Chapter 15
<Callie Stevens>
"Where do you want this box?" My dad asks as he walks into my new apartment in Felix, Texas.
"Just put it right next to the other kitchen ones," I say as I struggle to carry a heavy box into the bedroom. I set it down on the bed and go back into the hallway to grab another one. I pick it up and almost run into someone. I look up and see Andrew smiling back at me.
"You want some help, baby?"
"I thought you weren't supposed to move in until Tuesday."
"The person before me moved out early and I got all my stuff in today." Andrew leans against the wall, a smile playing on his lips. "Maybe you could come over after you unpack a little and I could make you dinner."
"That sounds amazing. What did you have in mind?" I ask, balancing the box on my hip.
"Well, I have this frozen pizza..." Andrew chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "I haven't been to the grocery store yet, but I have a bottle of wine to go along with it."
"I'd love to have dinner with you, Andrew. How does six sound?" I tilt my head, the box weighing heavy in my arms.
"I'd like that. I'll come by and get you then. You sure you don't want some help?"
"She's got more help than she'll ever need." My dad chuckles from behind me and squeezes my shoulder. "Hey, Andrew, it's good to see you."
"Hey, Mr. Stevens, how have you been?"
"Pretty good, I'm happy Callie isn't going to be all alone in this new town."
"Don't worry, Mr. Stevens, I'll make sure she's safe."
"That's comforting." My mom comes behind my dad and smiles at Andrew. "Hey, Andrew. I'm glad to see you're doing well."
"Very well, Mrs. Stevens, I'm excited about the prospects of this new opportunity."
"Good, and I'm glad that you'll be here with Callie. I don't know how I feel about her living here; it isn't the safest neighborhood."
"But it's close to my job, mama." I sigh, suppressing an eyeroll.
"I know, sweetie," My mom bites her lip. "It still doesn't stop me from worrying. There were some unsavory characters hanging outside the building."
"It's okay, Mrs. Stevens, they don't breech the front door. This is the safest apartment building in Felix. They haven't had a robbery since they opened up twenty years ago."
"Well, that's a small comfort, I guess."
"It'll be okay, mama, I'll be fine. I'll see you at 6." I say to Andrew while I corral my parents back into my apartment.
~~~~~
It's six and my apartment is a mess of half-unpacked boxes and bubble-wrap strewn about. I've tried to put some stuff away, but all of my mom's worries have manifested in my head and have made it hard to focus. Every noise has made me jump, and that's made it nearly impossible to get anything done. I'm currently sitting on my couch staring at the mess in my apartment and contemplating how I'll ever get any sleep tonight. There's a knock at my door and I stand up to let Andrew in.
"I thought you could use this." Andrew smirks, holding out a glass of red wine.
"Well, aren't you perceptive." I wink and accept the glass.
"So, I see the unpacking is going well."
"I can't focus. It's like every noise I hear is something bad about to happen."
YOU ARE READING
A Girl Named Callie
Spiritual*sequel to A Boy Named Jasper* ~~~~~ When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6) ~~~~~~ Jasper has been in L.A. for almost five years. Not a day w...
