Chapter Seven.
Renny laid on the couch, her leg up on cushions, her black eye now a shade of purple yellow.
"I'm going in tomorrow" She told her mother "I'm sick of sitting around, I need to get out"
"Renny, it happened yesterday. I can manage today, and Sam will cover for you. Stay off it, and get some rest, maybe put some more ice on your eye" she pulled her lips down, baring her teeth in sympathy "Tomorrow Sam is going to cover you too" She took her purse "Just" she paused "try and relax" she shook her head. Her daughter had the look of relaxedness, but not the concept.
Renny threw a pillow over her face and grunted. Mornings were her energy, She woke at five most days, and was ready to go.
She looked around the house, she was still in her striped pajamas and tank. She had basically woke up, hobbled down, cringed in pain and dropped on the couch until her mother finally came down to make them both some coffee.
Her ankle was worse than she thought, today it was twice the size, and twice as tender. In comparison, her eye got the better end of the deal. It looked bad, but didn't hurt like the ankle did.
It was only 6am, she had the whole day stuck here.
By 11am she had already watched two movies and needed to get up. She had shuffled herself into a sitting position, and was ready to heave on to one leg. She gave herself a push, and she was up.
She took a moment to get a feel for her balance, and pain, and apart from a dull throb she felt confident she could use the foot, it was just a sprain after all and she did want to work tomorrow, so she did the opposite she should. She took a full step, sure that she could, and the second her weight shifted and landed on the ankle, a bolt shot up through her leg, and she crumbled to the floor.
She swore almighty screams on the way down, she hit her elbow on the coffee table and planted face first on the rug. 'Ughhhhh' she half cried out, half angrily moaned
She cursed into the floor, still grimacing from the pain and rolled on to her back and stared at the ceiling. The throb now a thud.
"Mother F...." She began, and there was a knock at the door.
"Renny" Davis called from the other side "your mom told me to look in on you" he knocked again before opening the door, to Renny laid out on the rug, he temples a little wet from the frustration tears
"You ok?" he asked, that sly grin planted on his smug face "Heard it was a goat" he held the look, and Ruby darted for her, immediately licking the salty tears away.
She said nothing, just looked up, defeated and moody, and took a breath, and held onto the table to sit up, and new throb to add to the mix in her elbow.
He walked over finally to help her, and she slapped her hand in his to accept. She heaved up, and he caught her in his arms, until she got her footing right, Ruby's tail wagging a million miles an hour
"I don't think you should be.." he began, feeling how much she was using him to stay upright
She tested the pressure threshold, and instantly the pain shot up again, and she cried out
"Sit down silly girl" He said, guiding her back to the couch. He was in his work clothes, a little dirt on his face.
"Shouldn't you be working" she said, a little pride clearly taken from her
"Yes"
"So then?"
"How'd a goat do this to you anyway? I want to hear it from you"
She sighed "headbutt, that all. Took me by surprise"
"I see that" He squinted at the purple eye
"It tied me up first, then headbutted me. Twisted my ankle on the way down"
Davis sat down, chuckling with a big grin
"Yeah yeah, I'll tell my mom you were a great help, now go to work" She said, understanding his amusement
"So I guess you didn't get a warning" His laugh became a little heartier
She smiled.
"Not funny, yet" she closed one eye tight, but was happy to see his acceptance over the 'weird' stuff
"Need something?"
"Some Ibuprofen?"
He leapt up and went to the counter where her mother had left some pills, wraps, creams and anything else she may need. He took a few from the bottle and got a glass of water "Hungry?" He called, turning off the faucet
"I was just going to order something" She said back
"I can make you something, or get you something?"
"No, no I'll be ok" she hesitated
"No! Come on, we'll have lunch together"
She looked at him, questioning "Really?"
"Why not? Knowing you, you're probably out of your mind bored which means you're out of your mind hungry, am I right?"
She was taken a little back by him noticing things about her
"So, what were you thinking?" He took out his phone
She was still silent
"Look, I got the boys working, basic stuff they can handle without me, so what's it going to be?"
She thought for a moment "Pasta"
"You read my mind" and he tapped away at his phone after giving her the painkillers and water. She watched him walk around the living room as though he had for years, before telling him her bizzare secret. "So?"
She looked at him sideways
"So what?" She smiled "How long til lunch gets here?"
He checked his phone "order is prepped and will be out for delivery shortly"
"Good, at least if you're eating you'll shut up" She joked, uncomfortably shifting
Just then there was another knock at the door. Renny and Davis looked at each other and Davis got up.
He looked in the peephole and stood back, and turned back to her with a wide suspicious grin. "Hello, how can I help you?" He asked in a flirtatious voice
"Is Renny here? My name is Melody, her mother gave me the address"
YOU ARE READING
Signs
RomanceRenny and her very proper but sweet southern mother had moved to the small Wisconsin town, and started fresh with new lives. They had started a cafe, made friends and their neighbor, a man called Davis and his dog Ruby had infiltrated her life. With...
