Chapter 11 #2
"You don't happen to know of any places for rent, do you?" she said, and it took him a little bit to understand that she was not saying good night. Here he was trying to figure out how to extend their time together, and all he needed to do was pay attention and answer a question.
"No. I'm sorry. I really don't." Even as he said that, he thought of the old farmhouse. There wasn't anyone living in it since Bryan had moved into the new house when their parents sold out and moved to Texas. He supposed he could rent it to her.
"That's too bad. I'm staying in a hotel, and I definitely can't afford it.
Funds are running low, and I'm not even going to start my new job until after the holidays.
" She abruptly stopped and then shook her head and put a hand up.
"I'm sorry. That is not your problem. I.
.. just if you see anything or hear of anything?—"
"The farmhouse is empty. It's perfectly fine to live in. Lauren wanted to be close to the candy shop when we got married, and I moved out. My brother moved into the new house when my parents moved to Texas, and it's been empty ever since."
"I hate to talk about money, but it would probably depend on how much you're charging as to whether I say yes."
He hadn't considered renting it out and had no idea how much he should charge. And to top it off, he didn't want to charge too much and have Kate turn him down. Somehow, having her there seemed very, very important.
"I could use some help in the candy shop. But I haven't been making enough money to pay for it. I... wouldn't be putting you on payroll or anything."
All of the hassle and extra money that it would take for him to do payroll had discouraged him from even trying. But if they bartered help in the candy shop for rent, it would save him needing to pay her or do the payroll setup.
"I don't know that I could help you that much. I will have my full-time job after the holidays."
"It wouldn't be that much. Honestly, whatever you could do would be wonderful, a huge help."
"Are you sure?" she asked, biting her lip.
He tried not to allow his eyes to dwell there, but met her gaze.
"I'm sure. You could also help some with Lilly if you’d like. We can talk again after you start making money, and when work slows down after the holidays."
"That's fair. Okay. That makes me feel a little better. And I definitely can get some time in now, since I'm just observing, and now I have the community Christmas festival that I'm working on. But beyond that, I'm wide open and I would have some extra hours."
"All right then, it's a deal. I can show it to you tonight if you'd like. I haven't been out there for a month or more, but it's livable."
"Why don't you just give me directions? And if it's truly okay with you, I'll just go stay there."
He wouldn’t have to have Mrs. Abernathy stay longer with Lilly, which he would appreciate. Although there was a part of him that didn’t want Kate to go out alone, even though it was perfectly safe. "That would work out great. Sounds good."
"Is there a key or something?" she asked.
He laughed. "Don't laugh, but the front key is under the mat. It's not like we get a lot of visitors out there, and there's nothing to steal."
"Oh. Okay. I won't laugh."
Very cliché. He knew it, but that's where they'd always kept it.
"You won't be alone. My brother goes around and checks on it almost daily. He farmed the fields this year, and he's over there for that, too."
"I get it. Okay."
"If you give me your number, I'll text you the address. GPS will take you right to it."
She rattled off her number. He had to admit, it did not make him sad to have it.
"Thank you," she said.
She pursed her lips, as though thinking about something, and then she said, "Would it truly be okay if I worked with Lilly some? I mean, in an unofficial capacity. I don't actually start at the school until after the holidays, but Lilly is special."
"I'm glad you think so," he said, her words bringing a smile to his face.
"And yes. Absolutely. She seems to like you a good bit, and if you think there's anything you can do to help.
.." He allowed his words to trail off. He couldn't deny that his heart skipped a few beats, thinking that someone would be able to help Lilly.
He had done everything he could think of, and most of the time when he took her to specialists, they said to just allow her to heal in her own time.
But surely there was something he could do to help his daughter through the trauma of losing her mother.
It thrilled him to know that there was someone who was willing to help.
"Any time you spend with her can be put toward the rent."
She waved her hand in the air. "Don't worry about it. I... this is what I do. It's what I love."
He sighed an internal sigh of relief. He had been afraid that he wouldn't be able to afford it.
"I can't allow you to do that for free."
"I insist. And you're helping me out of a huge bind.
I don't have enough money to continue to stay at a hotel, but I also don't have enough money to come up with a down payment, security deposit, and pay rent on a house or apartment.
And there's nothing here anyway. The closest place I've been able to find is an hour and a half away. "
"I guess we're even then."
"I haven't done anything yet. I haven't helped you in the shop, and I haven't done anything for Lilly either."
"Just the fact that you're interested makes me happy."
She smiled at him, and they shared a look that seemed a little longer than strictly necessary.
He didn't know if she was feeling anything like what he was, but he wanted to reach out, to touch her, to share more than just smiles and looks.
To share a physical touch, something that connected them in a tangible way.
But instead of reaching out, he fisted his hand and nodded as she said, "I better get going. Thanks again."
"Text me when you get there, and let me know that everything's okay."
"I will. But as long as there's some kind of bed, even if it's just a couch or a blanket on the floor, I'll be happy."
"I want to know if there's heat, running water, and electricity.
Okay?" He lifted his brows until she nodded.
He could just see her going out there and not even being able to get in and sleeping in her car in the driveway.
That seemed like something Kate would do.
She didn't seem like a fussy, particular kind of person, but the kind that rolled with things and did her best with whatever was set in front of her. He liked that.
He didn't want to, but he watched her as she drove away and her tail lights faded out of sight down the street. There was something about Kate.