“You can tell that?” I asked.
“Sure. Property sales are a matter of public record. There’s nothing in the records for that property yet.”
A wave of relief washed over me. “That’s good. At least I have time to find a place.” What I didn’t say was I wasn’t sure I would be able to find anything as close to my job. I’d lived in my apartment for seven years, and the rent was really reasonable. Rent in the area had gone insanely high after the pandemic lockdown. All the New Yorkers decided to flee to New Jersey and buy or rent the properties down here. It was driving the average renter out of the area entirely.
“You do,” Tino said. “I’m going to send a letter to the idiot who wrote this. It’s a good thing another lawyer didn’t write it because they’d be breaking the law.”
“How did they think they could get away with this?” I asked.
“Because most people don’t know their rights, and landlords take advantage of that,” he replied.
“Well, thank you again for helping me out,” I said.
“No problem. And if you see my brother before Easter Sunday, tell him to bring his boyfriend to dinner. My mother is expecting both of them.”
I gazed wide-eyed at Liam, who looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Uh, sure.”
After we said our goodbyes, I handed the phone back to Liam. “What was that look you gave me?” he asked.
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. “He said if I see Marco before Easter, I should tell him his mother is expecting both of you for Easter dinner.”
Liam snorted a laugh. “Marco was vague about Easter when he was talking to his mother because we didn’t know what my mother was doing.” He glanced at Mr. O’Neil. “We worked out something that worked for my mom and her boyfriend’s family. We just haven’t told Marco’s mother yet.”
“Oh, okay.” I was at a loss for what to do next. My lease wasn’t up until the end of July, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay there until then. This whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. I looked around at the people in the room and felt so overwhelmed that they’d rallied around me when some of them barely even knew me.
Miguel put his hand on my arm. “How are you holding up? You look a little freaked out.”
“Iamfreaked out. I honestly don’t know what to feel,” I said quietly. “I’m so pissed about the apartment shit. But I’m also in awe that people who hardly know me would pull together for me like this.”
Apparently, I wasn’t quiet enough. “We care about what happens to you,” Mr. O’Neil said. He stood and added. “And since we’ve been talking about family, behind closed doors, please call me Sean.” He glared at Caitlin. “That goes for you too.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, sir.” Everyone laughed.
This day just kept getting stranger and stranger.
“So, we’re all set for now,” Sean continued. “You have at least until the end of May to find a place. When is your lease up, anyway?”
“The end of July,” I replied.
“Okay. You just let us know when you find a place, and we’ll arrange a day to help you move.”
Once again, I was left speechless. “Yeah. Sure.” I managed.
As everyone rose to leave, Miguel pulled me aside and said, “Let’s go grab us a drink and you some lunch at Reilly’s, that Irish pub in Belmar.” He looked over at Albert. “You want to join us?”
“I won’t say no to some day drinking,” he answered with a broad smile.
We said our goodbyes to Caitlin, Liam, and Sean—it was just weird to call him that—and headed out to the parking lot. We decided to take Albert’s car because his was the biggest—and the cleanest. The drive to Belmar didn’t take long, and soon, we were sitting at a table in the corner of a cozy pub with our beers, waiting for my lunch and their appetizers. Someone played piano in the back of the room while a few people sang along. It was nice.
Once we had settled and made a toast to free legal advice, Miguel leaned forward and said, “I have a possible solution to your apartment situation.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Move into my place.”
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
MIGUEL
