Cold Feet novel Chapter 15

VIOLA

I take a last look at what was my life in the big city. The house has been sold and stands all locked up in front of me. My business is dead and the ‘Sold’ sign on the front lawn stands boldly like a headstone and testament to its death. I was able to afford this house because of my business and having to sell it now represents the loss of everything that I built.

I smile thinly as I hand, Jenna, the agent, the keys to the property. I don’t want her to see my pain. I don’t think she’d understand and besides, I’m really just another client to her. Was another client, I correct myself. The house is sold. I have no more value to her unless I’m in the market for another house and I’m not. She knows it.

Nevertheless, she did a great job for me.

“This is for you,” I say as I hand her a small gift.

“Oh, you really shouldn’t have,” Jenna says smiling with genuine appreciation.

“You deserve it,” I smile.

“Thanks,” she says smiling back at me.

I shake her hand and greet her. Then I get in the car, start it and with a quick wave and empty smile, back out of the drive. I look at the house one last time as I drive away slowly making my way to the freeway.

It’s a long drive and I stop regularly to rest. When I need to sleep, I stop and park in public places where I know it’s safe. I sleep in the car to save my money and make it to my hometown in two days.

When I arrive, I realize not much has changed but then what do you expect? It’s not like people are rushing to get to this small town.

It was the only place I could think of to come right now. I tried finding work after my business died but my reputation preceded me and I wasn’t able to find work that would pay the bills and sustain my lifestyle in Los Angeles. It hadn’t been an extravagant lifestyle either.

So here I was. I had told no-one about the small house my mother had left me after she passed away although I know anyone who had seriously wanted to sue me would have found it. I was grateful that the lawsuits threatened by past clients hadn’t happened.

Even if they had, if I had to sell this small house it wouldn’t have generated much cash. A house in this small town wasn’t worth much. I was nevertheless grateful that I still had it and that it was paid for.

Surprisingly, I left Los Angeles with a bit more money than I expected and the fact that my mother’s house is paid in full, gives me some room to breathe.

The house has been closed up for so long that it smells dusty. I carry my bags from the car into the house and set them down in the bedroom before going through the house and opening all the windows and doors. I change into my oldest clothes and began cleaning immediately. By the time evening arrives I am still far from finished.

All the work cleaning and dusting has left me with an appetite I have not had in a long time and I decide that I will finish the cleaning tomorrow. I need food and decide to drive into town to get some food from the local supermarket.

When I enter Danzer’s I get the feeling that the only things that have changed are the products on the shelves and the cashiers. Other than that, I remember it exactly as it has always been when I was growing up. I roam between the shelves and find that the products I want are still in the same locations on the shelves where they were so many years before. As I wonder if I have stepped into the land that time forgot, someone bumps into me from behind and I drop the jar of peanut butter I am holding. It smashes on the floor splattering peanut butter all over.