There was a warm wave of familiarity as Laina turned the key in the doorknob and pushed open the front door despite never seeing the inside before it was for sale. It was just the background of her childhood. A simple, one story, mint green house on the end of the street. It had a small fenced-in backyard and a very old oak tree looming over the backside.
Laina didn't know the old woman that last lived there until her death a few months back. She hadn't even been back since her parent's death. She hadn't been back to Mannah Hill, specifically, since she was about seventeen.
She steps into the living room and closes the door behind her. When the daughter of the last owner handed her the keys and told her to do what she wanted with the place, she had expected a hoarder's home. Stacks of trash and cat shit in the corners. There was a long worn in leather couch and a recliner set in the middle of the room towards where a TV had been. She looked down and stomped on the hardwood floor.
It would not fall in. The house had been a steal, and she was waiting for the other foot to drop. It always dropped. Under the couch was an oddly colored round rug that would be removed the second Laina took off her coat. It had stains that looked like they had been there for years.
Laina sat down her bag on the table next to the door and yanked on the curtains. She had to pull with full force to get them to tumble off the rod and collapse to the floor. Bright spring light flooded in catching dust in its rays.
"Ah, shit." She groaned before jerking the door open and tossing the curtains out into the yard. She kept the rod.
She walked through to the kitchen and stared at the wall where a heavy Mexican blanket was nailed to the wall. The dining table was pushed up against it stacked with boxes and books. She pulled her hair up and grabbed the edge of the table. It squealed as it slid back. She took one of the four chairs and slid it up to the wall and pulled the heavy blanket from the nails one by one.
More light flooded through. Laina tiptoed and looked out a pair of glass doors into the backyard. How strange was that? She wondered why the old coot would have blocked up such a pretty pair of doors. When the blanket fell to the floor, it moved the chair, making Laina grab onto the wall to keep from falling.
Outside, just over the fence, she could see the top of the neighbor's house. She could see a part of the green yard and a shed that looked identical to the one that sat on her side. There was a moment of pause and then she climbed down. She checked the fridge happy to know that someone had taken the food out and cleaned it. Even the freezer was empty besides an icepack.
There were an array of chemicals under the sink ranging from dish soap to an old Windex bottle stripped and labeled 'Purple'. She pulled out a full pack of trash bags and whipped them open, closing the cabinet. She started throwing things in one after another. Magazines, grease mugs, half of the fly swatters, most two junk drawers, and most of the boxed items on the table.
After clearing out the trash and tossing out a mattress, she went out on the short front porch. She looked out at the other houses across the street. Off to the right was a wall of bushes and trees that blocked out the next house. She looked at the angry balls of dead stems and rubbed the sweat off her forehead.
"Morty! C'mon, Morty, stop running." Laina leaned forward and looked at a dark haired man being dragged by a giant white mop of a dog. The dog barked and jumped trying to run. He slowly moved up the leash and grabbed the dog by the collar and sat him down.
"C'mon buddy, you know you can't run like that. You're faster than me." He laughed rubbing the dog's head. Laina stepped over and Morty looked at her and barked, hopping up and darting over the yard. The guy made a sound of surprise and stumbled behind him.
"Oh god," Laina said, moving behind the green pillar. The dog made a jump for the porch, but he was grabbed yet again by the collar and sat down.
"I'm so sorry about that." He said in a thicker accent that she couldn't replace. It was short-tongued and pleasant. Southern? "We skipped our morning walk and forgot our manners."
Laina looked at him feeling her chest get heavy. He looked at her with a cheek to cheek smile and dark green eyes. She laughed and looked down at his tan leather jacket and black boots. He looked cozy for the warm spring day.
"No, no, it's okay. Laina." She says holding out her hand. He looks up her arm and back to her face before taking it in his.
"Weston." He ran his hand through his curls and put it against the pillar leaning against it.
"Do you live here?" He gestured leash in hand. She looked around at the bags and discarded mattress and laughed softly.
"Just bought it. They left everything here. Which is good because I don't really have any furniture, but I'm going through every inch of that lady's property."
"Yeah? Well, Laina, that makes us neighbors. I live right over there." He points to the left at the white house. The one that had the matching shed. "If you need a hand clearing anything out, I can help. I knew Mrs. Hammings very well."
"Did you?" Laina smiled.
"Oh yeah. She hated me." He laughed, and it made her laugh too. He had a stunning smile.
"Is that so?" She moved to sit down on the edge of the porch. Morty whined and Laina ran her fingers through his fluff. His tail jumped and started whipping against Weston's leg.
He looked down at her and took a seat next to her. The sun had just set over the trees and sent orange rays over his face, making him lean back into the shade. Weston had a round face with a strong jaw but soft chin. There was just the subtlest show of stubble over his face. He leaned in.
"Oh, yeah." He said furrowing his brows playfully. "Morty had a habit of jumping the fence. She hated him! She was not an animal person." He rolled his head back, lifting his hands in the air. "But don't worry. Morty isn't the jumper he once was." Weston patted Morty's rump. Morty just panted.
Laina grinned and went to stand up when a loud voice called out. It took a moment or two before a woman came stomping around the corner in a blue blazer and skirt. Her hair was teased up and came down past her jaw to her shoulders. She looked up and down the street before Morty barked and drew her attention.
"Gina." He waved making her put her hands on her hips and screw up her face.
"Heavens, Wes, what are you doing?" She came up the stone pathway in heels. She looked at Laina and then at Weston sitting next to her.
"Wes, I told you to walk him. Who are you?" She looked at her and Weston stood up.
"This is Laina. She's moving in." He put his hand on Gina's back and she smiled inwardly like a cashier. She dug the leash out of his hand, turned around, and walked off. Morty moped after her before giving Laina another look.
Weston straightened his jacket and lit up again. He dusted off his pants and held out his hand. She stood up and took it. Gina called out again. He shook his head and brought her hand to his lips. He kissed it quickly, barely even grazing her skin, and let it go.
"It was nice meeting you, Laina."
"Likewise." She held her hands behind her back and he turned to walk off. Like Morty, he turned back and waved before getting on the sidewalk and sliding his hands into his pocket.
She followed him until he disappeared behind the hedge and let out a breath she didn't know she had held. The wind howled and blew her hair across her face.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
