“In here.”
Charlie scratched his head. “I don’t get it.”
“The couch.” She picked up a pillow and clutched it to her chest. “It folds out into a bed.”
His jaw clenched. “You’ve been sleeping on the couch since you moved here?”
She nodded. “After Dad broke his hip earlier this year, we had to find a place that had step-free access to everything.”
“Where was he living before?”
“In a split-level place.”
“And you couldn’t get a place with two bedrooms?” Leslie asked.
“We can’t afford it.” Her face burned even more. She decided to be completely open with them. “Dad’s veteran’s insurance took care of most of the medical bills, but it didn’t fully cover everything.”
She shook her head. “While I was finishing my Dreams on Ice contract, he needed access to care. We didn’t have anyone else to help, only one another. A professional facility seemed like the perfect answer at the time. Anyway, after I paid off the bills for that and the remainder of the lease on Dad’s old place, and put down a security deposit for this place, I didn’t have much money left.”
“Doesn’t your father receive a pension of any sort? Social security?”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “Yes, but it still doesn’t go as far as you think. Grizzly Springs is an expensive place to live. With my limited hours at the rink and the fixed income he receives, we just manage to break even every month.”
“Why didn’t you say anything to us? To Jack? We would’ve found you more hours,” Charlie said.
“My pride wouldn’t allow it.” She smiled sadly. “Jack said when he hired me that he didn’t have any full-time openings. I took the only job that was available. My original plan was to try and find a second job, but then Charlie and I started to train together, and I didn’t think I could physically handle much more.”
Frankie hated seeing the pained looks on the twins’ faces.
Leslie spoke first. “When your dad starts to recover and you’re back at the rink coaching again, come talk to me. If you’re still interested in full-time hours, they’re yours.”
Charlie cleared his throat. “Don’t forget, you also still have an open offer to become my coaching partner. As a private lessons coach, you’d be able to set your own rates and earn more than Leslie would pay you.”
Frankie felt overwhelmed. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say.”
Charlie crossed his arms. “Like my sister said, we can figure everything out later. Right now, we have a more important matter to settle—where you’re going to stay.”
“I’ll sleep in Dad’s bed.”
“No,” both Leslie and Charlie said at the same time.
“Everybody’s worried about you. We don’t want you to be on your own right now. If you still don’t want to stay at the cottage, your options are my place or Charlie’s place.”
Frankie slouched against the back of the couch. “Whose place is closer to the cottage?”
“Mine.” Charlie raised his hand. “You’d get your own room too.”
“How big is Leslie’s place?” Frankie furrowed her brow.
“Two bedrooms. My sister just uses her second bedroom as a craft studio.”
“Ah.”
She exhaled deeply. “I guess it’ll be your place, Mr. C.”
He rubbed his hands together. “You won’t regret it.”
Charlie and Leslie were becoming the family she never had. What would she do without them?
