I shift from foot to foot. “It’s fine. Just until I find a place.”
“Yeah? How’s that going? I know Dec said there were a few places, but I went and looked after I closed, and no.” She shakes her head, her skepticism that it’s going well at all ringing clear as the bell over the door.
There’s no reason to tell her, but the urge to talk this through with someone is a powerful one. I haven’t had this, and despite the twist of worry that sharinganythingwith this bright, lovely person will be too much, I drop my guard a touch. I’m not about to bare it all, but she’s so warm and welcoming, and the human part of me that longs for connection despite knowing the risks of it lets loose a little bit.
“I went to see one place that was a hard no. Unfortunately, that’s all I’ve found that’s even an option based on the rent, plus I have a cat so that ruled one adorable little spot closer into the center of town out.”
“What kind of place are you looking for? House? Apartment? Need space for horses or anything?” She hands methe mug filled with my steaming latte, then uses two fingers to push away the cash I offer her. “Nuh-uh. You need this coffee if you’ve spent the night at the motel. Please, it’s on the house.”
I start to protest but she just holds up a hand, then prompts, “So what are you looking for?”
Peace. Safety. Friendship. A new life. Maybe the ability to fully forgive myself.
“Nothing fancy. Affordable. No horses, so no big space needed. It’s just me and my cat. I was in a studio before so that’s fine. Really, whatever I can get at this point.” Well, not quitewhatever, since I do have standards, but they aren’t all that high. They just require a basic level of sanitization and a landlord who doesn’t leer at me.
Someone else is behind me so I step to the side. “Thanks for this. It’s so nice of you.”
She waves me away as she welcomes the newcomer, and I find a seat at the same table I used last time. And just like yesterday, it’s only a minute before she ends up sliding into the seat across from me, then nudges a slice of quiche on a ceramic plate in my direction.
“I have an idea.”
This feels so random. I don’t even know this girl, but she’s sitting there with her sparkly dark blue eyes and gorgeous hair braided over her shoulder and her lovely, freckled face and she looks expectant.
I genuinely love how instantly she talks to me like she knows me. In a way, it makes me feel like I don’t have to give her any more of me because she seems satisfied enough with what’s on the surface.
The thought doesn’t quite make sense, but I embrace it. “Please share.”
She cups a mug of her own and sips it, taking a beat tosavor the drink before she launches in. “I used to live in this super cute apartment above a garage. I recently moved out—nothing bad happened, but it was super close to my family, and I’ve always been under their thumb, so I wanted more space.”
She makes a face I can’t decipher, likely because I can’t imagine what it’s like to be under a parent’s thumb. I have a shred of a relationship left with my mom and that’s been the case for over a decade now.
“Anyway, I promised the owner I’d help find a new tenant, and I think it might be perfect for you.” She’s smiling so wide, her cheeksmusthurt.
The prospect of finding a place that is decent fills me with anticipation, but I need more information. “Can you tell me more? Whose garage is it? And do they accept pets? Do you know the rent?”
She shrugs and stands because another customer has just walked in.
“Oh, totally fine with cats. Rent is super reasonable, and utilities and stuff are included so it’s low stress. And it’s on my parents’ property, which includes a lot of farmland, so it’s very low-key. It’s about ten minutes outside of town, but I can totally show you the place when we close at noon if you want.”
She walks away like she hasn’t just handed me what sounds like a wonderful opportunity.
Not ideal that it’s outside of town. I will definitely have to get the tire fixed because the donut isn’t going to survive much longer. But if the rent is reasonable and I can get an income going soon, this could be perfect.
No creepy landlord. She seems to feel living close to her parents wouldn’t be an issue for me, and if they’re mostlynormal humans, she’s probably right. I don’t plan to party or even have guests.
I just want to be left alone. To rebuild some semblance of a life where I can make my own choices and not—not be failing at every possible turn.
And not be worried I’m constantly making the wrong choice.
Maybe then, I can figure out what comes next beyond hanging on by a thread.
With a sip of my delicious latte, I whisk away those thoughts and start searching for openings. I applied at the handful of local jobs I saw, but there’s work to be done online. I’ve spent the last decade scrubbing toilets and polishing silver, but I’ve tried to add skills when I could. Whenever my library gave a class on topics like Excel or accounting, I signed up. I even took a few college courses years ago and had planned to slowly work toward my bachelor’s. I have my associate’s and then some, but I got caught up in the hamster wheel of working and paying bills I couldn’t quite afford so I had to quit pursuing anything more… until Andrew.
Since I don’t want to give that man any more of my time, I flick open the job placement website I’ve signed up with. Yes, there’s some risk to having an online profile, but I can’t disappear completely, and this server is as secure as possible. Plus, he shouldn’t want to find me, anyway.
It’s noon when I come up for air to find May hovering over me.
“Ready to go check it out?”
