The Neighbor (The Neighbor #1) (4 page)

We
were saved
by the bell
when a server approached the table. The young woman was attractive. She had
long red hair gathered in a knot.

“Hello Ryder. I have not seen you for a while. I
know why you were absent.” Ryder started to squirm. “I hope things worked out
okay. You look fantastic. I have never seen you look so healthy.” She was well
meaning and seemed to be truly concerned.

“I am back on the greens and feeling well. Can you
set me up with another scotch? Have
Rikko
add a
splash of water,” Ryder said.

The woman who
was named
Amelia left to get Ryder another drink. He seemed uncomfortable. I knew her
name from her nametag. Ryder did not introduce me. I was convinced he had been
involved with the woman. I got up the nerve to ask him about her outright.

“You seem to know Amelia well,” I remarked.

“I am at this place a couple of times per week. I’m
a friendly guy so I know the staff. They are like a second family to me. I hope
it doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

I nodded my head as if I understood completely.
It was Ryder who
seemed uncomfortable.
First
Arnie and now Amelia.
I stuck a fry in my mouth and smiled as Amelia
returned with Ryder’s drink.

“
Rikko
says hello Ryder.
Sammy
is missed
around here. There is always a sparkle
in your eye when he is around.
 
Any chance of a return visit?”

“Not sure Amelia. Did you ask for a splash of water?
Jenna is not drinking and I don’t want to get plastered.”

“Yes, I asked for water. Please tell Sammy said
hello.” Amelia grinned and left. She left me more confused than ever.

“Sammy again.
She must have made quite an impression around here. It takes a special person
to bring a sparkle to one’s eye. Are you planning on bringing her back?” I
asked.

“How is your chicken?” Ryder completely ignored my
question. I reminded myself that we were about golf and nothing else or so it
seemed. I didn’t have the guts to ask what the hell was going on.

“It was your decision to stop talking about food. If
you insist, my chicken is awesome. And you can get drunk you know. Don’t mind
me because it’s your liver.”

“Will you drive me home if I get drunk?” he asked
and laughed.

“I am sure your friend Amelia will call you a cab,”
I shot back.

“So that’s how you’re going to be huh?” He chuckled.

I just grinned.

We finished our meal. I had found out little about
Ryder - if anything. Our chemistry was developing quickly. It started from the
moment I pierced him with a toothpick. Every moment we spent together made me
crave more. I hated to say goodbye but I could only make my iced tea last so
long. The ice was beginning to melt.

“I hope you realize that you are not off the hook
for our next lesson. We will get to pitching out of hazards at our next lesson.
As a beginner, you will spend a lot of time in the sand and lose many balls in
the water. I think you will be able to shoot 9-holes at a municipal course at
school,” Ryder told me.

“I will be here for our next lesson. But I am going
to hop in my car. I have to get home and rescue my Mother. Who knows, the house
may be burned down by now.”

I got up to walk away and hoped that Ryder was
watching. My ass was one of my assets. I waved as I strolled away.

Chapter
Five

I pulled onto Lewis Ave and my home came into view.
I
was overcome
with a wistful feeling as the house
came into view. I had lived in the same place for my entire life and that was
about to change. The structure was still standing which meant my mom had not
burned the thing down.

It was a well-used house. My brothers and I
were raised
there and each of us had millions of memories of
our humble abode. I looked at the stone steps where I fell and cracked open my
chin. My mom took my prom photos on those steps and my brother’s wedding took
place on the front lawn. The lawn looked a lot better those days because a
large oak tree sat in the middle. My brother’s wife- to- be was very pregnant.

I recalled my prom well. Everything was wrong with
that day from the dress to the date. My mom was drunk too. I wasn’t sure if
anyone noticed but I knew.

I looked to the second floor and my bedroom window.
It remained the same for a couple of years until my mother started creating it
into another guest room. All of my mementos
would soon be
boxed up
. A few boxes would be stored, many
would be
donated
to
Goodwill
and most
were destined for the dumpster. She loved to create guestrooms when her kids
left home. We never had guests.

The porch swing called my name. I was the only one
who still used the thing. I parked across from the house and dragged my weary
body to the porch swing. The house next-door was still unoccupied. Perhaps the
new neighbor would come home if I waited long enough. I was sitting at the
perfect vantage point to see the person arrive home. I took off my shoes and
wiggled my toes. I did not have golf shoes yet and my feet were killing me.

I daydreamed about what school would be like. I
didn’t even know my roommate. Housing had paired me up with a girl from Kansas.
I had filled out an idiotic questionnaire. Chemistry between two strangers was
impossible to predict. They asked me if I drank or smoked. Yes to either
question required one to answer how much and how often. Didn’t it vary among
most eighteen year olds? When it came to sex, I
was given
a choice of male, female or other with a line for explanation. I knew there
were folks who are struggling with the answer but I was tempted to check other
and write in llama. What would I end up
with
? Perhaps
a person who also identified as a llama? I had actually spoken with Kelly and she
wasn’t a llama. She seemed like a nice person.

Everyone spoke of the freshmen fifteen. That was a
worry as well. I had never had to pay attention to what I put in my mouth
because I was active with running and such. I did not want to fall victim to
weight gain. I realized that money would be tight and the $1 value meal at the
golden arches would be calling my name.

I glanced next-door and there was still no movement.
I wondered if the mystery neighbor was ever going to show his face.

I already had my schedule, which included five
courses. I had world history as a requirement. I imagined the world was too big
to cover its entire history in one semester. I had low expectations. I did not
do well enough on the entry tests to get out of pre-calculous. Therefore, I had
it three days per week. I also had geology because it sounded interesting. My
schedule
was rounded out
with macroeconomics and human
sexual education. Ryder was correct; I had arranged my schedule as if I were
sampling a buffet. I could have arranged to slip in a course that actually
interested me.

My biggest worry about being away from home was
missing Sayler. She had become a large part of my life. I would say she was
like a sister but I had seen those relationships sour. We were
absolutely loyal
to each other. She was my touchstone and we
had a bond that was unbreakable. She was always sure I didn’t get too serious
about life and I kept her on the straight and narrow. At least we each tried
without either of us trying to change the other person. We would be burning up
the phone lines in an effort to stay in touch.

****

With drool pooling up on the sides of my mouth, I
fell to the ground. I had fallen asleep. Now I was lying face down on the
wooden boards of the deck. I was surprised that the thud of my body didn’t
alert my mother. I
was woken up
by the sound of my new
neighbor’s garage door closing.

Shit. I missed him. He had window treatments that
prohibited me from peering inside. I could imagine him moving through the
house. I knew the floor plan from being in the house earlier. He moved from the
living room, to the kitchen and arrived in the bedroom. The lights in the
bedroom eventually went dark. There was no illumination from the television.
The stranger next door must have gone to sleep. Whoever it was, he must have
been tired and skipped watching television for the night.

I tiptoed into the house so as not to wake my mother
if she had gone to sleep. I found her watching television. On the table next to
the couch was a cold tray of microwaved dinner. She had apparently not been
hungry.

“Hey mom.
Sorry I was not home for dinner. I see you fixed something yourself. Smells
good,” I said. My Mother smelled like gin.

“It tasted like plastic shit.”

“Shit is not plastic mom.” I laughed, hoping she
would do the same.

“Don’t worry Jenna. Was that you I heard crashing
around out front?” she asked.

“That was me.
Your graceful
daughter.
I fell off the porch swing. I fell asleep waiting for the new
neighbor to come home. I know whoever it is came home because I heard there
garage door close and I noticed the light on.”

“I am sure you will see him eventually. He is sure
to come by to thank us for the pie. If I see him and you’re not around I will
secretly take a picture of him with my phone.”

“Who knows? I don’t know why I care so much. I guess
I am curious and I want to make sure a mass murderer didn’t move in next-door.
As far as the picture goes, skip it. I don’t want you arrested on stalking
charges.”

“Well you are not an expert sleuth Jenna. Detective
is not a career choice you should pursue at school,” she joked. “Where were you
anyways? It must have been important because you left your starving mother home
alone.” She chuckled and smiled.

“It was nothing. I was just golfing with a friend.”

“I didn’t know you golfed. Your friend must have
been handsome,” she guessed.

“Yes and it was nothing. I assure you,” I lied.

“I have heard that one before.”

“I am going to go up to bed Mom. Need anything
before I turn in?”

“You can get me a life.” She smirked.

“Sorry mom. Ball’s in your court where that is
concerned. I love you.” I kissed my mom goodnight and went up to my room.

I looked out my window before getting in bed. My
mystery neighbor was still sleeping. I wondered for a moment what Ryder was
doing. He was probably out with Sammy or he was still at the club with Amelia.

I pulled back my covers, which had evolved through
the years. I safely made it out of the teenybopper years. There was not a pop
star staring back at me from my pillow. Now I thought that the idea of sleeping
with an image of anyone on my pillow was strange. I didn’t have posters on the
wall as they
had been replaced
by tasteful prints.
Many were of places I wanted to visit someday but in all likelihood would not.
I had one of Times Square and another of the French countryside. I knew they
would be thrown
in the junk pile someday when my mom got
around to it. My tastes would change and I would dream of going to new places.

Chapter
Six

I stayed in bed until nine, which was late for me. I
was thinking of Ryder. I couldn’t figure out why I was so fixated. I had
received attention from men before. Some of them had been older
than me
but this seemed different. It had to be that he was
mysterious. I hated to think I was one of those women who savored the challenge
as if I were some kind of wild animal hunting for prey. Maybe he was hunting
me. I was younger than he was, who knew by how much, and he seemed attracted to
my perceived innocence. I was confused, which called for an afternoon with my
best friend Sayler.

I grabbed my phone. God I had to replace the tacky
rhinestone cover. I dialed Sayler’s number and it rang forever. She finally
picked up.

“Hello?” she croaked.

“What’s up? You went out last night. I can tell by
the sound of your voice,” I said.

“It is a good thing you’re not my mom. She is under
the impression I went to see a movie with you. She was passed out by the time I
rolled in at 2 am.”

“You can tell me all about it. I will be over in an
hour. Extra sugar, two creams?”

“You know it. Just let yourself in. I doubt my mom
is awake yet,” Sayler mumbled before she hung up and likely went back to sleep.

Sayler Lindner was by closest friend. Many would say
BFF. Those people had a lot of BFF’s. I only had one. Sayler’s mom was a drunk.
My Mother had her issues but she was always there when I needed her.

My mom shepherded my father through a long and
painful death. He had just about everything towards the end. His liver and
kidneys were a mess and he had diabetes. In the end, cancer
came
calling. It had been five years. The longer he was gone the fuzzier the bad
memories of my father became. I was a whole person after the ordeal of his
death but a little part of my mom
was buried
with him.