Chapter 9

I had just gotten to work and was getting settled in when the job trailer door opened.

“Heyooo!” Shouted Tom.

“Hey, what are you doing back?” I asked teasingly. It had been two weeks since the move and the following Monday his company put another foreman in charge of finishing this job. “I thought you’d moved onto bigger and better things!”

“Bigger maybe, but definitely not better!” I laughed. “We’re waiting on other trades at my job so I’m here the day.” I nodded. “So, how things are going at the new place.” At the mention of my living situation my face fell.

“They’re going, I guess,” I grunted.

“Not getting along with Ruth?”

“We haven’t really talked much since I moved in.”

“Yikes, I’ll take that as a yes...”

“It’s not so much about not getting along. It’s more like I can’t shake the feeling that I’m invading her space. Heck, I haven’t even touched a video game because I know that she likes her evenings quiet.”

“I guess that’s nice of you, but what have you been doing then?”

“A lot of reading...” I replied with a chuckle and Tom sighed.

“It’s not just her apartment anymore, it’s both of yours. You’re not staying there for free. You need to make things a little more normal for you! Boot up a game tonight or pop in a movie!” I sighed.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“Of course I am. Anyway, I’m gonna go get some work done. Later!”

“Later.”

By the end of the day I resolved to take Tom’s suggestion, but planned on trying to be considerate about it. When I got back to the apartment Ruth was already home and working on a new crochet project, but it was too early to tell what it was going to be.

“Afternoon, David,” she greeted politely, glancing up for just a moment.

“Hi, Ruth,” I replied. I took off my boots then stood awkwardly until she noticed my lingering.

“Is something wrong?” She asked, looking back up.

“N-no. I’m just going to take a shower,” I stammered.

“Oh ... Enjoy the shower,” she replied, understandably confused with my behavior.

I headed for my room to grab a change of clothes, mentally kicking myself on the way for chickening out! It was starting to get frustrating, but it wasn’t like I could blame her for my own lack of nerve either! With a sigh I grabbed a pair of athletic pants and a t-shirt and went to the bathroom.

After getting cleaned up I saw that Ruth had left the front room and was eating a large salad in the dining area. Salad, fruit, and beans were all she seemed to eat, though she did say she had some major dietary restrictions when I was first looking at the apartment.

I put a potato in the microwave and started pan frying up a large slab of salmon that I’d bought at the store as a treat for myself. Before long my dinner was ready and I made my way to the table.

“Hi,” I greeted after plopping down in a chair.