Page 58 of Blackout

So that was what happened. Zach and Jack moved the furniture from the house to the removal truck. Abby found a quiet spot on the veranda to lie down and watch while I packed the back of Zach’s truck with as many boxes as I could fit in it. Half an hour in and half-way through a load out to Zach’s truck, I heard the sounds of a vehicle as it approached. Abby barked once but didn’t move from her spot.

‘Harley?’ I heard an unfamiliar voice say as I placed the box I had in my hands on the tailgate of Zach’s truck.

‘Brock.’ I was surprised as I didn’t realise the men needed help. ‘Did Zach call you to come and help?’ The question had caught Brock off guard. He was here for another reason.

‘Zach called.’ Brock stepped closer to me. ‘But I’m here to see you, actually.’

‘Oh?’ I leaned up against Zach’s truck.

‘Zach mentioned that you want to sell the bungalow,’ Brock explained as to why he was here.

Zach hadn’t wasted any time. ‘You’re interested in the bungalow?’

‘I am.’

Something in Brock’s voice told me he was still hesitant. ‘I hope you’re not disappointed?’

I’m not sure why Brock would think I’d be disappointed. It would be nice for Zach to have a neighbour and for someone to look after this bungalow.

‘No, why would I be?’ I leaned forward and hugged Brock. ‘I’m surprised, I must admit. How did you even know about the bungalow?’

‘I’ve had my eye on the bungalow since Zach moved in next door,’ Brock told me as he leaned up against the side of Zach’s truck.

‘Wow, that’s a long time.’ I shook of my head and wondered how much Brock knew about this home. It would need ten years of maintenance to bring her back to glory.

‘I couldn’t believe it when Zach called to tell me about it.’ The look on Brock’s face said he couldn’t be happier.

‘I’ll get my lawyer to contact you.’

Brock handed over a business card with his details on it. A quick look at his card told me he was a builder. The bungalow would be a perfect project for him.

I put Brock’s card in my pocket as Zach made his way over after another trip to the removal truck. ‘Congratulations, Brock,’ I said.

‘Congratulations are in order?’ Zach’s eyebrow was raised in question.

‘Yeah.’ I turned to Zach. ‘Looks like you’ll have a new neighbour soon.’

‘Is that right?’

I tipped my head towards Brock and waited for Zach to catch on. Zach turned to Brock like he had read this moment right then stuck out his hand for Brock to shake. ‘Man, that’s awesome. I told you not to worry about asking Harley.’

‘I’m just glad someone will finally get to look after this place and appreciate her.’

‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Brock said. ‘And you won’t mind if I’m your neighbour, mate?’

‘It will be fantastic to finally have a neighbour.’ Zach pulled Brock into a man hug.

‘Come on.’ My words had broken up their man hug. ‘There’s work to do.’

‘Do you know what you’re in for? You’ll have your hands full with this one,’ Zach bantered with Brock.

‘Come on, man,’ Brock scoffed back. ‘You do know what I do for a living, right?’

‘I do.’ Zach reached over to slap Brock’s shoulder. ‘Come on, there’s plenty to do.’

We all followed Zach back into the bungalow. Zach and Jack picked the next item to haul out to the removal truck while I showed Brock around the small three-bedroom bungalow. I’m not sure if Brock realised how much work there was to do around the place, but it would be his soon, and he could do as he pleased. It would definitely keep him busy. But I think he knew his way around a house or two, as he was a builder after all. He could rip down a wall, build a wall or change the entire layout of the bungalow. He could do whatever he wanted to if this was his dream house.

It took another hour to get my family belongings out. Now there was a mess on the front lawn that needed to be cleaned up. Ten years was a long time to leave possessions unattended. Not everything was built to last that long.

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