Chapter 8

Before I did anything else this morning, I needed to check on Derrick’s unit and make sure everything was still in good working order. I’d cleaned it thoroughly last month, but I wanted to do a once-over anyway. Yeah, I was a bit anal. Sue me.

I made myself some coffee and put on a ratty hooded sweatshirt and old jeans while it brewed. I glanced around the place. Everything was spotless, just the way I liked it, as did Brandon. Well, maybe I had assumed that, and he had done things my way to keep the peace. He could be a slob, for all I knew.

Around five o’clock, I took a flashlight and made my way toward the first task of the day. Most of the other residents were light sleepers and early risers, like me. Bud was sitting on his doorstep smoking a cigar, and Sara was moving around in her kitchen. I waved at them both.