Chapter 11 - Packing Up

Cadence entered her apartment in a state of exhaustion. What she really wanted was to eat an early dinner, crawl into bed and watch television until she fell asleep. Instead, she had to pack up most of her belongings in a single night. It initially sounded like a daunting task, but as she looked around her apartment, she was reminded of how little she really had. Most of the furniture and decor would stay since James's place was already furnished and decorated. She just had to decide on which pieces were truly important to her. Most of her kitchen stuff wasn't needed either. Cadence was starting to wonder if she would even need the help James said he would hire when the door bell rang. Cadence glanced through the peep hole and was pleased to find Mrs. Garcia at her door.

"Mrs. Garcia! What are you doing here?" Cadence asked as she opened the door and pulled the older lady into an embrace. The two women were usually in daily communication regarding James and had developed a close friendship as a result. "I couldn't let mijo send strangers to your home. Hombre loco! Doesn't he know these things are not safe for a young woman like you? Besides, I can pack better than anyone" said Mrs. Garcia picking up a large laundry basket at her feet that was full of packing supplies. She made her way in, setting the basket on the small dining table and asked "Do you have enough boxes? I have some extra in my car." Cadence shook her head and said "I think I'm good. I grabbed a bunch of empty ones from the office before I left." Both ladies got to work, quickly developing a system. Starting with the bedroom, Cadence piled everything she was bringing onto her bed. Mrs. Garcia handled the packing and labeling. Once that was done, they took a short break to order some food. While they waited for it to arrive, they managed to finish packing up the books and trinkets Cadence wanted to bring along. They were famished when dinner arrived; chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, samosas, and garlic naan delivered from a tiny Indian food truck nearby.

When the two women finished eating, it was already dark out and Cadence realized Mrs. Garcia likely had work waiting for her at James's house. "I think I've got it from here Mrs. Garcia. There's really not much left to do" Cadence said kindly. Mrs. Garcia took Cadence at her word, and quickly helped her clean up the empty take-out containers. They hadn't talked much that evening about the odd circumstances of this sudden move. But as Cadence walked Mrs. Garcia out to her car, the older woman pulled her into a lingering embrace and said "I think it's wonderful that you're moving in with mijo. This might end up being the best thing that has happened to either of you if you let it." Cadence stood there confused, as Mrs. Garcia got into her car and winked before driving off. What exactly was she getting at? Unsure of the significance of Mrs. Garcia's words, she headed up to her apartment with a furrowed brow. Too drained to give it much more thought, Cadence grabbed a pint of peanut butter cup ice-cream from her freezer and took bites as she glanced around her apartment for miscellaneous items to pack. Like she had thought before, there was little left. By the time she was done, her last box merely contained her favorite Whataburger coffee cup, an old cookie tin that was filled with mementos, and a 5"x7" framed picture of her mother and her posing in front of Austin's iconic "I love you so much" mural.

Cadence finished her ice cream in bed rewatching "When Harry Met Sally". She fell asleep before Harry and Sally could even become friends. Likely due to the late night dessert, her dreams proved to be erratic and vivid. Warms colors swirled in and out of her vision evoking vague erotic desires. There were no floors or walls, no beginning or end. There was only need. More colors entered the space and quickly morphed into tangible objects. She was in her room alone, methodically packing her clothes into a suitcase on her bed, slipping into a languid rhythm of grabbing, folding and placing. Suddenly, the suitcase was gone but her hands kept reaching until they found the warm bare skin of a man. He was laying on his stomach, wearing only a pair of dark grey sleep pants. She looked down to see her hands gliding firmly over his smooth skin, deeply massaging the defined muscles of his back and shoulders. As she reached out to touch the man's soft unruly hair, he lifted himself up slightly, turned and locked eyes with her. She lost herself in that moment, in the white hot fire of his gaze. The scene shifted again. She was under him, their bodies pressed together in erotic bliss. Their moans seemed to echo against the walls. "Say my name" he whispered softly, his breath tickling the sensitive skin on her ear. "James" she said. "Again!" he asked more urgently. "James! Oh, James. Mmmm, ahhh…JAMES!"

Cadence awoke yelling her boss's name, riding the waves of yet another intense orgasm. "Shit", she said aloud, hoping to God that the walls were thick in James's house.