Page 11 of Cole's Joy
“Does the house I’m moving into have a washer and dryer?”
“I don’t know, let me call Clark while I’m outside calling the others.”
“Thank you,” she said as she went back downstairs and as he stepped out, she quickly finished cleaning up the kitchen, putting everything back to rights, and making sure she had enough food to feed everyone the next morning. On a sigh, she was happy that she could, and took out two packages of bacon to thaw overnight. She figured bacon, pancakes, and eggs should be enough. She was coming out of the kitchen when Cole returned. She liked that he didn’t hem and haw about what he had to say.
“The guys, three of them, will be here at six thirty. I called Erin, she said that no, they do not have a washer or dryer.”
“Okay, then I guess we’ll pack up mine. I’d like to do a load before we pack them though. Less to do after I unpack.”
“I agree.” He walked around the house and it made Lois’s heart flutter when she saw he was checking all the windows and doors to make sure they were locked.
“Not that it’s any of my business, but what will you be doing with the house after you move?”
“I’m putting it up for sale. I’ve had at least four realtors walk through it already and they say there isn’t anything major that has to be done before I can list it. It will be labeled as move-in ready, and if the potential buyers want it painted a different color, they can do it. I may still be spry for my age, but one thing I absolutely abhor doing is painting. Thankfully, Jerry and Laurie always did that task if they wanted it done. I might tape off the windows and baseboards, but I won’t paint.” She actually shuddered at the thought, and Cole couldn’t get over how cute she looked while doing so. To distract himself, he turned to a window and made sure it was locked. When he looked back around, Lois was at the bottom of the stairs. He picked up his bag and followed her. As she left him at the spare room, he vowed that within six months, they would be sharing not only a bed, but also a bedroom.
He went into his room, shut the door, and after taking a closer look at everything, he showered. Because it was what made him tick, as he showered, he pictured what it would look like with him and Lois being a couple. By the time he fell asleep, he had her new home mentally decorated with both of their things, and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
The next morning,Cole was pouring his first cup of coffee of the day when Lois joined him, and she gave a little start at seeing him there.
“Oh.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, it’s just that I’m not used to anyone else being here. You’re fine. Is the coffee done?”
“It is,” he said as he turned and poured her a fresh cup. They enjoyed their first cup in relative quiet, and at a quarter after six, she jumped up and brought the bacon out of the refrigerator.
“What are you cooking?”
“I thought bacon, pancakes, and eggs for everyone.”
“Good, a good hearty meal to stick to the ribs while we get them to load the truck.” He laughed along with her. “Is there something I can do while you cook?”
“Open the door for when they get here, and see that set of cupboards?” She pointed across the room to the six doors.
“Yes.”
“Everything in there needs to be packed up. The boxes are stacked in the next room along with newspapers and tape. There’s not much there, because I’ve cleaned out and sold most of it. These are things that I use all the time.”
“No need for explanations, Lois. It’s a big thing to have to move. I had to when we moved The Double A from Wyoming to Colorado, and even renamed the ranch to New Double.”
“Is that how New Double got its name?”
“Yes, the guys and gals of Broken started referring to it as New Double because they didn’t want to get confused with the old ranch.”
“It is kinda cute.” She giggled at his expression, then turned back to the stove. By the time the meal was ready, three big strapping men sat at her table. She hadn’t thought her table was small, but with all the food, and men, it was.
“Eat, eat,” she said as she sat down and felt like a queen when they wouldn’t eat until she picked up the first plate of bacon and put a slice on her plate. These men were gentlemen, and their mamas should be proud. She would be if they were hers. No one said a word as they ate, and after their initial hunger was satisfied, they began to talk.
“What will you be doing for Erin?” One of the men asked and when Lois winced, he hung his head and apologized. He looked at the other men. “Too loud?”
“Too loud.”
“Perry is my name,” he told Lois. Then told her why he spoke loud and grinned when she reached out and placed a hand over his.
“That’s fine, just remember to use your inside voice before you speak inside, and you should be okay.”
“I’ll have to try that.” He laughed when the others flipped him off, and that was when they told Lois they had been telling him that for months. “No, really, what are you going to be doing for Erin?”
