Heart Strings

CHAPTER 3

Bucky woke the following morning to the sound of a car starting and the door being closed. It sounded nearby so, since he had to pee anyway, he got up and peeked out the window. It was Holly, leaving early on a Sunday morning, so he guessed maybe she was going to church? After he was finished in the bathroom, he thought about getting dressed, but groaned and crawled back into bed instead. Lying on his back, he wondered what her story was. He guessed her age to be upper twenties; no more than very early thirties. From what he had seen in her house, she was not really into 'stuff'. Her furniture was nice, but not fancy. She had hardwood floors and solid wood accessories that looked older and well cared for. With all the warm earthy colors; the plants in the window seats and scattered about, the aroma of the large scented candles; the rooms that he had been able to see last night had a very comfortable and inviting feel about them.

And Holly? Shit... She looked inviting as well; with her longish blonde hair and hazel eyes that were full of life. She dressed comfortably but everything fit well and enhanced her naturally enticing figure. Her smile was genuine and her laughter was contagious. And why oh why was he doing this? He didn't really know anything about her! She could have a boyfriend or even a husband away on a business trip or something; neither of which was likely to appreciate Bucky's acute interest in her... he needed to stop thinking about her every other 'effing second!

Throwing the covers back, he got out of bed, dressing in yesterday's jeans and clean shirt. Deciding that now was as good a time as any, he ate a quick breakfast then went outside and down to the garage to see what he might find there. He punched in the code Holly had given him and flipped the handle which unlocked the door. He raised it up and smiled as he took in the neatly stacked tote boxes and orderly shelves along the back wall. There were indeed several pieces of furniture that he looked over, deciding to take and old fold down writing desk and an end table up to his apartment.

Once he got them upstairs, he found a rag and went to work dusting them... even the cleanest garage is going to have dust and a few bug remains. When he pulled open one of the small drawers in the writing desk, he was surprised when he found an envelope scrunched up and stuffed in the back of it. Smoothing it out, he saw that it was to Holly from a man named Greg... obviously the letter had been long forgotten and he should probably throw it away, but his curiosity was getting the best of him. Running his thumb along the top of the envelope, he saw the two sides part slightly. He licked his lips and sighed with resignation as he opened the top and pulled the paper out.

"Holly,

This is a difficult letter to write, but one that is necessary
because I don't have the courage to face you in person.
There is no easy way to tell you this, so I'll just say it... It's
over between us."

Shit. Bucky wasn't expecting this... He should probably stop reading right there. But of course he didn't.

"I know this will likely come as a surprise to you and that in
itself is a part of the problem. We both have very busy lives
and our own desires for the future. We don't look at the
world the same way. We don't look at each other the way
we should.

I can see now that no matter how hard we try to make this
work, it is never going to happen; our needs will never be
the same. I am not willing to give up on my dreams, and I
respect you too much to ask that you give up yours."

Yeah right. I bet you didn't respect her too much to slam her against the wall and... Bucky was getting angrier by the minute; at a man he had never met, over a situation he knew nothing about. He kept reading...

"It's no one's fault. It just IS what it is. I have enjoyed our time
together... you are a beautiful, bright, talented woman and you
will flourish on your own.