His convict Luna

08 Settling In

Ivory

"Mr Preston, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, do you mind getting me clothes? I don't have any, and I doubt people would sell to me," I said, and he paused for a while. I could see that I was becoming too much trouble. I was about to tell him not to bother when he said.

"Like what?"

"Jeans and T-shirts would do. Nothing fancy, they don’t have to be new, just wearable," I said, and he nodded. I watched him drive off before Erin and I walked to the front door. Checking under the doormat, I saw that the key was there, albeit rusted. I picked it up and looked at it; hopefully, it wouldn't break into the lock. I turned the lock, and it worked. The door opened with a creak. I was surprised to see that the inside was in good condition; other than the broken pieces of glass from the two front windows, there was nothing wrong with the house.

The living room was very dusty because of the broken windows, and the furniture was covered with plastic wrap just the way I had left it. My parents' pictures were still on the wall, covered in dust. I walked towards my room. The room was in better condition. It wasn't dusty, and that was because the window was intact.

I looked at the bed and took off the plastic wrap cover used to protect the bed from dust and dirt.

I opened the wardrobe, and there were bedsheets there. Although they weren't smelling fresh, it was better than what we slept on in prison. Erin was a bit tired, so I made the bed and laid him on it. I guess that would be his room. Looking at the state of the inside, I knew I would be able to make it work.

Brian had kept his word, and some guys had come to fix up the place two hours after he dropped me off. They didn't finish until late in the night.

Sally, a pretty young brunette and Brian's assistant, brought me groceries, clothes, lingerie, and shoes and paid the electricity bill. I was very grateful. She gave me her number, so I could call her whenever I needed something.

The guys Brian sent did a lot of work. They fixed the two broken windows, mowed the lawn and cleaned the house. The house was habitable by the time they had finished.

It was during the time that they were taking off the vines on the walls that I saw the graffiti on the wall.

"Traitor b***h! Hope you die in prison!" it read.

The guys had kindly painted over it even though that wasn't part of the job. Unsure of what I would find on other parts, I told them to leave the vines. Accepting that it added to the look of the house.

They left around one in the morning.

Brian called right around the time I wanted to get into bed. Erin was sleeping peacefully in my former room, and I was grateful that I had this place; if not, I wouldn't have had any choice but to stay with the Prestons.

"Hello," I said to the phone.

"It's late, right?" Brian said over the phone. I could tell he was on the road. I wondered where he was heading.

"Were you satisfied with the work done?" he asked me.

"Yes, Sir. I am grateful," I said, and he sighed.

"Great. I heard about the graffiti. I would have them paint the house sometime this week. Do you like the clothes Sally brought you?" he asked me.

"Yes, they were my size. You really didn't have to buy the lingerie, but I am grateful still. The shoes are my size too. How did you know?" I asked him.

"I can guess sizes from looking at the feet. My uncle makes shoes in Lindberge," he said, and it was plausible.

"Anyway, gotta go. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call. Please be safe and don't violate your parole," he said and hung up before I could say thank you.

I didn't know what would happen, but I knew I would have to be strong. Diane's half-brother had come through for me and given me the start I needed. Hopefully, I wasn't in over my head with this.