Chapter 4
Saturday passed in a blur of errands and time spent with Katie at aerobics, which Justine had dearly needed.
Out of breath and out of shape, she added a walk around the neighborhood as the sun set, enjoying the wonder of Fremont in the pre-summer warmth.
Seattle could promise a cold breeze at any time of the year, even in late May, but the weather had held, and she made use of it as she passed by the thinning crowd as storefronts on Fremont Way readied for the night life.
She made a note to try Dreamland Bar & Diner and remembered last night’s driver mention Stampede, a cocktail club. Then she recalled exactly who she was and why she hated bars, the nightlife, and dating in general. Yeah, that would be a no on the nightlife and dating scene for a while.
She hadn’t been lying to Xavier earlier.
Though she secretly found him more than attractive, she didn’t want to sex him up.
At present, she wasn’t looking for more than a friend.
She’d been burned not long ago by a boyfriend she could never satisfy.
And dealing with an ultra demanding boss at work and her father at any given moment, she just didn’t have it in her to have to please one more man.
Justine enjoyed her walk home, the trees and bushes now a vibrant green, bulbs springing to life into rich color, and the sweet smell of life breezing past, carrying the scent of barbecue and beer from a nearby restaurant.
She let herself into the TCA complex and headed for the inner courtyard—the outdoor area enclosed by a security door and walls, yet open above and through a few windows to qualify as a true outdoor space.
The building from the outside looked like a long, boxy rectangle. But inside, on the first floor, there was a cute brick courtyard with a water fountain, picnic tables and chairs, and a bevy of plants making it a wonderful relaxation spot.
She headed for the fountain and spotted a young boy sitting on a nearby bench, playing on his phone. She’d only met two tenants, not counting Xavier, upon first moving in. Kai, her third floor neighbor, and this boy, who lived on the first floor.
He saw her and stared.
After an awkward pause, she waved and said, “Hi. Hope I’m not intruding.”
His bright grin was infectious, his warm brown eyes sparkling. “Nope. I’m just messing around on my phone.” He tucked it away and patted the bench next to him. “There’s plenty of room right here.”
She decided to take him up on his offer and sat, a little surprised he didn’t seem to mind her being so close.
“Are you the new girl?”
She nodded. “I’m Justine Ferrera. I’m living in my aunt’s apartment for a little while.”
“Oh, you’re related to Rosie. She’s nice. Always gives me cookies when I visit.” He flashed her a charming grin. “I’m in high school.”
“That’s nice.” Huh. She’d have pegged him as much younger.
“Yeah, school gets out in a few more weeks.” He nodded, staring at her so hard she wondered if she had a smudge on her face. “How old are you?”
A blunt question, but she answered, “Me? I’m twenty-nine.”
“Cool. I like older women.”
Huh?
“There’s a free concert at Seattle Center next weekend. Wanna go?”
She didn’t know what to say.
Fortunately, a frazzled man who looked around her own age approached, taking the boy’s attention. “Sam, give it a rest.”
“What?” Sam scowled. “I’m being nice and neighborly, like you said.”
The man sighed as he turned to her. “Hi there. I’m Adam, Sam’s uncle. I hope he’s not bothering you.”
She stood and shook his hand. “Not at all. We were just talking.”
“I asked her out, Uncle Adam. She hasn’t said yes yet, though.”
Justine felt her cheeks heat.
Adam blinked. “Were you going to say yes?”
She turned to Sam and shook her head. “Sorry, but I’m busy with family stuff for the next few weekends. And I have a feeling I’d get into trouble if I tried dating a high schooler.”
Adam pinched the bridge of his nose. “He’s in eighth grade.”
“I’m almost in high school. That counts.” Sam winked at her.
She found herself laughing as he scampered out of his uncle’s way and headed for the door to his unit. Once there, he stopped to blow her a kiss.
“Sam,” his uncle barked.
The boy quickly let himself into the apartment.
“I’m sorry for Sam,” Adam said.
“No worries. He’s cute.” She hurriedly added, “Not in a dating kind of way. Honestly, I had no idea what to say when he asked about going to a concert tomorrow. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Good timing on your part.”
Adam groaned. “Between him and Rylan, I’m about to crack. Sam’s twelve going on thirty. Rylan’s the sixteen year old who thinks he’s the boss of his brother and me. I take it you haven’t met him yet.”
“No. Technically, I haven’t met you either.” She held out a hand. “Justine Ferrera. Rosie Gallo’s niece.”
Adam’s expression brightened as he took her hand. “Hey, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Adam Baker. When Rosie told us she was leaving for a few months, the boys were bummed. She’s been super great to us all.”
“That’s Aunt Rosie. Always willing to help out.” Like subletting her place so her pathetic niece didn’t have to move back in with her family. Justine still wasn’t sure if Rosie had truly planned her vacation ahead of time or had just made up the excuse to give Justine a place to stay.
“I’ll say.” Adam studied her. “You look familiar. Have I seen you before?”
“Not on a wanted poster,” she blurted, which made him laugh.
His smile eased the tension on his face and turned him from mildly attractive to handsome.
Yet another man she wanted nothing from but friendship.
Justine wondered if something was wrong with her, because for so many years she’d been what her sisters had long ago termed “boy-crazy.” Wanting a boyfriend, wanting to get married, have babies, live in the dream house.
But after breaking up with her ex and moving out, fantasies of happily-ever-after paled next to the reality of headaches and heartbreak.
“Well, I’d better get back inside. Dinner isn’t going to cook itself. I’ll see you around.” Adam gave her a pleasant smile. “And please let me know if my nephews start making a nuisance of themselves. Sam especially.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine.” She smiled back. “If only dinner would make itself, right? I’m having a PB&J and cutting off the crusts. Fancy, huh?”
He laughed, waved, and left.
Alone, contemplating the soothing sounds of the water spilling from a stone floral centerpiece in the center of the fountain, she wondered about the neighbors.
On the first floor, according to Xavier, lived Top, the crabby super who stared at everyone as if contemplating murder.
Then Adam, a police officer and his two nephews.
Xavier thought something had happened to the children’s mother, so Adam had stepped in to care for them.
Sam was a cute if a little precocious. Rylan sounded like a handful, but Adam had been decent to talk to.
Then on the second floor, she had Xavier in 2C and quiet, introverted Benji in 2B. According to Xavier, Benji rarely left his apartment except to go to his job at a tech company twice a week. A pleasant yet shy man who liked to keep to himself. She could respect that. And Xavier was...well, Xavier.
On the third floor, the irrepressible Rosie Gallo was subletting to Justine. And across the hall, in 3E, lived Kai Strand—internationally acclaimed children’s book author and her aunt’s best friend. Kai had recently left to vacation in Tuscany with Rosie but would be returning sometime in July.
For now, Justine had the third floor all to herself.
Instead of being creeped out at living by herself up there, she felt cozy.
Tucked in with TCA’s quirky residents, from the gruff caretaker to the intelligent and friendly Xavier to the intense yet caring Adam, she felt safe nestled among people with their own problems. Everyone too busy to focus on Justine.
As she left the fountain and cooling evening air, she walked up the steps to her unit and entered, still in shock at how much her life had changed since she’d broken up with her ex.
After a shower and dressing in shorts and a simple tee, she made herself a sandwich, cut off all the crusts, and added an unnecessary hot cocoa with marshmallows, just because she could.
She watched a gimmicky sitcom and laughed with the canned audience, feeling like part of the crowd, which then made her feel that much more alone, taking pleasure in fake belonging.
But then, that was kind of her pattern. Her go-to, her aunt liked to say, to seek acceptance and validation from those who would never give it back.
Her father.
Her boss.
Her ex.
All of them determined to refuse her the affection and approval she craved.
Which had her making what would probably be a huge mistake, calling her mother, the woman who would always love Justine more than anyone in the world, or so she said.
“Hey, sweetheart, how are you?” Jeanine Ferrera asked, her voice light, the sound of people in the background hinting at a crowd.
“Oh, sorry. Sounds like you’re busy.” Justine already regretted the urge for motherly comfort.
“Not at all.” Her mother must have moved, because the sound behind her muted. “What are you up to?”
“Just relaxing. It feels great to not have anything to do for once.” I’m bored, Mom. So bored I’m calling you. “What are you up to?”
“A small party for your father’s new business partner. You should see my dress, it’s so cute. I picked it up on Thursday at that boutique downtown I was telling you about.”
“Nice. You should take pictures and send them to me.”
“I will. But before I forget, you are coming tomorrow night, aren’t you?”
“Tomorrow night?”
“Sunday family dinner. Justine, you have to. We’re going to be talking about Mallory’s wedding.”
“So Angela will be there?”
“Yes. Angela, Scott, Mallory, and of course, Ted. But we won’t talk wedding details in front of him. It never helps for the fiancé to know too much about the bride’s secrets.” Her mother tittered.
Justine didn’t find anything funny about the thought of her sister’s flirty husband-to-be.
But she wanted to be supportive. She loved her sisters, even if she sometimes didn’t like them all that much.
Then again, who was she to judge? Nearly thirty, no husband, no children, and a dead-end job working for a dickhead.
Oh, and no home either, since she’d moved out of her place with Mitch.
Great. Now she’d depressed herself. Time for more marshmallows.
“Justine?”
“Of course I wouldn’t miss a chance to talk about Mallory’s wedding.” Justine paused. “But this had better not be an attempt to set me up again, Mom. I mean it. If I see one guy at dinner I don’t know, I’m leaving.”
“Now, Justine. I’ve learned my lesson. It’s just family and wedding chatter. I promise. Six o’clock sharp, honey. Don’t be late.”
Justine imagined her mother crossing her fingers behind her back but ignored her better sense. Despite their nonsense, she missed her family. “I’ll see you then.”
“Perfect. Now let me tell you about the people at this party. I’ve got dirt on all of them.”
Not caring but kind of—maybe a little bit—interested in someone’s life that seemed to be on track, she encouraged her mother by asking, “Who’s the worst of the worst?”
“Oh, that would be Kathy with a K, who’s sleeping with Cathy with a C’s husband.”
“Well, at least he can keep his women straight. Same name.”
“That’s what I said!” Her mom laughed, and something inside Justine eased.
She might not have the perfect life, but she did have people who cared about her. Life could be a lot worse.