PROLOGUE
WREN - JULY
Astrange sense of dread washes over me at the sight of my landlord, Mr. Fink. He’s standing in front of a group of people with his wife. His face is cast downward into a frown, and his shoulders are slumped.
I search the small crowd gathered outside the front of my apartment complex and locate my neighbor, Crystal, who lives above me. She’s sitting in the front row with her daughter, Sasha.
“Hey, girl,” Crystal says as I approach. “We saved you a spot.” She removes her bag from the chair next to her and taps the seat in between her and her daughter.
“Any idea what this is about?” I ask. “The email was so vague that I’m a little nervous about what he’s going to say.”
“Hey, Wren,” Sasha says, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“Hey, girlie.” Reaching over, I pull her into a side hug.
“My guess is that they’re selling the complex, and they called us all here to tell us,” Crystal says. “Someone I was talking to at Sasha’s bus stop last week was saying she heard they were having some financial trouble.”
My heart sinks into my stomach. Our complex is pretty small and privately owned. The Finks are as good as theycome, and the fact that every single chair is full is a testament to just how much they are loved by the people who live here.
Mr. Fink is an older man, and he looks a little bit like Santa Claus—rosy cheeks, round belly, and a long, white beard. Mrs. Fink is around his age, but her hair is dyed blonde and she’s much shorter than him. When she isn’t making desserts to give to neighbors, you can find her in the front office answering the phones.
“I don’t want to imagine losing them,” I say.
“Ugh, I know,” Crystal says. “It’s no secret that Sasha and I wouldn't have a roof over our heads if they hadn’t been so understanding when I lost my job last year. Let us live here for free until I could find something, and then when I tried to pay them for the months I missed, they refused my money. Told me to put it in an account for Sasha.” She smiles warmly at her daughter, who is now staring at her mom’s phone, watching a cartoon.
Crystal’s words tug on my heart, and all the times that Mr. Fink came to my apartment to fix something or Mrs. Fink baked me a cake for my birthday pop into my head. When I moved in, they both took the time to get to know me, and when they found out I was saving to start my own camps for individuals with brain injuries, they offered me one hundred dollars off my rent each month and told me to put it towards my dream. “They really are the best,” I say.
Mr. Fink clears his throat and quiets us down. “Thank you all for coming tonight. It’s no secret that I think of all of you as family.” Tears well in his eyes, and he takes a minute to collect himself. His wife takes his hand as she wipes the tears running down her cheeks.
“Cedar Hill was owned by my father, and when I took ownership, I promised him I would always do what was best for the tenants here. Lately, that has become more difficult because, if I’m honest, money is tighter than it used to be. The building is in need of a lot of repairs that I can’t manage onmy own, and the number of vacant apartments is the highest it’s ever been.”
I look around at the crowd, realizing just how small it is. Between the empty apartments, the repairs, and the Finks consistently being flexible with rent payments, I imagine money is extremely tight. Guilt pings my heart because I know if it hadn’t been for the kindness they showed me, they might not be in this position.
Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath. “So, we have made the very difficult decision to sell the complex.”
Gasps echo through the group, and even Sasha’s attention is pulled from the little screen in her lap.
“I know.” He nods and breathes in deep again, no doubt trying to hold back tears. “This isn’t what I was expecting either, but please know this decision doesn’t come lightly, and the new management company has assured me that once they’re done, it’ll be like a whole new place. They’ve also assured me that they will work with each of you while the repairs are completed.” He looks at his wife. “You were all in our minds when we signed the papers, and I promise they will take care of each of you.”
“I want to add that we are so appreciative of all of your business, and we are going to miss this place and every single one of you very much,” Mrs. Fink says. “Does anyone have any questions?”
Three arms shoot up immediately, and Mrs. Fink points to Ms. Norris sitting in the back row. “When will the new company be taking ownership?”
“We signed the papers this morning,” Mr. Fink explains. “From our understanding, information regarding the acquisition will be sent out tomorrow via email, but we wanted you all to hear it from us first.”
“Are we going to lose our apartments?” Crystal asks.
“No, I would not have sold it to them if I thought that wasgoing to happen. They assured me they would work with all of you while the renovations took place.”
“Thank you,” she says, looking towards her daughter.
“Will rent be increasing?” someone else asks.
“We aren’t sure,” Mrs. Fink says. “The new company is aware of the current rent prices, and we are hopeful that if they do raise rent, it will not be by much.”
“That’s not reassuring,” Crystal whispers to me.
“Not at all,” I agree.
