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CHAPTER ONEJaycee
You can’t go home again. That’s what people say, but in her case, it was true. Jaycee Carmichael had made a choice, and she would pay for it. A part of her was heartbroken, but mostly, she was relieved. More importantly, she was free to be whatever she wanted. Barely out of college and just past her twenty-second birthday, she was ready to take on the world.
“Here are the keys. If anything breaks, call me. Number’s on the lease. Rent’s due again on the first. As long as it’s paid on time, you’ll get no bother from us. You won’t even know we’re around other than passing one another in the communal areas.”
“Thanks,” Jaycee replied, flashing him a smile before he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
She looked around at her new studio apartment. It was tiny; not much bigger than her bedroom back home. There was a full bathroom and a small kitchen area with only a microwave and half fridge. Other than that, the room held a full-sized bed and matching bedside table on one side and a loveseat and coffee table on the other. None of the furniture was anything spectacular; just simple pine you’d buy in bulk for places like this.
The place was old, sporting block walls and exposed metal beams that had recently been painted a neutral eggshell color. The large glass windowpanes that made up one side of the place let in plenty of light, but the view was nothing to write home about. She could see all of Seattle, but it was the industrial side of town. This entire building used to be some sort of factory that had been purchased and renovated into these studio apartments. She’d been lucky to get one of them and even luckier to get this one. Though it was supposed to be identical to the rest in its inner design, it had some perks most of the others did not. She had a small balcony that extended past the outer door access to the roof.
“All right, well, let’s get you settled in,” she told herself.
She unpacked her suitcases and made the bed with the sheets and blankets she had brought from home. She smiled down at the large, handcrafted quilt her mother had made for her sixteenth birthday and felt a sadness slip over her. She might never see her mother again. Her father assured her that she wouldn’t, but she liked to believe she’d find a way after things had cooled down.
With her things put away, she sat on the sofa, looking around. It still looked pretty barren, but she’d work on it a little at a time as she could afford. She picked up the laptop she had pulled free of her backpack while emptying it out and powered it up. Fortunately, the Wi-Fi was included in the rental agreement here. Until she could find a cheap TV, she’d have to settle for whatever entertainment she could find online, but she had other things to do right now. She opened her email and typed a note.
I’m here. I love you.
There was nothing else to say. She hit send and hoped it wouldn’t be intercepted by her father. She might not be able to see her mother, but hopefully, she could maintain some contact with her. With that done, she headed out for groceries. Money was tight and she’d have to get through her six-week internship without pay. Hopefully, she’d prove herself worthy of a spot in the organization and it would be worth the long hours for no pay. If not, she’d gain some valuable experience, which would help her find a job elsewhere.
The communal area that made up the center of the building was fairly empty when she left. There were TVs here, but you were pretty much at the mercy of the group. She wasn’t sure how much time she’d be spending down here, but it was good to know she had the option if she got too lonely in her own place. She made her way out the front door and headed down the sidewalk to the small grocery she’d noted a few blocks down. It sucked not having a car, but her father wasn’t about to let her have the one he had bought for her as a teen.
Fortunately, while a car had been a necessity back in the farming community she had grown up in, she could easily get by without one here. She picked up what she needed at the store and returned home, noting that the rec room was considerably fuller now. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was after six. Everyone was getting in from work or school, she surmised. She skipped the stairs this time and got in the elevator, with her bags, heading to the top floor.
