Free Convictions: Kelly and Stephen by Delinda Dewick

Max.
    Kelly would miss this little house.  It had been such a bold move for her to pick up and leave Seattle, but finding this house had given her a sense of home.  Moving in had been the first event in Alaska to make her feel like maybe she hadn’t made a huge mistake after all.  The house had been such a gem that it had given her great pride to call it her own.  Five years ago it had been the beginning of a new chapter in her life.  And now here she was about to begin over again.
    The stress and activity of the day had left Kelly exhausted and she fell asleep immediately upon climbing into bed.  The next morning she woke with the sun, anxious to finish her list and be back with Stephen by dinner that night.  She would miss the house but with the dawn of a new day she was comfortable with the decision she had made.
    After breakfast she began to clean.  She wanted the place to be spotless for its new resident.  She might not be living in it anymore but it was still hers on paper and she wanted it presented at its best.
    By mid-afternoon she was done and on her way over to the neighbors for the goodbyes.  Will’s mom, Delores Kramer, opened the door with her arms extended for a hug.  “Will tells us you are moving out of town? That’s sounds like fun.  I’ve always wanted to have more land but with the kids it’s just more convenient for them here.  We wish you the best and you know where we are if you ever need anything.”
    Kelly filled Delores in on her new, temporary neighbor.  “He seems very nice but you probably won’t even know he is there most of the time.”  They talked about Will and Kelly explored the option of him having his own dog.  Delores agreed that they had been talking about it since Will has proven himself more than capable to care for one. 
    Will came into the kitchen in time to give Max a final hug and ruffle behind his ears.  They all exchanged goodbyes and as she left the back porch Kelly reminded Will that Max would be over to visit, probably next week!
    After front and back door locks were double checked Max and Kelly climbed in the Jeep and headed down town to The Snow Shoe Inn.  She found Mr. Locke soaking in a bit of late spring sun on the bench out front.  She handed him the keys a piece of note paper with her PO Box and Cell phone number.  She also gave him the name and number of Delores’s husband Joe. 
    “Joe has always helped me out whenever something didn’t work right.   He knows that house better than I do.  If you need him for anything don’t hesitate and have Joe send me the bill.  They shook hands, Jonathan thanked her again, and Kelly was back in the Jeep.
    The last stop was going to be the hardest, Hawley’s Hardware.  The door chimes rang out as she pushed open the door.  There was a young man behind the cash register whom she didn’t know.  When she asked for Mr. Hawley the young man nodded towards the office. 
    She knocked once on his open office door and as he looked up Kelly said “I see you’ve replaced me already, Bill?”  He chuckled softly “well Kelly, girl, business is business!”
    “Actually I’m glad you found someone new.  Bill, this is really hard for me because you know how much I adore you and have enjoyed my job here these last few weeks but I am moving in with a friend out of town to help out for a bit.  There’s just no way that I will be able to make that drive to work, especially come winter; it’s too far out.”
    Bill’s smile was more of smirk and Kelly couldn’t help but suspect that he knew more of the truth than her lame explanation shared when he said “Kelly, life goes on and everyone has to do what they have to do.  This ‘friend’ of yours is lucky to have you and we all here at Hawley’s wish you the best.” 
    He stood up, came around the desk and wrapped her in a fatherly bear hug as he finished “just don’t be a stranger; I’ll miss our talks.”  She stepped back out of his