Page 55 of Half Blind

“Please, don't tell me you haven't made space in your bed and bath for his stuff Lemon! If you gave that man a drawer like he is some fuck boy that has a change of drawers and fresh socks for the next morning, I will fight you,” Helen said.

“Chick, would you like a cup of tea?” Lemon said, furrowing her forehead. “Don't come at me on how to take care of my man. I got this.”

“I don't believe you just threatened my life with a cup of your toxic brown water for calling you out,” Helen said. “I'm just pointing out the mental strain of living in a house full of women, and he has no space of his own to decompress. Hell, does he even have a space to hang his shirts? Lemon, what if he has furniture pieces that bring him comfort? I'm just saying, there is nowhere in this house for him to relax.”

“Again, mind yours,” Lemon said. “How did the mixing of the ergot plants go? I provide a great deal of it to Pear and some women's clinics in the Great Lakes. There are people who use it to promote uterine contractions to dispel placentas after birth. The right quantities are critical.”

“You're changing the subject,” Helen said.

“No, you're here to learn chemistry, not stick your nose in my affairs,” Lemon corrected.

“I'm also here as your friend,” Helen said. “If you have enough of those, consider my course corrected. I shall do the work and stay in my lane, never to veer into yours again. However, as your friend, you made space for me to live in your home. I was just wondering if you've done the same for him.”

“Or maybe, when you leave, the closet you're using will be for him?”

“Or maybe, I have nothing in that closet because it's full of your stuff as well, which is why I asked since I'm living out of my suitcase and one drawer for my bras and panties and socks,” Helen replied.

“Would you like a slice of lemon in that cup of tea, Helen?”

“Careful of the invitations you extend, Doc Myrtle. Just because you invited the vampire in doesn't mean it won't drain every breathing creature in the home,” Helen said, calling for the girls to come to dinner.

Over dinner, Lemon hid inside her own feelings. Plans were in place for her husband, but it took time. He was sleeping on the couch because her bed was too soft, but she didn't know that until Saturday morning that Poppa Bear didn’t like the bed. Course corrections were in place, but all of that took time.

She just needed a little bit of time.

*****

WEDNESDAY

The morning began with the girls in a tizzy, jolting Jared from an uneasy sleep on the couch. He'd overslept this morning as had everyone in the home. His wife, also running late, came to the couch and passed him coffee.

“Expect Jack Welsh at around ten this morning,” she told Jared.

Groggily, he asked, “Who is Jack Welsh?”

“The architect and contractor,” she said. “He is going to build you a man cave off the kitchen with a bathroom. Make sure when you meet with him to allocate spaces for your weapons cache and a decent size closet to house your clothing. My closet isn't big enough for two people, and neither is that bathroom. You get your own space to hide out from a house full of women.”

“What?” he asked, trying to come awake.

“If you smoke cigars, please let him know so proper ventilation can be included in the room,” Lemon told him.

“I don't smoke,” he said.

“Good. I did request a wood-burning fireplace for the room, and it should be a fairly good size,” she told him.

“Cost?”

“It's covered as my wedding gift to you,” Lemon told him. “This is going to move quickly. Jack will draw up the plans, Archangel has fast tracked everything, and more than likely backhoes will arrive tomorrow. They will put in the septic tank for the work pod.”

“Okay,” he said, feeling warm in his center.

“This is your home and where we will care for our family,” she told him. “A new bed is arriving later today as well. I'm sorry, I just haven't had a chance to go over any of this with you, so please forgive me. It is finals week.”

“Thank you,” he said, offering her a smile.

“Thank me later tonight when we get to snuggle close,” she told him, blowing him a kiss.

“See you this evening,” he said, sitting up.

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