Post by Pen McCarthy on Jul 23, 2021 17:55:26 GMT
That Saturday Penny had been up at the crack of dawn and too the lumber hardware store. Her mother had been nice enough to lend her his toolbox as well as the keys to the old pickup truck he and dad had spent working on in his youth, that somehow still managed to run. Getting the death trap from Louisiana to L.A. had certainly been an adventure...
After purchasing the boards for a new front porch, Penny had then drove to that poorer neighborhood, cut the engine, and had waltzed up to Miss Hattie's door to announce her presence. It wasn't every day Penny did something like this for the people she came across in her job, but it was clear the older woman desperately needed it done. It didn't sit right with Pen to just leave it be, especially when Hattie had a son like Bobby who was currently enjoying his time in a cell. It wasn't charity, or needing to feel good about herself, it was the right thing to do.
Hattie didn't know what had hit her with the Lousiana woman telling her what she was going to do and she'd let her know it was done. Of course, there was some pushback, but Penny had merely smiled at her with that southern charm. Letting Hattie know she didn't have too, but she wanted too. Besides, taking her frustrations out on the old porch would be good therapy.
Due to the heat, Penny dressed as cool as she could but still practical. Jeans, tank top, a Saints cap for when it got too hot, and a old pair of hiking boots. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun and she started her morning, figuring out a game plan on how she wanted to go about removing the old boards. She was pretty sure if she just pushed her foot against it the whole thing would just fall apart...
With Teej's toolbox in hand and the few larger tools she actually owned, she took the crowbar and started in the far corner of the porch starting to pull up those bad boards while her phone rested on the toolbox playing her favorite Spotify station. Instead of humming along like she usually might have, Pen’s mind was wandering to the clusterfuck life had become. She hadn’t expected to ever work with Nate again, and yet here they were… Now partners until she deemed him ready for the task force. And then there was the fact she was seeing someone else. Her and Jeff weren’t exactly official yet, but she’d thought they were close to it. Then there was her brother and Nate, and an unlikely sight those two had been the other night when they weren’t rolling on the floor beating the hell out of each other. They’d looked...chummy. Penny didn’t know if she liked it or not, but hadn’t had the time to stick around and ask more about it.
Her and Jeff’s date hadn’t quite gone to plan either, as Penny knew Nate and Jeff had seen each other. She wanted to be honest with him, tell him she was working with her ex, but she found the words never came out. Instead, Jeff had asked, “Is that Nathan Cross?” On their way out, and Penny had to tell him yes, and that they were working together now. She’d been too in her head to notice that Jeff’s demeanor had slightly changed. The date had been “okay” then, but Penny had felt bad she couldn’t give Jeff her full attention. She ended up telling him she was too tired from work, and he’d been sweet enough to suggest they cut out early so she could rest.
Ever the thoughtful one…
When she’d gotten home she practically yelled in frustration. It was supposed to be easy. It shouldn’t have to feel so difficult, she’d moved on. She’d been ready to move on, which was why she was so willing to go out with Jeff, but now?
She’d never expected Nate to come back into her life. Maybe she wasn’t ready, but Penny didn’t allow herself to care. She was moving on whether she wanted to or not, she had to.
Nate didn’t want her anymore, there was no changing or fixing that.
She yanked up on a board, ripping the nails up in her frustration.
After purchasing the boards for a new front porch, Penny had then drove to that poorer neighborhood, cut the engine, and had waltzed up to Miss Hattie's door to announce her presence. It wasn't every day Penny did something like this for the people she came across in her job, but it was clear the older woman desperately needed it done. It didn't sit right with Pen to just leave it be, especially when Hattie had a son like Bobby who was currently enjoying his time in a cell. It wasn't charity, or needing to feel good about herself, it was the right thing to do.
Hattie didn't know what had hit her with the Lousiana woman telling her what she was going to do and she'd let her know it was done. Of course, there was some pushback, but Penny had merely smiled at her with that southern charm. Letting Hattie know she didn't have too, but she wanted too. Besides, taking her frustrations out on the old porch would be good therapy.
Due to the heat, Penny dressed as cool as she could but still practical. Jeans, tank top, a Saints cap for when it got too hot, and a old pair of hiking boots. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun and she started her morning, figuring out a game plan on how she wanted to go about removing the old boards. She was pretty sure if she just pushed her foot against it the whole thing would just fall apart...
With Teej's toolbox in hand and the few larger tools she actually owned, she took the crowbar and started in the far corner of the porch starting to pull up those bad boards while her phone rested on the toolbox playing her favorite Spotify station. Instead of humming along like she usually might have, Pen’s mind was wandering to the clusterfuck life had become. She hadn’t expected to ever work with Nate again, and yet here they were… Now partners until she deemed him ready for the task force. And then there was the fact she was seeing someone else. Her and Jeff weren’t exactly official yet, but she’d thought they were close to it. Then there was her brother and Nate, and an unlikely sight those two had been the other night when they weren’t rolling on the floor beating the hell out of each other. They’d looked...chummy. Penny didn’t know if she liked it or not, but hadn’t had the time to stick around and ask more about it.
Her and Jeff’s date hadn’t quite gone to plan either, as Penny knew Nate and Jeff had seen each other. She wanted to be honest with him, tell him she was working with her ex, but she found the words never came out. Instead, Jeff had asked, “Is that Nathan Cross?” On their way out, and Penny had to tell him yes, and that they were working together now. She’d been too in her head to notice that Jeff’s demeanor had slightly changed. The date had been “okay” then, but Penny had felt bad she couldn’t give Jeff her full attention. She ended up telling him she was too tired from work, and he’d been sweet enough to suggest they cut out early so she could rest.
Ever the thoughtful one…
When she’d gotten home she practically yelled in frustration. It was supposed to be easy. It shouldn’t have to feel so difficult, she’d moved on. She’d been ready to move on, which was why she was so willing to go out with Jeff, but now?
She’d never expected Nate to come back into her life. Maybe she wasn’t ready, but Penny didn’t allow herself to care. She was moving on whether she wanted to or not, she had to.
Nate didn’t want her anymore, there was no changing or fixing that.
She yanked up on a board, ripping the nails up in her frustration.
