I hated the relief I felt when she said she wouldn’t charge, and I told her my address. She promised she would be here in thirty minutes.
Ihadto make it up to her somehow, but I didn’t know her well enough to. I spent the entire time of her drive trying to figure something out and came up empty.
Wren’s red truck pulled up next to my car, and I took a breath to pretend like I was fine. Only Jade knew I was pregnant, and I was keeping it that way for as long as possible.
“Thanks for meeting me out here,” I said.
“No problem at all. I love helping out my friends and Mollie never lets me do it. Besides, I didn’t even know there was a house back here!”
No one did. Mom had bought a big plot of land and the house was far back on it. It was a pain for her to mow and take care of, but Brooke and I spent countless hours in the fields here.
“It’s a work in progress,” I said. “I wasn’t prepared to be a homeowner when she passed, so it’s ... not all put together.”
“I’ve seen it all. What’s more important is that you don’t freeze tonight.”
I laughed humorlessly. “Yeah. What bad timing.”
“Come on, show me where the HVAC is.”
I took Wren inside and down to the basement. I’d figured out how to open the thing, but knew nothing else.
“Well, it’s not that old,” she said as she looked at it. “Honestly, it’s in good shape.”
“It’s just not turning on at all.”
“Did you reset the breaker?”
“Um, should I have?”
“It’s always a good first option,” she said patiently. “Where’s your electrical box?”
I took Wren to the other side of the basement where it sat. I rarely came over here, which was obvious since there was dust all over it.
Wren didn’t seem bothered. She cleaned off what she could and then opened it up.
“It’s tripped,” she said. “Which means it’s just off. And everything on here is labeled. That’s another good thing.”
“Mom took good care of this place,” I said. “I’m ... trying.”
“It’s a lot for one person,” she said as she flicked the switch to the left. There was a buzzing sound, then it returned to the center. “I think it’s busted,” she said.
“Can you fix that?”
She winced. “I probably could, but I don’t know electrical all that well.”
“Fuck,” I muttered. “Well, I guess I should find the blankets that I stashed down here.”
I went to an old cardboard box. They would need a wash, but it would still be helpful.
“Hang on, you’re not entirely out of luck. There happens to be an electrician in town tonight. Dean just arrived.”
I dropped the box onto my foot. “What? I thought he?—”
I paused as Wren turned to me. “You thought he left months ago?” she finished.
“Y-yeah. Definitely.”
“Apparently, he wanted more. He called and asked to work with me again. Want me to help with that box?”