“Um, yeah?” I shrugged, trying to remember my conversation with Kate and Kristine. “I think Kate, that’s the new tenant, knew Kristine from school or something. She’s partnering with her in the studio. That’s what made the decision for Kristine. She didn’t have to carry the load alone, and the space next door will be perfect for the studio they envision. There only needs to be minimal changes.”
“Well, I think I’ll have to take your word for it until sometime this spring. If I tried to do any yoga right now, I’d never get back up.” Maggie rested her hand on her large belly that looked like a basketball under her T-shirt advertising for Sully’s brewery.
Emma snorted. “Yeah, yoga would probably be good for you, but I think it would require a lot of modifications right now.”
“You think?” Maggie raised an eyebrow. Looking at me, she asked, “Are the other apartments up here rented out?”
I grabbed the papers in the trash stack and moved to dump them in the garbage bag by the coffee table. “Yeah. Nicole, or Nic, is the tenant that’s been here the longest. She moved in last year, at least six months before I came to town—”
“Do I know Nic?” Emma asked.
I nodded, still sorting through more paperwork. “Yeah, she works for me, remember? She just started taking over more hours in the past few weeks. She’s also going to school part-time online to finish her degree. She was working at Starbucks to make some extra money, but I lured her away with the super-short commute and competitive wages.”
Maggie snorted. “And no Starbucks coffee, but there is as much hot tea as she’d like.”
I took the shred pile to the dining room table. I’d brought the shredder my parents had insisted on purchasing for me here today. Looks like one of their gifts was actually going to come in handy. While I shredded the pile, I raised my voice to be heard over the noise. “Yeah, so Nic’s up here and Elle.”
Emma’s eyes met mine. “Elle?”
I nodded. “Elle’s new to the area. This fall has been a whirlwind. She moved in at the start of the month. Her sister is a teacher at the high school. Elle works from home, super nice. Quiet. Loves to read romance books, so she’s a great customer.”
“I wondered if there was more than one Elle in town,” Emma said. “She’s a frequent patron at the library, and I’d agree, seems great. Shy, but nice.”
“So were you before I corrupted you,” Maggie said, elbowing her.
Emma gave her a look. “Corrupted? In second grade?”
Maggie shrugged. “You needed it.”
I finished the last papers and dumped the shredded mess into the trash bag and tied it off. I’d pitch it in the dumpster on my way out of here later. “I don’t have much up here to offer you guys. I think.” I stepped into the kitchen and scanned the cabinets. I’d brought a few things to have on hand while I sorted through this place over the next week. “I have tea, soda, water, and some crackers.”
“What kind of crackers?” Maggie perked up.
“The best kind. Triscuits,” I replied. It was the only logical answer.
“Lies.” Maggie replied. “A sleeve of Ritz is the perfect snack.”
“Nope.” Emma disagreed. “Club crackers are where it’s at.”
I glanced back to their perch on the sofa. “Girls, we’re working with limited supply here. Triscuits or nothing.”
“Triscuits,” they chorused.
I brought the box. We weren’t operating on formality here.
I lowered to sit on the rug by the coffee table and placed the box on it after taking a few crackers for myself.
“Your dad and Irene good?” I asked, munching on a cracker. Maggie’s dad was a long-haul trucker. He and his girlfriend partnered up to drive routes together. They had recently announced they were getting married, and I knew Maggie was beyond excited for them.
“They’re great. I think they’re headed to the Carolinas this week.” Maggie had swung her feet up, plopping them on Emma’s lap.
Emma shook her head but quickly moved to remove Maggie’s shoes and started a foot massage.
“This is why we are friends.” Maggie said as she dropped her head back to rest it on a pillow, getting as comfortable as she could.
Emma laughed at Maggie but then focused her stare on me. “How are you doing with all this?” She tilted her head, indicating the apartment.
“You mean with renting out Nana’s place?”
