Chapter Three: Settling In

 

Weeks passed quickly after Celeste made her decision that night on the swing.  Things could have been better.  The conversation with her mother had been absolutely dreadful.  Arguments about how she was "Too far away from help if she needed it" and how she was "Stupid to throw away all that time and money" had hurt and frustrated Celeste; but not changed her mind.  The kitchen sink had basically exploded without reason or warning.  Good thing Celeste was practical and had managed to shut down the mains after her initial soaking.  She was without water for most of day before a plumber could be sent around.

The old oven was touch-and-go.  Celeste managed to cook, something she enjoyed and was good at, but it wouldn't be long before the oven needed replacing.  Twice when trying to prepare dinner, the oven had overloaded the circuit breaker plunging Celeste into sudden darkness.  She learnt to keep a torch in the kitchen drawer.

 

On the other hand, Celeste began to make new friends.  Jenni Jones-Brown was older than Celeste and worked at one of those spa places where women can get manicures, massages and beauty treatments.  When they met, Jenni lived with her parents.  Things were less than tranquil in their marriage.  Celeste and Jenni were able to be there for each other in the difficulties with family.

 

Celeste still didn't have a job.  She checked the paper regularly of course.  She even asked Jenni if she knew of anyone who was hiring.  Once the morning chores were finished, Celeste spent much of the long days outside, sketching the fantastic landscape.

There was a thrift shop in town.  The sort of place where one can sell their old furniture or maybe some craft they'd made.  It quickly became Celeste's favourite place even if she was restricted in her spending.  She was able to buy a second-hand bookcase for her tiny collection of recipes, do-it-yourself manuals and paperbacks.

The clerk was a nice young man named Justin. Although Celeste was not attracted to him in that way (and she was pretty certain that he wasn't into her) they talked; a lot.  They talked about art and they talked about books.  Celeste told about her nostalgic trip to the junkyard and about making things out of scrap.  She confessed her desire to try her hand at sculpting.  He told how the store had belonged to his father and his father before him.  He liked to take stuff apart and put it back together.  He built computers out of the bits people got rid of.

As she couldn't afford a new car, Celeste found herself a bicycle as a temporary means of getting around.  'Oh well' she told herself 'It's good exercise'.  Summer came to an end and the trees lost their leaves.  There was a chill in the air as Celeste rode around town.

 

Quite suddenly, Celeste met a man she did like.  He introduced himself as Mack Lively, though Celeste wasn't positive if that was his actual name or more like something that people called him.  His tone was cheeky, playful and Celeste was instantly captivated.

"Mack" she said "Are you single?"  She regretted the words almost as soon as they left her mouth.

"Actually, I have a girlfriend." Mac smiled.  Celeste walked away mortified, with a barely mumbled apology.  She didn't turn back when he called for her to stop.