Little Bit Tales - New Beginnings

     Sorry to everyone who read these stories, For some reason it didn't post this morning. So here it is now the third Little Bit Tales - New Beginnings 

 

     Devon sat on the edge of the bed feeling down. Everything had been going good until yesterday, his position had been eliminated and he was out of work. He had been there five years, and put in a lot of long days, with no overtime, and that was the thanks he got, ‘sorry, budget cuts’. John, the guy he shared an apartment with said, ‘If you can’t pay rent you got to go’. Devon felt movement behind him and Tom’s arms came around him and hugged him.

     “Sorry didn’t mean to wake you.” Devon said as Tom nibbled on his ear lobe. “I just couldn’t sleep anymore.”

     “Stop worrying about a job.” Tom said running his fingertips over Devon’s bare chest. “I told you, come move in with me. We’ve been seeing each other for the past seven months and you’ve been here almost every weekend. Now would be the perfect time to move.”

     “And just what would I do for work?” Devon said leaning back against Tom. “Otter Creek is not a large place; there aren’t a lot of job opportunities.”

     Tom pulled Devon back on to the bed with him, “The best part about week-ends is the fact that you’re here. I wanted to wake up every morning with you right here.” He rolled them both so that Devon was on his back looking up at him. “Come on, move in with me, you can sit back and just relax and take your time, something is bound to come your way.” Devon was silent and looked away prompting Tom to ask, “Is there some reason you don’t want to move in with me?”

     “No, of course not.” Devon said turning to look at Tom. “I just don’t want to be taking advantage of you; I don’t know when I’ll get another job.”

     “Dev, will you just let me take care of you.” Tom said leaning down and kissing him first on the lips then on his chin. “Now what do you say we get dressed and go pack up your things.”


     An hour later, Devon found himself sitting in the passenger seat of Tom’s pick-up on a forty minutes drive to Dewitt, to pack up his things and move in to Tom’s place. All though he loved Tom a lot, and wanted to move in with him, it still scared him to take such a big step, and was why his stomach was all tied up in knots. A new feeling, anger emerged when they got to the apartment he shared with John, who wasn’t there when they arrived, but left a note which informed Devon that he found someone who was interested in sharing. If he decided to move in, Devon could sleep on the sofa for fifty bucks a month.

     “That’s my bed!” Devon squawked. Any qualms he had about moving out now gone. “I bought it when I moved in here.”

     “Well then that will be the first thing we load into the pick-up.” Tom said. “Which is your room?”

     It took right around an hour to pack up his room, while Tom went and rented a small trailer so they could get everything in one trip. He’d gone thru all the boxes Tom had grabbed from where he worked and Devon was busy filling up plastic bags with pillows, bedding and towels from the bathroom. He was wondering what he could use for the books and DVDs when Tom got back, who had the fore thought to pick up a few boxes from the rental place. At last everything was loaded up, and Devon left a short note for John along with his copy of keys, and they drove off.


     When they got back Tom would have to head into work for a couple of hours, so they unloaded the trailer so it could be dropped off at a local office of the same rental company. Devon spent the time moving his things, the ones he could do on his own, and was just hooking up the fifty inch flat screen in the bedroom when Tom got back.

     “Well, we certainly can’t miss seeing that screen.” Tom said coming up behind Devon and kissing him on the cheek. “Bet he’s going to miss that.”

     “He called just a bit ago,” Devon said returning the kiss. Now that it was done and he was here it all felt, natural, like he belonged. “It seems the guy backed out when he found out the bed was gone.”

     “Seriously, John thought you’d leave the bed behind.” Tom looked at him with such a shocked look. “How did you put up with him for four years?”

     “I don’t know,” Devon said pulling up Tom shirt so he could run his fingers over Tom’s warm bare skin, with just a hint of hair. When they first started seeing each other Devon thought he had shaved or trimmed his hair, but no it was just a light coating. “He didn’t start out that way, but somewhere along the way he just became a jerk.”

“I think the phrase you’re looking for is dick head.” Tom said “And we don’t have time for this.” He said pulling his shirt down. “Ted and the twins are coming for dinner, remember.” Ted was Tom’s older brother and also Mayor of Otter Creek, his wife of three years wasn’t happy being in the small town and so she just up and left him, she had been gone now for a year.

     “Oh right,” Devon said stepping back. “Suppose I should go get started on the salad and potatoes.” He started for the door and looked back, “But just you wait till tonight.”



     After dinner Ted’s twins went to play in the backyard, while the three of them stayed up on the deck.

     “Well I’m really sorry you lost your job, but glad you’re moving in with this guy.” Ted said taking the offered beer from Devon. “I know Otter Creek is going to seem awfully tame, I hope you’ll like it here.

     “I’m sure I’ll will.” Devon said sitting down next to Tom. “Now if I could just find a new job.” Ted’s cell phone rang and he got up and stepped away to take the call.

     “Nora, who works the post office, has to go to her sisters, because she’s taken ill and she’s going to take care of her.” Ted said coming back and sitting down. “Now I’m going to have to cover the post office for about a month. Would you be interested in temporary work?”

     “What would I be doing?” Devon asked sitting forward. Temporary was better than nothing.

     “Running the Post Office, you’d start at seven in the morning, when the mail arrives you’d sort it into the mail boxes and work the counter until one, Monday thru Friday.”

“I can do that.” Devon said. “I’m happy to help out, but who runs the post office on Saturday?”

“We don’t get Saturday mail, were too small to rate it.” Ted said. “Course if anyone wants it they have to drive to the main post office in Dewitt, but no one does.”

~*~ 

     Devon pulled the door down and locked it than slipped under the counter onto the public side and pulled the half door shut and made sure it was locked. He couldn’t believe how fast the four weeks had past and that he was going to miss coming in.

     Oh good, your still here.” Ted said coming in. “I’ve just found out that Nora isn’t going to come back, apparently her sister isn’t doing well, and will need long term care. So this job is yours if you want it.”

     “Yes please, I’d like that.” Devon said without any hesitation. “Is there anything I need to do?”

“Just show for work next Monday, and have a great week-end.” Ted said before he left. Devon finished up and headed down to the café where he met Tom for lunch every Friday.

“Sorry I’m late, but your brother stopped by to tell me Nora wasn’t coming back and that the job was mine if I wanted it, I said yes.”

     “And your ok with this, I know it was not a job you set out for.” Tom said. Glad that Devon seemed happy and content.

     “Yes I am.” Devon said with a grin. “I’m so glad you talked me into coming, I had no idea how much stress I had in my life until it was gone.

     "Well then to new beginnings.” Tom said toasting him with his coke. Devon toasted back.


     THE END