Chapter 23: Moving Day Blues
POV: Gabby
Word Count: 3108
May 31, 2009; Sunday
Zac and I were up very early, even though most everyone was meeting us at the house by 10. I had purchased an air mattress for him yesterday while we shopped because until our bed was set up he had nowhere to lay there. After getting ready and eating we made plans, we had two trucks available and we could take some stuff in the car on the way over. Once breakfast was over the items were washed and boxed in the right ones. All of the dishes were going with Sierra, the pots and pans too. Clearly Heather did not believe in cooking until now. They remained by the fridge.
I stripped our bed and went ahead and washed and dried the sheets and comforter which were taken with us along with the things that they didn’t need to see and things both of us could carry. My portfolio went with us and medications.
We got to the new house at nine and unloaded the car, putting the items up where they couldn’t see them. I then got the air mattress blown up and got some sheets on it.
“You know I’m not staying here all day.”
“Yes you are. They need one of us to direct what to get but they won’t let you do shit. So, you are stuck here today. I believe Sierra, Abby, and Stella are rotating who stays here with you. You don’t have to lay all day long but you aren’t helping them move things.”
He really didn’t like that concept but he didn’t have a choice in the matter. He sat down and pouted.
“We don’t even have cable here yet! What the hell am I going to do?”
“Well, Taylor is bringing all of the art supplies from the studio so you can put that stuff up.”
“Gabby, that will take five minutes. Why is he bringing it all?”
“Well, not all of it but the finished paintings I haven’t taken yet, the extra box of paints and stuff, it’s things I’ve accumulated that I packed up a while back, plus I’ll have the stuff from the house.”
“Shit! While you are there use the net to pay the light and water bill. I completely forgot them.”
“Okay.”
I made a note in my phone and we waited. They were all present by 10.
“So, what’s the plan? Because I know Zac’s not doing shit.” Taylor said.
Zac groaned and laid back on the mattress. “Clearly, he’s not happy with that concept. We can get a lot of the items in two loads I believe. The bed and bedroom stuff in one, the living and dining another. Whatever can go with those can be squished.”
“We can get the bed, dressers, and maybe living room suits in one trip. The little stuff in the second.” Andrew said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes. We’ve moved a lot of stuff in our day, I’m sure we can. Then we can at least get your bed set back up.”
“Okay. So, who wants to stay here with him first?”
“I will. Is there anything I can do? Place looks super clean as it is.”
“Cabinets, can you please just wipe them out? Zac can help but no uppers for him.”
“Sure.”
The rest of us piled into two trucks, me going with Abby and Sierra and the guys riding together. Once we got to the apartment they looked at the fridge.
“We have a new one, that one stays. Although, Andrew the washer and dryer do leave but they go to Abby’s. So, you need to load them first on your truck and then put our stuff after that when we’re done. Also, these two boxes are Sierra’s. If we can go ahead and take them we can get them in her car out of the way.”
“What about Donation stuff?”
“We took that yesterday, I came over and helped load it up in two cars.” Tay said.
They began the hard task of moving the big items, while the girls just condensed boxes to one place. I went ahead and paid the two bills in the kitchen, leaving the laptop there so if I needed it I wouldn’t have to hunt.
I mostly coordinated but they had the dresser left to load on the truck.
“You girls go ahead, Tay can drive for you. We’ll lock up.” Andrew said.
“Sure?”
“Yeah. The stuff at the back of Heather’s truck are boxes and stuff, so you can get those out of the way quick and by the time we arrive it should take a few moments to unload the mattresses, rails and headboard.”
“Okay.”
We headed out and returned to the house, Zac was actually asleep on the mattress.
“Did you knock him out?”
“No, he was a fucking idiot and tried to clean and upper cabinet, slid and thankfully hit the left side instead of the right. Since he couldn’t get it to stop hurting he took the stronger medication. I made him lay down and fussed him out for it. Then I finished the cabinets.”
“I told him not to do anything like that.”
Taylor leaned on my shoulder. “He’s stubborn.”
“I know.”
We unloaded the boxes, sitting them in the living room and the rails, which Sierra and I took up-stairs, I had no idea where the bed would even go.
“Block the window or no?”
“No. That would be weird.”
She lined the rails against the right hand wall, giving room for the side tables. It worked out well because Taylor brought the headboard in by himself and while he waited on the guys we went ahead and attached the rails and headboard. Andrew, Jack and Abby arrived to help pull the mattress and box springs.
“Lucas said he would put the TV’s in the car, he can get the one in the bedroom in the trunk safely wrapped in the blankets and the living room in the trunk. He’s just waiting there and will have them ready. We can then pack down his car too.”
“Lucas?” I asked.
I hadn’t asked him to help because I more than felt seven was fine and well, he was annoying to me sometimes.
“Yeah, he came up as we were about to die. I’m sorry, those drawers have to come out before we bring that thing inside.”
“About to die?” I asked.
“I was really about to drop it. I should have sent Abby back and kept Taylor.”
“Sorry.”
“No problem. Anyway, he’s going to do that and have the things ready to load.”
I really didn’t like that he was there alone. But, let it go because there wasn’t anything I could do. Zac was still asleep when we left again, this time Abby stayed there. She said she would go ahead and order lunch for everyone and once we were back we could eat and then unload. I was feeling the effects of being pregnant, it being hot, and moving though. I nearly froze Sierra and Jack out of the truck.
Sierra hopped out when we got there but Jack got my hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just getting hot. I chose Capri’s not thinking about the heat today.”
Sierra was already going up the steps with the others, she had the house key. Jack looked at me. “Are you pregnant?”
I blinked. “I..why would you..?”
“The not allowed to lift anything, you’ve avoided potent chemicals like bleach, Zac’s way too protective over you lifting anything. Not to mention I’m a man, I noticed the increase chest and the fact you’re wearing Zac’s shirt because the waist is bigger. The being hot…it’s all signs my aunt had when she had our cousin. I won’t say anything.”
“Thirteen weeks, we found out at seven but the risk of miscarriage was so high that we didn’t say anything. Taylor, Isaac, Shawn and his parents know. He got very protective at the venue and they basically told him to justify his behavior before they beat his ass.”
He smiled. “I won’t say anything to anyone else.”
“Thank you. We plan to tell friends next Sunday, so act surprised.”
“I will.”
He let my hand go and we went inside, Lucas had moved everything out of the bathrooms, bedrooms, storage area, but had them organized in the living room. Andrew loaded the washer and dryer on the truck first, securing them before just boxes went behind it. The second truck was loaded down completely with the boxes.
“What is left?” I asked.
“About a good truck load plus cleaning.” Sierra said.
I laid my head over on her shoulder. “I want a nap.”
“Home stretch, let’s get food and unload at least one truck probably mine. Then we can come back and finish, you and I can clean up.”
“I can get a little bit more in the car.” Lucas said.
“Take whatever you can, um..whatever’s left I might can get in the car.”
With some maneuvering and some careful rearranging they were able to get enough in the car and the truck to only need a car to return, which I could handle. The boxes left were light and not overly heavy. I could then clean too. Lucas left first, then Andrew, Taylor and Stella. Jack and Sierra waited.
“You okay?” Sierra asked.
“I’ve never seen this place empty. Kind of bittersweet.”
“Well, you’ve seen your home empty, can’t wait to see what you two buy to fill it up.” Jack said.
I locked up and we went to the house, where she had lots of pizza waiting. Zac was at least awake and sitting up, looking kind of groggy though.
“Baby?” I asked.
“Medications still wearing off, that was strong.”
“Yeah, you slept through our first trip here.”
Everyone sat down around the lunch and we ate, Lucas sat himself beside me, Zac was behind me though on the air mattress.
“Anything left?” He asked.
“One car load, which we’ll go back and get in the car and clean up.” I said.
Lunch was good but I leaned back against him while they finished, I had no intention of sleeping but it was Stella that woke me up when she moved my foot.
“Sleepyhead, there almost done unloading the trucks.”
“What?”
“Yeah, you kind of zonked on us but it’s okay you looked really tired. Power nap was needed.”
“Even hurt I still get used as a pillow.” Zac said.
“You make a perfect pillow.”
“I know.”
I got woken back up and got up. Once the trucks were unloaded I told them to head home. Lucas stayed and Sierra remained.
“Well, Zac, you want to go with us? I just need to clean up you can’t do much but I mean you can run the vacuum over the floors.”
“Yeah. Your laptop is still there right?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you transferred your mail here?” Lucas asked.
“Yeah, we did that a few weeks ago. Also changed the banks and stuff.” Zac said.
“On point there then.”
“I tried.”
We headed back to the house. But there was a box sitting by the door when we got there.
“Was that there when you left?” Zac asked.
“No. Nothing was outside.”
I picked it up and opened it, inside was another little crystal figurine, this was a mouse with a hunk of cheese. It was adorable and sweet, the blue thong it was wrapped in was expensive and was the right size. The note however was on cloth this time and a red heart was painted on it.
If I had to choose between loving you and breathing…
I would use my last breath to say I Love You.
Sierra smiled at Zac for a split second before she realized that it wasn’t mailed and Zac had been at the house all day. He couldn’t have left it here.
“Okay Gabby, what’s up?”
“I’ll be calling Mabis tomorrow. He has all the others already.”
“The others?” She asked.
“This is the 6 th one I’ve gotten? There was a swan, owl, sea turtle and this mouse and three bears with roses, and hearts. They all have notes likes this except the one that said I didn’t have to worry about Max.”
“Does Mabis have any ideas?”
“He’s running the items for prints, dna, anything. I haven’t heard anything.”
“Could just be a fan.” Lucas said.
“This is no fan. More like a crazy stalker.”
“Agreed.” Sierra said.
We went inside and I put the box in a bag, that way only my prints were on it. I then put it with the laptop, which Zac used to check something. We then got busy, Lucas and Sierra loaded the clothes and then we started with the cleaning. Which didn’t take long since we’d cleaned as we went. I was in the closet, leaned down with the vacuum hose getting the base area when I felt eyes on me.
I looked and saw Lucas there at the door.
“You didn’t have to stop.”
“I felt like someone was watching me. While you’re here can you get up there?”
“Sure.”
He got the upper shelf for me and I went back to the floor, this time sitting and moving.
“Heard about this Simon guy, Zac said he shot him.”
“Yeah, he saved my life.”
“What do you mean?”
“Simon had the gun on me, not him. He came out and heard us talking and was by the trailer when he heard him threaten. Pushed me out of the way as he shot. The first shot missed, the second one didn’t. He got Zac instead of me.”
“Why would this guy be like that?”
I moved over and cleaned another section. “Simon wasn’t very nice to me.”
“Oh? What do you mean?”
“He just…he liked to hit me among other things. But, I don’t want to talk about him. We should get done, so we can get back home.”
Home. Which wasn’t this place anymore. I was fighting that urge to want to stay. He stepped out and it wasn’t long before Zac was at the door.
“Everything is done but the floors. We’ve wiped down the walls, Sierra used a little spackle by the door and touched up the paint. The owner is on his way.”
“Okay.”
I finished up and as I came out I did the floors, making sure they were all cleaned. We waited for the guy to show up, Lucas headed home and Sierra waited with us. The owner was nice, walked through and even gave him the check for the deposit and Zac gave him the keys. It was smooth and easy, yet nerve wrecking to me. But, once everything was done we went home.
“You look really down.” Sierra said.
“Tired.” I said.
We didn’t bother to unload the car, nothing that we needed was in there. She didn’t stay much longer either, leaving us home alone.
“Is our bed set up?”
“Probably, but I haven’t bothered to make it up.”
“I’m sure we can throw a sheet over it and be fine. You are home Gabriella. No more moving, no more leaving.”
“I know.”
“So, let’s go get comfortable and put something on the bed and curl up. We have no Cable, no internet, no wifi, none of that.”
“I need to find different underwear.”
“Why wear any?”
“Don’t even, Mr. I can clean the cabinets and fall.”
He just smiled and we turned the lights off, made sure the doors were shut and locked then we headed up-stairs. I brought the sheets from the air mattress but left it there. Between us we made the bed quickly and then I found the box I’d put my underwear and stuff in. I opened it, expecting to find my boy shorts on top but they weren’t there.
“Hey Zac, did you mess with the box of underwear I packed?”
“No. Why?”
“Well, I put my boy shorts on top but they’re not on top.”
A few minutes later he appeared. “Sure they were on top?”
“Yeah, I mean they’re comfortable to wear so I put them on top.”
I checked two other boxes and never found the ones I had. “Maybe they got mixed up in the rush to pack.”
“Maybe. In the meantime…nothing is okay too.”
He had a point I suppose, so I just got my gown and changed clothes then changed his bandages and checked the right side before laying down.
“This feels so weird, no normal bedroom here.”
“Maybe in a few days it’ll feel normal and more like home. I know it’s hard for you but I promise it’ll get better.”
“I know, it’s just I haven’t really moved like this. Everything is destroyed basically.”
“I know. It’s hard to adjust and get things normal. But, we can do that. I think though if we’re going to get a new set for in here we should do that before unpacking.”
“Probably. But, affordability wise is that wise?”
“Well, honey we’re going to have to put bedroom stuff in the other rooms, put towels and stuff there. We don’t as many downstairs maybe one or two towels or something. But we will need a dining room table. That little one looks so odd in that big space.”
“Yeah, but you know we need baby things too.”
“I know. But, some things people would get at the baby shower, we would get the key items but like swings, bouncers, and stuff are all pretty common from what I read. I was trying to determine that part too.”
“So, what do we need?”
“A lot. But, I think I’ll use delivery as an option because most places will set it up for you. All we have to do is determine where we want the items and they’ll set them up.”
“We can go over the weekend, I need to get some organizing things for the studio area.”
“Yeah, speaking of do you need to take Debbie those finished ones?”
“Yes and I was thinking of asking Heather to set me up online.”
“You can, you’ve used Debbie as a go between but then they can contact you directly.”
“I agree. Anyway, I am tired. It’s bedtime for real.”
“I agree. You look beyond tired and you need to rest.”
“We’ve got time to figure out where stuff is. Like the plates, bowls, cups, and everything else.”
“Gah! Whole new learning curve for that. But, we’ll figure it out.”
I snuggled closer to him and yawned. “Good night.”
“Night and welcome home.”
I smiled a little but I was already falling asleep.