I swallowed, and blinked my eyelids into the air, hoping to control my moisture that was still collecting, sniffling.
“So,” Stewie said, clearly changing the topic away from sadness. “Why were you in my area of town?” He popped a brow, tilted his head and puckered his lips to the side. The man can be either one-hundred percent serious and full of southern wisdom, or one-hundred percent southern sass.
He had no in-between.
“Looking for a place to live,” I exhaled and shook my head. “Even if we weren’t given time to vacate, I don’t want to be up there any longer than we have to be, for both our sakes.”
“By the look on your face when you got here and now, I’m assuming you aren’t having any luck,” his tone held confidence without sympathy, which seemed more bitchy than normal for him.
“None,” rearing back from his reply. “I was heading to the North Side next since that’s where I will be working.”
“You don’t need to,” was his only reply before getting on his feet, walking toward the back door. I followed him out of curiosity. He unlocked and stepped out into the back alleyway, where there was a set of black steel stairs attached to the outer wall to the right of his door that went up to a second-floor grate landing that stretched the building’s width, with two windows and a black door. I trailed after him up the stairs and along the catwalk where he produced a key ring, letting us in.
Stepping into the dark area, Stewie turned on the light and produced an apartment that I never knew existed. The area was split into two. We were standing in the open living space with a kitchen along the left wall and room enough for a dining set and sitting area for a couch and side tables. The back must be the bedroom through one of the doors that was visible with an ensuite bathroom.
In awe, I stumbled over my words, “What– How– Where?” I shook my head out, hoping to scatter and jumble a real sentence together.
Stewie looked smug, the bastard, but answered what I couldn’t seem to ask, “It’s the Owner’s Apartment. The downstairs one didn’t exist. I had it constructed because I wanted to be closer to the desk, so this has been empty since I opened. I almost had the back walls broken down to connect it to the hotel during construction, but something told me then I may need this later.”
We looked around at the clean room, not one speck of dust or dirt to be seen. It had a mixed smell of cleaning solutions and fresh paint from the walls. “I had a feeling you both were going to need to go somewhere and fast, so I gathered the boys. We knocked this out in two days, just in case.”
“Are you serious, Stewie?” Tears were welling up again, not believing what was happening. “I can’t–,” I closed my eyes, feeling my tears break from their dam and trail my cheeks like small rivers, taking in a deep breath of air. The weight that had been pressing down on me, lifted, letting me breathe fully for the first time in a week. “Why?”
I admit, that was a stupid question the moment it came out, but Stewie answered anyway, walking up to me, wiping my face with his thumbs, “Because you are family, and we take care of our own.”He nodded, then looked around, “It’s yours for however long you want it. We will work something out later.”
And just like that, we had a place to live and call home.
Over a place full of rainbows.
Where hearts through time have come to find a place for family, peace, and love.
Charlie crumbled into my arms when I told him the news when I got home. He was already worked up from the day he had from going through his father’s things and packing. I think this just pushed him over the edge, but in a good way.
In relief.
We get to leave as soon as we want to.
David interrupted with his signatureBANG BANG BANG, like he knew I just got home. I hadn’t locked the door and Charlie was in my arms so I hollered, “It’s open!”
He pranced in, like he just had the best day. I don’t know why, he’s been working in a place that could fall on his head in a moment's time. But when he saw us, he screeched to a stop, “Whoa, what’s wrong Mighty Mouse?”
I rolled my eyes.
His little names for Charlie were ridiculous.
“We’re fine,” as I held him and swayed us side to side. “It’s just been a hard day with packing Mike’s things up and I umm,” I bit my lip. Oh God, I didn’t even think about breaking the news to my best friend that I was leaving him on top of this mountain.
Shit.
“What, Jim? Did something else happen? Did someone bother you both?” His eyes narrowed, mixedwith worry and threats, ready to strike anyone down for us. We’ve all been worried about the talk around town about us because of Richard and Karen shooting their mouths off, but more so now because of how visually close we have been seen during the rescue and funeral, even if we tried to hide it.
More reason to leave as soon as possible.
“No,” I shook my head. “Nothing like that. We, ahh…,”
God, this was hard.
“Just spit it out, Jim,” David said, losing his patience.
