A Simple Life: Chapter 148 (Patreon)

“Are you listening, Avery?”

“Hm?” I look up. “S-Sorry Brenda.”

She sighs. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

“I’m s-sorry.”

With sympathy in her eyes she shakes her head. “Officially it is a suspension without pay.” She says. “But I want you to think about it as some time off. You rarely take vacation. Take one now.”

“But…I n-n-need my p-pay for b-bills and r-rent.”

“I know.” She says. “But a police visit has to be reported to Mr. Morris. He’ll want to know what happened. I’ll have to tell him. And he’ll want to see the tape. You did take a swing at your brother, Avery. Attacking a customer is grounds for instant dismissal.”

“I know.”

“I never reported it when it happened. I’m going to catch some flak from this too you know.”

Now Brenda had to suffer for my stupidity too. “I’m s-sorry.”

“I get it. Family is complicated. Yours more than most.” She says. “Listen. I’m going go to bat for you. You’re my best clerk and the nicest guy I’ve ever met. But…I can’t guarantee anything. There is a chance that Mr. Morris will fire you for this.”

I sit small with my arms tight to my sides, my hands clasped on my lap, and my head down. “I n-n-need…this j-job.” I say, trying to my best to keep my emotions in check. “I’m s-sorry B-Brenda.” I kept saying sorry because I just didn’t know what else to say. “I d-d-didn’t mean to b-be so st-stu-stup…”

Just then a shouted voice comes ringing through the store, so loud we could hear it through Brenda’s closed door. “AVERYYYYYY!”

At once both Brenda and I turn to look at the big screen which showed the views of the various security cameras. On the one that showed the aisle along the ends of the tills toward the exit door stood Winona in her garage coveralls, arms wide, with a big helium balloon in one hand, a bouquet of flowers in the other, and a humongous smile on her face.

“WHERE MY BOY AT!” She calls as the other employees look at each other wondering what to make of this loud interruption. “Avery Beckett, get your cute little tushie out here!”

Brenda brings a hand to her face to hide her smile, even as she pretends to be annoyed. “Oh Lord! Another thing!? You’re turning this store into a circus! You used to be the quiet one!”

“Um…I…?”

“Go.” She says. “Go take of…whatever that is. I’ll call you later.”

“Yes B-Brenda.” I say as a much needed ray of sunshine breaks through the clouds surrounding my heart. “And…s-sorry.”

“Go!”

Moving as fast as my feet would carry me without breaking into a run I exit the manager’s office and hurry for my girlfriend. As I round the tills and Winona catches sight of me her already smiling face lights up. The bouquet is a rainbow of bright happy blooms and on the floating balloon in big pink letters is the phrase ‘Happy Anniversary!’.

When I stop to take it all in Winona approaches and in warm, loving voice says. “Happy Anniversary, baby.”

Overwhelmed I say. “Anniversary?”

“It’s been one week since I stumbled upon you up at the garage.” She says. “One week week ago you were a stranger. You were Sprout, the good lookin guy I played FoF with once. And in that one week you changed my world and made EVERYTHING better. You’ve given me the best, most wonderful, most happiest week of my life!” She passes me the balloon then pushes the flowers into my other hand. She drops to her knees, not one knee but both! Kneeling in front of me for all to see she digs into her pocket and pulls out…a silver ring! Nervously she polishes it against her chest. “Listen. I know it’s not much and I know that you Ehkolie folks are way too sophisticated for things like promise rings, but I’m givin you one anyway.” She swallows hard. “With this ring I promise to be yours. I promise that I will treasure you and cherish you and support you in everything that you do. I promise that for as long you’ll be my boy I will be your girl.” She takes a deep breath. “I love you, Avery. I love you and I want to the world to know that I love you.” In a dramatic gesture she throw her head back and shouts as loud as she can. “I LOVE YOU AVERY BECKETT!” Looking back to me she holds out the ring and in a voice suddenly soft, fragile even, says again. “I love you, Avery.”

I stand in disbelief as Winona gazes up into my eyes. The ring held between her thumb and middle finger sparkled under the wan grocery store lights. It was simple, slender, elegant, with a single tiny pink stone in the shape of a heart. It was so pretty! It was the prettiest ring I ever saw!

Moving on it’s own my hand reaches out…letting the string of the balloon slip from it’s grip. “Oh no!” I gasp as I watch her gift drift to the ceiling. In a hopeless effort to catch the string I reach out for it…only to drop the flowers to the floor! “Oh n-no!”

“Never mind.” She takes my hand, finds my ring finger, and slips the ring on. A perfect fit. Holding my hand she bows her head and kisses it then looks up with the most joyous smile. “I am the luckiest woman in the whole world.”

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say. It all felt like some heavenly dream. Too good to be real. But that loving look in her eyes was too pure to be false. At the darkest hour a shining hero had come to save her damsel.

Winona! Oh Winona! You beautiful fool!

Glancing to her right where all the people were watching us then back to me she whispers with an self-conscious cringe. “Too much?”

“Mmmm!” The tears begin to well.

Chapter 149