen as silver in the new spring sun. He carries a toolbox. Not rusty but rather brand new. He is fiddling for something in his shirt pocket. He smiles at the sight of her. His searching fingers found its victim and shoots a business card in front of her bewildered face.

''Good day to you miss. My name is Ronan. You called about the door locks that needed fixing. I apologize for my running late. You see, my son...Sheppard, where are you boy! My son is a wreck to wake up in the morning." Her garden adventures caused her to forget about the maintenance she still needed to handle today.

"No need for apologies sir. It seems running late was in both our bloodstreams this morning." They both share a warm smile confirming their thoughts. A wildly dressed figure creeps up behind the man and holds out a neat hand.

"Good morning. You must be Green Forlone. Don't mind my father's bickering. I am a morning person to the bone."

Green can see the disagreement in the father's eyes. She shakes the hand momentarily and moves her body to the side , creating a walkway for them to enter. "This house was bought by my grandfather as a marriage gift to my parents. My age combined with my elders should be enough to tell you that this house is more than advanced in years. The locks on both the bathroom doors have called it quits." She leads them down a short hallway to where the fixing is needed.

"It's just me and my father nowadays and neither of us can toggle it back to life." The father and son both look with much interest at the problem.

"No worries at all miss. We will have it working in half an hour." Green stares relieved at the father while he speaks. She is paying him by the hour and the thought of that time being as short as possible gave her financial status a nice cushion to lie down on.

"I will be out back in the garden with my father. Don't be shy to bother if you need anything." She catches Sheppard's eye as she starts to walk back. He stares at her longer than she thinks is appropriate.