Page 8 of Strip It Down (Spoiled by My Blue Collar Man #4)
Gentry
Tonight was delightful, fun, entertaining, and scary as hell. Everything I’d always thought a family should be but never experienced.
I love how MaryKatherine and Sayer’s dad handled the evening. I know Paul was nervous, but his son is a good man. I’m confident the ‘talk’ when he gets home will go well, too.
Four years, three months, twenty-seven days. Sayer shocked me. I wonder how long he’s known my birthdate. Or how he found out?
The boy he was, the man I’ve caught glimpses of over the years, has always held a special place in my mind. And my heart, if I’m honest. I refused to call it love. Friendship at best, mostly just acquaintances. Something that could never be more.
Stop holding back. It’s a number and they only matter in your checking account . Give him a chance, MaryKatherine whispered as she left.
I’m scared to death. What if I can’t do a relationship? I’ve never had one. I’ve had dinner dates that always seemed to end after one. I’ve had bar group drink nights, but I have a hard time with drunks. Too damn much baggage, I remind myself. Who would really be interested?
Pulling into my neighborhood, I circle the block like I always do, making sure I don’t see anyone loitering around.
No cars that I’ve made mental notes of over the years.
Not fool proof, but better than doing nothing.
Holding my keys like the self-defense instructors taught, and my pepper spray in the other hand, I head up the stairs to my second-floor apt.
I’m three feet from the top when I look up and see my door hanging off the hinge.
Racing back down the stairs I get to my car, lock the doors and call Sheriff Threadgill.
Nine minutes later he shows up. He has me stay in my car while he goes to investigate. Ten more minutes go by and there’s a knock on the window. It’s Sayer.
“What are you doing here?”
“Tate called me. He knew I’d put in the new deadbolts for you. Stay put. I’ll be right back. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay before I head up.”
“No. Wait, if you can go, I should be able to as well.” Pushing out of vehicle, “I won’t touch anything.”
He has me stay behind him. I can’t help but notice that he’s got a light jacket on and one hand inside the open chest.
The door looks like someone took an ax to it. Partially split down the middle, and hanging off one hinge.
Tate stands in the middle of the disaster that is now my apartment with a camera taking photos. “Don’t touch anything.”
A one room open concept, the bed, dresser and closet are at the far end. The kitchenette and bathroom are on the right wall, two chairs and small table on the left.
The furniture is all tossed and broken, the dishes and pans are in another pile on the floor, stomped and crushed. The bedroom mattress has been slashed, and my clothes lay on top in a pile with an empty bottle of cooking oil beside them.
The only things that belonged to me were my clothes and a few dishes I picked up at a thrift store. Everything else was leftover furniture from what use to be a roadside motel turned cheap apartments.
The worst part is the paint on the walls. Slut. Whore. Cunt.
I’d cry but I’m just too worn down from the constant fight. I know who did this. Who’s always been my nemesis since his father hooked up with my mother the ‘town whore’, and caused his family to implode.
No one blamed his father for ruining my mother’s life, or that of my sister and me. No, we were trash and the Archer’s were a founding family who could do no wrong.
Of course, the fact his father had to hightail it out of town when he was suspected of embezzling from his clients never got much attention.
“I’m sorry Gentry. I’m so sorry.” Sayer pulls me into his chest.
I will not cry. I will not. I will not let them ever see me cry. Only Sayer and only the once. Never again.
“Is there anything you want to try and salvage?” Tate asks.
“No. There’s nothing. We lost everything when Mom’s trailer caught fire. The things I had to replace, like my birth certificate and stuff like that are in a safety deposit box at the bank.”
Tate nods. “I called the crime lab from the county. They’ll be here as soon as they can. Do you have some place you can stay?”
I shake my head.
“Yes. She’ll be staying with Dad and I,” Sayers responds. “She’s our new office manager and works from the house anyway.”
Tate gives him a once, over nodding at his chest. “I’m going to assume you’ve got a conceal and carry for that.”
Sayer nods. “All legal and up to date. I also just had a security system installed at the house and the storage and work office as well.”
Tate smirks. “Heard tell your dad is taking a vacation.”
“Rumor mill is faster than lightening in this town.” Sayer shakes his head. “With my daughter and now Gentry spending time at the house, I’m thinking of guard dogs. I’ve got a friend who trains them. You’ll be the first to know when I do.”
Sayer leads me down to the parking area. “Just ride with me.”
“I can’t. I need this car. They could come back and damage it, too. I’ve already had the tires slashed.”
“Alright, I’ll follow you. Don’t get too far ahead of me. I don’t want to take a chance they try to separate us.”
Dad meets us at the door. “Everything okay, Gentry?”
“I’m fine, Paul. I’m sorry to barge in on you like this. I’ll start looking for something tomorrow.”
“No, she won’t,” Sayer says from behind me. “We’ve got plenty of room and she’ll be safer here. You’re going to be gone anyway so it’s no inconvenience for anyone. We’ll revisit when you get back and Tate has had time to catch the bastard.”
“Agreed. I made up the spare room with clean sheets and bedding,” his father says. “Housekeeper was just here so everything is set. Son, show her upstairs. Gentry, would you like some hot chocolate or something before you turn in?”
“No, thank you, Paul.”
Sayer leads me upstairs pointing out his father’s room, Ayla’s room, his room, the room for me and the Jack and Jill bathroom he and I will share.
“Sayer, I appreciate your help, but I can make my own decisions.”
“I know, but I’ve been thinking and wanted to talk to you about this anyway. While Dad is gone, would you consider staying here and taking care of Ayla and working on our books? I’ll pay you full time for both positions and you work at your own pace to get the books up to date.
“With you needing a new place to stay it makes even more sense for a few weeks. No rent and you can save up for a new down payment, plus no utilities or food. Anything you need while you’re here is free. It takes a lot of stress off of me when I’m still getting back into running the business.
“I don’t expect you to do anything around the house. I’ll do all the childcare and house stuff when I get home. And the minute I walk in you can do or go wherever you please. You’d be safe, I have a security system.”
“Sayer that’s a lot…”
“Full time pay for childcare, and bookkeeper. Just until Dad gets back. Will you sleep on it?”
I nod.
“I’ll be right back.”
It would be the perfect set up. Double pay would let me build a little nest egg and women have worked from home and juggled a child forever. Not a ton different from doing homework and babysitting. Ayla is such a sweetheart. I’d love to try to get her to be more interactive.
Truthfully, the data entry I’m doing just to upload everything to the computer is easy-peasy. Paul really is on top of things.
Being in the same house with Sayer… that will be the hard part.
He returns with a couple T-Shirts and sweatpants. “You can roll them for now and we’ll get you some clothes tomorrow. I’ll show you the washer, too.
“Right now, just try to rest. You’re safe here. Sleep as late as you want. No work tomorrow for you.”
“No Sayer, we’ve got the time keeping training class tomorrow.”
“We can cancel it.”
“No, I don’t think we should. There have been some discrepancies I wanted to talk to you and your dad about. I think the time clock is important.”
“Alright. You, Dad, and I will meet first.”
I watch him go. I have only gotten through four months of just basic entry, but there seems to be several timecard issues with a couple carpenters and definitely some supply inconsistencies on the last month that I wanted to discuss with the two of them before Paul leaves on his vacation.
I’ve been down this road before. Is trouble knocking on my door because of bad luck or is someone trying to cause a distraction. Could Greg have something to do with the oddities in Sayer’s business?