Chapter 17
Carolina left Thomas to his work as she turned her attention to unpacking her car. She unloaded boxes of her new dishes and silverware and carried them inside the house which required several trips. When she’d finished unloading, she unpacked and put her housewares away. She was nearly finished when there was a knock at the door.
She shut the kitchen drawer and went to the front door. She glanced around for the dog, but he was nowhere to be found.
She opened the door.
“Hello ma’am. I have your delivery.” A young man in jeans and a black T-shirt glanced down at his clipboard. Sitting in the driveway was a large unmarked moving truck.
“Hello.” She looked over his shoulder. “I didn’t expect you to arrive so soon. I thought it would be after twelve.”
“Our other delivery went faster than we thought. Jennifer told me you’re new here. Figured you’d want the bed and dryer set up the sooner the better.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” She glanced at the door. “Do you think the door is wide enough to fit everything through?”
He examined the door jamb.“I think it will fit. Want to show me the room where these things will be going?”
“Sure, come on in.” She waved him inside. “I just got here a few days ago. Trying to get things settled as I go.”
“I’ve never actually been inside this house. I’m Lance Matthews by the way.” He held out his hand.
“Carolina Johnson.” She shook his hand. “Do you deliver out here a lot?”
“Oh, yes. The owner four houses down is remodeling her whole house. She’s been keeping us busy. Mrs. Wilford. Have you met her?”
“No, not yet. Bernice is the only person I’ve met in the neighborhood and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t like me.”
He laughed. “She doesn’t like anyone. Except Rebecca. Her granddaughter.”
That pulled a laugh out of Carolina.
She turned the light on in the laundry room. “This is where I need the dryer. I’ve swept and cleaned in here but I’m not sure how to hook it up.”
“I can do that for you. I’ve hooked up just about every appliance there is.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you so much. And down this hall is the bedroom.” She flipped the light switch. Her gaze landed on the old mattress.
“I don’t suppose you would take this old mattress with you if I paid you a little extra?”
“I can do that. I’ll be going by the dump on my next delivery.”
“Perfect. Do you need me for anything else?”
“No ma’am. We will get everything in and hooked up.”
“I’ll get out of your way then.” She watched as he returned to his truck. She found a towel and wedged it under the door to keep it open.
She went back to the kitchen to pull something out of the freezer for dinner.
She had grown tired of sandwiches and snacks. She longed for a hot meal. Something she hadn’t had in weeks.
She pulled out the small pot roast, put it in the sink, and ran some water.
As she worked the men carried her dryer into the laundry room.
Suddenly the black dog appeared at her side and sat beside her.
She frowned. “How’d you get in here?”
