Young Squatters Read Free Page A

going to be okay.  Can you do that for me?”
    Bradford finally looked into the young woman’s face, pulling off his sunglasses, his own blue eyes searching hers, and he started to feel a bit concerned.  If Harper was not able to stop her worrying and act normal, they would have to call the whole thing off; it would not work if she got herself in a state.  If her nerves got the best of her, they’d both be screwed.
    The girl really needed medication, for her anxiety, but nothing was going to happen until they got that house.  For as long as he had known her, Harper would have anxiety attacks anytime, anywhere.  Before they had met, she’d lived with her mother, a crazy bitch.  The woman drank like a fish and screamed and yelled at Harper all the time, once even locking her out of the house claiming that she didn’t know her own daughter.  She’d had dozens, maybe even hundreds, of boyfriends.  Every time he’d come over, Harper would be in her room hiding from another one.  That was why she was so anxious, he thought.
    It was his job to save her, really.  They were young, and full of life.  He had a lifetime to provide for her, but he wanted to do as much as he could now for her.  They could start a family; something he had never had.  She was pretty enough, and he liked to be the one in charge.  She followed him around like a loyal puppy, depending on him, trusting his every word.  He loved the power he had over her, the way she looked up to him.  It made him feel like a real man.
    “You were right.  Look, the three of them are leaving the house and the old lady has a large bag with her so she must be going into work like you said.”  Harper’s eyes had broken away from his to capture the movement.  Bradford followed her gaze.  Indeed, the rest of the family left now, climbing into their car.
    Harper felt relaxed now and knew she had nothing to worry about.  She looked at the house, her dream home.  For as long as she could remember she had always wanted a house like this one, with a decorative black gate (although in her dreams it was a white picket fence, but close enough), flowers done by a professional landscaper, and the house—oh the house! It sat three stories high in this rich neighborhood, looking like a castle.  Painted a pristine white, with purple shutters, it was everything she had ever dreamed and more.  When she had told Bradford about it, he had vowed to get it for her.  She felt lucky to have him by her side.
    “I’m sorry for getting in a state just now.  You know how much I want this house, and could not bear it if something went wrong.  Okay, I trust you and will not worry anymore, I promise.”  She looked blissfully compliant.  Bradford smiled.
    “That’s my girl.  Now get the car started and let’s go get the truck and start making this house our home,” Bradford said before giving Harper a kiss and hug, but only for a few moments, as they had work to do.
    With a beaming smile on her face, the young woman started the engine and they made their way to pick up the delivery truck.
     
    ***
     
    Nick banged his wheel in frustration, smacking the hard surface as hard as he could.  He must have hit a nerve; tingling pain raced from his palm all the way up his arm, making him curse.  He cursed like he had never cursed before, at least, not since his college days.  He cursed the sun, the sky, the moon, everything.  He wanted to open his window and curse all of humanity and existence.  Instead, he loosened his tie, swiping his hands through his already disarrayed hair, trying to imagine Nora’s voice telling him to get a grip.  Of course, if he had just listened to her in the first place, none of this would have happened.
    Of all the days for there to be a traffic jam, it had to be today.  He didn’t normally worry about the time he arrived at work, but today he had wanted to arrive early, to get a leg up on everyone and prepare for the big meeting.
    Nick