Merriton

“I guess that’s it.” Kevin looked at his clothes and computer packed into the ranger truck. “I was gonna help ya move, but you don’t got nothin’,” James said, looking at his few possessions. Kevin sighed. “I have a few more boxes at Random’s place.”

“Are you going to let us see your place?” Kevin looked at Sierra guiltily. “Yeah, if you want.” She and Random smiled at each other. “I know you didn’t want me to buy the house because it was Mira’s old house. Heck, even Mira didn’t want me to buy it, but June was able to convince her.” Sierra looked at Random. “The more I know about business, the more I’m convinced that it is conducted in homes and churches far more than in office buildings.”

Random and Sierra followed Kevin’s truck to Emigration. What was usually a half-hour drive felt like hours of Kevin watching in his rear-view mirror. The house was empty. Kevin had no furniture. He didn’t even have a sleeping bag to roll out on the floor. He didn’t care, though. For the first time in his life, he was going to sleep in a house of his own. One that he owned himself. All by himself.

He couldn’t believe how cheap the house was. Mira was selling it for less than a fourth of what it would cost to buy the same thing in Silicon Valley. Sure, that’s what houses sell for in Emigration, but Kevin couldn’t help remembering what he used to pay for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco. For less than half of that, he could BUY a home in Emigration. A home of his own.

He had been there when Mira took him to ski in Merriton. The two of them visited her parents and he thought she was proud to show him off. The shock of her breaking up with him and marrying that Jacob guy still clung to him like a kick in the gut. When he thought about it, his breathing became labored as if he had been hit.

Past the Polar King on Alabaster and left on White Cherry Way, was his home. It was small. Two people had died in it within the last year. No one in the town knew him as anything other than that Olympic skiier that got old Jeff’s job. All of it didn’t matter as he pulled into the driveway. He was home, however empty it may be.

Random and Sierra pulled in behind him. “It looks good, Kevin.” Random looked it over and smiled at Sierra again. Something was up. The two of them were looking at each other with a secret. There were too many cars parked on the street. Wasn’t that Curly’s truck? Hey, was that a ladder? Kevin saw movement within the house and realized that there were people in it. Oh God, a surprise party. Try to act surprised.

“Surprise!” The smell of raw wood hit him in the face when he walked in the door. Kevin scanned the faces and the entire town of Merriton had driven up to Emigration. What was truly surprising was the furniture. Kevin walked past the kitchen table that he had ogled in the IKEA catalog so many times. The Ektorp couches promised that his family could visit from San Francisco any time they wanted. Sierra led him to the Malm bedroom set. “I stole your catalog. Remember when you were going to go all legit and buy a bunch of IKEA furniture before they fired you at Zerbitz? Randy and I thought that we’d help you. Curly has been in here all day with Angie putting together the furniture!”

Kevin had been expecting a lecture from Random and Sierra, not a party and a house full of furniture. Random came up to him and lead him to the back room. It was empty except for one piece of furniture. A hand chair. “It broke me up when I heard that you sold your hand chair. This one isn’t exactly like your old one, but it’s close.” Kevin clenched his claw and bit back the emotions. He ran over to the hand chair and sat in it slouching. “How many times did we stay up all night with me sitting in this stupid chair?” Random smiled. “Too many to remember.”

“Listen, Kevin. I’m glad you bought this house. It’s a little creepy that it’s the house that your ex-girlfriend used to live in, but it’s more than that. I like to know that you’re staying here. Plus, I’ll have a place to go when I feel stir crazy in the winter. Now, we just need to figure out how to bury Zaunter.” Kevin frowned, “Forget that, Random. I don’t want to do anything just to get revenge on someone.” Random’s eyes twinkled. “Even better.”

Before they could say another word, they were swept from the back room into the kitchen to enjoy the housewarming party.