“I appreciate your help, Becker.” She said as they headed up the elevator. “Watching everything I owned taken away in a truck caught me by surprise with the painful finality of it. I loved my home, and now I’m feeling out of place. I would cry, but I don’t want to give myself, and you, a headache.”
“Hey!” Becker said. “We’ve all gone through displacement feelings and wanted to cry and we’re men! Imagine how embarrassing that is.” He must be the one who cheers everyone up too. Raven thought.
Becker looked around the enormous lobby of her suite with one huge double door and two nice big singular doors on opposite sides. “Since everything comes here via the elevators and lobby, we’ll set up camp out here. Victor will install some technical equipment, that’s his expertise.”
The Bellman rang the doorbell and Becker answered it for Raven. He asked the bellman to put everything in Raven’s hallway, so it was less of a distance for her to carry.
Becker’s thoughtful and courteous too. Raven thought.
Looking at the small pile stacked along her hallway, she wondered why her little car seemed so loaded down. Inside this palace, it was a speck on the floor. She felt emptier.
“Becker, will you leave the door open while you’re working? I need the feeling of someone being around.”
“I sure will, Ms. Coulter.”
“Please call me Raven. I need a non-formal environment. I’m sounding really needy, aren’t I?” She said with a half chuckle.
Becker knew she was reaching for anything familiar, so she didn’t feel alone. She would be fine in a few days, but he still felt sorry for her.
Raven put her clothing away in five minutes. It took up inches compared to the footage left to fill. The closet was another room. She analyzed her clothing. Mixing and matching would give her enough nice clothing for one week. She thought she could go shopping and fill up some of the space with some more clothes, handbags and shoes. The thought of shopping made her feel better. She began a list of items she wanted to shop for.
Wandering into the kitchen she saw the need for dishes, stemware, flatware, and some cookware. It had a built-in microwave, dishwasher, and a blender unit on the counter. She looked under the counter and saw the attachments.
She went to the door and noticed that Becker had already set up a few electronic gadgets. He was just finishing up and looked at her staring at him. His heart softened.
“Hey! I’m on for another three to four hours, so how about I take you to lunch and some shopping after?”
“I’d love to go to lunch!” She grabbed her purse with a burst of excitement and seemed to perk right up at the thought of getting out.
“I’m buying lunch if you’ll drive.” They both knew he would drive anyway.
Becker had just got a new haircut. It made his face look like one big smile.
It was refreshing to be back outside walking in the sun, smelling the fragrance of hydrangeas, Roses, Jasmine and other plants as they walked past them. Spring had finally come, and the sun was shining which felt rejuvenating to the body.
“Shall we try the nearby shopping district? It should have restaurants and stores. Otherwise, I’m forced to buy paper plates and plastic ware at the convenience store on the corner.” Raven said.
Becker laughed. “Let’s try the shopping district first.”
Raven chose the Coachman House restaurant. It had large windows with plenty of light streaming in. The colors were calming, and the decor was simple. They were seated by one of the large windows with a view of a park with a pond in the middle. It was filled with ducks and various other birds swimming around.
“This is a beautiful neighborhood, Raven, or is it Ms. Coulter outside of the condo again?” Becker asked.
“Raven…it gives me a feeling of being me”
“I understand. After so many years of being called Becker, that name feels comfortable to me.”
“Then I shall continue to call you Becker.”
“Thanks…that felt good.” He grinned and looked at the menu. “Are you sure you want to buy lunch? At these prices, I don’t mind paying for my own.”
“No way, Becker. I have money and we’re going to spend it. Let me make us both happy.” Raven said while never looking up from her menu. “Don’t even look at the prices, just order what you want. She now looked up and said, “Whatever you do, Becker, don’t tell my brother I acted like a baby today.”
“I don’t think you acted like a baby at all. I think you’ve handled yourself nobly.”
“Thanks, and you’re a great liar. I’ll have to remember that.” She chuckled.
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