The daunting task of going through Ellyn’s belongings became a burden as he had all her clothes laid out. Dakota and Kristi were getting the sale set up early in the morning. Chandler was helping him carry some of the items out of the house and to the drive. Lacy, sitting, was smoking a cigarette as everyone was busy getting everything set up. He tried to put it off, but now it needed to get done. Even though he really did not want to do this. Georgia and Mitchell sat drinking coffee and sucking down a cigarette. Desiree parked her car at the curb behind Chandler’s vehicle. She walked up toward where they all were congregating and talking, taking a break.
“What’s going on here?” she inquired.
“We’re going to have a garage sale,” Jaymes responded casually. He could care less of what she said or thought.
“So you’re just going to get rid of her stuff like this? A garage sale? You’re low, Jaymes. Even this is an all time low!”
“Desiree…” Chandler interrupted.
“And what are you doing?” She scowled at Chandler. She then turned and looked over toward Dakota. Lacy had not yet met Desiree, and knowing Lacy, she would not let some strange woman talk down to her daughter. “And who do you think you are…?” She started heading toward Dakota when Lacy stood up and blocked Desiree.
“I don’t know who you are, and frankly I don’t care, but you don’t talk to my daughter like that.” Lacy was agitated, tossing her mostly smoked cigarette to the ground. Desiree backed up a little, looking around for some support as Georgia and Mitchell quickly came over, ready to defuse the situation that was brewing like a potion in a witches’ kettle.
“Are you Jaymes’ lover too?” Desiree snapped.
“No, I am Dakota’s mother!” Chandler headed over to defuse the situation as Jaymes stepped from the house to where Desiree was and tried to get her to move back a little, standing almost between Lacy and her.
“Lacy, I wouldn’t do it if I were you.” But before Chandler or Jaymes could do anything an explosion occurred as Lacy struck first, then Desiree. Both women going blow for blow against each other. Desiree pushed Lacy back and then got ready to do a roundhouse when Lacy blocked Desiree’s kick, sending Desiree falling backwards to the ground.
“Come on!. You think you’re tough! I’m not afraid of you…Bitch!” Jaymes got a hold of Lacy as she fought him off. Chandler came up from behind Desiree, who was shocked and touching the back of her head. When Desiree had fallen backwards, the back of her head had hit the ground hard.
Jaymes quickly had Lacy down on the ground, trying to calm Lacy as Dakota and Kristi watched. Jaymes helped Lacy back up, keeping her at bay Chandler was attempting to calm Desiree. Getting Desiree into the house, Chandler looked over to Jaymes, as Mitchell and Georgia helped Lacy back to her seat. Jaymes then left the three, Dakota and Kristi also there comforting Lacy as Jaymes entered the house.
“Ouch, don’t be so rough!” She touched the sore spot that was already swelling.
“What the hell is wrong with you Desi?!” Jaymes said as he pulled up a chair from the kitchen table.
“Nothing, I just can’t believe what you’re doing here!” Her voice raising a little.
“You have some nerve you know that, Desi!” Jaymes said.
“Hey, I ain’t no wrestling referee here so lets keep it calm,” Chandler put in.
“Shut up!” Both Desiree and Jaymes responded at once
“Desiree, trust me, this is the hardest thing I have to do. I really don’t want to go through Ellyn’s belongings and do this, but it needs to get done. That doesn’t mean I am trying to get rid of her and throw her out of my life completely,” he said as Chandler played amateur doctor.
“Yeah, right.” She tended to the swelling on her head. Jaymes just stood there before giving up and then walked back outside to see how Lacy was doing. Chandler remained in the house with Desiree as Jaymes approached Lacy, who was still sitting down, adrenaline still running through her body.
“Lacy, you okay?” he said after approaching her. He noticed her whole body shaking while she was sucking down another cigarette.
“That woman, whoever she is, deserved it!” Lacy looked straight on. After talking with her, they all got back into getting things organized. Desiree finally came out and looking over toward them, she snorted and then left. Chandler looked to Jaymes and just chuckled.
“And to think I would’ve missed Jerry Springer today.” Chandler smiled, patting Jaymes on his back.
Slowly, people in the neighborhood and driving by stopped and browsed. Some bought items, those who knew Ellyn offered their condolences. As the afternoon slowly moved forward, Chandler and Jaymes were standing in the back drinking root beer.
“I’m thinking of selling the house.”
“What? Jaymes, why?”
“It’s just that this house is empty and every time I come home, I am expecting to see Ellyn. Waiting for me.”
“Jaymes, don’t you think that is a little drastic?”
“Chandler, you’ve been single most your life, living in that same run down dumpy apartment you call home.”
“Hey, don’t knock a man’s place to live. Just because I may be a slob at times, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to be the dutiful domestic goddess.” Chandler spoke the latter part in a gay, high pitch tone while he allowed his wrist to go limp.
“You…a slob at times? Funny Chandler. Anyway, I don’t want to sell the house, but Chandler, we both made this a home and now that she is no longer here, It is not the home I want to live in.”
“Where do you want to live then?” Chandler took a pull from a bottle of root beer.
“I’m thinking of a small house in the country,” Jaymes replied.
“Why the country?” Chandler raised a brow.
“Because it’s away from people, and it is someplace where I could be and move on with my life,” Jaymes said frankly.
“Have an idea of where?” Chandler ventured.
“Yeah…I looked at some houses that are for sale out toward Rainier and out in Tenino. The one I am looking to get into is a small two-bedroom house between Rainier and Tenino. A fixer-upper kinda house.”
“If that is what you want to do, sounds like you already have your mind made up.” Chandler bounced the tip of the bottle off Jaymes shoulder.
“Dakota likes it too,” Jaymes added.
“Dakota is going to live with you?” Chandler questioned.
“Yeah, she and I have a lot to talk about and re-acquainting ourselves to one another.” Jaymes allowed his root beer to warm as he held the bottle between clasped hands, twirling it.
“Sounds like she’s becoming a staple point in your life,” Chandler said.
“Yeah, the timing was not the best of her and I coming into each others lives, but I’m glad. She has helped me through some of this.” Jaymes smiled.
“Dakota is an attractive lady…” Chandler began, but then waved the thought away.
“And too bad she doesn’t prefer guys.” Jaymes looked over to him. “Like I said, I didn’t have to worry about you stealing her from underneath me, besides even if she was not, you are too old for her anyway,” Jaymes said.
“What’re you ever implying? That I find women younger than me attractive?” He finished his root beer.
“Let’s face it Chandler, you’re the type of guy that can walk in a room full of women and melt them like the hot July sun melting ice cubes on concrete,” Jaymes said laughingly, slugging Chandler in the chest lightly.
“Whatever, Jay.” Chandler turned and went back out to where Lacy, Dakota and Kristi are, finishing up the small garage sale they had. The rest of the items were packed into a small U-haul Chandler rented. Chandler had offered to take the remaining items to the thrift store he knows.
As the daylight slowly disappeared, Jaymes, Dakota, and Lacy found themselves back in the house enjoying each other’s company.
“You two are more than welcome to stay the night,” he says as he looked over at Lacy, then Dakota. “There is plenty of room here.”
“Are you sure, Jay?” Lacy questioned.
“I’d like that Lacy. Besides, I’ve spent much of my time here alone, I could use some company.” He paused. “I will even fix us all breakfast.” With that, Jaymes for the first time walked down the hall and disappeared into the room he shared with Ellyn. Sitting on the bed, he laid back, comfortable and able to get some rest.
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