Why Now? by Carey Heywood Read Free Book Online Page B

his office leaving the key for the house with me.
    He can’t do anything with the house, whether it is rent it out or try to sell it, until it’s fixed up. Sympathetically, he squeezes my shoulder before he heads off to meet his next appointment.
    Pulling my phone from my pocket, I call Reilly, not looking forward to ruining her day.
     

 
     
    “It doesn’t seem possible this much destruction could happen in one night,” I murmur, turning to take in the mess.
    “It’s total fucking bullshit,” Reilly fumes, kicking a beer can across the room.
    Turning to look at Jake I ask, “And there’s nothing the police can do?”
    “Nope, but got word from the insurance company that vandalism is covered as long as the house wasn’t vacant for over a certain amount of time. We’re good since our last tenants moved out not long ago. An adjustor is coming out to inspect the damage. We’ll still need to pay our deductible but we would have shelled out that much just replacing the hot water heater.”
    Reilly’s brows come together. “Why do we need to replace the hot water heater?”
    Resigned, Jake replies, “Whoever had the party decided it’d make a good parting favor.”
    Reilly lifts her hand, her index finger pointing straight up. “Let me get this straight. They not only trashed the place, they robbed us as well?”
    “Pretty much,” Jake mutters.
    After Jake called Reilly to tell her about what went down at their old place, she called me. She sounded so upset I left work early so I could drive her over myself. Part of me couldn’t believe it until I saw it.
    Granted, I never lived in this house, but after my mom died, it felt more like home than my own house.
    It sucks that some asshole-thieving vandals had to mess with my memories of this place. Another thing that sucked was my inner neat freak was going nuts.
    I wanted to walk across the street to my dad’s house and ask if I could borrow his broom.
    It wasn’t my place to start cleaning and Jake probably needed the insurance agent to see it at its worst. Grrr.
    “Did they steal anything else?” Reilly asks.
    Jake shrugs. “Maybe.”
    Reilly’s head snapped back. “What do you mean, maybe?”
    Brave man that he is, Jake tugs her into a hug. “There may have been lawn equipment in the shed and random shit in the attic. Everything we wanted is in storage, so if something was left behind by the tenants or us I’m not stressing over it. The air conditioning unit is still there, though, knowing the insurance is going to cover everything, I wish they took it.”
    Reilly and I both laugh. Sensing Reilly is no longer about to spontaneously combust, Jake releases her.
    “Everything is going to be okay.”
    She takes in a deep breath and slowly exhales before nodding. “Okay, Jake.”
    “Do you want us to wait with you for the insurance guy?” I ask.
    He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet. “Any chance you could run and get me something to eat? I haven’t had anything since breakfast.”
    “I don’t need your money,” I reply, waving off the bills he pulled out.
    “I’m hungry, too,” Reilly says.
    “Okay, what do you guys want?” I ask.
    Reilly decides to ride with.
    Once we’re in the car, I elbow her. “How are you doing?”
    She stares straight out the windshield shaking her head. “Who does something like that for fun?”
    “I don’t know, honey,” I answer.
    “Absolute worst thing about being a reporter is learning about all the awful shit that happens to people. I thought, somehow, I was shielded from shit.” Her head turns toward mine. “I know that sounds crazy but sometimes it doesn’t seem real. The news seems like made up stories I read on camera. Sure, I get to report a lot of cool things too, but seriously, there seems to be more fucking bad than good these days.”
    “Babe,” I say, reaching out to squeeze her arm.
    “Don’t be shocked when you hear my order. I’m planning to eat my feelings