The making of a Luna

Chapter 4

Ashley

It feels like the end of the week rushes past while I prepare for my move. When I ended the call to Mr. Bleckbourne I called Tessa and shared my good news. Of course she was sad that I was moving to a small town in the middle of nowhere, two hours away! But she was happy that my life was finally falling into place after the turbulent last year I have had. Then I called the real estate firm to place my apartment up for sale.

At ten o’clock on Monday morning there is a knock on my door. Outside stands a handsome man, who must be around forty. Two younger men and a woman stand behind him.

“Good morning, Miss Simmons. My name is Sawyer Jones. Mr. Bleckbourne sent us to help you move.” He gives me a pleasant smile and I smile back.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Jones.”

“Please miss, call me Sawyer. Mr. Jones makes me sound like an uptight old fart.” He chuckles and I join him. “This is Clark, Tyson and Jamila.” He points to the people behind him and I nod in greeting. The two men both look at me with appreciation and inviting smiles. That is until Sawyer clears his throat and slaps Clark at the back of his head.

They work efficiently and it only takes them one and a half hours to empty my apartment. Everything goes into a small truck except my suitcase of clothes and a few boxes of things I want to have for my day to day life. Everytime any of the younger men try to approach me to speak, Sawyer is there to direct him to work once again. Jamila doesn’t show much interest at all in me so the whole time feels strange and forced.

We are done with emptying my apartment in less than 3 hours. Sawyer says a happy goodbye as they pack themselves into the truck, but Clark and Tyson only give me tight smiles. Jamila keeps looking at her phone.

I meet up with Tessa for lunch to say goodbye. It will probably be a few weeks before we will have time to meet each other again so when we hug each other goodbye for now, she’s crying like I’m leaving the country.

The time is almost five in the afternoon when I finally pull up the long driveway to the five story town hall of Silver Lake. As I exit my car Mr. Bleckbourne comes my way with a smile on his handsome face, although it does seem a bit strained.

I did as he asked and called when I left Portland so he would know when I would arrive. And when we spoke he seemed a bit irritated that I would come this late. He even questioned why I had to meet my best friend before coming.

But despite his strange and grumpy act, my stomach erupts in a storm of butterflies and my legs feel like jelly as I respond to his smile with a shaky one of my own.

“Welcome Miss Simmons. I hope everything has gone smoothly with the move and drive here.” Even though he tries to hide it with a smile I can hear and see the tension and irritation as he speaks. I do my best to try and hide the fact that it’s affecting me. I feel like I want to hide behind my car.

“Yes. I really appreciate the assistance from your workers. The apartment was empty in just under two hours.” I bite my lip nervously and I see Mr. Bleckbourne’s gaze flit down to my mouth before raising up to meet mine again.

“That’s good to know.” His voice is lower and oh so sexy as he speaks again. And his eyes almost look luminescent. “Let me give you a tour of our pack house as we call it here in Silver Lake.”

Pack house? I furrow my brows at the strange name.

”That’s a strange name, but I guess anything works as long as everyone knows what it means.” I give him a nervous giggle and the tension in his shoulders ease up a bit. He waves over a group of teenagers and they come over with their heads bowed in Mr. Bleckbourne’s direction and sending me curious glances from beneath their lashes.

“You four can take Miss Simmons’ things to her room. She’s in the guestroom on the top floor next to mine.”

“Yes, Mr. Bleckbourne.” They mumble in unison before they easily pick up my suitcase and boxes from the trunk of my car.

“But I can… There is no need..” I object as I try to move in to help the kids with my things. Mr. Bleckbourne places a hand on the small of my back and whatever argument I was trying to produce dies on my lips.

The electric tingles that I felt the last time I met him, starts up the second he touches me. I try to step away from his touch, since the feeling actually frightens me slightly. He shifts his hand to my waist instead to prevent me from moving away. I look up at him with wide eyes. He just gives me a knowing smirk and starts to lead me towards the pack house.

It will take some time to get used to such a strange name.

“Thank you very much.” I throw over my shoulder at the teenagers as he quickly leads me away without a second glance back at them.

“This building was built in the beginning of the fifties and the size chosen for the building was heavily exaggerated at that time but as you can see we have needed to expand in recent years.” He gestures towards the extensions built on the first and second floor of the five stories high building. It is large for a communal building of a town this small, but I keep my opinion to myself and silently follow him.

When we walk through the automatic double doors all uncomfort Mr. Bleckbourne’s hand on my waist causes, disappear. The entrance hall is large, with an open plan up to the second story of the building. The floor is white marble with a matching grand stairway leading up to the second floor. In the high ceiling hangs the largest crystal chandelier I have ever seen. It catches a few rays of the sinking sun and throws beautiful rainbow patterns around the room.

“We have our town hall to the left. It is used as a dining hall most days but has a stage and electronic equipment to be transformed to either a meeting hall or ballroom.” Mr. Bleckbourne’s voice brings me back from my silent awe of the grand room and beautiful interior.

“For halloween we usually have a party for the youths and older children here. On Thanksgiving we have a huge feast where everyone in town is invited to come. We make sure to include the elderly who live in the retirement center on that feast. Otherwise there are three meals served every day.”

“Breakfast is between five thirty to seven thirty am. Lunch is between eleven and two and dinner is from six to eight. In between there is always fruits and simple sandwiches that you can serve yourself. For workers there are lunch boxes from lunch the day before that can be brought to your workplace.”

He gives me a quick tour of the dining hall, pointing out the buffet and the fridge where lunchboxes are stored. The fact that I will be served breakfast, lunch and dinner with snacks in between sounds too good to be true.

“In the opposite direction we have communal areas.” He steers me to the other side of the entrance hall. The room is filled with children and teenagers who have finished their day in school. A few older people are scattered around the room, probably to make sure there are no major conflicts between the children.

“There are spaces for playing board games. Through there we have a cinema and over there is an electronic games room. As you can see this area is diligently used by both kids and adolescents.” The facilities all look fresh, clean and homey.

“Do they have to pay to use it?”

“No. Everything is free. The food as well, so you won’t have to pay for that.” I am amazed by the sheer size and number of activities offered to the public of the town.

Then Mr. Bleckbourne shows me the second floor which consists of offices, study rooms and conference rooms. He makes sure to show me his office and tells me I am welcome whenever I need to speak to him.

Sawyer is sitting in one office across the reception area outside Mr. Bleckbourne’s office. He is speaking on the phone so we give each other a smile and wave. Mr. Bleckbourne’s hand tightens slightly on my waist and it feels like he is in a hurry when he leads me to the elevator.

“The third and fourth floor holds rooms for young men and women who are ready to move out of their parents home but don't need or want a house of their own yet. It is similar to living in a college dorm with single rooms and shared bathrooms. There are a few rooms with separate bathrooms for older single males or females who also act like dorm supervisors.”

“This is absolutely amazing! All of these facilities, open to the whole community to use.” I say, looking up at him with impressed eyes as we step through the doors to the elevator. Mr. Bleckbourne looks down at me and his eyes soften slightly as he raises his hand to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

“I believe that for a community to function smoothly there has to be good places for people to meet. This is the spirit and basic principles with which I govern this town.”

“Wow.” I breathe out, enchanted by his shining eyes, deep voice and electric touch. His fingers gently follow the curve of my ear, along my jaw and down my throat. I don’t move. I hardly even breath as his touch wreaks havoc to my insides.

Suddenly the elevator stops and a ping is heard as the doors open. Mr. Bleckborne gives me an assertive smirk as he turns towards the corridor. I shake my head and feel embarrassment fill my chest at my wanton reaction to him. It’s even worse that he obviously knows how he affects me and is using it against me.

***

Ashley has arrived in Silver lake to start a new chapter in her life! But that Mr. Bleckbourne is acting really strange, or what do you say? Colton is too close for comfort for the little human. Touching her and not letting go despite the fact that they don’t know each other.

Maybe everything will be easier once she has gotten comfortable and maybe found her own place to live? But it sounds like Mr. Bleckbourne is in no rush for her to move out.

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