It took me a while to figure out how to get the water on again and after some time with the furnace manual, I figured out how to charge the heating pipes with water and then we had some heat. Frankie dragged our suitcases in while I was in the basement. For the time-being, I forgot all about the pain that I felt the last time I was here. We went around the house checking for broken pipes. I didn’t expect any but it was prudent to check. We were good to go. I opened the garage door and stood there with a shovel in hand. I was feeling the anxiety again and I realized why. I was exposed. Not to the elements but to whoever might come by and those “whoever’s” could only be Donna or Priya. I dreaded my first encounter with either of them. I started shoveling and got my car in the garage before encountering anyone. The shoveled driveway would announce our arrival and I had no clue what would happen as soon as Donna or Priya drove by. Would they rush to my door? Would I reject them if they did?
Frankie was in the master bedroom unpacking when I came in. She still wasn’t feeling very well and I was concerned about it. There was no food in the house. Eddie and Jacob had stripped the house of anything that could freeze and break and any food items that would call rodents.
We went back out to get something to eat. It was strange driving around the streets that had been so familiar to me. It was all new for Frankie. She had been to my lake house only once before. I steeled myself and took her to the diner. I was sure that Donna didn’t work there anymore and if she did, she wouldn’t be working this close to her due date which was a week away.
The owner recognized me and came over to our table and said, “Hi Jack. Where have you been? We’ve missed you.” His wife came over, dressed in her waitress uniform and apron and insisted on a hug and kiss and then stepped back with a sultry smile.
She looked me all over and said, “Wow, Jack. You’ve been working out.” I smiled. I was glad to see them. They were good people. We ordered and ate and drove back home and stopped at a fuel-mart to pick up a few things until we got groceries tomorrow.