1-2-2017 As I noted in chapter one, I am trying to be more consistent in my posting. I am not sure how true I will stay with that. But I am proud to say that I have created a flexible schedule for me that accounts for a mandatory 30 minutes of writing a day. Not everyday will be dedicated to strictly this story or even anything I currently have on .
My hopes are to have the updates for the six chapters that are currently posted, probably a chapter a day. I hope to have chapter seven edited and posted by the 7th. If that is not the case, I've made notes in my calendar to have at least one chapter posted by Saturday. I've made these notes for each week this month.
Chapter Two
Leaving Nicki's was an ordeal. First it was the Ivy wanted a game of pool with me. Then it was Reid and Tyler that came by, the former insisting that I was terrible and proceeded to make gestures around my body to show me how to play. At some point Tyler had left. Soon after that I couldn't find Rosemary. A blonde by Sarah stopped by the table to shove Reid away and then somehow got to the topic of differences between going from a public to private school. This led to Tatum and I going to her table and meeting her boyfriend, one Caleb Danvers, and a girl and the last Son of Ipswich that I had yet to meet.
By the time we all managed to get back together, it was well over four hours later and nearly eleven.
"Thyme is going to kill us," Tatum said after looking at the time on her phone.
"Yeah, that's what happens when we all go our separate was and fuck around for who knows how long. In the morning we shall suffer the wrath of a hyper six year," I said as I stood up from my chair.
"Speak for yourself sister. You get to suffer the wrath at five am while the rest of us will be happily sleeping," Rosemary spoke seriously.
"You know what's upsetting about that? I wasn't even the one fucking around," Ivy said with a joking laugh and winked at Rosemary.
I laughed along with her.
"What?" Sarah sounded so confused.
"Thyme as the herb, but as a person. Not a clock," Tatum explained with a small smile on her lips.
"Oh. That's a beautiful name and that makes actually sense. I thought you were going crazy," she said.
"It's a bit late for that," I said with a grin.
Tatum laughed at my pathetic excuse for a joke as she stood up. The others soon followed. I did a mock bow after standing.
"It was nice meeting you, Avery," Sarah said with a smile.
"Likewise. And we'll see you Friday at the meet," I said.
She nodded enthusiastically, and Kate beside her smiled as we left.
Ten minutes later I found myself in Tatum's car again. Rosemary and Ivy in the latters little green Honda. This time, however, I was pulled into the short driveway of decent sized two story house, that looked like it was probably built a hundred and fifty years ago.
Despite its age, which really didn't show, it was a beautiful Victorian styled house. On the second floor, I was told that the three bedrooms were fairly spacious and easily fit two beds, or now the case, three for the room Rosemary, Tatum and I would be sharing. Downstairs there was a kitchen with an attached dinning room, a large living room, and a small office that was once probably used as a sitting room. Not to mention a basement, probably filled with mold and miscellaneous things.
Sage was already making her way onto the wraparound porch as we we were exiting the vehicles. Her arms wrapped around me tightly as soon as she got to me. I dropped my bag to do the same to her. She felt so warm and smelled of fresh lavender.
"The place looks good Sage," I whispered to her.
"It's good to have you home, Av," she leaned back to smile at me.
"I missed Thyme, didn't I?"
"Don't worry, she'll be up by five if she doesn't wake up within the next hour," she said while picking up my bag.
Inside, Sage willed my bag upstairs as I told her and the others that we needed to talk.
Within minutes we were sitting around the dinning room table, warm mugs of tea or coffee in front of ask of us. And I told them, about everything. About what happened that night, about why I had to stay away, about their nephew born only months ago. And on each of their faces I saw the same fear and joy that I held in my own thoughts.
When all I had to say was placed on the table, it was only a matter of moments before we were took the better part of an hour trying to decide what would be the best course of action and made plans for any contingencies. With everything agree upon, we all went to work grabbing candles, the mortar and pestles, dried and fresh herbs from the little garden on the back porch.
"It's so good that it is tonight," Sage began to say. "It's the new moon."
"New moon, new beginnings," I said softly next to her as the two of us settled at the dinning room table.
"We could all use more of those," she said just as softly as she braided the lavender in front of her.
At midnight, we did a protection spell on the house and for our family. As we cleaned up our work, we burned the remaining bits of lavender in hopes of making sleep peaceful and easy.
In the morning, I was awaken by a sudden weight on my chest. It was still dark in the bedroom, the thin curtain over the two windows proved that it was indeed still dark outside as well. I petted the mass of soft brown hair on top of me.
"Morin' Thyme," I mumbled softly.
Sitting up, I held her to me as I sleepily tried to be quiet as I left the room to let the others sleep. I somehow managed to still hold her and walk down the flight of stairs without tripping, falling, or dropping her. Considering the little sleep and sudden wake up, should be an achievement in and of itself.
In the kitchen, Sage was in a robe, slouching as she watched the coffee maker on the counter. With a brief exchange of humming and grunts between us both, she grabbed another mug from the cabinet above the coffee maker.
When I was seated at the table, Thyme decided that she could let go of my middle now. She jumped from my chair to the next that already had a sketchbook open and crayons ready to be used.
After the coffee was ready, I helped Sage chop onions and potatoes for breakfast whill we each drank our cups of coffee. Thyme was happily drawing away at the table while we began cooking.
A little after six it was beginning to brighten outside. Through the kitchen window, I could see the small patch of lavender in the backyard. Beyond that I saw a pile of pieces of rusted iron gate that probably surrounded the property before we moved in. Next to the pile was my truck. An old, old thing that probably shouldn't be able to run but I spent three months almost two years learning the ins and outs of the engine after I bought the thing for dirt cheap.
"I'll get the iron out of here today," I said.
"Wait til tomorrow, dumps closed on Sundays," Sage said as she broke more eggs. "Would have had it finished two weeks ago, but your truck got a flat and we haven't got around to fixing that yet. Or rather, the auto place didn't have your wheels and the special order came in yesterday. I believe they're open Sundays if you want to pick it up."
"Can do. Anything else you want me to pick up while I'm out?"
"Probably just pick up some groceries, I'll make a list."
It was just past ten when Tatum and I left to head into town. She, to go to work for her afternoon shift at the theater, and me to pick up a tiré and a short list of groceries.
At the autoshop I walked in, got a whistle from one of the younger guys who was talking to, what looked like, Pogue, in front a bike.
"Hey Pogue," I said casually as I continue to walk to the little reception area at the side of the shop.
The man working was probably middle-aged, had sharp blue eyes that watched me intently as I moved towards him.
"Hello. I'm here for a pickup. For Simmons," I said as I was at the counter.
"The special order, just got in yesterday."
"Yes sir."
"Do you need a tow to have it replaced?" He asked thoughtfully as he looked me up and down.
"No sir. A flat tired is probably the easiest thing I've had to do for my truck."
"Is that right little lady?" He asked.
"Oh yeah. Replacing that engine took me three months to understamd the worrking of the parts. Rewiring the back taillight was the hardest. A flat tire should be simple."
"Your dad teach you about cars?" He asked as he handed me a clipboard that had a receipt of delivery and pickup.
"No sir, self-taught."
He hmmed as he walked into a back room and rolled out the tire.
"What made you decide to do that?"
"I live in a house full of women, I figured one of us should know something about an engine."
"I agree with that. I'm trying to teach my daughters the basics."
I smiled at him. It was always nice to hear about father/daughter interactions from people. Having never really know my father, it is nice to think about the 'what ifs.'
"I'm looking for a part time receptionist for the afternoons if your interested, I can teach you more about cars."
I blinked at him. Is this for real. Did he just offer me a job?
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I think more women should be working in this profession. Receptionist would be a start."
"I would love to work here," I said with a smile.
"Why don't you stop by after you get you tire switched. I'll show you how to do the paperwork and you can start tomorrow after school."
He rolled the tire to my car as he spoke.
"Yes. I can do that."
With a hand shake, he was soon walking back into his shop and I was closing up the truck of Sage's car in a dazed like state.
"Congradulations," came a voice as the walked up to me.
"That did just fucking happen," I whispered in amazement to Pogue.
"Yeah, yeah it did," he chuckled. "Guess we'll be seeing a lot of eachother. I'm here all the time for my bike."
" I got some groceries I need to get before I can head home and back here. It was nice seeing you again."
"Yeah, you too. See ya around."
Groceries bought and packed about in front seat, I made my way back home to tell everyone the good news And fix my tire.