Tied Up in Knots

Chapter 1 Cody watched as the young couple disappeared through the front door of his house, followed by Ellis Tanner, the auctioneer, and his assistant. How happy and nervous the couple looked. Almost as happy and nervous as he had been all those years ago when he’d purchased the property. The small crowd on his front lawn wasted no time in dispersing, some people to their cars, and others, those from the neighbourhood who had come along out of curiosity, to the footpath. Cody melted away with them, following along behind one couple who had parked further down the street. He couldn’t help but overhear their words of disappointment. You don’t know what disappointment is, he thought. If they really wanted to know what disappointment was he could tell them how he’d lost the job he’d had for the past fifteen years and, in turn, had lost his home. How he’d gone on so many dates with guys and, without exception, they’d disappointed him, so in the end he didn’t bother anymore. He could explain to them how, due to work, he was unable to visit his mother’s deathbed. How much more disappointing was it not to be able to tell your mother you loved her, and that you were sorry you hadn’t been there more for her? He could further illustrate disappointment by the fact he’d blown his entire inheritance on bad investments. His life, which had shown so much promise at the beginning, was now in the toilet. If they wanted disappointment, he was well qualified to teach them all about it. The couple began to bicker. “We could’ve gone fifty grand higher,” grumbled the man. “But no. You had to play it safe.” “We couldn’t have gone any higher, Bill,” the woman replied sharply. “We would’ve been struggling as it is.” The man sucked his teeth and started shaking his head. “You dunno what you’re talking about.” Cody couldn’t listen anymore and crossed the street. At least Mum and Dad aren’t alive to see the depths to which I’ve sunk. No job. No house. The money he got from the auction would pay off all his debts, which was the only silver lining, but there wouldn’t be much left over. He’d have to start all over again. Although… “Hello there, Cody.” The elderly woman was dressed in a gardening outfit, which didn’t look as if it had ever seen a speck of dirt. She was waving at him with a trowel in her hand. Her broad-brimmed hat was draped with dark netting, which hid her face, though her effervescent voice was unmistakable. “Hello, Mrs. Timmins.” “Cody,” she said, thrusting the trowel into the dirt. “How are you, my love?” Cody stopped by the gate and watched as she removed her gloves and lifted the netting from her face. “You’re looking well,” he said. Mrs. Timmins approached him with her hands held out in front of her. When she reached him, she cupped his face between her palms and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, my dear. And so are you.” She made a slight turn towards the front steps of her house. “Do you have time for a cup of tea?” Cody shook his head. “Thank you, but I’m just doing a circuit around the block. Killing time, actually. Waiting for the auctioneer to…” Mrs. Timmins clapped her hands together. “That’s right. The auction. How did it go?” “Good. Good. I got a very reasonable price, so I should be in the clear now, with a few cents left over to play with.” Mrs. Timmins was smiling, though her blue eyes were full of compassion. Only she and one other person, a close friend, knew the extent of Cody’s financial woes. “Glad it’s all over with,” he continued, resting his right hand on the gate. He exhaled sharply, then forced a smile. “I suppose it’s a chance for a new beginning.” It had been an off-the-cuff remark. Mrs. Timmins placed a hand on his and nodded. “That’s the way to look at it. A new beginning. How exciting.” She beamed. “A new beginning with unlimited potential. You’re a bright young man. There isn’t anything you can’t do.” Cody felt suddenly emotional. “Thank you, Mrs. Timmins. You’re right. I’m free to do anything I want to do.” She patted his hand. “That’s the spirit.” “Anyway, I suppose I should be going.” He removed his hand from beneath hers. “Thank you again. It’s been nice chatting.” “You’re always welcome, my love.” Cody turned and walked back along the footpath, feeling a little brighter. Mrs. Timmins was right. Without the burden of a job and a mortgage, he was free to choose his own way, to do his own thing. He laughed at how a slight shift in perspective had made all the difference. When he arrived back at his house, Ellis Tanner was getting into his car. The new owners were nowhere to be seen. “Oh, hello,” said Ellis, noticing Cody approach. “Hello. All finished?” “All finished. I’ve left a yellow envelope on your kitchen table. There are a couple of things to sign. Drop them into the office next time you’re in town.” “How long have I got to move out?” “Depends on the settlement. It should be sometime in the next two to four weeks. They’ll probably want to move in immediately, so let’s say you’ve got a fortnight. You’re happy with the outcome?” Cody gave a half-nod. “I’m happy with the final price, yes.” “Good. Good.” Ellis leaned forward, proffering his hand. “We’ll be in touch.” Cody shook his hand and watched as Ellis got back into his car, reversed down the driveway, and drove away. He faced his house, which now, for all intents and purposes, belonged to someone else. It was a bizarre feeling. His home of the past fourteen years was now just a house, a place to stay until other arrangements could be made. Even the interior felt different. Every room was familiar, filled with familiar possessions and treasured memories, yet he couldn’t help but feel as though he was trespassing in some small way, invading someone else’s space. He stood silently in the lounge room, staring into thin air, not a single thought in his head. For a few seconds, he felt himself disappear from the world. The task ahead seemed overwhelming. There was a lot to get done in a short amount of time. As he was probably going to be renting for the foreseeable future, there was a lot of furniture he wanted to get rid of. * * * * To that end, the following day, he placed an advertisement in the local classified newspaper. Piece by piece, the advertised items were eventually snapped up by eager bargain hunters, and at the end of the week, he held a garage sale to sell smaller items of furniture, knickknacks, and various odds and ends for which he no longer had any use, as well as anything he hadn’t sold through the classified advertisement. The sale brought in much-needed extra cash. Everything else he wrapped in newspaper and packed into boxes. Packing, he realised, was a meditative experience. It allowed him time to consider his options. One thing was an absolute done deal. Before he signed the lease on a rental property, he wanted to get away from it all, clear his mind and take time to figure things out. His first thought was to go on a cruise. To Fiji. Or around the Mediterranean. But cruises were expensive. He could probably afford it once the money from his house came through, but it would gobble up the lot and he’d need at least something to live on until he could get back on his feet. No. Instead, he’d buy some camping gear and drive to the vast forests of the northwest. A place where he could really escape. No people. No cell phone service. It would be stress-free and restorative. He’d cleanse his soul and be better able to consider his future.