Chapter 5 Tiny House

An excerpt from The Titanium Mysteries Book 1: What Is She Doing Here?

After the accident, Zeta was claimed by her uncle Xavier. He was still single and had no children of his own. He had watched her grow up. Now, she was an orphan and still a minor. He did the only thing he could for her. He had a tiny house built for her on his property. Before it was built, he had asked the hospital staff what Zeta would need.

It had taken some time for the house to be built. But Zeta wasn’t out of the hospital just yet. She and her uncle agreed that she should stay a little while longer until the house was built. By that time she was getting more comfortable walking with her crutches or her leg braces. She was independent as she could be.

When the house was ready, he took her out of the hospital and back to his property. There was a stone wall around the perimeter of the property. A tiny house was the only building inside the wall. Zeta looked at the house and then at her uncle.

“Xavier, is that it?”

“Yeah. I hope you like it.” He carried her crutches.

She was wearing her leg braces underneath her pants where no one would see them. She sighed.

“I packed up your things and moved them in to the house already. I even packed up some of the other things your parents had like dishes and towels. I just wanted you to have what you needed.”

“Oh.” She frowned.

They kept walking to his property. Eventually, they reached the gate. He opened it and let her walk inside first. She bit her lip as she looked at the house.

“I added passwords and other information to your tablet computer. You should be able to get online without any trouble here.”

She said nothing. She had finished up her classes and was waiting for her diploma to be approved. Now she just had to decide what to do for work or to go on to college. They reached the tiny house and stopped. He opened the door for her. She stepped inside.

It was tiny to be sure, but there was a comfortable desk and chair just inside. Zeta walked over to it and sat down. It felt right. She looked around and saw the tiny kitchen area nearby. There was another chair at a table not too far from the desk. She stood up and walked back a little ways to find a bathroom with the right kind of shower for her. The bedroom wasn’t too far behind that.

She smiled as she continued to look around. There was railing around the walls at the right height for her. There was even a special out of the way place to set her crutches and her leg braces. She opened a closet door in her bedroom and found her clothes. She saw her blankets on the bed. The few stuffed animals she owned were sitting on the pillows on the bed.

Xavier stepped inside the house. He put her crutches where they belonged. “Well, what do you think?”

“I like it. Is this just for me?”

“Yeah. Just for you. I travel so much that I don’t need a place here.”

“Then why did you keep this property?”

“It was a stipulation when I inherited it. I wasn’t allowed to sell it.”

“Oh.”

“Besides, if I do stay here, I will be in a tent. Or I might have a tiny house built just for me.”

“Okay.”

“I also know you like your privacy. The nurses mentioned it to me. You shouldn’t have trouble in this house. But if you do, you won’t have trouble calling for help.”

She nodded. She sat down on her bed. “Thanks for the house.”

“Uh, are you done with school yet?”

“Yes. I’m just waiting to hear if they approve my diploma.”

“Wow. Now what?”

“I don’t know. I think I need to get a job or I might go on to college.”

“I can put a good word in for you. However, you’re young. Employers tend to be more willing to give young people a chance.”

“Right. I’ll keep that in mind.” She paused. “How long will you be in town?”

“Oh, not much longer. I need to get moving again for my work. But you can get a hold of me if you need anything.”

“Oh.” She sighed.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine on your own. You’re independent and you’re mobile. Definitely more mobile than what some of those doctors said you’d be.”

Zeta looked at her uncle. She knew his work had always kept him far away from everyone. But how was she to live on her own?

“Oh, I stocked up the pantry and fridge with plenty of food that I’m sure you like to eat. There’s a market not too far from here. You can walk there and get whatever you need.”

She stood up and checked the pantry and fridge. “I don’t have much money.”

“Well, the property and all the utilities are covered by me. Let me know if you run out of food as you don’t have a job. I can send you some money.”

“Okay. What should I do for work?”

“Have you ever had a job before?”

She shook her head no.

“Oh, there’s always restaurant and cleaning jobs. They’re not always so great, but they will at least give you some money and experience.”

“Okay, I’ll start with something like that.”