Page 32 of Making Home with You
Erin and I rode the train into Boston on Sunday, following the path I would take just to ease some of my anxiety.The only difference was we didn’t take the commuter that leaves at 5:48 a.m.
That time plays over and over again in my head as I shower; new job nervousness of what if I miss my train, what if I have the time wrong, what if I’m late, what if I just fuck it all up in general…
I’m not normally this person, the one who is filled with anxiety, but spending six months living with your parents as an adult knocks you down a few notches.
I go through the motions of getting ready but remember very little of it.My head is a foggy mess when I step into the kitchen and find Erin and Ryan waiting for me.
Both look sleepy, but with smiles on their faces as Erin hands me a travel mug filled with coffee and Ryan a brown bag with my lunch in it.
“Ham and Swiss on seeded rye with no mayo,” he says, beaming like I should congratulate him on the fact that he remembered my favorite sandwich.Regardless, what they’ve done is beyond sweet, but I’m never not going to give Ryan shit.
“I’m shocked you remembered my favorite sandwich.I figured you’d sleep through this milestone like you’ve done with everything else important in my life.”
“Miss one fucking graduation because of a hangover and you never let me live it down,” Ryan responds, feigning annoyance.
“Thanks for getting up so early to see me off.It really does mean a lot to me,” I say, trying not to be awkward, but I can feel my face grow hot.
“Of course,” Erin adds, “You’re like our trial run before we have our kid.Packing lunches, getting up early.”She laughs and I give her a little smile.
I hug both of them and Ryan stops me before I walk away, handing me a business card, and when I glance down at it I let out an annoyed huff.
“Ryan, seriously?”
“You know, just in case,” he says, shrugging his shoulders casually.“It’s my old partner Joe.It’s a good thing to be in with a cop.You never know when you might need him.”
“I am in good with a cop,” I say, pointedly, “And I’m not going to need it.Not everything is the worst case scenario.”
“Whatever,” Ryan says, basically ignoring my comment about Finn.
They both send me off with a good luck as I grab my bag, slipping my heels into it since the snow is still lingering.The last thing I need is to be hoofing it from the train on the slushy sidewalk in heels.I might be new to this whole commuter thing, but I’m certainly not new to the New England winters.
Just as I’m stepping out the door, I see Finn leaning up against my car.The headlights from his SUV brightening the darkness of the early morning.
I feel a lump form in my throat, and I swallow hard.Between Erin and Ryan waking up early, and now Finn waiting for me, I feel like I’m going to start crying like a giant baby right here, right now.
“What are you doing here?”I call to him as I walk down the driveway toward my car.
“Did you really think I’d let you go off to your first day without wishing you good luck?”He’s dressed in his uniform, like he’s already ready for his day to start too.He’s obviously very dedicated to his job, but seeing him standing here shows his dedication in everything he does.
When I reach him, he pulls me into his arms, his lips pressing gently against mine and I feel it everywhere.Goosebumps rise up on my skin and I press closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body, his heated breath tickling my neck as he murmurs, “Can I drive you to the station?Pick you up and take you to dinner tonight?”
I nod my head, not certain I can speak as I wonder how I found myself here.Just a few short days ago I was single, living with my parents and jobless.It’s like a dream…somehow I went from total chaos to totally perfect in no time flat.
We pull up to the station in just a few minutes and I quickly note the time it took to get here and how much time I have left until the train arrives.My anxiety seems to be growing by the minute.I have no idea why I’m so nervous; generally I’m a pretty go-with-the-flow kinda girl.I guess knowing that if I fuck this up at all I’m back in Eddington and that is not a possibility anymore.
“Why don’t you text me when you’re getting on the train and I’ll meet you here to pick you up,” Finn says, giving me a smile.
I nod my head in response and Finn shakes his head slightly, adding, “Don’t be nervous, Sarah.You’ll be great.”
Finn kisses me goodbye and before I know it, the train is leaving the station; twelve stops, seventy-eight minutes from Rockport to Boston and another fifteen minutes walking distance to the office.This has now become my life.
What I estimated as a fifteen-minute walk was more like twenty with the wet and sometimes slick sidewalks and the hordes of people, but I still make it just before a half past seven.
I pull open the lobby door and find it far emptier than I expected, although I was told the office doesn’t open until eight, but the man I am working for generally arrives earlier.I figured if he arrives early then I should too.
As I step in, stomping some of the water and snow from my boots, I step onto the marble tile and feel myself slip.But before my ass hits the floor, someone standing behind me steadies me.
“You okay?”the male voice asks, and when I look up, his arm still wrapped around my waist, I see my new boss looking back at me.
