I push the door with the office sign hanging on it open and find an older woman with curlers in her hair, watching a talk show, with a cigarette hanging from her bottom lip.
“Can I help you?”
“Bethel?”
“The one and only.” She snuffs her cigarette out in the nearby ashtray and lets out a groan from her pink tinted lips as she stands from her recliner. “Who the hell are you?”
I can’t stop the smile from spreading over my lips as she looks me up and down. Her living room is cluttered with knickknacks and photographs and she is in her pajamas. Hot pink with lace eyelet trim.
“I’m Hattie.”
She steps closer to where I stand in the doorway and reaches up and turns my face side to side.
“Huh, well I suppose you are. Ya got your daddy’s eyes. That same sneaky grin. Guess you’re here to take over his estate.”
I shrug, crossing my arms over my chest, hugging myself. “I’m not sure what my plans are yet.”
“Well, lot rent is paid up for two more years, only bills for now would be your utilities. If you decide you want to sell the trailer let me know. I’ve got a list of folks who are in the market.”
“Thanks. I will. I just wanted to let you know that I’m here. I’m not sure for how long.”
“The lake is open to our residents, so you make yourself at home. Sunday is family day, and everyone gets together and holds a cookout. We sit around the fire and eat hot dogs. You’re free to join us.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“If you want to follow me, I’ll show you his place. I suppose you’ll be needing his key anyhow.”
“That’d be great, Bethel.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s my job.” She slips her feet into a pair of pink bunny house slippers and grabs two sets of keys, tucking one into the pocket of her fuzzy green robe.
She hops in a golf cart and waves for me to follow her.
As I drive on through the trailer park, I see this gorgeous, tall, hunk of a man standing by his pickup truck. The hood is up, and his shirt is off. My God, those abs. I have only ever seen abs like those airbrushed on romance novel covers. He is well built with defined muscles and one hell of a sun-kissed tan. Piercing blue eyes meet mine. He catches me staring and smirks. His lips curve upward and something tells me that this man is used to the attention. His head is shaven, nothing like Justin’s faux hawk. I avert my eyes back to the road ahead. That man is gorgeous, and I can’t wait to explore him. Shit, what? I mean… This place is gorgeous, and I can’t wait to explore it.
The trailer is located on the opposite side of the lake from the hunk. That is a good thing. A man like that can only mean one thing…trouble. And I have had plenty of that lately. I had better stay far away from him, but then again, a little trouble might be exactly what I need.
As I continue to drive behind Bethel, I get this odd sensation like everyone is staring at me as I pass by their trailers.
Pulling up to my new place, I feel so excited. I feel as though anything is possible. I can start over here. No one knows me and best of all Justin can’t find me here.
The trailer is small but inviting. It actually isn’t decorated half bad and it is already furnished, which is a major plus for me, considering I don’t have much other than clothes and a few keepsakes.
Bethel gives me a quick tour of the place. It’s a two bedroom. One appears to be an office. There’s an ancient computer on the desk and a few trophies on a shelf. I wonder what those were awarded for? Bethel doesn’t give me a chance to investigate as she moves to the second bedroom.
It needs some TLC and a good cleaning out of the closet. I can work with it though. New bedding, pillows, and a fresh coat of paint will do wonders for the brown paneling.
“I don’t know what your plans are but if you want to toss the clothes, I know a family who could use them.”
“Sure. I’ll bag them up and drop them by the office once I get settled.”
“That’d be fine. Now things run a certain way around here. You’re responsible for the upkeep of the yard and such. Mrs. Lavizo has a son who everyone pays about twenty bucks a month to cut the grass and she does hair. If you need your hedges trimmed well she does run a wax special.” She winks and my face flames in embarrassment. “We do have a handyman should you need one. His fee is covered in your dues. Everyone pays it. How you pay is up to you. We do offer a discount if you pay annually, but you don’t need to worry about that until you decide what you are gonna do. Joe recently paid his three-month dues about a week before he passed.”
“How did he…”?
“Cancer. It was his liver. That man liked to drink. God love him, but he was one of the finest lovers I had ever had.”
My cheeks redden once more. I didn’t need to know all that.