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11.11% Let Go of Loneliness / Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

“That should do it,” one of the movers said.

“It does. Thank you,” Byron replied, walking with them to the front door of his condo. He gave each man a generous tip, earning him gratified thanks before the men left.

“Now all I have left, other than the bookshelves, is dealing with all the boxes,” he grumbled, returning to the bedroom. Three wardrobe boxes stood beside the closet so he tackled them first, then unpacked the ones holding the clothes which belonged in his dresser.

From there, he went into the kitchen, groaning at what needed to be emptied there. But he did it, feeling a sense of accomplishment when all the cupboards were full and his small appliances stood on the granite-topped counters.

Deciding it was time to fix something to eat—since he’d stopped briefly at a grocery store on the way to the building—he put together a thick sandwich, grabbed a beer, and went out to the balcony off the living room. While he ate, he studied the skyline of his new hometown. The downtown buildings stood tall against the mountains behind them. The park below him was lush and green and even from the tenth floor he could see people walking, playing, or just lounging on the grass or the steps of the pavilion.

I never thought I’d end up out here. But then, why not? Fresh air, sunshine. He grimaced. “Probably won’t get much of that, cooped up in the history museum all day.” As an archivist—hired three weeks previously to replace the retiring one—his job was primarily to appraise and authenticate historical documents. Definitely not an outdoor job. On weekends however, he intended to go to the mountains as much as he possibly could

He finished eating, washed the dishes, and then went into the study to start shelving the books which wouldn’t end up in the two bookcases in the living room.

* * * *

While Byron was setting up housekeeping in his new condo, Jonah finished with the emails from his clients and then left to meet one of them at the home the man and his wife were considering purchasing. It was in an area of the city where only the most privileged people could afford to live.

Jonah arrived just as the perspective buyers, Mr. and Mrs. Conklin, got out of their Mercedes. He joined them, walking with them up the curved path to the porch and then ushering them inside. An hour later, after touring all three floors—including the seven bedrooms, the basement rec room, a huge living room, and a kitchen which would make a premier chef jealous—the Conklins announced their intention to make an offer on the house. Jonah set up a meeting with them on Monday at his office to begin the paperwork.

With nothing on his agenda at the moment, Jonah decided to stop for a very late lunch at his favorite deli. It wasn’t fancy, despite its location in an upscale shopping area, but the food was excellent and there was plenty of it.

He walked in, to be greeted by a cheerful, “There’s our favorite customer,” from Sandra, one of the young women behind the counter.

“Until the next person walks in,” Jonah replied, grinning as he went over to study the menu. He settled on the pastrami Reuben, his usual, with a side of potato salad and a soda. While he waited, he perused the meat counter, deciding he’d get some jalapeno brats to take home with him.

With his meal finished, and a bag of brats in one hand, Jonah started back to where he’d parked his car. A display of art glass in a shop window waylaid him, so he stopped in to check out what was there. A blue, modernistic sculpture caught his attention—until he looked at the price. If I sell the house I showed this morning, then maybe…He wandered a bit more before remembering he should get the brats home and into the fridge.

He pulled into the lot behind the condo complex, just in time to see the newest tenant unlocking his dirt-spattered car. The man turned momentarily, looking Jonah’s way, smiling before getting into his car and driving away.

“Hope you’re going to the carwash,” Jonah muttered with a shake of his head. Between the car and the man’s too long hair, Jonah figured he must have moved down from the mountains. Probably a miner who hit the mother-lode. He chuckled at the idea, grabbed the bag of brats, and went up to his condo. 2

Sunday dawned bright and sunny. After a breakfast of juice and toast, Byron decided to check out the park up close and personal. The elevator made it down one floor and stopped. A good-looking woman, probably in her early forties, got on.


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