Page 20 of From Rivals to I Do

“Wait. . . if you lost your house, where are you staying?” I decide to prod. Mitch seems wildly uncomfortable with me asking, but

unfortunately, I have a feeling I already know the answer.

“In my car,” he replies quietly, confirming my assumptions. “Not much else I can do unless I want to move back home. . . and I can’t do

that. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back home. . .”

He clears his throat, and I can tell he’s getting really upset, trying to ground himself. I feel terrible, and there’s no way I can let this man

who is trying so hard to rebuild his life live out there in his car.

And then it dawns on me.

“You know, I have extra room in the house,” I say, and Mitch looks at me like I’ve got two heads.

“Really? You’d do that for me?” Mitch asks.

“Sure, why not?” I ask. “It’s really no trouble.”

“Well, you hardly know me,” Mitch says, but I just shrug my shoulders.

“I know you well enough, and I can’t be having my ranch hand sleeping out there on the streets,” I reply. “Wouldn’t be right, and it

wouldn’t feel right either.”

“Well golly, thank you, Eli,” Mitch says as he pulls his hands out of his pockets and walks toward me. I’m expecting a handshake, but

I’m caught off guard when he gives me a hug, patting my back hard before he lets go of me. “Thanks, man,” Mitch says, a grin on his

face where that frown has been.

“Of course,” I say, happy to see Mitch smiling again. “We can take the day tomorrow to get you settled in.”

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I wake up at the crack of dawn, yawning before kissing Mel’s picture and walking out into the living room. I am surprised to find the

couch empty, besides the blankets Mitch had used for the night, folded neatly on the back. I expected he’d still be asleep.

Must be that he went to get his stuff, I thought to myself as I heard the front door creak open and slam shut, then the sound of Mitch

cussing under his breath.

“You alright out there?” I call out, walking into the kitchen.

“Yeah, sorry about that, hands are full,” Mitch says as he hiked a box up in his hands. “Did I wake you?”

“No, it’s time for me to get myself around,” I reply.

“I have a bunch of stuff at the storage place, but I ran out and grabbed some of my essentials, some stuff to remind me of home too.

Hope that’s okay.” “Of course it’s okay,” I reply. “I got Jeff’s old room ready for you; follow me.”

We walk down the hallway, and I drop the key to Jeff’s room on the floor. As I go to pick it up, I hear the knob of the door nearest to

me begin to turn, and immediately, I shoot up straight.

“In here?” Mitch asks.

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