CHAPTER ONE #2
“The new place has a backyard,” I remind him, trying to focus on the positives. “You’ll be able to play outside whenever you want.”
This seems to pique his interest. “Can we get a dog?”
“We’ll talk about it.”
This seems to appease him somewhat, and he nods, turning back to look out the window.
“We’re here!” I pull into the driveway of our new home. The small yellow bungalow has certainly seen better days. The paint is peeling, the front porch sags to one side, and the yard is more weeds than grass, but it’s in a decent neighborhood.
“Who’s that?” Tommy points to the shiny black Town Car parked at the curb, and the balding man in a tracksuit standing on the sidewalk, checking his watch impatiently.
“Who is that? Is this our new house?” Jackson asks at the same time, pressing his face against the window.
“That’s Mr. Peterson, the landlord. And yes, this is our new house,” I confirm, putting the van in park. The engine gives a concerning sputter before falling silent.
“It looks kinda junky,” Tommy says bluntly.
I can’t exactly disagree, but I try to sound upbeat. “It just needs a little love, that’s all. We’ll fix it up and make it homey in no time.” It’s not the greatest rental on the planet, but on my salary, it’s what I could afford.
Tommy looks unconvinced, but Jackson is already unbuckling his seat belt, ready to explore.
“Hold on, buddy. Let me talk to Mr. Peterson first,” I say, grabbing my purse. “You boys wait here for a minute, okay?”
I step out of the van, smoothing down my skirt and putting on my best responsible-tenant smile. “Mr. Peterson? I’m Honey Mitchell. Thank you for meeting us.”
The man barely looks up from his phone. “You’re late.”
My brows pull together. Late? Glancing down, I check my watch. We’re actually five minutes early.
“I’m sorry about that. School dismissal can be unpredictable,” I say instead, extending my hand.
He ignores it, thrusting a clipboard at me instead. “Sign here, here, and initial here.” He points to the highlighed spots on what appears to be the lease.
I scan the document quickly, though there’s not much to read. It’s a standard one-year agreement, though I notice there’s no mention of who’s responsible for repairs. I make a mental note to clarify that before he leaves.
“So, about maintenance—”
“You’ve got my number,” he cuts me off. “Call if there’s an emergency. Otherwise, minor stuff is on you.”
I blink, taken aback by his brusque manner. “But if something breaks—”
“Like I said, emergencies only,” he repeats, holding out his hand. “First month’s rent and security deposit. Cash or certified check only.”
I pull the check from my purse, a significant chunk of my savings, and hand it over, watching as he shoves it into his pocket without even bothering to look at it.
“Keys,” he holds out his hand.
I open my hand and he drops two sets into my palm. “One for the front, one for the back. Mailbox key is on there too.”
“Thank you,” I say, though it feels strange to thank someone for being so rude. “Is there anything else I should know about the property? Any—”
“Nope,” he pops the P, walking toward his car. “Pleasure doing business with you, Ms. Mitchell.”
And just like that, he’s gone, leaving me standing here in the driveway with the keys to our new life clutched in my hand.
“Mom?” Tommy calls from the van. “Can we get out now?”
“Yes, come on,” I say, shaking my head at the odd transaction that just happend. “Let’s check the place out.”
The boys shove out of the van, Jackson racing toward the front door while Tommy trails behind him.
“Wait for me!” I call, hurrying after them. I turn the key in the lock and push the door open.
The inside isn’t much more impressive than the outside. The living room is small with faded beige walls and scratched hardwood floors. The kitchen is outdated with chipped laminate countertops and appliances that look older than I am.
So much for getting that new stove.
“It’s... kinda small,” Tommy observes, his nose wrinkling.
“It’s bigger than the apartment,” I counter, trying to get him excited. “And look, three bedrooms!”
I push open the doors to show them.
Tommy peeks his head inside each of the three tiny rooms with the same beige walls and scuffed floors.
“And the best part,” I continue, leading them to the back door. “Our very own yard!”
The backyard is overgrown with weeds and surrounded by a rusted chain-link fence, but it’s a yard nonetheless—something we’ve never had before.
“Can we go out there?” Jackson asks, bouncing on his toes.
“Not right now, buddy. We need to start unloading the van,” I say, glancing at my watch. “Dani should be here soon to help.”
As if summoned by her name, there’s a honk from outside, and moments later, my cousin Danielle bursts through the front door, her blonde ponytail swinging.
“Honey! Boys! Welcome home!” she calls out, arms laden with a pizza box and what looks like a small potted plant. “I come bearing housewarming gifts!”
“Aunt Dani!” Jackson shrieks, launching himself at her.
Dani somehow manages to juggle both the pizza and the plant while catching my six-year-old in a one-armed hug. “Hey, munchkin! Like your new digs?”
“It’s kinda junky,” Jackson says, echoing his brother’s earlier assessment.
Dani laughs and hands the pizza to Tommy. “Well, sure, right now. But just wait until your mom works her magic on it. Remember how she made your apartment look?”
It’s true. I’ve always had a knack for making even the most dismal spaces feel homey, mostly out of necessity.
“This place is twice the size of your old apartment,” Dani continues, setting the small plant on the kitchen counter. “And no more sleeping on a pull-out sofa for you, Honey-bun.” She winks at me.
“I can’t wait,” I admit, already imagining having a mattress to sleep on and a door I can close.
Privacy. A luxury I haven’t had in years.
“I bet.” She smirks, then glances over at the boys. “Who’s ready for a pizza party?!” Dani opens the box on the kitchen counter. “Let’s sit on the floor and have a picnic in your new place.”
The boys don’t need to be asked twice. They grab a slice of pizza and drop to the floor before I can even suggest they wash their hands first.
Boys.
Dani catches my eye and shrugs. “A little dirt never killed anyone.”
I smile and grab the roll of paper towels I packed in my purse, and join them on the floor. The pepperoni pizza from Oscar’s Pizzaria is hot and delicious.
“Can we go explore the backyard now?” Tommy asks after his second slice, the excitement he’s been trying to hide finally breaking through.
“Sure,” I nod. “But stay where I can see you through the window, okay?”
“Okay,” they chorus as they scramble to their feet and race toward the back door. Looks like their earlier reservations about the house are now in the rearview.
“So.” Dani scoots closer, her voice dropping. “Have you heard anything more from you-know-who?”
I sigh, setting down my pizza. “Erik called last night. He’s officially moving to Daytona.”
“What happened to the Louisiana girlfriend?” Dani asks, her nose wrinkling at the mention of the woman he met online.
“Apparently, she dumped him for some other guy she met online,” I say, unable to keep the satisfaction from my voice. “Karma’s a bitch.”
“So, he’s crawling back to Florida with his tail between his legs,” Dani observes, taking a bite of her pizza. “Think he’ll try to see the boys more?”
I shrug, watching as Jackson attempts to do a cartwheel in the patchy grass. “He says he will. His cousin owns that fancy car dealership in Daytona and offered him a sales manager position.”
“Of course he did,” Dani rolls her eyes. “Nothing like nepotism to save a failure like Erik.”
“Dani,” I sigh, not wanting her to go on a tangent again. “He is still the boys’ father.”
“Biologically, maybe,” she scoffs. “But let’s be real, Honey. That man has never been a dad. Not to Tommy, and definitely not to Jackson.”
I can’t argue with her there. Erik’s involvement in our sons’ lives has been sporadic at best. He shows up when it’s convenient for him, makes big promises, then disappears again, leaving me to pick up the pieces of two broken little hearts.
“Well, hopefully the distance will keep his visits to a minimum,” I say, gathering the empty pizza box. “I don’t need him swooping in and turning things upside down.”
Dani checks her watch and sighs. “I hate to run, but my shift starts in less than an hour.”
“Thank you for the pizza,” I say, following her to the door. “And for driving all the way out here to see the new place.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it,” she says, pulling me into a tight hug. “You’re doing good, Honey. This place is going to be amazing once you work your magic on it.”
I hug her back, trying to absorb some of her confidence. “I hope so.”
“Call me if you need anything.” She steps onto the porch. “And I mean anything, even if it’s just to vent about that shitty landlord. What a piece of work.”
“He was... something,” I agree, watching as she bounces down the steps toward her car.
“Love you!” she calls over her shoulder. “Bye, boys! Be good for your mom!”
The boys wave from the backyard, and then Dani’s gone, her car disappearing down the street.
I take a deep breath, surveying the yard, the house, the van still packed with all of our things. It’s overwhelming, the thought of unloading everything myself, but it’s nothing I haven’t done before.
Walking to the van, I pull open the back hatch and stare at the boxes and bags crammed inside. Most are labeled in my neat handwriting. Kitchen. Tommy & Jackson’s clothes. Books.
I grab the first box labeled Bedding and hoist it into my arms. It’s heavier than I expected, and I stagger slightly under its weight.
Whoa. That was a close one.
Finding my balance, I glance into the back of my overflowing van and sigh.
It’s going to be a long night.