A little recap for those who just joined the story. Melody Gibbons, a down on her luck hospice nurse, inherits a former patient's home and rowboat. Well, make that partially inherits it. According to the will, she is supposed to share it with her benefactor's absent nephew, Levi.
Melody already dislikes Levi since he never came to visit or even called his Uncle Roy as he struggled with cancer. Didn't even bother to show up at the funeral. The only contact she's had with him is a letter from his lawyer threatening to see her in court.
Today's Tale
Running a restless hand through her hair, Melody sighed deeply. It was Sunday. One of the few times, she got an actual weekend off. Saturday disappeared under errands, laundry and a stint at the animal shelter. The physical activity of bathing and walking the animals made her feel useful. It also undid some of the stress that built up from dealing with mortality every day with her terminal patients. Most were similar to Roy and tried to leave the world with dignity. A few considered her the angel of death and treated her with a mixture of horror and contempt, often cringing when she came near.
That’s where a pet would come in handy. A pet would greet her with enthusiasm after a long day. She even had one in mind. A tan mutt about the size of a beagle, but with the long body of a dachshund, would be the one she’d picked. He was one of the few that came through the dog drop window for owners too cowardly to look employees in the eyes as they deserted their pets. Melody nicknamed the dog Charmer because he stole her heart.
The pound kept the dog despite his age and lack of bloodlines because she suggested she might take him. It was hard to commit, even to a canine. Maybe she needed to clear her mind with a good row across the lake.
Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, Melody headed down toward the dock. A man’s silhouette against the morning light drew her eye. The man had ramrod posture. As she drew closer, she admired how his t-shirt stretched across his chest. He turned, probably hearing her footsteps. Their eyes met. Her hand covered her heart as it raced. It couldn’t be, but she recognized those slate-colored eyes.
Melody already dislikes Levi since he never came to visit or even called his Uncle Roy as he struggled with cancer. Didn't even bother to show up at the funeral. The only contact she's had with him is a letter from his lawyer threatening to see her in court.
Today's Tale
Running a restless hand through her hair, Melody sighed deeply. It was Sunday. One of the few times, she got an actual weekend off. Saturday disappeared under errands, laundry and a stint at the animal shelter. The physical activity of bathing and walking the animals made her feel useful. It also undid some of the stress that built up from dealing with mortality every day with her terminal patients. Most were similar to Roy and tried to leave the world with dignity. A few considered her the angel of death and treated her with a mixture of horror and contempt, often cringing when she came near.
That’s where a pet would come in handy. A pet would greet her with enthusiasm after a long day. She even had one in mind. A tan mutt about the size of a beagle, but with the long body of a dachshund, would be the one she’d picked. He was one of the few that came through the dog drop window for owners too cowardly to look employees in the eyes as they deserted their pets. Melody nicknamed the dog Charmer because he stole her heart.
The pound kept the dog despite his age and lack of bloodlines because she suggested she might take him. It was hard to commit, even to a canine. Maybe she needed to clear her mind with a good row across the lake.
Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, Melody headed down toward the dock. A man’s silhouette against the morning light drew her eye. The man had ramrod posture. As she drew closer, she admired how his t-shirt stretched across his chest. He turned, probably hearing her footsteps. Their eyes met. Her hand covered her heart as it raced. It couldn’t be, but she recognized those slate-colored eyes.
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