Three: At Ease

"Jesus Christ!" Crystal said, jumping back.

 

"I'm sorry," the guy spoke to us, "I didn't know anyone would be coming up here."

 

He was a fairly dark skinned African-American man who stood five foot eleven, at the most. He had a faded haircut, with a pair of blue jeans, and a white tee that fit loosely on his body. The sight of him had startled me, but now Liam jumped out of my arms and onto this man. The guy caught him and with a laugh Liam began hitting the man's nose with his small hand.

 

"Aww he's trying to protect his mama," Crystal said.

 

"I think he's just being silly," I said moving forward, "Liam Andrew, you get back here."

 

Liam turned from the man and jumped into my arms. He was a big strong boy with good senses.

 

"Not to be rude, but who are you?" Amber asked with her back still against the hallway wall.

 

"Excuse me for not introducing myself, but I'm Edward Kempert, Eliza's cousin, but please call me Eddie," he said and suddenly a flash of Eliza's funeral came back to my mind.

 

"I remember you," I said, "you told all those jokes at the funeral."

 

"Yea, but only because my aunt told me to," Eddie said to us.

 

"Who's your aunt?" I asked because I didn't see how he could be related to Eliza.

 

"Oh, let me explain. My mom married one of Eliza's mother's brother's and they had me, if you're wondering my mother is black and I decided to take on her color," Eddie joked, but only I laughed.

 

"So, then Whitney is your aunt also?" Amber asked still confused.

 

"No, Eliza was related to the Clovers from her father's side," Eddie explained further and we all gave a collective oh.

 

"We didn't mean to interrupt you," Crystal said.

 

It was apparent that Eddie had been reading something because the book laid open on the bedroom floor.

 

"You didn't," Eddie said, fumbling back wards to collect the book from the floor.

 

"We're here to clear out the room," I said and Eddie shot daggers my way.

 

"Who told you to do that?" Eddie asked angrily.

 

"Mrs. Clovers," I answered him.

 

"Why can't she let Eliza rest in peace?" Eddie asked more to himself than to us.

 

"Look, we can come back a different time," Crystal said to him, "but this was something Whitney wanted done."

 

"It's just," Eddie started, "I joined the military and I was in Iraq this entire time and this is the first chance I've had in a year to come back and mourn her...death."

 

"You're in the marines?" Amber asked, moving forward as she spoke.

 

"No, the army and I'm on my R and R right now," Eddie said to us.

 

"Let's just come back later," I said, "Liam is getting tired anyways."

 

"So is Lizzie, come on Amber," Crystal said and we all backed away to leave.

 

"Wait, did you guys walk here?" Eddie asked, "I didn't hear a car pull up."

 

"Yes, we did," Crystal said to him.

 

"I can't have three ladies and two babies walking around outside in the heat," Eddie said, coming out the room and closing the door behind him, "let me give you a ride."

 

"I don't know," Amber started.

 

"I'll take a ride," Crystal spoke up.

 

"Let me grab my keys," Eddie called to us, "you can wait for me in the living room."

 

We weren't waiting long before Eddie came crashing down. He seemed like a playful guy and Liam's eyes went wide as Eddie went passed us.

 

"We have strollers," I said.

 

"I'll carry them to the trunk," Eddie replied to me and I looked at Crystal who didn't look surprised.

 

Together we exited the house. Eddie grabbed both strollers and carried them to his SUV in one hand.

 

"I call shot gun!" Amber said.

 

"That means you're getting dropped off first," Eddie said to her.

 

I couldn't help, but laugh and Eddie turned his prize winning smile on me.

 

"Amber is coming to my house and I live on Pomegranate Avenue," Crystal said to Eddie.

 

"I have no idea where that is, can she give me directions?" Eddie asked looking perplexed.

 

"Yea," Crystal answered.

 

"Ok, everyone get in and hold your babies tight," Eddie said.

 

His SUV was very roomy on the inside, but it didn't compare to Cameron's behemoth. The outside was painted white and the seats on the inside felt like leather. We weren't driving far before we pulled up in front of Crystal's house. She and Lizzie climbed out.

 

"Text me when you get home," Crystal said.

 

"I'll get the stroller," Amber chimed in and Eddie popped the trunk.

 

"Are you getting up front?" Eddie asked me.

 

I took a big gulp when I realized that I would be alone with him for at least ten minutes.

 

"I don't have a car seat for Liam," I answered.

 

"Come on, I never see police around here and I bet you don't live far," Eddie prodded.

 

"Ok," I said giving in.

 

The heat hit me like a ton of bricks and Liam, who was now growing restless turned away from the sun. I got into the front seat just as Amber closed the trunk.

 

Crystal waved to me from her driveway and Eddie waved back to her before pulling off.

 

"You have some weird friends," Eddie said as he completed the U-turn.

 

"Not really, they're all I have in this world," I said, not caring how that sounded.

 

"So who do you live with? Your boyfriend?" Eddie asked.

 

"I don't have a boyfriend and I live with my mom and her new family," I said trying hard to keep my gaze focused outside of the window.

 

"What are you doing today?" Eddie asked not letting up on his twenty-one questions.

 

"Just waiting for my brother's girlfriend to have her babies," I said as I laid a sleeping Liam down on my lap.

 

"Is that all you girls do out here? Have babies?" Eddie asked, frowning as he spoke.

 

"No, but I can see how you it would look that way," I said inching closer and closer to the door.

 

"So what's your name?" he asked.

 

"Myra," I said annoyed.

 

"Myra, Myra, Myra, somehow that name sounds familiar," Eddie said.

 

"My house is coming up," I said as we passed the park.

 

"I'd like to take you out for ice cream," Eddie said and now I looked at him.

 

"Are you being serious?" I asked with a smirk on my face.

 

"As serious as a heart attack," Eddie replied slyly.

 

We went passed Greg's house and there was an unfamiliar car parked in front of it. My stomach did flip flops and my mouth went dry.

 

"I don't know," I told him, "stop right here."

 

We pulled up beside my house. I stepped out as slow as I could so Liam wouldn't wake up.

 

"I'll be back here at seven to get you," Eddie said, but I wasn't paying attention.

 

"Yea, sure," I told him mindlessly.

 

"Ok," Eddie said.

 

I closed the car door and started up the driveway quickly. Eddie pulled off before I even made it to the garage.

 

'How rude,' I thought to myself, but there was a new task at hand to be completed.

 

Greg was back, that much I knew was true.

Reviews

[Tina Kline]

Greg is back in town and Eddie is interest in Myra. But I think she has eyes only for Grey.
Great chapter. Enjoying this a lot.