Wounds to Bind Chapter 36 – "it's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right," Green Day, Time of Your Life
January 1, 2012 - APOV
"Happy New Year!" Kate and Elliot yelled at me over the phone.
"Don't you two have anything better to do in the wee hours of this morning, other than annoy me?" I asked teasingly. "What would you have done if I had been asleep instead of wide awake?"
"If you were wide awake before…you'll really be wide awake now!" Kate said. "We're getting MARRIED!" She screamed in the phone.
"Oh my god!" I said, bolting upright in bed. "Wait, aren't you guys at some charity New Year's Eve dance?" I said.
"We were, but we're in the limo and headed to my parents' house. Carrick and Grace are still in Aspen with Christian and Mia. We'll surprise them when we have dinner with them when they come home on Tuesday night. We don't want to tell them over the phone." Kate said.
"I was told first! I am honored," I laughed.
"Ana, I want you to be my maid of honor. Elliot wants Christian to be his best man. Please don't turn me down because of him." Kate pleaded.
"I wouldn't turn you down for any reason," I protested. "Well…maybe I would if you make me wear a horrid pink bubblegum meringue for the wedding."
"We don't have colors yet, but we have a date, Sunday, June thirtieth. Elliot and I agreed to limit the wedding to 300 people – 100 for me, 100 for him and our parents have to split the other 100 guests. No kids in the wedding or reception. We're going to hire Mia as a wedding planner. She will be a bridesmaid and Ethan will be a groomsman. Beyond that, we really don't have plans."
"She's forgotten already…" Elliot sighed. "The bling I put on her finger short-circuited her brain. Another reason for this call is Kate and I want to move in together; like TOMORROW. She won't move into my condo and I feel weird about moving into hers because you live there. I have a bad habit of wandering around semi-naked during the night. I don't want to ruin you for other men, especially my baby brother. Will you consider coming home tomorrow? We can talk about what to do. I think you'd be happy in my condo. I would pay to have everything steam cleaned, painted, fixed, or upgraded… whatever you need to be able to move. We'll talk tomorrow and work it all out."
"I'll be at Kate's condo before ten. Please don't tell anyone what we are considering until we get it worked out, promise?" I asked. "Meaning your parents, Mia and especially Christian."
"We promise," Elliot and Kate say.
"Email me a picture of the ring, Kate, and try not to announce it on Facebook until after you announce it to Carrick and Grace," I laughed. "Love you!"
XX
"Sorry," I apologize to Dad and Laura at breakfast. "I need to get back to Seattle. Kate and Elliot got engaged last night. I think I'm moving into Elliot's condo. We're talking logistics today." I showed a picture of Kate's three-carat Princess-cut solitaire engagement ring to Laura, and almost choked on her coffee when she mouthed the word, "WOW".
"You're not moving without my help," Dad said. "I want to see Elliot's condo."
"I feel guilty taking you away from your time with Laura." I protested.
"Nonsense," Laura said. "I'll come to Seattle with you. I don't have classes until the middle of the month. I can help pack and move. I can put off picking up the new puppies for a week or two. I can make arrangements to board Timber and Tundra in Seattle while we are there."
"Are you sure?" I asked. "There's a lot to do and I have to report back to work on Tuesday morning. We'd better get a hotel suite…it sounds like we're going to be at sixes and sevens for the next several days."
XX – 3PPOV
"Thank you for coming with us," Ray told Laura. "I've met Elliot twice; but I don't know any of the men on his crew."
"You're not sure Ana is safe with them?" Laura asked.
"I don't know them; so, no - I don't trust them. Elliot's got a reputation as a player. I'd rather keep Annie out of the condo until the men are done and after I've changed the exterior locks. God only knows how many people have a key to the place. I want to take a look at the safety features of the building too." Ray said, closing up his suitcase.
"Well, you drive, I'll take notes. We'll try to create a concise plan for getting her moved and settled in the least amount of time. We're both practiced at moving and settling in over one weekend at the drop of a military hat." Laura closed up her suitcase.
"Part of that worries me," Ray said. "Elliot's condo has probably been a bachelor flop house. I'm not sure what we'll need to do – but let's assume it is the worst TDY."
"Roger," Laura said. "I have a regular place I board Timber and Tundra. I'll call them while we're on the road."
XX - APOV
First things first, Dad, Elliot and I worked out the finances of the move. Elliot's paying for crews to move him out; upgrade the condo, and move me. His crews will empty his condo and storage area at his building into storage at the main Grey Construction office. Elliot's condo gets cleaned, painted, new carpeting, new interior doors, new exterior locks, new fans, new lighting fixtures, new energy efficient appliances and a tank-less hot water heater. Elliot swears his crew will complete the work and have me moved so I can sleep in the condo Monday night if I want.
Next we settle on the rent.
"I own my condo; and I'm not about to sell it in this economy. Fair rent for my condo is $600; especially now during the economic downturn. You save me the cost of seeking new renters and the delay caused by Christian's staff vetting them. There's an additional $300 a month to cover your association fees. I've already paid the 2012 fees. The association fee covers concierge, security, water, trash and maintenance - like exterior snow removal, landscape service, etc. There is a lobby/concierge area on the first floor. There are storage areas on the first floor. There are four condos on the other five floors. My condo, number 20, has four assigned parking places in the basement level."
We discuss the utility bills. He projects my utilities will cost less than his because he's installing energy efficient appliances. Plus, he's sure I don't fall asleep with all the lights and the TV running. He paid to have extra insulation blown in the walls when he bought the place, and it has dual pane safety glass windows. He hasn't done it yet, but he normally puts up a door kit over the sliding glass patio doors to keep the winter drafts out.
Dad and I talked about my budget. We run some numbers together. I can afford to live in Elliot's condo without a roommate. Part of me dreads not living with Kate; we've been roommates for over four years. Part of me is excited to start this new adventure in my life. I don't see myself becoming a crazy cat lady if I live alone. Of course…I might have to buy one of Laura's Pomsky puppies when she starts her business. Elliot's condo is the perfect size for one person, or a couple.
I sign Elliot's rental agreement and I write him a check for the first, last and cleaning deposit, in addition to three months' association fees. He explains I will pay my rent online to Grey Construction, and he'll have his office manager set up an account and email an account number and directions when it's established. I won't think about the last agreement I signed – which began a new life for me. At least there are no red rooms of pain in Elliot's condo.
Elliot gives me a list of his furniture with pictures and urges me to keep whatever I like. He's keeping his contemporary home office furniture and the entertainment center from the living room. The general appearance of the entertainment center is a round black Ferris wheel – with shelves where the seats would be. The middle shelf between the inner circles holds a 36" wide flat screen. The other shelves held Elliot's sound system, CDs, DVDs and a sad looking ivy plant. It takes up an entire brick wall in Elliot's living room. His battered black leatherette sofa begs to be burned. The end tables look like inverted black wine glasses. I don't know where he bought them, but they have to go.
I decide to keep the oak entertainment armoire and matching bookcases from his bedroom. I will put them on the brick wall in the living room where the current Ferris wheel entertainment center resides. I'm keeping the oak dining room table and chairs and the hutch. The matching wine rack has to go! Elliot's wine rack is shaped like a wine glass and wine bottle. God knows where he bought it. Elliot uses the matching hutch for holding his beer stein, action figure and comic book collections. Elliot's master bedroom will swallow my bedroom furniture, but I'll figure it out. The second bedroom will be my home office.
Elliot offers me the couch, overstuffed chair and coffee table in the reception area at Grey Construction. He wants to upgrade since he now owns 100% of Grey Construction and its subsidiaries. He likes what Mia did with her decorating scheme at Grey Calendars…except for the purple walls.
The couch is navy leather; the chair is upholstered in a small cranberry, khaki and navy plaid. I like them a lot. I pass on the mahogany coffee table. Once I decide to take the couch and chair; Elliot provides a layout of the condo, and paint swatch samples and carpet samples based on what he has in stock at Grey Construction. Laura and I choose white woodwork, khaki on three walls and navy on an accent wall. The carpet is just a shade darker than the khaki walls. Elliot gives me matching color swatches to get area rugs and new drapes for the condo. Laura and I rough out the furniture placement. She makes a copy of it for Dad and for me. She also copies off the 'to-do' list which has been refined since talking to Elliot about things to be done at both condos and Grey Construction. She has pictures of Elliot's furniture I'm keeping so I have it in mind when I'm buying other things.
Elliot asked a dozen of his men to work today and tomorrow in exchange for Friday and Monday off on Super Bowl weekend – with pay and invitations for them and a plus one at a hosted Super Bowl Party. He takes a copy of Laura's list of things to do.
The first thing to do on the Kate condo list is to pack and move me. Dad rented a 20-foot U-Haul truck online. He'll pick it up around noon. Rather than loading my things into Elliot's storage area and then moving them into the condo; we'll just fill the truck and unload once. I remarked we're not moving Kate…we're moving me and I don't think I need a truck that big. Laura laughs and says I'll be amazed how full it gets.
Kate booked a three-bedroom suite at the Fairmont Olympia for Dad and Laura, me, and her and Elliot. Kate and I have to go back to work on Tuesday, Dad and Laura plan to stay at least a week and help with the move. Since Elliot insists on painting rooms and rebuilding the master closet in Kate's condo, they will stay in the master bedroom of the suite at the Fairmont until the work on her condo is done.
Kate loves the colors of my bedroom for her home office; which eliminates one step of the moving process. Elliot picked khaki and cranberry for the white walls in Ethan's old room. Since Elliot refuses to live in a purple girly bedroom; Kate picks caramel for three walls of the master suite and ensuite. Elliot chooses chocolate for the accent wall. Elliot and Dad bring up a load of boxes from our storage unit so I can start packing. Elliot recommends Kate donate some clothes to Grace's charity. He leaves with a smirk as Kate hurls her shoes at the door.
Kate's room has to be emptied into my room. Her closet is being reconfigured into two separate closets – one for Elliot and one for Kate. Hence, Kate's overstuffed closet has to be downsized by 50%. I hope I won't be around for that carnage. If her hurling shoes at the front door of the condo is any indication; this move could get bloody before it's over.
Kate grabs boxes and heads to the main bath to pack me. Laura and I take a handful of boxes and go to my room. I sketch out one of Amber's Soduku Style frames. Once I'm done; I repack my suitcase with clothes, accessories, toiletries, etc. for the next 3-4 days for the Fairmont. I don't want to search for something I need when getting ready for work Tuesday morning. I put things in the laundry to pack when they are washed and dried. When the majority of my things in my bedroom are in boxes; it is lunch time, and I call for pizza, salad and soda delivery.
Laura recommends emptying Ethan's room; painting Ethan's room and buying rolling racks to hold Kate's wardrobe in Ethan's room until Elliot's men reconfigure the closet. Elliot's home office stuff can stay at Grey Construction until the master closet is finished.
Celeste gave her a deadline of March 30 to get her possessions emptied out of her parents' house. Kate can't leave anything there right now, either. Kate asked Elliot to buy and build 10 rolling clothing racks after the movers empty Ethan's room and paint. She plans to donate the rolling racks to Grace's charity when she's done with them. She comments if Elliot thinks they will be full when she donates them; he's a silly man.
I call Dad and tell him I ordered pizza. He reports Elliot's storage unit at the condo is empty, and the furniture I'm keeping from his condo and his office have been moved to it. Once the men finish moving Elliot's remaining furniture and household items to Grey Construction; they will remove the carpet and start repairs, painting and upgrades.
A second set of Elliot's men arrive at Kate's condo. They empty Ethan's room, and prep it to paint.
I'm glad I will avoid the swearing, fabric, beauty, accessory, shoe carnage in Kate's bedroom…but my curiosity gets the best of me. I close the door to Kate's room. "Time to come clean, Kate…why are you giving in to Elliot's demands for the closet build and half the space in the ensuite?"
"I lost a bet." Exasperated, she blew the hair out of her eyes; using her space bags to hold a week of work clothes, lingerie and casual clothes in her biggest suitcase, along with a week of toiletry needs in a toiletry case. "I'm not going to tell you what we were betting on, but if I don't agree to give him half the master closet and half of the ensuite… Elliot gets to claim my ass before the wedding."
"So either you're screwed…or you're screwed?" I left the room, biting my lip to keep from exploding into laughter. I'm saved by the arrival of the pizza. Kate sets her suitcases by her home office which is currently located in the living room. She wants wine with her pizza, and I explain…diet soda only. She's not going to start drinking and leave Laura and me with this disaster. She agreed to Elliot's indecent proposal not us.
Elliot and Dad come back with 10 rolling clothes racks and the U-Haul truck. They assemble the rolling racks and stop to eat with us. Kate reminds Elliot to pack a week of clothes and toiletries and deliver them to the Fairmont before all his things are in storage at Grey Construction. Elliot gives Kate a kiss and with a "laters baby," he abandons us.
I start packing the kitchen items. Kate urges me to take everything from the kitchen because she doesn't cook and she has no clue what Elliot has for dishes, pots and pans. She says he wants neutral color dishes, pots and pans, silverware, etc. instead of the shabby chic we own. She will order from Amazon to deliver to the condo this week.
I tell her to keep everything prepared in the freezer so she can make quick dinners for her and Elliot for the next couple weeks and not live on takeout. While I'm packing up the kitchen, Kate and Laura start emptying her closet onto the rolling racks Dad and Elliot built. I hear exasperated groans from Kate and the soothing tones of Laura's attempts to peel her off the ceiling.
Before seven, I'm completely packed. Elliot's men move my furniture and boxes to the U-Haul truck. Kate and I stay in her room; working on emptying her closet while Laura deals with the men. The painting is done in Ethan's room; so they can move my stuff now.
Elliot and Dad bring Tex-Mex takeout with paper plates, plastic cups, napkins, and cutlery. We all pause and catch our breath to have dinner. Everyone catches up on where we are and what we're doing. Thank god for Laura. She has organizational and logistics skills to go. She keeps us on track. Laura, Kate and I agree to meet Dad and Elliot in the lobby at the Fairmont Olympia at eleven. We'll check in; and call it a night. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
January 2
Dad took me to see the new condo this morning before six. Dad replaced the sliding closet doors in both rooms with louvered doors to grant me more access to the closets. A work crew installed new organizational closet units. He installed new interior doors like the ones at Kate's condo. He needs to rekey the exterior doors for me once my furniture and belongings are installed. A crew stripped out the old carpet and painted the condo until ten o'clock last night.
Before the condo is full of workers, we're back at the hotel for breakfast and a large helping of logistics. At Elliot's condo; one crew will install appliances. One crew will install carpeting. One crew will install organizational units in the kitchen and bathroom cupboards. Elliot explained the situation to the neighbors and apologized for the noise, but he swears his crews will be done today.
At Kate's condo, Elliot's new home office is painted and dry. My room is empty. The workers will move what furniture they can from Kate's room to mine; putting the remainder in Elliot's home office. Ethan's furniture, sans a highboy of drawers, went to storage at Grey Construction for inclusion in Grace's rummage sale. Celeste works with Kate to finish emptying her closet and monitors the work crew. The rolling racks have to fit in Elliot's home office, around Kate's excess furniture. Elliot says they are only putting 14 days of clothes in my old closet…he says it's good practice for Kate to have to share space. I don't know…I still remember her hurling shoes at his departing back yesterday.
Dad and Laura developed a list of items I need for the new condo. Instead of working at either condo; Laura and I shop for rugs, drapes, a shower curtain for the main bathroom, cleaning and paper supplies. Great…now Dad and Laura are making me shop. When we're done shopping at noon; I called Dad to meet us at the condo and put everything in the back of the U-Haul truck. Once my car is emptied of things; we have lunch at a barbeque place close to the condo. Dad updates us on the progress at the condo. He and Laura give me another list of things to buy this afternoon. Arguing that I'd rather go hang out at a bookstore, Laura and Dad blithely tell me "laters, baby." They are not funny.
I check on the progress at Kate's condo...and wish I didn't. There's a spate of emails. Why did I get copied on everyone's complaints, bitches and moans? I send return emails stating I HATE WHINERS. NO WHINING! I strongly suggest at the end of the day Elliot and Kate order up champagne, soak in a bubble bath and remind each other why they are doing this.
. I'm aware Elliot hates Kate's purple walls, bed and bath linens. I'm aware of the white walls at Christian's penthouse. I've never been a foofy girl…but I wonder if Christian will like how I redecorate Elliot's condo. It will be shabby chic. Then I have to wonder if a pinch of sanity is sold somewhere. I don't have a guarantee Christian will want anything to do with me once he learns about the SEC arrests. Elliot swears Christian and his family are avoiding the news, press, emails, etc. in an effort to decompress and enjoy this week in Aspen.
Laura and I shop for furniture, pictures and household goods at two consignment stores and an antique store. My favorite purchases of the day are botanical prints in white shabby chic frames for the bathrooms and office.
"That chair is nice," Laura pointed at a wing-backed chair upholstered in cranberry, beige and white plaid. "It says Laura Ashley fabric. Ray will have to replace the legs with oak ones, to coordinate with your bookcases and entertainment center but the chair is solid. Buy that long arch top white wicker mirror for over your bed."
I buy it and a wicker chaise and a little circular end table for a reading nook in the corner of the master bedroom. I buy a cheval mirror and an armoire too. I want to put the mirror by the closet in the master bedroom. I'm thinking of putting the armoire in the office, maybe use it to hold a TV and stereo with CDs.
Laura directs me to a furniture consignment store. We find an oak coffee table with matching end tables, lamps and two 18x18 navy leather pillows to coordinate with the navy couch. I buy an oak hall tree with a mirror. I can put it inside the door at the condo. It's got a drawer to hold gloves, scarves and umbrellas. It has a shelf on the bottom to hold shoes and boots. Laura measured it and it fits perfectly on the wall with the coat closet. Dad needs to change the drawer handles so they don't snag on clothes.
At the second consignment store, I find a pair of matching white wicker nightstands for the master bedroom. They are twice as wide as the one I have and will balance the wall where the bed is located. Laura recommends putting my single nightstand in the guest bathroom. It can hold a candlescape on top, manuscripts in the drawer and a stack of guest towels on the bookshelf.
I find another white wicker bookcase for the office. I find a white wicker hanging rack to fit over the door to the master bathroom to hold my robes. I arranged for delivery of everything to the condo and gave them Dad's cell number to coordinate. I email Dad; deliveries will be incoming. He and the men can store them in the U-Haul truck for now.
Laura bought a cutter quilt with navy, cranberry and beige blocks. She said the pattern was Ohio star…not that I knew any state-named star from an Ohio star. Laura said she would use it to make throw pillows, placemats and as many potholders as possible out of the quilt as a housewarming gift for me. She thinks she might be able to make a small table runner for a coffee table, along with a couple of candle mats and cup coasters. She explains vanilla scented candles rid the condo of paint smell. I buy a couple handfuls of vanilla candles in various sizes. Candlescapes are us.
I tell Laura we're going to Second Byte next so I can get a flat screen TV for the living room armoire and a streaming video unit. Laura recommends a stand-alone hard drive for backing up my laptop and a set of high end surge protectors for the living room electronics and office electronics. I arrange for their delivery to the condo.
Dad calls Laura to say the deliveries are arriving, and if I will give him two more hours, the men will be done and gone. He says the cleaning crew has been in and gave everything a once over. We can tweak any furniture placement when we get home.
I tell Laura I simply cannot shop for another two hours. She takes pity on me and takes me to the kennel where she is boarding Timber and Tundra. We take them to the play area for a good romp before the kennel closes for the evening. Laura takes a picture of me holding Timber and Tundra. I ask Lara to email the picture to me. They have the bluest eyes – even bluer than mine. I almost have a meltdown when I realize they have grey and white fur. I'm overwhelmed with memories of grey eyes and white walls. I've struggled to not think about Christian today and thought I was doing well. I'm determined to find out the rules for pets at my new condo. I told Laura I want a Pomsky from one of Tundra's first litters. We stop for takeout – gourmet burgers, fries and salads and head back to the condo.
XX
We eat in the dining room, even though it is takeout and served on paper plates. Dad tells me not to buy fancy china to fill the empty hutch. He plans to gift Grandmother Steele's Haviland china, with crystal and silver plate cutlery to me along with dining linens, candlesticks and serving pieces. He can bring them to Seattle the next time he visits.
Laura laughs; my move is baptism by fire for them. She and Dad discussed moving in together. Since they have two of everything, they have to figure out what to donate to the VFW's summer rummage sale which takes place the weekend after July fourth. Laura is bringing her grandmother's china, crystal and silverware when she moves in with him; hence; he is gifting Grandma Steele's to me.
After dinner, we go to the master bedroom and adjust the furniture slightly and then I explain about the mirror over the bed. We get it put in place. Dad assembles the vacuum and then vacuums the master bedroom while I scrub the master bathroom. While Dad and Laura finish putting up the living room patio door drape. I unpack the master bathroom. I hang clothes, load the dresser, the nightstands, and the dressing table, making the bed, etc.
With Laura's help, Dad puts the home office furniture where it belongs. He hangs the shelves for over the desk and unpacks my boxes of books. I tell him not to bother to sort, just load the shelves and I will organize as I have time. I hand off spring clothes to Laura who stores them in the closet in the office.
I can hear my phone vibrate on the charger and go check. More messages from Kate and Elliot.
Elliot says he'll drop off business cards tomorrow morning for the concierge to give to people who drop by to see him. He recommends I introduce myself to the building staff tomorrow.
Kate's email says don't open the door to strangers. She asks if Dad got the exterior locks replaced, and he has.
Elliot's email contains a list of food delivery places near the condo, along with their phone numbers. If I order in his name, they know exactly where to deliver.
Kate is thankful for the Fairmont Olympia, room service, champagne and a bubble bath. However, Kate says she hates moving.
Don't we all? They are the ones doing this to us. I laugh; I tell Dad and Laura the gist of Elliot/Kate anti-moving emails for the day. Dad says they ought to be glad we've had mild weather. I give Dad my debit card to pay renter insurance and car registration, groceries, etc. which will be done tomorrow while I'm at work. Wednesday, he and Elliot are scheduled to change utilities into my name.
XX
"Your sewing machine and sewing box are above the washer. Your toolbox is on the shelf above the dryer. Battery-operated lantern is on the shelf above the dryer. You have a flashlight in your bedside table, junk drawer in the kitchen and in the drawer of the hall tree inside the door. Extra lightbulbs are located in a basket on the shelf in the cleaning closet. I have your gun; gearbox is in the closet of the home office…and we're out of here for the night." Dad and Laura depart; but wait outside the door to ensure I lock it properly.
I need to spend next weekend getting to know the neighborhood and find grocery stores, cleaners, services, etc. I'll call a cab to take me to work tomorrow, leaving Dad and Laura the car to change the registration at DMV. Crap…I have to call Mary and beg off tomorrow night. I should be here; I don't want to tell Dad I have an appointment with a counselor. At least I've lived simply; I don't have the huge purge ahead of me like Kate and Elliot have.
I walk around the apartment, observing everything. I shut off the lights everywhere except my bedroom. I look out the view from the living room sliding door to the patio. It's not as spectacular as Christian's skyline, but it's mine.
Mine… the last time that word sounded satisfactory to me was when Christian took Wanda. The Audi was nice, but Wanda was mine. Now the skyline is mine. I think I will be happy here. With any luck…Christian's crazies won't find me here.
I draw the drapes and head for the bedroom. I draw a hot bubble bath. Good music and pajamas… check and set the alarm clock… and lights out.