Damaged

4. Fifty Shades

The festival was fantastic. They had a pie-eating contest and an award for the best BBQ sauce, which Pa's Diner won. I laughed when I saw Danny's brown hair moving through the crowd and up the stairs as she helped Pa to the stage to collect his award. His silver hair shined but not as much as his almost toothless smile.

I mingled with a few regulars from the diner but headed home early because I knew I had a busy day a head of me. It was the best sleep I've ever had. Even though the sheets did not fit the bed perfectly, nothing felt better than sleeping on my own bed for the first time in my life. I was so excited to paint, which explained why I barely got a lot of sleep. I made a big pitcher of lemonade and a bunch of finger sandwiches and chicken bites.

When that was done, I removed everything from the walls and began to paint the dirt stained surface away. I choose an earthy colour that wasn't easily mudded. Before I finished the kitchen, I heard the big truck approaching from the west. The engine was loud and the gravel beneath its wheels turned to sand. I walked out to meet Clayton and a younger looking boy.

"G'mornin' Ms. Angel." the boy grinned his pearly whites.

"Well look at that. He's got more manners than you, Clayton."

"You're starting to sound more country by the minute, Sugar." Clayton joked as he jumped off the parked truck. He embraced me in a tight hug then turned to look at my homestead with one arm still around my shoulder.

"No wonder Kenneth called me in." He glanced over at the barn and then the file of junk in the back from my first few days here.

"it's not that bad." I pouted

"You have no windows." he pared down at me. "What do you do when it rains?"

"Use plastic bags." I tapped him on his arm and then greeted the boy gratefully.

"Glen. I'm Emmett's younger and better looking brother." Glen introduced himself with his winning smile.

"I can tell. Much better looking." I winked at him with a giggle.

"It looks as if we will have to make a few trips. We should get started before the sun comes up." Clayton clapped his hands together and patted Glen on the shoulder.

I ran into the house and pulled my small round kitchen table onto the porch with a dish of light snacks. I watched them load the truck with my garbage and my heart swelled with love and admiration. Never have anyone went out of his or her way to help me like this. After the life I had, I never thought this was even possible. I eventually went back to painting, trusting that everything would be all right. I finished the kitchen and the living room before a knock came from the entrance.

I pushed my head out of my room to see who it was. I was met with a warm gaze that lit my heart and made it flutter.

"I like the colour on the walls, as well as in your hair." he chuckled as he stepped in hesitantly. He made the space smaller with his large frame.

"Come look at the bedroom," I called with enthusiasm.

"It's grey," he acknowledge as he glanced around the walls.

"Yes, for fifty shades of grey." I said shyly.

His eyes glanced down to meet mine, a slight shine in them. His hands found his pocket before he looked up at the ceiling.

"I'm only kidding." I wasn't really.

"Is your lighting working?" he implored before testing the switch.

"Occasionally in the kitchen on a good day. All you see are problems." I muttered trying to catch his eyes once more. He was dressed in track pants and a plain white shirt. It complimented his figure nicely, is muscular frame pushing through the fabric.

"I'm in construction. It's a habit." He sighed and then glanced down at me. "I find it hard to be alone with you." he breathed quietly, "work brings me back." there was silence in the room before he turned to walk back out the bedroom.

"What does that mean?" I called as I followed after him, my heart in my throat.

"What does what mean?" Glen questioned as he ate the snack I displayed on the porch. The yard was free of garbage and the barn was almost entirely cleared.

I took a deep breath and I held Kenneth's gaze who was now beside Clayton. "She doesn't have windows." Clayton established again.

I rolled my eyes and walked back into the house to grab the jug of lemonade and remaining snacks. I added it to the rest of food on the porch and then headed back to finishing my grey bedroom.

At least I got the irony. Wasn't having any sex. I cleaned out the remaining hidden spaces such as the closet and painted it over. This time next week I will have clothes hung underneath it with my pairs of shoes.

I heard the knocking of wood before I went back to check on the men. They were nailing up wooden frames that covered the slot for my windows. They had removed the broken pieces of wood, and have attached fully functional wooden frames to be opened and closed. I watched in awe once again, tears almost forming in my eyes.

They finished making and installing the windows and then organized my barn. Clayton and Glen left with the remaining garbage and we said our goodnights.

"I could take a look at your lights tomorrow, if you would like." He muttered as he wiped his dirty hands in a rag, pushing it in his back pocket when he finished. His white shirt was now dirt stained, as well as his face.

I nodded, learning how to accept help for once. "Thank you, I'm more than grateful."

I walked him to his truck after he patted the back of my car. "I filled it with gas when I got back, there isn't anything significantly wrong with It." he gestured towards my car.

"You're doing too much." Tears threatened to fall again as my face heated up in the cool nights air.

"You've walked for an hour back and forth every day since you've got here." He hopped into his truck and I helped him close the door.

"I really appreciate you." I nodded with gratitude. "And Clayton and Glen."

"That's enough for me." he gazed down at me before taking my hand and kissing the back of it. His rich skin still glistening from sweat and oil. "Make sure you leave those windows open tonight to get rid of the paint fumes."

He started up the truck and drove down the path.