That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

Yep, Mom would have just about driven him nuts last night. “Sorry, Dad.” Pulling up my sister’s message, it’s pretty much as expected.

Jodie: I warned you! I better not be finding you in a ditch because you went out in the storm! Call Mom, she’s blowing up my phone and I don’t have time for this shit tonight. I know you’re fine because you always are!

Jodie: You better be safe! Love you

My poor family.

Quickly I type out my group message, laughing to myself. What I write and what I could write are two different things.

Family: Sorry, everyone. I’m fine. Was helping a friend last night and left my phone in the truck. Talk later. Let me know if there are any problems from the storm you need help with.

That should be enough to keep them at bay. I mean, I can’t exactly tell my mom that I was helping a friend through her fear by fucking her to distract her. Just thinking those words leaves a sour taste in my mouth. That’s not just what it was. Asha is so much more. What the more is I just have no idea yet.

Grabbing as many tools as I can carry, my phone in my pocket, I can already feel it vibrating with replies. At least they know I’m alive, so they can all go back to sleep now. That’s if Mom even slept. I wonder how old you have to be before your mom understands that you’re a big boy now. Obviously thirty-eight is not old enough yet. She keeps telling me once I have kids I’ll understand. Since I can’t see kids on my horizon anytime soon, then I’m not sure I’ll ever get it.

I put everything down on the porch, since it’s too early to start fixing things. No matter how much I try, nothing I need to do can be done quietly. Replying to my family again, I can feel the day starting to warm up a little. The rain and wind have gone, thank goodness, but checking the local news on my phone, it looks like the town took a beating and there is a lot of damage to buildings and trees down. Work is going to get busier than it already is.

I tell Mom I’m conserving my phone battery, so she stops with the messages. I start to make the mental list in my head of what needs to be fixed here. I know I should check my own home, but I know my neighbors would have messaged me if there was any damage that needs me there.

My stomach starts making hungry noises. Which is no surprise because we skipped dinner last night with the storm. Stepping inside, I’m glad to see Asha’s kitchen runs on gas appliances. Let’s see what she has in her fridge that I can rustle up some breakfast for us both. Better to use the fresh stuff first because it’s just going to go to waste if we don’t get power back shortly.

Checking my phone, it’s after six am, and I know Asha is usually up by now because I see her on the beach every morning walking as soon as the sun is rising. Sneaking down the hallway quietly, I open the door to her room to see her in exactly the same position from when I left her.

Although Asha is still sleeping, Coco is up and standing at the door. Oh crap, I didn’t think of that. She probably needs to go outside to do her business. Not speaking a word, I just hold the door open wider and she walks straight out and down the hallway towards the back door. Following quickly behind her, I grab the lead off the counter where it got thrown last night when we came back. No way I’m stupid enough to let her outside without it on. Who knows where she’ll run off to!

“So, what’s with you taking off every morning, Coco? Don’t think I don’t notice you giving your mom hell every day. I’m not sure how she manages to put up with you.” Her head looks up at me and then it drops to start looking at the ground. Like she knows I’m giving her a hard time.

“That’s right. Be nice to Asha, otherwise you might have to answer to me.” Her tail starts wagging like crazy and she looks up at me, barking. “Oh, what, you want my attention? It seems there are two girls in this house who like to see me every day. Well, why don’t you get done with your business so I can get started on some breakfast for Asha, and if you’re really lucky, I’ll see what I can find you too.”

The mention of food has her running behind the nearest bush and squatting. Seriously, this dog is crazy. It’s like she’s too embarrassed to shit in front of me. Not sure she has worked out that she is all dog and no part human, whether she likes it or not.

Back in the kitchen, I find eggs, some ham, tomatoes, and mushrooms. The perfect omelet and milk for coffee.

Coffee!

First job to get the water boiling. I can’t start any day without a good strong caffeine shot. It’s a primitive way to make coffee, boiling water in a pot on the stove, but I’ll take what I can get at the moment.

Coco has disappeared down the hallway and I’m presuming she’s back on the floor next to Asha while she sleeps. For a dog who is a pain in the ass to her human, she seems quite protective of her. It’s amazing how perceptive animals can be.

I’m chopping away my ingredients and my phone starts vibrating, which has it dancing around on the counter next to me. If it was anyone else, I would probably ignore it to save my battery, but this name I never ignore.

“Hey, stranger, long time no hear. What’s up?” I try to talk quietly so I don’t wake