Something was definitely up with Lee this morning. She had serious difficulty making eye contact and when she did, her cheeks were red as a fire engine. I'm unsure what has her so embarrassed, but I sure hope she doesn't regret last night. These thoughts ran through my mind repeatedly as we drove the majority of the way to their old apartment. We ate our sandwiches and downed our coffees long before we arrived.
When we pulled up to the building, she stared like she couldn't believe we are here. I sat there for a few minutes studying her while she stared at the building. Finally I broke the spell by asking, "are you ready Lee?"
"Huh," she asked and turned her head toward me. "Oh, yeah. I'm ready. It just feels so strange to be here. It's only been a couple weeks, but it feels like ages."
"Are you okay with this move?" I grabbed her hand in mine and Lee nodded in response to my question. "You're sure? I don't want you to feel like your being rushed or pushed into anything."
Lee gave me a weak smile and squeezed my hand gently. "Wam, if not for you, I'm not sure what I'd do. I feel blessed to have you in my life. Honestly, I feel guilty for being here and not with Kedron, but I know this needs to get done. Besides, I promised my landlord I'd be out by the first of the month."
"The guys will be here at 9am or so. We could pack and move your belongings and you could go be with Kedron," I offered.
Lee leaned over and kissed my cheek. She shook her head with what appeared to be a sad smile before explaining, "just when I think I can't like you more, you offer something like that. Thank you, but I need to be here."
"Okay then, let's get this show on the road," I said as I released her hand, unbuckled my seatbelt, pushed open the door, and walked around to the back where all the boxes were. By the time I had the hatch open, Lee was standing next to me with the bag with tape in one hand and her keys in the other.
"Why don't you lead the way and I'll carry the boxes up? Between your purse, keys to unlock the door, and the bag with the tape, you can't carry much else," I suggest.
Lee nods and opens the exterior door to the weathered building that had certainly seen better days. The building wasn't so bad it should be condemned, but it wasn't nearly as clean or as modern as my cabin. As we climbed the stairway to the second floor, I was relieved she would no longer be living here. My Lee deserves better than this worn down firetrap.
I don't mean to sound haughty, but this is not the kind of place I'd want anyone I care about to live. As we enter the apartment, I'm relieved to see that the inside of their apartment is cleaner than the exterior building and hallway.
The furnishings and decorations in the living room and eat in kitchen are sparse, but adequate. It's obvious that Kedron and Lee had been living on a limited income. Pretty much everything appeared usable, but not new within the last decade. Lee placed her stuff on the kitchen counter, grabbed a box, and began to reassemble it. "Welcome to what was our home sweet hole in the wall," Lee laughed.
I walked up behind her as she taped the box and wrapped my arms around her torso from behind. She jumped, not expecting the embrace. I turned her around to face me, caressing the side of her face with the back of my fingers before placing my palm on her cheek. "Please don't make negative comments about where you lived. I have nothing but respect for you and for Kedron, for doing what you had to to make ends meet. Together you made it work, and I'm proud of you for that, okay?"
Lee placed her head against my chest and hugged me back. I felt her nod before she said, "thank you Wam."
When she pulled back to get back to work, I offered, "why don't you start packing your bedroom, and I'll put boxes together. That way if there is anything you don't want us guys to see, you can pack it now."
Lee laughed but nodded. "What, you think I might have some unmentionables I don't want you 'guys' to see?" She used her fingers to make quotes when she said, 'guys'. She laughed a little more then teased, "maybe it's you guys that would be embarrassed? Haha" Lee took the box and walked down the hall to what I imagine was her bedroom.
I shook my head but found myself smiling at her laughter and teasing as I began to assemble boxes. When I had together the boxes I carried up, I walked down the hall to alert her, "I'm going to run down and grab more boxes. Be right back."
She looked up from packing the box, "you want some help?"
"Nah babe, I'm good. You just focus on packing. I got the boxes." I walked back down the hall and down the steps to grab as many boxes as I could carry. On my third trip to the SUV, I saw the two young men with the truck and covered trailer from the reservation. I walked up to the passenger's side window which was open with Hawk's arm hanging out the window. I looked in the windshield and saw Mato was driving. I shook Hawk's hand as I said, "hey guys, thanks for coming. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it." I grabbed the envelopes from my back pocket and handed one over to Hawk, "let's keep this between us. Lee thinks you owe me a favor, which you do, but doesn't know I'm paying you. Understood?" I handed the other envelope to Mato.
Mato replied, "yeah Wam, no problem. Where ya want us?" They placed the envelopes in the glove compartment, got out of the truck, and locked the doors.
"If you don't mind, grab some boxes and help me carry them up to the second floor. The door is open." We grabbed the last of the boxes, I locked the SUV, and we jogged up the steps to the apartment. "Thanks guys."
Hawk looked at me with a big smile, "that's what we're here for man," he laughed.
We all worked to reassemble the rest of the boxes before we began to pack the kitchen. Lee came walking out of the bedroom carrying a box and set it on the floor by the entrance. I startled at hearing Hawk whoop, "damn Wam, where you been hiding this fine lady?"
As I turned around, I saw Hawk sauntering over toward Lee who had a rather stunned look on her face. I heard Mato laugh, but he did not move from the kitchen. I moved over toward Hawk, "guys, this is Kynlee. Kynlee, this is Hawk and Mato." I pointed to each teen as I said their name. "Hawk, maybe you can stop ogling the poor lady and get back to work?"
"Aight... I feel you bro," Hawk said with attitude.
Mato laughed loudly and almost doubled over at how ridiculous Hawk was acting. "And you wonder why you're single?" Mato laughed loud enough for all of us to hear.
Hawk turned and gave Mato a glare, "shut up man. You're no better!"
Lee looked at both guys, "thanks so much for coming to help. I appreciate it more than you know." Both guys nodded but Hawk continued to stand there and watch Lee with a goofy look on his face. "Hawk, I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm dating someone. Sorry."
Mato snickered again, drawing another glare from Hawk. Since Mato was a year older, taller, and stronger, nothing Hawk did or said had much effect on him. Hawk frowned as what Lee said sunk in, and finally turned to help pack. When he got over by Mato, I heard him grumble, "why is it all the good chicks are taken? Damn man, she is fine!"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mato punch Hawk in the shoulder and reply, "shut up man. Just do your dang job."
"Ouch. What the heck man.. you don't have to hit me," Hawk whined.
Mato exclaimed, "then don't act like an idiot!"
Mato was much more cognizant of his surroundings and waited until Lee headed back down the hall to the bedroom with two more boxes in tow. By noon, we have over half the apartment packed and in the trailer. Most of what was
Left was knick knacks and pictures in the living room and Kedron's bedroom. I went to find Kynlee in the bathroom and asked her, "is there a fast food place around here? Something I can pick up a lot of to feed these two bottomless pits?"
Lee smiled as she looked up at me, "bottomless pits huh? Umm there is a convenience store that sells pizza about a block away. Is that okay?" She watched me for a reply.
"That'd be perfect. Do I need to cook them here or do they cook them?" Lee began to look through her phone as she answered, "if we call ahead... here is the number...they will cook them for us. They don't deliver though."
She handed me her phone with the number for the neighborhood Kwik Trip pulled up. "Thanks Lee. I'll ask the guys and call it in. Anything in particular you want?"
Lee shook her head, "how many times do I have to tell you, I eat most anything but Alfredo, mustard, and anchovies." Her body shook like she was cringing and she make a strange, "blech," sound.
I couldn't help but laugh. "No worries, I don't like anchovies either." I walked out into the kitchen and asked the guys, "what kind of pizza do you guys prefer?"
We finally decided on two large one topping pizzas to please everyone. I called in the order and I packed another box while I waited the twenty minutes. I snuck out before Lee could try to give me money, and found the Kwik Trip exactly where she said it'd be.
The pizzas were ready to go, so I grabbed some refreshments and checked out. The cashier tried hard to flirt with me and even gave me her phone number, but I simply had no interest. The last two weeks, I only have eyes for Lee. I placed the number in my pocket and exited the store as quickly as possible.
I arrived back at the apartment complex and was greeted by some shady looking characters hanging outside the front entrance. If I didn't know better, I'd say they were wearing gang colors and dealing drugs, but then what do I know? I grabbed the pizzas, refreshments, napkins, and headed for the building entrance.
Just as I went to grab the door handle, one of the guys stepped between me and the door. He glared at me with his arms crossed over his chest, pants hanging low, showing his boxer shorts, and a red bandana folded and tied around his forehead. One of his buddies stepped up on either side of me. I was essentially boxed in with my hands full. Not a great situation.
I tried to reason with them, "I don't want any trouble guys. I'm here helping a friend pack up. We will be gone it a few hours. Excuse me please?"
The large gentleman standing in front of me with his arms crossed just stared at me. "You don't belong here. It was nice of you to buy us pizza."