you.
Charity: No date set. I told him I wanted to get to know him before we did the whole date thing. Is that stupid?
This situation is a new one for me. I’m sure my question must have sounded stupid. While I wait for her reply, I read the other four messages from Mystery Man.
Mystery Man: Okay, I can do that. So who goes first?
Mystery Man: Since you’ve gone radio silent, I’ll go first. What’s your name? LOL
Mystery Man: Don’t answer that. I was being a wiseass.
Mystery Man: Okay, serious question. What’s something you enjoy doing?
My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I type a quick reply.
Charity: Gee, I disappear for a couple of hours, and you bombard me with messages. I’ll admit, I kinda liked it. I felt important to someone. LOL. Now, as for something I enjoy doing… Hmm. If I’m being honest, I don’t really know. I’ve been kept on a short leash for most of my life. Books have been my lifesaver. How about you? What do you enjoy doing?
My finger hovers over the send button. It’s possible he’ll read into the whole “short leash” thing. Maybe talking to this faceless stranger could be what I need. I never have to meet him if I don’t want to—that’s unless Paislee steps in.
Lying here, I can’t help but think about the places my dad would take me to at the beginning. When we first moved, he took me to the local library, the park down the road, and shopping to get new clothes. Once we were alone in the big house, I suddenly became everything I never should have been at such a small age.
My cell pings, and I can’t help the stupid grin that instantly pulls at my lips.
Mystery Man: Should I be concerned? When you say kept on a short leash, how do you mean? As for me, I enjoy sports. In fact, it’s my life. My father is a man who pushes what he wants onto his children, and so we’re left picking up and doing the things he couldn’t achieve himself. Sorry for my overload.
Charity: Seems like fathers are a sore spot for both of us. I’m glad you have your sport, though. We all need something to make us happy. So tell me, what makes you happy, apart from sports?
Gee, I’m a little concerned at how fast he escalated and told me things about his dad. Perhaps his dad and mine were of the same mindset. I was never really given the chance to learn and grow and become me either.
Mystery Man seems to be taking forever to reply. My eyes become heavy, and I drift off into one of the most peaceful sleeps I’ve had in a long time. My thoughts turn to Mom and what she said about Jase. Perhaps I should give him another chance.
My alarm startles me awake. The vibrating right under my ear is not something I want to wake up to every morning. The weekend is nearly over, and today, Mom and I are starting work on my room. Opening my email, my eyes catch one from my father’s lawyer. I release a sigh and then open it.
Good morning Charity,
I’m contacting you today to inform you that everything will be happening with your father’s house this week. The movers are there to pack everything up. I’ve been informed that, unfortunately, I can’t sell all the contents of the home as you had asked. So, we will be shipping everything to the address you provided. I’m sorry we couldn’t do more. I’ve contacted a real estate agent on your behalf, and she will be in contact with you over the coming week.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call, and I’ll help any way I can.
Kind regards,
Marcus
Jacob & Son Law Firm
“Perfect. Now what am I supposed to do with all his junk?” I groan. How am I going to tell Mom that I have everything being shipped here? I doubt she and Paul will be happy about it.
Needing to clear my head, I pull on my tights, tee, and runners. Outside my window, it’s still somewhat dark, the kiss of the sun only just starting to hit the tops of the high trees. The house even sounds quiet. After grabbing my phone and sticking it in the pocket of my tights, I quietly head downstairs and out the door.
As soon as I step out of the front gate, my feet hit the pavement