Page 11 of Let Me Be the One
“Critters?” Glory asked, giving the house another fearful glance.
“Raccoons, rats, birds, snakes.”
“It’s probably fine,” Addie said quickly. “But Reggie wasn’t much of a housekeeper and I’m not sure what kind of shape he left it in.”
“Let’s go look, okay?” Tanner patted his thigh for Blu to follow.
It was interesting that the dog wasn’t on a leash and didn’t wander off. “I have the keys.” Callie unhooked them from the belt loop on her jeans and took the lead.
“Careful,” Tanner said. “The porch boards might be rotted.”
When she hesitated, Glory bumped into her back, then stuck close with one hand knotted in her shirt. Since it was already torn at the shoulder, it ripped a little more.
“Why don’t we let Tanner get things opened up?” Addie suggested.
To Callie, that seemed like a great idea, but she didn’t want to admit it. She squinted at the entrance. “Are you more familiar with the lock?”
“I am.” He held out a hand. “Should be a light switch just inside if you want to wait here for a sec.”
Giving up, Callie nodded and gave him the keys. With Addie nearby, he was far more gracious.
The evening seemed even eerier now, with the goats still making their weird noises from somewhere on the property, insects of some kind clicking in the darkness, and an overall sense of impending doom bearing down on her. Glory didn’t help, clutching at her the way she did.
Belatedly, Callie realized she should have started her car and turned on the headlights to better light their way.
There was a creak of boards, a metallic clink, and then the groan of a door opening on rusty hinges. Callie held her breath, and a second later lights flicked oninside, immediately followed by the low yellow glow of a porch lamp beside the door.
It was not a pleasant sight. Or smell.
Together, silently, they all stepped in. The house was incredibly stale.
Tanner gave a low curse. “Rotted food. I should have thought of that.”
Callie followed his gaze and saw a pizza box, with a bunch of moldy stuff, on the coffee table, as well as other, less identifiable items.
“I dread to know what’s in the kitchen,” Addie said.
Glory wrinkled her nose. “When you get past the rotten smell, you get hit with the old man smell.”
“Glory!” There was a very real chance that Callie might strangle her cousin.
Addie laughed. “She’s not wrong. Given Reggie’s age and habits, I’m not surprised. He liked to drink and he was a regular chimney. Always smoking. Never saw the man without a cigarette.”
“Callie,” Glory pleaded. “Please tell me we’re not staying here. Not tonight. Not without having it cleaned first.”
Weary to the bone, Callie agreed. This independence stuff was hard, especially with a hunk of manhood watching her critically, waiting for her to falter. She drummed up a smile and said decisively, “We’ll find a hotel for the night and then I can start fresh tomorrow.”
“Nonsense.” Addie smiled at both of them. “The nearest hotel is an hour away. We have plenty of room. Just grab what you need for the night. You can get some sleep and tomorrow we can air the place out and see what’s what.”
“We?” Tanner asked, but he sounded resigned, as if he’d already known what Addie would do.
“I can at least help get her started. That’s what neighbors are for.”
Tanner went annoyingly silent and Callie felt perverse enough to happily accept Addie’s offer. “Thank you so much, Addie. You’re a blessing.”
* * *
THANKGOD BOTHwomen had declined to eat. It was bad enough knowing Callie was in the house and that she’d be sleeping nearby. Just thinking it made Tanner edgy and almost guaranteed that he’d have a restless night.
