Chapter 12 #2
She studied her boots. “No need. You gave them the right email. And I did get an invoice.”
“So, what’s the problem, then?”
“It was for one dollar.”
Frowning, I shook my head. “There must have been an accounting mistake.”
“Nope.” She popped the p and took a deep breath in. “I called them to double-check because it was weird. They said that’s all we had to pay.”
How did this suddenly get so complicated? “I’ll talk to Vance.”
“Already did. He said that’s what he’s charging you.”
“But why would he do that?”
Keely’s laughter startled me, and I swerved a little to the right this time.
I glared out the windshield. “What is wrong with you?”
She continued laughing. When I pulled into the parking lot in front of my apartment building, she was wiping tears from her eyes. “You’re oblivious.”
“What do you mean?”
“He usually charges $700 an hour. There is only one reason why he would have refused to charge you his normal rate.”
“I know. You don’t need to rub it in. He feels sorry for me.”
And the worst thing was that I had to swallow my pride and accept his charity.
My car door suddenly opened, and Vance leaned down, bringing us face-to-face. His eyes roamed over every inch of me. “Is everything okay? I saw you swerve.”
God, how could this get worse? He must think I’m a basket case who can’t even drive properly.
“Everything is splendid. Operations are running as expected.”
Okay, now I really need this seat to provide a place for me to hide behind. What in the world is wrong with me?
Vance held out his hand, and I placed mine in it automatically, as I seemed to have been conditioned to do. His fingers gently closed around mine, and he helped me out of the car.
“I’ll unlock the door, and then we can start bringing everything inside.”
I hurried upstairs, avoiding the two broken steps that I’d nearly fallen through the first time I’d come here. “Watch out when you come up. There are two steps that are broken.”
There were three more that looked about ready to collapse, but they should hold for now.
I unlocked the door, cringing at the dingy apartment. I’d already scrubbed it from top to bottom, but there were a few stains that not even bleach could remove. I’d brought a few of the rugs from the house with me to cover the worst of them.
At least I knew the apartment was clean, even though it might not appear so at first glance.
Rushing back downstairs, I climbed into the back of the truck, picking up a box. “Everything can go in the living room. Except for the white dresser and the bunk bed—those go into the bedroom.”
Thad was holding two chairs, Sebastian behind him with three boxes. They stopped, and Thad frowned. “We can put everything where it goes. It’s really no problem.”
“That’s where it goes.” My throat suddenly felt like a desert. “There’s only one room for living, dining, and kitchen.”
Both men gaped at me, and I rushed out of the truck and up the stairs, almost stepping on the damaged steps in my haste to get to the apartment.
This was humiliating. When I accepted their help, grateful for the extra hands, I hadn’t thought of what that would mean.
Everyone would see the place I would be calling home for the next however many years.
Keely came up the stairs when I was on my way back down to grab more boxes, breathing heavily. “I’m”—huff—“not”—huff—“done”—huff—“talking”—huff—“to”—huff—“you.”
“Let’s get everything inside first.”
And then I’d find an excuse not to talk to her. I’d been getting good at evading my friends when they asked questions I didn’t have good answers to.
It took an hour to get everything inside. I stood amid the stacks of boxes, wondering where I’d put everything. The kitchen was tiny. So was the living room. Only a small gap remained between the table and couch.
But since I could neither afford new furniture nor had any inclination to move anything ever again, it would stay that way.
The girls would have to share a room. The only way that worked was a bunk bed, which Addy already owned since she’d begged for one last year. I’d had to get rid of Elana’s princess bed, which I hadn’t told her about yet. But there was no choice.
I hoped the excitement of the move and getting to sleep in the bunk bed would lessen the force of Elana’s anger over losing her beloved pink bed.
Vance’s face grew darker and darker as he looked around the apartment.
“Thank you so much for all your help.”
Four sets of eyes turned to me. There was confused—Keely—and thoughtful—Thad—and frowning—Sebastian—and, of course, angry—Vance. The latter looked ready to break the back of the chair he was braced against.
Thad was the first to unfreeze and walked up to me to give me a kiss on the cheek. “We’re family. Anything you need, you call.”
He waited for me to nod, then left with the promise to let Malena know she could bring the girls back to the house. I wanted them to have one last night there before I upended their lives.
Sebastian was next, giving me a gentle hug. “I know you want to be independent, but you don’t have to do everything yourself. We’re here for you. You say the word, and we’ll find you somewhere else to live.”
I choked back tears. I never doubted that my friends would help me out, but I couldn’t keep taking their handouts. They were too important to me to lose. I wouldn’t survive if they eventually had enough of my constant neediness.
Keely was next, her confusion having turned into anger. She glared at me, then drew me into a tight hug. “You are a stupid cow. Next time, you goddamn call me if you need something. And you can move in with me anytime. Living with three smelly boys is miles better than staying in this death trap.”
“Keely.” My voice sounded like I was underwater.
She hugged me tighter. “I know. And I understand. Otherwise, I’d be dragging you out of here by your ears. But you don’t always have to be strong. And you certainly have nothing to prove. That prick screwed you over. This is not your fault.”
She released me, nodding at Vance on the way out. “Take care of our girl.”
“I intend to.”
His words were spoken as if he was making a vow. He seemed to be going above and beyond for a client who wasn’t even paying him. Something else I had to confront him about.
That’s a tomorrow-me problem. Tomorrow me might have better strategies to deal with her life than today me.
“Any dinner requests?”
Vance’s question startled me. I was too tired to figure out why we were talking about dinner like we’d always planned to eat together. And why is he still here?
When I didn’t answer, he tried again. “Do you want pizza? I’m sure the girls will be hungry, and it’s the quickest.”
My brain still seemed to be misfiring. “Pizza?”
Vance grabbed the key off the kitchen counter, then took my hand on his way past. I had no other option but to follow.
He walked me outside and closed the door, frowning at the flimsy lock. “I’ll get a few deadbolts and a new lock. Do you need the key tomorrow morning?”
“No, I don’t think so. I was planning on coming back with the girls in the afternoon.”
“I’ll sort out the lock in the morning and then come and get you and the girls. There might be more stuff you want to take with you, and that way I can help you carry it.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I can manage.”
There wouldn’t be more stuff even if I wanted to bring it, since it wouldn’t fit. There was already too much in the apartment. But I couldn’t bring myself to throw out my mom’s antique teacups. Or the rocking chair my dad had made for my mom when she was pregnant with me.
“It’s no problem.” He held my car door open for me. “I’ll pick it up on the way to your house.”
“Thank you.”
He gave me a brief nod as I slid into my seat. “I’ll see you in about twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
He closed my door for me and climbed into the truck.
Guess I’m having dinner with Vance.
Addy let out an almighty shriek. “Where is my bed?”
We’d arrived home five minutes ago, and after looking around the house to find out what furniture was missing, the girls had gone to their rooms.
“It’s at the new apartment, ladybug. Remember how we talked about moving? And that we can’t take all our stuff?”
Elana came out of her room, tears in her eyes. “But then why is my bed still here? I want to take it.”
I kneeled down in front of her, my heart breaking. “I’m so sorry, pumpkin pants, but we can only fit one bed. And the bunk bed takes up less room than yours.”
Not to mention they would not be sleeping if they were in the same bed. Them being in the same room would be challenging enough.
Pulling her close for a hug, I kissed the top of her head. “All your toys are already at the apartment, but I left Bruno for you to cuddle with.”
The pink unicorn stuffy looked like it was brand-new since Elana treated it with more care than she did any of her other toys.
Winston wound himself around her legs, and she leaned down to pet him. “Does that mean Winston has to stay here as well?” Her eyes welled up with tears again. “Who will take care of him?”
I’d expected the move to be hard, but this was tearing me apart. “Winston and Orange will be coming with us, of course. They’re part of the family.”
It would be tight, but there was no way I’d be leaving them behind.
Addy joined our huddle, face scrunched up in anger. “I want to take my desk. Where will I do my homework?”
“We can use the kitchen table. It’s nice and big for us all to fit on.”
If we managed to pull out the chairs since the space was so small.
I knew my girls were gearing up for an epic meltdown, but then the doorbell went off. They sprinted away to be the first to open the front door.
Following behind at a more sedate pace, I made sure Winston was locked in the living room before I joined them in the hallway. “Check who it is first.”
Instead of listening to me, Addy pushed Elana to the side and ripped the door open. “It’s Vance.”
Orange joined us as well, wagging his tail in excitement. Vance high-fived the girls, then gave my dog a scratch before he straightened, his attention now focused on me. “Are you guys hungry?”
The girls yelled, “Yes,” staring at the pizza boxes balanced on Vance’s hand.
Then Addy narrowed her eyes at our guest, arms crossed. “Is there pineapple on it?”
Vance’s eyes widened, and I almost laughed at the fear I saw. “I’m not sure I want to answer that question.” He turned to Addy. “Do you like pineapple?”
“I love pineapple. And if there’s none on it, I’m not eating it.”
“Lucky for you, I got a Hawaiian. My nieces and nephews love it, so I figured it was a promising choice. But just in case, I also have a salami pizza, one with everything, and one vegetarian.”
I took the boxes off him, a smile stealing over my face. “Sounds like you’re planning on inviting a few more people over.”
He took his shoes off, looking sheepish. “I forgot to ask what you guys wanted, and you didn’t answer your phone, so I wanted to make sure I got something the girls would eat.”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear it ring. But they love Hawaiian pizza, so good choice.” I walked to the dining room and set the large cardboard boxes on the table. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
He followed me into the kitchen. “Water is fine. I have a conference call at ten.”
I filled a glass with water and handed it to him. “That’s late.”
“My client is traveling and in a different time zone. I don’t mind doing the call late since I’m used to working late.”
I pulled out plates, and he took them from me and put them around the table. When I joined him, Elana and Addy were already sitting in their seats, a slice of pizza in front of them.
Addy took a bite of her slice, looking at Vance. “Can I have salami next?”
Salami? She didn’t like salami.
Vance waited for me to sit down before he pulled out the chair next to me. “Of course you can. There’s plenty there.”
I studied Vance, who held out an open pizza box to me. “Did you put the pizza on their plates?”
He visibly swallowed, then nodded. “I did. Was I not supposed to?”
Taking the offered food, I shook my head. “No, no, that’s totally fine. I was just wondering.”
Addy and Elana tried salami next but took all the salami off before they ate it. And before I could stop them, they’d slapped it all on Vance’s plate.
“Girls, you can’t put your food on other people’s plates.”
Elana frowned. “But we give you the food we don’t like all the time.”
“But I’m your mom. Vance is a guest.”
Vance chuckled. “It’s okay.” He looked across the table. “I don’t mind if you give me the food you don’t like.”
Dinner finished with Addy crying since Elana had more pieces of pineapple on her slice, because of course she counted them. Vance settled the fight by giving her pineapple from what was still left in the box before I could interfere.
Once everyone had finished and Vance and I had cleared the table, I announced that it was bedtime.
Addy went straight up to Vance, tugging on his sleeve. “Can you read me a story?”
“Of course. But do you usually get ready first?”
Once I’d recovered from the surprise of my daughter asking him to read to her, I brushed my hand over her hair. “Pj’s and brush your teeth, then story.”
She didn’t even complain, and I blinked at her retreating back. I felt like I was living in an alternate universe tonight. Seemed like Vance had an effect on everyone, not just me.
“Okay, pumpkin pants, let’s get you ready for bed as well.”
Elana—as expected—ran away. At least one thing was still the same.
Once I’d caught her and dressed her wiggling body, we joined Addy and Vance on the couch.
Addy was pressed up against his side, and I took a seat on the other side, Elana on my lap. In order for her to see the pages, we had to get close.
And that was how I found myself cuddled up on the couch with Vance and my girls.