I rub my hands together like I’m conjuring up a plan. “Okay, let’s figure out what you’re going to do now. Do you have any friends you can stay with?”
Her head shakes as her lower lip gets pulled into and chewed on by her upper teeth.
“Family?”
Her eyes close momentarily, and I wonder if she’s thinking about her dad.
“And hotels are off the table, so…” I blow out a long breath and say words that come as a surprise, even to me. “I have a basement.”
Her eyes snap to mine and she looks at me like I’m Freddy Krueger.
I hold up a hand. “That came out wrong. Let me re-phrase. I’ve been fixing up my walk-out basement for when Christian gets older. He loves to assert his independence, and I know one day he’s going to move out and live on his own, so I thought I’d prepare him. It’s not The Ritz or anything, but it has a bedroom, a bathroom, a small living area, a microwave and mini-fridge, and there’s a separate entrance out to the driveway.”
Her eyes narrow. I can feel it coming. The blowback from my totally inappropriate invitation.
She huffs loudly. “You don’t have an F-150 because it’s too difficult for your son to get into, but he’s going to be able to navigate a set of stairs multiple times a day?”
Does she think I’m trying to deceive her?
“Fair question,” I say. “Actually, while he technically can go up and down stairs, it is a significant challenge and physically exhausting. The plan is to install a stair lift. But those are pretty pricey. I’m trying to find a used one on eBay, but haven’t come across the right one yet. Which really makes my secret easier to keep as he doesn’t ever go into the basement.”
“You’re doing it as a surprise?”
“He’s one hell of a kid. I’d do just about anything for him.”
“We’re strangers to you, Carter. How do you know I won’t rob you blind?”
I laugh boisterously. “You could try, but you wouldn’t get much. Maybe a bunch of tools and a whole lot of guy stuff. Listen, it’s small, but it’s clean. I live in a nice neighborhood that’s walkable to this area. My neighbors have three kids—a teenager and twin toddlers.”
“But… why?”
“Why do I want to help out a woman and her kid who are clearly in a bind? Kenna, I’d be a jerk not to.”
“How many other stranded travelers have you extended this offer to?”
I work my mouth from side to side in thought as I stare at the ceiling and silently count off my fingers. Then I smile. “You’d be the first.”
She looks at Amelia, happily coloring a bear with a purple crayon.
“I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right.”
“You know what else doesn’t feel right? Leaving you and Amelia without a car and with no place to go in a strange town.”
Just then, my phone alarm goes off. I tilt it so the screen lights up, and glance at the clock. Jesus, we’ve been sitting here for hours. I totally lost track of time.
I hold up my phone. “It’s two thirty and I’m on carpool duty. Listen, you don’t have to answer now. Come with me to pick up Christian and my next-door neighbor’s kid. I’ll drop them off at my house and you can see the place for yourself. If you decide against it, I promise to take you wherever you want to go.”
“You run carpool for your neighbor’s kid?”
“Every Monday and Wednesday. They take care of the other three days.”
She bites her lip again. She’s thinking about it. She looks back outside, the flurries having abated. She shrugs. “It’s not like we have anything better to do. I guess we’ll tag along. Besides, after hearing you speak so highly of Christian, I have to say I’m kind of excited to get to meet him.”
“Great. It’s settled.” I catch Ren’s eye and motion for the check.
Kenna clasps her hands on top of the table in a businesslike manner. “Nothing is settled, Carter. We’re just coming along for the ride.”
I nod. “Of course.”
