Page 2 of Burden to Bear

I knew he was.

They all were.

I allowed that feeling to settle within me before I said, “Thank you for helping me move in today. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“You are pretty lucky you have me, aren’t you?” he teased.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head in mock disappointment. “You should get on the road, so you can get back at a reasonable time. It’s getting dark out.”

Albert released his hold on me, took a step back, and turned his concerned gaze on me. “Are you going to be okay to finish things up here on your own today?”

I shook my head. “No. But that’s mostly because I’m not planning to do a whole lot more than what we did together this afternoon. Honestly, I’m more tired than I thought I’d be after this.”

My brother gave me a nod of understanding. “It’s been a long day.”

“Exactly. But it’s been very rewarding, and Todd will be coming over tomorrow, so he’ll help me with the rest of the unpacking,” I explained. “He felt so bad about having to work today and not being able to help me, so he promised he’d help with anything he could tomorrow.”

Todd was my boyfriend. We’d been seeing each other for about a year and a half now. He worked as a barber, and Saturdays were his busiest days, so he couldn’t help me move today. I could have waited until Sunday to move, but I wanted to take advantage of the entire weekend, so I was fortunate enough to have my brother willing to help with moving the few big items I had along with two movers, who’d already left.

“That’s good. So, you’re just going to try to settle in for your first night here, then?”

I jerked my chin down. “Yeah, I think so. First, I’m planning to muster up the strength to cook some dinner, but I might resort to getting something delivered just for tonight. Maybe I’ll introduce myself to my neighbors while I’m waiting for it to arrive.”

Albert laughed. “That sounds like a plan, but please be careful.”

“I will be. Drive safe.”

With that, my brother and I said goodbye to one another, and he took off to head back home.

For the next few minutes, I simply walked through my new home and took it all in. Though it wasn’t exactly overstated or unbelievably large, it was substantially bigger than I was accustomed to in my apartment. I now had all these rooms and spaces that I could decorate and furnish however I wanted. I couldn’t wait.

At one point, I’d glanced out one of the windows and took in the sight of the neighborhood. It was everything I never knew I wanted to have in my life. The homes were close enough that you could easily have a conversation with your neighbor without needing to shout at them, but they still had some pretty sizeable backyards, large enough for decks, pools, playgrounds, or even just the space for children or pets to run around.

It was at that moment when I decided I should venture out to introduce myself to at least a handful of my neighbors, even if I managed to only speak to the ones living on either side of me.

Since it was early December in the northeast, it was cold out. So, I grabbed my jacket before I walked out the door. When I closed it behind me, I gave myself a few seconds to look at everything surrounding me. Many of the neighbors had decorated for Christmas, and the second I noticed it, I realized that was going to go on my to-do list for the following weekend.

With my mind made up, I walked down the front steps and toward the house on the right of mine. It was time to meet my neighbors.

Brock

When the knock came at my door, I had a feeling I knew who I’d find on the other side.

I was working in my detached garage, where I’d been nearly all day. It wasn’t unusual for me to spend a Saturday in my workshop, but I shouldn’t have been out here as long as I had been today. The problem was that I’d spent a good majority of my day being distracted today.

My new neighbor was moving in.

Several times throughout the day, I had considered stopping what I was doing, so I could do the right thing and welcome her to the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, I was working on a project for a customer, and I needed to have it completed before he arrived later this evening to pick it up.

So, neighborly duties took a back seat.

Despite the number of times I’d glanced out the window at my new neighbor instead of focusing on the work I needed to be doing, I had accomplished the project about five minutes ago.

Fifteen minutes prior to that, I saw my new neighbor step outside her front door and stand there for a moment before she turned and walked toward Russ and Janel’s house on the opposite side of hers. At that time, I’d wondered if she would eventually make her way to my place, believing if she hadn’t intended to that Russ and Janel would urge her to come in my direction.

Now that I’d heard that knock and knew it was too early for my customer to be here, I could admit I hoped to open the door and see her standing there.

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