Fixed

CLAY

I tightened the last pipe under the sink while Emily sat on the counter next to me, swinging her little legs as she watched my every move. She always said she wanted to be like me, but I worked hard to save money and send her to a good college to pursue a career. 

“When are you going to teach me to do what you do?” She asked with a smile on her cute face. I frowned, stopping my work to look at her. 

“You’re not going to do my job. It’s dirty and exhausting. You are too smart for this, and I want you to get a better job,” I replied. Emily hopped off the counter and looked at me as she scrunched her nose, upset at my response.

“Daddy, you’re wrong. Just because your job is dirty doesn’t mean you’re not smart. I want to be a handyman or woman, whatever that’s called. I enjoy watching you work, and I want to be like you.” She folded her arms on her chest with a pout on her lips. I looked at the steel wrench I had in my hand and smiled. 

“I know, little mouse, but I want you to have the best and a wonderful career. That is what I want for you.” 

Emily stomped away, and just a few seconds later, I heard the door of my truck slam shut. I let out a deep sigh, knowing we would talk later. 

“Someone is a little upset,” Mark said, referring to Emily as he handed me a bottle of beer while he leaned against the marble counter, taking a sip of his. “So, how’s the job going?” 

“It’s going good. You had rusted pipes, but they were not hard to take out. Just a few kicks here and there, and it was all good. When was the last time you changed them?” I asked, closing the cabinet door before I cleaned the mess I made. 

“Well, we came from the city, as you know, and we would hire people to do all that. I never thought I needed to do that here. Good thing there’s a handyman in town to do the work,” he replied, making me laugh as I took a sip of the cold, amber drink. 

“I’m not complaining. Gotta make a living here, especially when my little girl depends on me,” I said as I put my tools inside the tool bag. I had to go back to town to get some hay for the horses kept on Katherine’s abandoned manor. It was the only place we could keep them until someone bought the house, and we hoped whoever that was would let us keep them there. 

“Have you heard from Kelly?” He asked, curiously. 

“No, it’s been almost six years and not a single word. Not even to know about Emily. That’s okay. As much as I miss her, I don’t want her near my daughter. She lost all rights. My little girl is mine.”

Mark patted my back, understanding my situation and telling me how proud he was to be the man I’ve become. I would fight for Emily no matter what. Waving goodbye at him, I walked out of the house. 

“Hello, Clay.” Mark’s daughter, Lucy, greeted me on my way to my truck. She was a pretty little thing. Long, blonde hair held up in a high ponytail and blue eyes, just like the sky. One thing that would probably drive the men in town crazy were those thin pink lips, heavily glossed up.

“Hello, Lucy. How have you been?” I asked politely, putting my tool bag in the back of my truck. She had been flirting with me for a while now. Even though she is beautiful, I have no interest in her. 

“So, the town fair is coming up next week. I was wondering if you could be my date?” She asked. I chuckled at her cute attempt to get me to go out with her. She was only eighteen, seven years younger than me, and I could not lead her on. 

“I would love to, but I already have a date for that day,” was all I said. There was no need to tell her more. All I wanted was to have a good time that day with my daughter, with no one else ruining it for us. 

“Oh, okay. Maybe next time?” She asked as she twirled her ponytail, her sweet voice ringing in my ears.

“Maybe next time.”

I got in the truck and drove off as quickly as I could. Emily was still upset. With her arms still folded on her chest and a frown on her face, she looked out the window. I chuckled, extending my hand to turn her face towards me.

“Sweetheart, I know you want to be like me, but I just want what’s best for you. I hope you understand,” I said, looking at her with a soft smile. She bit her lips, and for a moment, her anger was gone. She smiled at me and nodded. 

“I understand, Daddy, but I look up to you and I want to follow in your footsteps.”

“I know, but let’s talk about that when you are a bit older, deal?” I put my hand up, trying to get her to high-five it. She sighed and lifted her hand to meet mine. 

We arrived at the town, and I parked the truck in front of the farming store. Emily got out and ran inside. She loved to visit the store, especially since she got to hold the little chicks. 

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” I greeted the two older men playing checkers outside.

“Hello, Clay!” They both greeted back before going back to their game. One of them asked about Katherine, and I shrugged my shoulders, telling him to find out for himself. He always liked her.

  I walked into the store, and Jimmy, the store owner, greeted me, giving me a knowing smile. He put the order for the hay bales while I looked around for the chicken feed. They also needed it. 

Emily was already sitting on the chick's bucket and took one in her hands, petting it and singing a lullaby song. 

“So, how are the horses?” He asked as I approached the counter to pay for the animals’ food. 

“They’re doing good. Thanks for asking.”

“Any buyers for the house?”

“I doubt it. No one is going to buy an abandoned manor. I feel for Katherine, that was her home as a kid, and she is looking forward to someone buying it and bringing it back to life.”

Jimmy shook his head while he was cashing me out for the items. I waited for them to load my truck’s back with the hay while I took a walk outside. Suddenly, I felt a small body bump into me, and before she fell to the ground, I grabbed her firmly with my hands.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” I asked. She must have been looking at me too long because I had to ask her once again. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry about that,” she whispered apologetically. 

“That’s totally fine. I just want to make sure. You must not be from around here,” I said, looking at her up and down. She looked out of place in this town and seeing her come out of that expensive SUV gave her away. 

Her dark hair pulled up in a fancy hairdo, those hazel eyes, and those plump lips painted with a bright red lipstick made her look beautiful, not to mention how she wore that pink blouse and those tight jeans.

“Yes, I am. Just trying to find the realtor’s office.”

Was she looking to move here? The only house available at this moment was Katherine’s. Does she know the state the house is in? 

Judging by her look, she doesn’t know much about small towns. 

“Yes, it’s at the end of this street, yellow walls, you won’t miss it,” I pointed at Hallie’s office at the end of the street. She thanked me and sauntered away, her heels clicking on the pavement as I looked at her disappear into the office. I hadn’t noticed I was staring at her when Jimmy and Emily came from behind and scared me.

“You were looking at the new neighbor, huh?” he mentioned.

“Neighbor?” I asked as he took a deep breath, nodding while he put the hay in the truck. 

“Yes, I heard she was going to be the new owner of Katherine’s manor. If only she knew how the house looks. She probably saw an old picture, and that’s why she’s here.”

Poor woman. She doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into at all. 

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. Have to come back here to get some supplies for the barn.”

Emily and I got in my truck and drove off. But, for some reason, that woman came to my mind, and I smiled. Why was I feeling weird at the touch of her body against mine? 

Why was I feeling this way about an older woman?