Page 11 of Be With Me
Chapter 5
Uncle Buddy hefted one end of the couch while her cousin Tommy balanced the other. It was move in day… yay? Debbie was having a hard time finding her motivation this year. Previous three years, she was raring to go, couldn’t wait for classes. This year? The year that should be the best as she’d be in clinicals and applying all she’d learn? Yeah, she couldn’t care one whit.
“Debra Florence! Pay attention,” Uncle Buddy yelled. When she turned around, they had the couch in the middle of the living room, taking up 90 percent of the space.
“Why would you put it there, Tommy?” she asked her cousin.
“Umm, Dad said drop it, so I dropped it. How is it that when you and Stacy decided who was bringing what, you got the fucking heavy shit?” Tommy complained.
“Thomas Edward Hansen, if I hear that kind of language out of your mouth again? You are not too big that I can’t wash your mouth out.” Uncle Buddy might be able to make a sailor blush with language but for the most part he expected his sons to hold to a higher standard.
Tommy dropped his head and mumbled, “Yes, Dad. I’ll watch it.”
Debbie held back her laughter but it was hard. “Stacy is bringing the entertainment center and tables so while I got the sofa, I think it’s the better deal. Have you lifted any of the boxes yet? Yeah, they’re heavy. Medical books aren’t light.”
“Where do we help out?” The voice from the doorway had Debbie jumping. Turning she saw Rafe and two of his friends standing there.
“Rafe!” Debbie covered the five feet to the door rapidly. It was only Stacy and her so they didn’t need a lot of room. They were lucky they had two bathrooms and that was way more important than a huge living room. “What are you doing here?” she asked before giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek. Nothing too much in front of everyone.
“You told me the other night that you were moving today, and it was going to take all day since it was just you, your uncle and cousin. Figured a few more hands wouldn’t be a bad thing. We have a three day. It was an easy drive. You remember Danny and Mackey, right?” Rafe said pointing at the two.
“Weren’t they calling you…” Debbie paused as she searched her memory. “I know, Rocket?”
The one on Rafe’s left smiled. “Oh yeah, that one tried to pin me with that. Guess Mackey just isn’t as good with nicknames as I am. It didn’t stick.”
“I’ll find one for you. It’s my life mission now,” Mackey retorted. “Going to put us to work?”
A throat clearing had Debbie, Rafe and the guys turning their attention across the room. “Going to introduce us, Debra?” Uncle Buddy didn’t sound too welcoming.
Debbie could feel a blush go over her face. How could she have forgotten that her uncle and cousin were standing right there? “Sorry, Uncle Buddy. Rafe, this is my uncle and cousin. Albert and Tommy Hansen.”
Rafe strode across the room and leaned over the couch to offer his hand to her uncle. “Rafe Luna, Mr. Hansen. My friends, Danny Glenn and Jeff MacNamara.” He pointed at Danny and Jeff, who waved.
Uncle Buddy had a frown on his face but looked impressed with how Rafe addressed him, nodding at Debbie.
“You three don’t look like you’re lacking in the strength department. There’s a U-Haul down on the street with Mississippi plates. Everything comes up here. Cupcake can tell you where to put it all,” Uncle Buddy smirked in Debbie’s direction as he dropped his nickname for her into the conversation.
“Cupcake?” Rafe asked as Danny and Mackey chuckled.
“Don’t even,” she cautioned him before giving him and his friends directions. “I’m in the bedroom on the left. Just bring everything up and put it in there. Boxes against the wall until the furniture is set up.”
The three nodded and with a “yes, ma’am” headed out the door.
“Got three soldiers doing your bidding?” Tommy teased.
“Thomas Edward, if you know what’s good for you… I know your secrets,” Debbie warned him. “And I’m not afraid to use them.”
“Secrets?” her uncle asked. All the color fled from Tommy’s face.
“I have no idea what Debbie is talking about, Dad. Let’s move this couch where she wants it. Against the wall? Facing the windows?” Tommy pleaded with his eyes for the change of topic and giving into her threats.Yes, she won this round.
Debbie looked at the space and cocked her head. Against the wall? Back to the windows? Where would the light hit the wall? Walking around the couch and standing with her back to the windows, she crossed her arms and tapped a finger against her lips. Measuring the space in her mind, she nodded.
“Put the couch kitty corner right there. Half in front of the window,” Debbie said pointing to the left side of the room. “Yeah, I think that’s going to work. Then when Stacy gets here with the entertainment center, it can go over there,” she said gesturing to the opposite corner. “Kinda form an entryway. We can get a coat tree or bench to drop things at the door.”
“Move your ass, Mackey,” Rafe’s voice was muffled as he yelled at his friend.
“Debbie could’ve warned us that the boxes were fucking heavy,” Mackey complained as he came through the door with one of the cartons of books followed by Rafe with his arms full of her clothes.
