Of Mountains and Men: A Why Choose Romance

Chapter 2

The day was easy, even with the few drop ins we got. By the time seven pm hits, I'm wiped, and so is Charley since he slept through me getting him bundled up and to the bronco.

The roads are a little more dangerous since it started snowing again throughout the day. But nothing Rhonda can't handle. We take the drive down the mountain nice and easy, the heater finally kicking in full blast at the end of the road, before we turn onto the highway.

I checked my bank account before leaving the resort. I have twenty dollars to spend at the grocery store this week. Fortunately, we have tons of canned stuff stocked up, pastas, sauces that kind of thing. Mostly made from scratch on my days off. It's too cold now to take Charley fishing for fresh meat, so I'll have to buy some.

Taking the turn in town to go to Safeway, I decide we're going to have a nice big roast this week. Charley stirs awake as I park Rhonda in the parking lot, there's only a handful of other cars here. Most locals probably went shopping before the storm started.

"Shall we go get a roast?" I tell Charley, "We'll get a big one we can eat all week, after we cook it tomorrow."

"Turkee." Charley says with a serious look.

I giggle, "You want a turkey this week?" He nods, I kiss his hat covered head, setting him down in the shopping cart. "Fine, we can have a turkey this week, they are pretty much the same price anyways."

We pick a moderate size turkey that will work for food for the week. Plus, I can make soup from it, that will be able to freeze. Maybe this was a better idea. As we check out, the total comes to seventeen dollars and fifty cents, perfect.

Charley sings some made up song I can't understand as leave the cart in the entryway with the rest, picking him up and the turkey. Silly boy loves his turkey apparently.

"Brr." Charley says as we get into the house, thirty minutes later.

"You're right, let me start the fire. You stay bundled up alright?"

He grins at me, "T.V?"

I switch on the TV and vcr, hitting play on an old copy of Blues Clues I found in the thrift store. Then get to work building a fire. In just a few minutes the fire catches the bigger pieces of wood.

I sigh, sitting down on the blanket covered couch with Charley for a moment. We start shedding layers as the fire heats up the living room. "Alright, I'm going to make us some tea and ramen." I tell him, tucking a blanket around him, since he's sitting still for a moment.

A nightly cup of chamomile tea has become our ritual before bedtime. I fill our ramen containers with water, setting the first in the microwave to heat up. Monday is always our bad food day, it's when I need to restock groceries. At least I get paid tomorrow, can pay the bills, then figure out how much I need to live off of so the rest can be put to the roof fund.

The tea pot whistles at the same moment as the microwave goes off startingly me from my worries. I switch out the ramen, and pour the tea into the mugs, adding just a pinch of sugar to Charley's tea.

"Charley come wash your hands then it's dinner time."

I hear him grumble about having to leave his TV time, which I honestly understand. He doesn't get too many chances to watch it. Neither do I for that matter. Charley pulls up his stool to reach the sink, while I turn the water to warm. Together we wash his hands while singing a song we learned from the daycare to make it fun for the little kids.

"Now dry?" He asks.

"Now we dry our hands." I agree, grabbing the hand towel to dry our hands. I pick Charley up and place him in his highchair, we finish our ramen fairly quickly. Then we wash our hands again, and Charley runs off to play while I clean up. Then I get him dressed for bed, we read a book, and I tuck him in. Thank goodness my child is a good sleeper, he's nearly asleep by the time I close his door.

I collapse onto my bed, barely able to take off my uniform, I'm so tired. But it needs to go in the laundry so I can wear it Wednesday. With a grunt I gather up all the dirty laundry and start the machine, turning off the lights as I head back to bed. Check to make sure my alarm is on, then finally pass out.