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Part 9
It had seemed like forever before Evelyn appeared and told Pie Eater that he could finally see his father. As she had reported, his attack had not been extreme enough to the point of paralysis, and that he could return home soon. Pie Eater was extremely relieved to hear such news and followed Evelyn to his father�s side.
He found Joseph lying in a bed with a white blanket covering him to his middle. He was unhealthily pale, and his breathing slightly ragged, but other than that, he looked just fine. If Pie Eater knew him well enough, he was going to insist that he go back to work as soon as he returned home.
�Hey pa.� He said.
�Hey, David. Did I give you a scare?�
�Darn right.�
�I�m sorry I lied to you. I should�ve seen a doctor beforehand and gotten some rest before this happened.�
�It�s okay. As long as you�re fine, everythin�s okay.�
�Good. So, have you and Karen decided on when you�re going to move out?�
Pie Eater paused, afraid to answer the question. The night before, they had decided not to move out for at least another few months. After Joseph�s heart attack, he would need someone with him in case he had another.
�Umm,� he scratched the back of his head. �Karen �n� me�we decided we�re gonna hold off for a few months.�
�Hold off? Does this have to do with me?�
Shrugging, he nodded. �Yeah. It ain�t best for ya t� be alone, pa. Not after what happened. What if ya have �nuther heart attack an� we ain�t there?�
�You worry too much.�
�I�m concerned, that�s all.�
Joseph shook his head piteously. �David, listen to me. You�ve been living with me for nearly three months now. The baby�s getting bigger, and the place is cramped. You need a place of your own. We�re being paid even more now, and you can afford it. You need to learn how to survive on your own.�
�I did for three years. I was a newsie, �member?�
�You sold newspapers, had fun with friends and courted girls. I�d hardly say that�s surviving compared to what you�re in now.�
�Marriage?�
�And a father. I�m not going to be around forever. It�s best that you start to live without me. You�re almost twenty-one, and by then you�ll be legally an adult. It�s time to do the final growing up. You buy that place you wanna move in to, and get started on a new life. Bumlets is still around, isn�t he?�
�Won�t be for much longer. �E got that job, �n� now �e�s lookin� for a place t� live on �is own.�
�Is he looking at the same place you are?�
�Nope. Boardin� house. �E says that he ain�t got �nough cooking experience under �is belt, so �e�s gonna pay for someone else t� do it for �im.�
�And what about his girl?�
�Still got two days. Then th� rest is up to him.�
�Evelyn says I�ll be released in two days, but I need to rest at least a week.�
�Can ya handle that?�
�I�ll improvise.�
�Don�t do too much, or I�ll move back in.�
�You will do no such thing. Now go home and get packing.�
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Bumlets stood in the center of the room, examining his new residence. It was a room only twenty square feet with a separate washroom on the left side. Though it was not very large or had a lot of space to give, it was enough for Bumlets.
There was a bed in one corner, barely large enough for two people to sleep in. Two pillows rested at the head, and a multi-patterned block quilt covered the white sheets beneath it. At the foot, there was an oak chest with extra blankets resting on top.
On the other side of the room, there was a large dresser, made of oak as well, but polished with a new varnish that gave a lemony scent to the room. It had three small drawers on its top level, three larger below, and finally, two larger at the very bottom. A tiny mirror hung above, large enough for one to see his reflection from the shoulders up.
The back wall had a small stand with large oil lamp resting on top, and a window above. On the windowsill, there was a terra cotta flowerpot filled with pink petunias. And the window itself was covered with dark green curtains to prevent anyone from seeing in whenever.
It was a small place to live, but to Bumlets, it was home. And there was enough room here for one more person to live. Whether he brought Seven here or not, this would be his home for the next few years. A few homey touches here and there and he would feel completely comfortable.
He put his few belongings away on top of and in the dresser before leaving again. He went to the apartment complex two blocks away from Joseph�s shop, where Pie Eater and Kay were currently transferring their possessions. Because he was moving as well, they insisted that they do their own moving themselves.
Now that he was moved in and had familiarized himself with other boarders, Bumlets went to help Pie Eater unload the rest of his things. By the time he arrived, Pie Eater and Kay had finished unpacking and arranging their furniture. Their apartment looked very nice.
�Looks like ya guys really din�t need me after all.� He spoke, snatching their attention.
�How�d you get in here?� Kay wondered.
�Th� door was open.�
�Oh.�
�So, t�day�s th� day.� Pie Eater said. �You�re gonna talk t� Seven?�
�Yep. I dunno what�s gonna happen since I haven�t seen �er since I told �er. But whatever happens, I got a place an� a job. It won�t be th� same without �er, but it�s time I finally grew up.�
�I think that whatever happens is gonna be what�s best for ya. If she does take ya back, I�ll be happy for ya. An� if she doesn�t�I guess it jus� wasn�t meant t� be.�
�Jus� do me a favor.�
�Anythin�.�
�Pray for me. God knows how much I love �er, an� I can�t imagine my life without �er. She�s th� best thing that ever happened t� me.�
�We�ll pray.� Kay said, hugging him quickly. �I hope she�ll take you back.�
�Me too.� He sighed. �I�d better get goin� now.�
�Where ya goin�?� Pie Eater wondered. �I thought you started work in two days.�
�I do. But I figured if I�m gonna see Seven t�night, I might as well get ready �n� do some prayin� of my own. Gonna hang out a th� church for a while.�
�Good idea.�
�Thanks.�
The two spit-shook, and Bumlets left them. Once the door closed behind him, the baby began to whine and Kay went to see to him. Pie Eater followed shortly afterward, finding her jiggling the baby carefully to calm him. He walked to her and held out his arms.
�Lemme see �im.�
She nodded and set Little David in his arms. Speaking softly to him, he calmed and began to lull off to sleep. Kay watched and smiled.
�So it�s just us now.� She said. �Just you and me, and the baby.�
�Yeah.� He kissed the baby�s cheek. �I can�t believe that we�re on our own now. Pa�s jus� round th� corner, an� so�s work, and I got you �n� Little David here. I got everythin� I ever wanted.�
She grinned. �I�m glad you do.�
�What �bout you? Got everything you ever wanted?�
�Of course.� She kissed him quickly. �I love you.�
�I love you too.�
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