The morning silence was broken with an alarm clock of a different sort.
Woooooossssshh!!!!
Bailey bolted to the floor from the foot of the bed; she scrambled to the closet where she found a hiding nook.
Marie jumped straight up in bed from a sound and peaceful sleep. "What the hell was that??" She screamed.
Chris laughed. "I forgot to tell you, the shop behind us has an air compressed paint gun; sometimes they turn it on earlier than usual," Chris explained.
"You’ve gotta get outta this place; you’ve spent time finding yourself long enough," Marie insisted.
"I know...I've been looking at a couple of places but they seem too fancy," Chris complained.
"You don’t have to live in the giant palace you came from, but a window would be nice, don‘t ya‘ think?" Marie suggested.
"Yeah, I suppose a window would be nice, but then I’d have to clean it," Chris groaned.
"Yeah? Well, we’re gonna find you a place today, without an attached air compressor alarm clock." Marie planted her head against Chris’ chest, delicately kissing his chest as he gently brushed the hair from her face, softly caressing her cheek.
Both replayed the previous night in their heads. It seemed like a dream. Chris wondered how a fine line of friendship could be crossed so quickly, and without warning. He wasn’t prepared for anything this drastic, but it felt good to him. It felt as though some semblance of normalcy had finally returned to his life.
"Do you feel weird?" Marie nervously pried, looking up at Chris.
Chris paused for a moment, looking to be in deep thought. "Yeah, I do," he finally replied.
"Why?? Seriously??" Marie quickly bolted upright.
"Bailey is staring at us," he pointed and laughed. "That makes me feel pretty weird," he continued.
Marie hit Chris on the arm before returning her head to his chest.
Chris lifted Marie’s head and looked into her eyes. "I feel well," he confidently affirmed with a warm smile. Marie smiled and hugged him tightly. "Me too," she sighed, lifting herself up to give him a kiss.
Before beginning the house hunting expedition, Chris skimmed through the cell phone; he scrolled through numerous saved messages which were tucked away in a folder where he’d kept dozens of texts that Erin had sent long ago. Texts from long before this bizarre chapter in his life began at the front of the gate under the angel.
Most of them were quite sweet. He’d held on to them to help get him through some tough times that ensued after they split. Ultimately, he held on to them because he couldn’t let go of the past.
With a few button punches the prompt appeared, “Delete All”? Chris smiled and hit “Yes”.
No matter what road lay ahead for he and Marie or for he and Erin separately, it was time to let go of a past that couldn‘t be undone. It was time to live in the moment, one day at a time.
Chris looked at four houses before narrowing down his choice to one that he particularly liked. It wasn’t too big, not too small. There were beautiful hard wood floors throughout. He looked to Bailey and then back to the floors. "Great, I’ll never get my security deposit back" Chris sighed. Bailey stared blankly at Chris. She panted as her eyes shifted from the side and quickly back to Chris, her tail wagged briskly.
A major asset, he resolved, was a back yard. Though tiny, it was a back yard! A commodity in New Orleans. It would be a place where Bailey could enjoy the outdoors without fear of her running off. It also meant that he didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to walk her to do her business.
Even better...a kitchen!! Chris loved to cook but he was mostly in love with the prospect of not eating from a to-go box, as he’d done for so long, since the shop wasn’t equipped with a kitchen.
On his walk home, Chris passed house after house on his tiny little street, just as he'd done many times before. Only this time, he no longer held bitterness that had long plagued his mind. He waved to the neighbors who sat on their porches. He noticed the children playing in a nearby yard. Finally, Chris felt that he was part of the real world again, it felt good.
He realized that there would be tests and trying times along the way, but it was time to face reality. With life, comes acceptance and tough decisions. It’s also filled with joy and happiness. There are blessings all around if you keep your eyes open wide enough and take time to notice, Chris reasoned as he strolled through the beautiful Oak lined street.
"What up C?? A voice loudly greeted from the opposite side of the street. It was Thomas.
"Hey! Whatcha’ doin?" Chris asked, crossing the street.
"Keepin’ it straight my man…just got off work," Thomas smiled. "Where you goin?
"I’m headin’ to meet Marie at the pub, she’s about to get off work," Chris replied.
"Oh, you two are talkin’ again I see?"
"Yeah, you could say that," Chris smiled widely.
Thomas studied Chris' face for a second. "Uh oh."
"What??" Chris innocently asked.
"Don’t fuckin’ what me boy!" Thomas laughed, "I know that look."
"What?? What look?" Chris asked again.
"You and Marie??" Thomas vulgarly teased, bumping his knuckles together.
"That’s real classy Thomas," Chris demurred as Thomas laughed wildly.
"DAAAMN boy! I knew that friends thing was a bunch a shit!!" Thomas yelled, jumping up and down.
"Will you stop it, you’re making Bailey nervous," Chris deadpanned.
"Yes indeed! Marie is speakin’ into Mr. Chris’ news microphone," Thomas laughed until tears rolled down his face.
"Thomas!" Chris tried to keep from laughing. "That’s not funny," Chris scolded.
"I’ll go down there witcha if ya’ don’t mind?" Thomas offered.
"OK…just don’t embarrass me with the Marie thing…promise?" Chris begged.
"Aw man...stop worryin' bout' shit C. I ain’t sayin’ a word," Thomas assured. "Besides, I owe ya’ a drink," Thomas smiled.
Thomas and Chris sat at the end of the long Cyprus wood bar top as Marie walked over and positioned herself between them. "What's up? She cheerfully greeted.
"Word on tha' street is that apparently Chris was up last night...Like really up," Thomas laughed.
"THOMAS!" Chris yelled.
Marie laughed. "I’m glad you’re amused; I take it the cat’s outta the bag?" She looked to Chris.
"According to Casanova, I’m not sure it was ever in the bag," Chris replied, shaking his head.
"Oh, we just friends, he’s like a brother, he’s my best friend," Thomas mocked Marie in a high pitched voice. "Girl, I don’t know what kinda family you came from, but if he’s like a brother that’s some damn mountain lovin’ shit or somethin," he teased.
"Are you finished?" Chris sarcastically asked.
Chris’ cell phone interrupted the jokes. He stepped away, smiling at Thomas as he continued to harass Marie.
"Hello?" Chris answered.
Marie took her deserved jabs as she glanced over Thomas' shoulder and smiled at Chris from across the room.
"Yeah, this is Chris."
"Uh, yeah, I did a while ago." The smile slowly disappeared from Chris’ face. Marie focused her eyes, her smile also slowly faded as she noticed that something seemed wrong.
"Uh," Chris sighed, "yeah, absolutely," he hesitantly continued on the phone, giving the caller the address to the pub. "Yeah, I’ll meet you here; I’m just hangin’ out with some friends."
"OK, see you in a bit."
Chris returned to the end of the bar with Thomas and Marie.
"What’s goin’ on?" Marie probed. Chris remained silent.
"Chris??" Marie pressed, jolting Chris from his roaming thoughts.
"Oh, uh, nothing, it’s OK," he dismissed.
"Who’s coming to meet you?" She asked.
"Let me chill out for a bit Marie, I’d really like to get some air for a minute," Chris insisted.
"Ok, I’ll sit here with Thomas sweetie; you sure you’re OK?" She again pressed.
"Yeah, I promise," he smiled, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead.
Chris grabbed Bailey's leash and led her outside for some fresh air. He quietly sat on the sidewalk rubbing Bailey's head, staring blankly at the sidewalk and then back to Bailey. Bailey looked at Chris with her usual eagerness. Her tongue hanging and tail wagging.
A few minutes had passed when Chris finally lifted himself from the sidewalk, Bailey rose with him and quickly jerked the leash from Chris' hand. Chris stared at Bailey for a moment as she trotted halfway down the sidewalk. A warm smile crossed his face as Bailey relieved herself beside a giant oak tree.
"You’re an annoying dog, but I do love you," Chris announced, whistling for Bailey.
"So this motherfucker was behind the damn garage, where we keep the barrels, hittin’ a fuckin’ crack pipe." Thomas laughed as he told a story about a co worker at the garage. "We fired his ass right there. Put that on ya’ damn application...Reason for leaving last job? Smokin’ crack in between oil changes bro!! Ain’t that some shit Chris??" Thomas asked, jabbing Chris’ arm.
Chris forced a smile. "Yeah, that’s fucked up. According to the mayor, crime and drug use is down though," Chris distantly replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"What’s wrong honey?" Marie begged.
Before Chris could answer, the pub door opened behind them; it was a deafening sound to Chris’ ears. He turned to spot a gentleman dressed in a nice business suit walking toward them, scanning the bar.
"Chris Barrow?" The man politely asked as he approached
"Yeah, that’s me," Chris quietly replied.
Marie and Thomas seemed puzzled as the man knelt down and briskly rubbed Bailey’s head. "Kallie!! Whatcha’ doin baby girl??" The man spoke playfully to Bailey.
"It’s Bailey," Marie quickly corrected.
"Marie, it’s Kallie," Chris affirmed with a slight sigh. "This is her owner, Lewis."
Lewis was all smiles as he eagerly introduced himself. He redirected his attention back to Chris. "My neighbor walked by yesterday and noticed one of your posters; it was a bit faded, but he definitely recognized her," Lewis explained as he looked down to Bailey. "We thought you’d been hit by a car," he scolded the dog.
Yeah, she's provided a lot of entertainment," Chris politely laughed.
"I’m so glad she’s okay," Lewis sighed with relief. "We live a couple of miles from here so she definitely got her exercise, he laughed. "God, I don’t know how to repay you...Let me get your drinks tonight," Lewis insisted, motioning for the bartender.
"Yeah, that’s so nice of you; thank you, Chris forced a smile. "I’m glad she’s gonna get to be back home," he feigned relief.
Marie tried hard to keep from crying as she studied Chris’ face. She knew him well enough to know that he was doing the same, but he held strong and never let on as to how crushed he felt inside.
Thomas sat quietly, staring at his shoes, never looking up.
"Well, you folks take care," Lewis wished as he grabbed the leash. Chris reached down to rub Bailey’s head one more time as she licked his hand.
"You be good, you got more shoes to destroy now...It’s gonna be a fun and destructive night for you baby girl," Chris assured.
"Thank you again Chris," Lewis firmly gripped Chris’ shoulder before heading to the door. "C’mon Kallie."
Chris watched as Lewis and Bailey left. At the door, Bailey stopped and looked back to Chris quickly before disappearing through the exit.
As quickly as Bailey had entered Chris’ world, she was gone. Just like that.
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