Chapter 159: Protecting Petunias

The house felt quiet, anticipating guests who were a week away. Funny, it felt almost like a living, breathing thing when it was full of visitors and a sleeping giant when no one filled the rooms upstairs. But I never felt uncomfortable here when I was alone. I guess that was as good a sign as I was getting I'd fallen in love with my life.

I went downstairs to my apartment, Petunia huffing her waddling way in front of me. Two pounds lost or not, she had a way to go yet, but I was hopeful I had her on track. I loved her fat little butt and wanted to keep her around as long as possible.

As I passed the bottom of the landing, I remembered the lock on my door wasn't working as well as I'd like, sticking on occasion. My mind turned over the possibility of having Jared's crew do some small jobs around this place, too, in prep for the busy spring season, a list growing in my head.