IconvincedPepper to go out and get us some breakfast. While she was gone, I tried to shower only to realize I was going to need help. But when I opened up the shower curtain, there was a brand new shower seat in there. That was what I needed to be able to do thismyself.
Hank.
Sadness filled my heart. I was going to let him have until Monday and then I was going to pin him down. I wanted to know where he stood. I wanted to know wherewestood.
I made my way to the couch and settled in for what was likely to be the day. I had my calendar and my cell phone. I had a lot of work to shiftaround.
By the time Pepper had arrived loaded down with enough food bags to feed a fraternity, I’d moved all of my appointments back by two weeks. Most were completely understanding, but others, weren’t quite as kind especially since I’d already rescheduled once before. I lost some clients but the tiny little petty person inside of me who came out to play every once in awhile knew there was only one necromancer in thistown.
It just happened to be me. If they were interested in speaking with their loved ones, I was their only choice, other than the charlatans running a seance shop down the road. The paranormals hated those humans, but they were tolerated because they brought in some tourist bucks. I didn’t advertise my services. Everything was word of mouth. I was happier that way because it toned down the amount of complete strangers traipsing through myhome.
But...maybe that judge was right. Maybe I could do some good things if I got a shop intown.
“Pancakes!” Pepper shouted and pulled them out of the bag as she shrieked like apterodactyl.
I snickered. “BRING THEM TOME!”
“Butter?” sheasked.
“Bite your tongue. Yes to all the things.” I trusted her to make them even though it pained me a little bit that the butter wouldn’t be perfectly spread to the ends of my pancakes. Pepper was more of a slap it on and let it go kind of pancake fixer. Sure enough, when she brought it over, there was a pat of butter on the top and haphazard syrup pouring. I took the plate and the fork she offered and attempted to make some sense of the mess on myplate.
Pepper came over a minute later, saw what I was doing and let out a huff of laughter. “It all goes down the same way,Hel.”
“But I want every single bit to have the taste of butter andsyrup.”
“Weirdo,” she said, with her mouthfull.
“Pancake perfectionist,” I correctedher.
We spent the rest of the day do absolutely nothing but eating and idly flipping through Netflix shows. When we finally reachedBeing Human, Pepper and I settled in for the long haul, but I did remember to take my pain meds before I finally went to bed for thenight.
Monday morning camein with a bang. A literal one. I shot up to a sitting position and let out a little yelp of pain. It took me way too long to gather my crutches and peer out my bedroom window to see what the hell was goingon.
There were vehicles. Everywhere. I squinted. There was also a dumptruck.
“The hell?” I muttered. I lurched out of the room as best I could. My foot was killing me, but I would worry about that later. Right now I felt like there was an invasion on my property. I fought with the door unable to fling it open dramatically like I wanted because of my stupidcrutches.
When I finally got it open, Hank was standing there with his hand poised to knock. When he saw me, he blinked, and slowly lowered hishand.
My heartbeat picked up. “It’s Monday,” I saiddumbly.
“Yes. Everythingokay?”
I let out a deep breath. “Why are all of these vehicleshere?”
He stared at me like I was dumb. “We’re working on your property. I can’t do all of thismyself.”
“You need all of thesepeople?”
Hank laughed, but he sounded more annoyed than anything. “Yes, Helen. Otherwise this project would takemonths.”
“But they’re soloud.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “The trucks will be here two days. After that it will just be me and a handful of myguys.”
“Oh. Do you want some coffee?” He looked handsome this morning, and he smelled like sunshine and cleanlaundry.
“No, thanks. I’m actually here for the check. You forgot to leave it in themailbox.”
