Ties That Bind by Debbie White Read Free Book Online

business. Soon we were on our way again.
    “I estimate we’ll be pulling into Sioux City in about two hours,” Charles, the navigator said.
    I looked over at my husband and smiled. Even at fifty-seven he was as handsome as he was the day we got married. His hair was now grayer, but he had the same laugh lines and wrinkles I had. He’d maintained a healthy weight through the years. I, however, was like a yo-yo. One minute I was down twenty pounds, and the next I was up ten.
    Charles never said a negative word about my weight gain. He always said he liked his women with a little meat on their bones. Knowing that always made me feel more secure. I tried to keep myself up, but I raised three children, and my focus was always on them, not myself. Now that they were grown, I had a little more money to spend on myself. Old habits are hard to break, though. Now I just spent it on the grandchildren.

Chapter Eight
     
    Charles and I found a quaint little motel for our first night in Sioux City. Our plan was to find a more permanent housing situation, but the motel would do for now. It was clean, with the basics, and that was good enough. The desk clerk was very friendly, so what the hotel lacked in shine, the staff made up for it.
    We inquired about where to get dinner. The clerk had several recommendations. We settled on Denny’s. Charles wanted breakfast for dinner. I was good with that as well.
    After we had gone back to the motel, Charles walked Spunky. Then we did what all travelers do after a long day in a car, we fell into bed exhausted. As tired as I felt, I didn’t sleep well the first night. However, it didn’t have anything to do with our accommodations. Too many things were running through my head. And, although it had been years since I stepped foot in that state, I swear it felt familiar.
    I finally drifted off to sleep, and only woke when I smelled the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and donuts.
    “Oh, that smells wonderful,” I said in between yawns.
    “I stepped out since you were still asleep. The clerk told me of a bakery down the road. I got fresh apple fritters,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
    Over coffee and fritters, we looked over the newspaper he’d bought as well. I was looking at the local section of the paper, and Charles was looking at the real estate section.
    We’d agreed that it would be best to rent a small bungalow that allowed pets so that we could take our time, and at the same time be as comfortable as we could.
    “This one sounds promising. One bedroom, one bath with fenced in backyard near Chester Park,” he read aloud as he took out his pen and began circling a few of the ads.
    I smiled. “Near the park would be nice. I remember that park. I used to go there a lot.”
    Charles looked at me, blinked a couple of times and then went back to looking at houses for rent.
    “The only other house I see is on W. 2nd street. Do you know where that is?”
    I shook my head. “I think it’s downtown.”
    “I’ll call about the Chester Park house right now,” he said as he reached for the phone.             
     
    ***
     
    It was a quaint little bungalow built in the 50’s long after I moved away. In fact, I recalled an empty lot where the house now stood.
    We knew almost instantly we’d take the house. It was perfect for us and for our mission. It had all the requirements – a bedroom, a bathroom, and a fenced in yard for Spunky, and it was completely furnished.
    We told the property owner we’d take it, and after signing papers and giving the deposit, we soon had the keys in our hands.
    We unloaded the few possessions we brought with us, and I soon made a list of the items we’d need. I knew a town of this size would have a Wal-Mart.
    “You go ahead and get the shopping done. I’ll stay with Spunky. He still needs to get used to his new space.”
    Reaching down I gave Spunky a pat on the head and turned to give Charles a kiss on the cheek – another ritual we