CHRISTMAS IN A NEW TOWN

chapter two

Toni got back from town with her van load of things she has gotten to do the fixing she haven't done anything apart from dusting away  a little of the dust to get to sleep in the bed last night she had washed a few  cups and spoons in the kitchen that was it she has two weeks surely she doesn't want to spend  it in a dirty house she wasn't going to paint every where most the rooms only needed straightening dusting and cleaning a few things might be needed to be thrown out then the few light fixtures that don't work the guy said he'll come in the afternoon to look so she decided to start where least work were,
She took in the lighter things and leave the heavy things out in the van after five minutes of resting she did a massive cleaning in the kitchen wipe the  tiles for the kitchen was tiled right through the appliances in the kitchen didn't seems to get old and her God mother must have died over ten years ago they didn't do a funeral for her for they just burnt her body and sold it to some kind of place Toni wasn't intrested to know she was the closest to a family she had her and her parents it was her mother that she knew they met out in Manhattan while working they became close when her mother was getting  married she plan the wedding and fix the things she designed so well there were drapes and sheet sets with a lot more things to show how good she was at designing and her mother wedding dress that she had kept back at the house she had rented it for she moved in with Chris now that they are going through  a little problem she didn't want to move out and go back there for it's going to look as if they're breaking apart, she stop to wonder "Are we breaking apart?"
What they are facing now is bad for he's so upset he left the night to go out for drink and he didn't come back she didn't see him before she leave in the morning but she left anyway he said he'll come up one day she's not sure she haven't talked to him since she got in yesterday, thinking she'll call later
The lighting  in the dinning room didn't work so Toni thought of leaving it until the electrician comes by Tomorrow afternoon, since she plans on painting the living room there won't be clean either, she know she won't be able to clean everything in a day but she was sure to get the bedroom and a bathroom ready ten years of dust and rust she washed down the drain leaving the tiles in the bathroom as white as new, "God mother Elma must have spent  a lot of money on this house" she talk amongst herself every thing nice she expects her to design her things but even the material she used to do them must be very expensive, she was glad they were still good all kept safe in the closet in sheet bags, they were many the closest was wide and tall almost one side of the wall she went through it and took a few things to used,  the sofas were covered with plastic as it has shield most of the dust she wasn't going  to remove them for she need to paint it first before she clean it, if she was going to be here for much more than two weeks she would have had more time to get through  it all the front porch need painting too as well as the outside she's going  to need a ladder to climb on to do the outside for she can just climb on a table inside, the  fan in the living room wasn't working but the lights still works she wasn't sure if she'll need an entire new one for she would well and keep the ceiling fan, the lights on the outside neither of them work she figure because they're outside and wasn't getting much shield from anything so they must have just crashed, the lawn need cutting too and for her to start planting she need to get rid of the grass,
She had found a cooler spot on the front porch put some plastic on the ground and put the flowers on hoping to get the lawn ready to transplant them,
She didn't see a fork anywhere for her God mother didn't even have a store room no basement no attic it's rarely you see a home with out those things  but it was a well structured house, she must had wrote down each little details how to made it,  it was a seven bedroom house the master bedroom the guest room and five ordinary bedrooms the bathroom in the master bedroom three others, laundry room, a library and study a double door two cars garage a walking in closet that still have things inside but it was getting night out and the lights inside there didn't work, that too in the  den the garage was to open and close but it don't work so she have to park the van  outside the door to the garage from the inside didn't work she wasn't sure if it's a key it wanted or it was the lighting system she's hoping to get it all look at even the light in the upstairs passage need to be look at,
She finally finish cleaning in the study at around ten she took a shower and climb into bed she lay thinking before she falls a sleep,
Sunday morning it felt a little better for her bathroom was clean and fresh like she love it, she catch back her hair brush clean her face and went down stairs she put the kettle to hot went to the front porch to water the plants before going back in side she went to the kitchen to fix herself some coffee with which she have a cheese taco, she wash up a little later and while she wait for the electrician she
clean the pantry it was day so she open the window to be able to see inside,
There were so many things to be thrown away can things, and other things Toni wonder why one person live and yet still they find themselves buying so much things these were like for a entire family that was extended, her God mother was rich and  lucky her she inherited all she had the house and the money for her mother had told her she never owns a car she have someone drove her around and thats it it wasn't that she couldn't afford it but every one live their life different, she left her so much money if she didn't love floral design she wouldn't work another day, she had got the information to the account God mother Elma used her name to join the account but she never got a card to it until when she got married her mom had given it to her without her husband's knowledge she said "honey I know you got married last month and I know you love your husband, your god mother did say you're to have this when you get married but honey you don't have to let your husband know you got this, she didn't think it nice  to hide it from him but she kept it from him upon till this day she haven't told him not even about the house she just tell him about taking some time he said he would come she would give him the address to where she was staying when he was ready and that's it,
It took her quite some times to do the pantry good thing she got some garbage bags when she went to buy things yesterday, nothing was left when she finished throwing things in the garbage there were a few containers that could be use she wash them and put them to drain, much as she said she would wait for the electrician to fix in the dinning before cleaning there she went ahead to wash the crockery in the breakfront which was a three piece set standing next to each other, the dinning table was made from marble very nice design the chairs were up on on it  and covered the boxes to the corner taped up rest side by side there were four not so large ones Toni took  the oppertunity to look through them they hold some table top decoration for the dinning table and two marble flowers pot to put on the stand as you entered the dinning room, the walls was still looking good so she didn't see any need to get fresh paint now thinking on her next visit hoping that when she comes again her husband will come, the thought of her husband make her realize she still didn't call she left the dinning room and went out to the living room her phone was left on the wall on the stairs she picked it up calling him it didn't pick up so she didn't call again, she left the phone as she was going back to the dinning room it rings, "chris" she said
"Hey" he said
Toni could feel the coldness in his response,
"I was just checking in how are things back home?" She asked
Chris was at Emma's house with her and his daughter Nellie so he moved away to take the call he was out in the livingroom when the little girl followed him out,
"It's raining I can barely hear a thing the service have lowered"
"Oh OK I see, I'll talk to you later" Toni said
"Yeah" Chris said then hang up picked up the little  girl going  back to the bed room,
She left and went back to finish what she was doing in the dinning room,  since the light was over the table and the electrician would come she didn't bother to remove the things from the boxes she look at the time it was already one in the afternoon she wonder where he was if he wouldn't come again,
Eddie had spent the day at church with his grandmother and daughter  he drop them at the house since it was Sunday and the lounge was close he was on his way to see about the problem at the new woman in town home he look at the address once again,
"Where you going  now daddy?" Hariel asked
"I got some, some work" Eddie said
"Are you going over to Toni's place?" She asked
Eddie didn't pick up on the name,
"Yes honey that's where hes going now" Dorothy told her great grand daughter Hariel stood at the window "take me please dad"
"No honey I don't want to take you to work" Eddie said
"But daddy  it's at Toni's" Hariel said
"Part of the reason you can't we don't know her that well let her settle in before you want to go over ok honey, be nice now help nana in the kitchen" he said kissing her forehead "love you" Eddie said
"Ok daddy love you" Hariel said faintly as she backed away so her dad get to drove off, it was a  hour drive but it took Eddie lest than a hour to get him there he drove and park at the gate,
Toni heard the sound and look to see the big red Ford park at the gate,
The guy from yesterday got out and started looking around in this neighborhood the houses weren't very close except from the one right across the street and their door  has been closed since she came on Friday, she walked to the porch "Hey looking for me?" She said
Eddie turn to the sound of the voice Toni wave,
"Hey" Eddie said
"It seems you missed the address" Toni said
"I'm parked in the right spot" he touched the van "was just looking around, I could back up here?" He asked about in front the porch
"Ok sure just come on in" Toni said
Eddie got back in the van and back up to the porch he took down his tool box from the van and straps his work belt around his waist,
Toni watch as he fix himself he was wearing a dress shirt that he removed from his jeans and puts is his van from there he took out a t-shirt puts it on she kept her eyes on him finding herself lustfully admiring him, he was a guy in shape good shape well build clean and fresh handsome too and he was a man with a skill,
Eddie stepped up on her porch his eyes caught the inside before he was asked to follow her in he believed it to be a very nice place he haven't come this far in this neighborhood for many years e didn't know any one who live here conversation wise,
"So where is it that got no light?" Eddie asked
Toni signal for him to cone a long she took him to the dinning room first of all as she would like to finish cleaning in there,
Eddie admire as he walk in he noticed the things around the breakfront look good but the rest of place dusty,
"This doesn't work" she point to the switch
Eddie walked over and flick it,
From the way it flick he knew it wasn't that which is the problem, he took out his tester and trace a long the wires goodthing the wires weren't built in the walls so he didn't have to knock down anywhere he found the problem in the ceiling itself the light has become spoiled,
"I think you'll be needing a new light" he said,
"A new one where in town will I get that?" She asked
"There's more than one place in town  that sells lighting fixtures" Eddie said
"Do they open today?" Toni asked
"Tomorrow at eight" Eddie told her,
"So will you be available tomorrow?" Toni asked
"I want to see where the problems are so i might be here for another day or two" Eddie said
"Then tomorrow at eight I'll go get it" Toni said "what time will you come?"
"Will eleven be good?" Eddie asked
"Eleven will be perfect, so you want to see to somewhere else for the time being?"
"Give me some time I'll have to take it down"
Toni nod
Eddie left and went back to his van for his ladder to climb up, he set it and was about to go up,
Toni hold on to it as a means of support
"You don't have to do that you know it's safe" Eddie said
"Are you sure?" Toni asked
"Very much sure" he said
"So you don't need my help then ok fine" she let go and step back,
"You might have to pass me some tools I can't bring with me" Eddie told her
Toni nod,
He was up there screwing  the light down,
"How is Hariel?" Toni asked
Eddie look down on her it make Toni felt shy, he was surprised she remembered to ask about her,
"She's fine"
"And Dorothy?" Toni asked
Eddie smile "she's ok too
"She seems nice"
"Yeah" Eddie said
"Hariel is a nice girl, she's very pretty"
Eddie smile
They stop talking for a while until he asks her to pass the tools he needed he took the chandelier down it was one of those English type that you see in the fancy homes in England he had gone there to work and their place was just as fancy as this one here, he came down off the ladder and Toni provides a garbage bag to put the old light in,
I'll run some more test and find out what else you'll need and fix a list" Eddie said he was facing her
"I'll definitely appreciate that" she nod
He nod as well
"I have beers would  you like one, or you don't drink since you go to church" Toni said
"I can have a beer" Eddie said
Toni smile she went to get it and bring it to him she hand it to him with a smile
"Thank you" Eddie said
She nod at him
"Where do we go from here?" He asked
She show him to the pantry and it only  needed a switch and a bulb  which he could provide her the pantry was empty but it was well clean they switch the light off and close the door going into another room,
"Is it a regular thing or you do it once in a while?" Toni asked
"It's my job" Eddie said
"I meant going to church"
"Since I'm back two years ago I went with my grandmother every Sunday"
"You weren't living around?" Toni asked
"I've gone to college and got work in Las Vegas so I was out for a while but since my grandmother is getting in age I thought I would come and stay around with her"
"That's considerate" Toni said
"She looked after me so it's only right"
Toni smile,
They continue to check as she follows
"I've been to Las Vegas once" Toni said
Eddie look at her,
"I was there to do floral decor at a wedding"
"You're a florist?" Eddie asked
"I am"
"That's nice" Eddie smile
They look around some more,
"Was Hariel born in Las Vegas?" Toni asked
"What happened in Vegas stays there" Eddie said
Toni grin and covered her face shyly
"Yeah I was married to her mom things got complicated we got separated where I could see my daughter once per week we divorce, when I was  leaving she learn I was and packed her and bring her to my home said I'm to just keep  her"
"That was it?"
"She called when feel a mind but she haven't have her come visit I heard she got a baby the other day"
"Oh" Toni said
"Oh" Eddie said turning to smile at her,
"Vagas was where I met my husband and to think we were both from New York"
"New York?" Eddie asked
"Yes that's where I'm from"
"How did you ended up in Texas?"
"My God mother left me this house I've only come when I was young, I'm hoping to put back some life into it before I leave back in two weeks"
Eddie wonder if that was the only time she'll be spending two weeks but he didn't ask
He nod
Toni brought his attention to the ceiling fan with the light in the living room and the entire thing would need to be changed if she need the fan with the light, Toni didn't have a problem getting it changed they were going out side using the front porch when he noticed the flowers
He was caught looking at them
"I'm hoping to start a garden right in the front here" she point to the space before the porch,
"I see" Eddie said
"I would like to get the lawn clean and pave the driveway before I start, but i don't know who I'll find to cut it for me"
Eddie didn't say anything they got to the back of the house on each discovered problem he documented it on a paper
"An empty pool?" He asked
"You think it's leaking?" Toni asked
Eddie shrugged
Toni smile "I for got you're the electrician not the pool  guy"
They both smile,
It took some time to find all the problems he was there until dusk he said he'll need to bring another tool to look at the garage he'll do it tomorrow,
He had wrote down somethings for her to get in order to fix the lights they were a lot and Toni can understand that the house haven't  been in use for a while lucky anything actually work so she wasn't complaining,
Eddie was about to leave
"If you don't mind I have a  few things in the back I don't want to drive back into town with if you could help  me rest them on the porch" Toni said
"Sure" Eddie said
She lift the top and Eddie saw she had brought her things to work with he lift them out for her, Toni marvel for he haven't bent under  the weight of the heavy things the boxes of decorative blocks she needed to go side ways the driveway he brought them up by threes two sets of them with thirty each, he was thick and muscular she figure he must have bring these type of weights a lot,
"That's it" he said
"Thanks very much, I'll see you tomorrow"
"See you tomorrow" Eddie said he got in his van to sit down
"Say hi to Hariel"
"She had wanted to come" Eddie said
"You could have brought her a long"
"I didn't want her in the way"
"She wouldn't be in the way maybe you can tomorrow"
"She has school for another week"
Oh"
Eddie nod
Toni wave
He left the drive way honking the horn,
Toni watch until the van was gone she went inside she decided not to do  nothing more for today, since he'll have to fix the lights, she was hungry so she  went in the kitchen to get something to eat she had bought a few things that was on the counter so she brought them to the pantry to set them up looking around once more she fix a Mexican chicken casserole for she had got some chicken breast with some different types of vegetables she open her bottle of red wine smile as she remember Hariel who had put it there she thought of her dad and for a long while she thought of him her body trimble and she shake herself back she sigh got up from the table to wash her dish set them in the drain then went up she took a shower climb into bed after talking to God she blocked every thing else out her mind didn't care to think on anything as she falls asleep.