Read Begin Again: Short stories from the heart for Free Online Page B

anyone else’s.
    “You look like you could use some help,” the man said with the hint of a smile. He made no effort to release her and Natalie found herself suddenly embarrassed by the entire situation.
    “You can put me down now.” She spoke with as much dignity as she could muster, considering she was covered in dirt and soaked with sweat.
    He released her gently, lingering a moment on the small of her back. Natalie stepped out of reach and eyed him. “Is there something I can do for you?”
    The man smiled again as though he found her humorous and held out a tanned hand. “Are you Natalie Allington ?”
    Natalie’s gaze narrowed. She didn’t extend her hand, but crossed her arms over her chest and demanded, “Who are you?”
    He crossed his own arms, making the muscles in his forearms bulge even further and took a step closer. Looking her straight in the eye, he said, “I’m Chase Danning . Your landlord.”
    Natalie sputtered for a moment, struggling to get the words out. “You… you… you!” She rounded on him, angry as a she-cat. “You shouldn’t be allowed to own a paper box let alone a house! It’s been five days since I’ve had hot water. Do you have any idea what it’s like to take a cold shower every morning?” She glared at him, not waiting for his response. “And that’s not all. My faucets leak, the carpeting’s coming up, two windows are broken…” She paused a moment to catch her breath. “And I have ants! I hate ants.”
    Chase could see she was really warming to the subject of airing out the house’s problems, right here on the front lawn. Her loud ranting roused a few neighbors. An old lady with a straw hat and a middle-aged man with a beard peeked over shoulder-high shrubs, waiting to see what he would do.
    Chase turned from the onlookers and focused on the obviously upset, sweat-streaked, semi-crazy woman in front of him. He kept his tone low and gentle as he spoke. “Why don’t we go inside? We’ve got quite an audience and right now I feel like I’m about to be lynched.”
    Natalie glanced at the small group of onlookers whose number had increased to six by now, and nodded. Then she turned on her sneakered heel and headed for the door with Chase close behind.
    Once inside, she went straight to the small kitchen, threw off her gloves and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. She looked at him and held up the bottle, “Drink?”
    “No thanks.” The woman could be polite even when she was furious. He could tell by the way her almond-shaped eyes narrowed whenever they slanted in his direction and those full lips pinched together that she was good and mad. He’d lay a hundred dollars she’d just as soon throttle him as offer him a drink but the lady had manners. Remaining a safe distance away, Chase attempted to appease her. “Look, I’m really sorry. I had no idea. I bought this property about six months ago and the real estate agent was supposed to handle everything.”
    “And it took you six months to see if he ‘handled everything’?”
    He shrugged. “I’ve been working on a deal out of town for several months and it just wasn’t top priority.” As soon as the words were out he regretted saying them.
    “Oh really.” She took a step closer. “Well, let me tell you, Mr. Danning , my life and how it is affected by this run-down shack is my top priority. So, unless you plan on making some very major repairs, very soon, I’m breaking the lease and I’m not paying.” Natalie knew she was playing hardball but he’d made her so angry the words had just slipped out. She didn’t want to move; it had taken her long enough to find this little bungalow and she felt safe here. The neighbors were very protective and she had her own privacy, even a great wooded view.
    “If you want out of the lease then it’s fine with me. I can understand your frustration and whether or not you stay, I’ll give you two months free rent for your inconvenience.”
    “I’m