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It was a small apartment. The kitchen was surprisingly nice and clean. I saw a bedroom and a bathroom to my right and the living room was straight ahead.
“You guys can stay here,” he beamed, his hands resting on his hips. “I know there’s only one bedroom, but for a temporary thing, it’ll work. I can get some bunk beds for your sister and Tristan, and they can go here,” he pointed to the space where a dining table had probably once sat. “This is where I used to live,” he smiled, looking around the place with a fond look in his eyes. “I like it. Once Olivia got pregnant though, it wasn’t suitable for a newborn,” he shrugged.
“How much?” I asked.
“Huh?” His brows furrowed together. “What do you mean?”
“How much do you want to rent it out for?” I clarified.
He looked at me like I had lost my mind. “I don’t want anything.”
“Trace,” I groaned, knowing I was going to have to fight him on this, “I have to pay you something. I won’t feel right if I don’t.”
“Rowan,” he said my name slowly, staring me down with unwavering green eyes, “this place is sitting here empty and I’m not making any money off of it. You’re not paying me.”
“I have to pay you,” I whispered, crossing my arms over my chest. “I won’t feel right if I don’t. You already let me keep my job, and after everything that’s happened with your brother, I won’t feel right if I don’t.”
He shook his head back and forth forcibly, like a child would. “Nope.” He popped the ‘p’ as he rocked back on his heels.
“Well,” I turned to leave, “I’ll find somewhere else.”
“Wait!” He reached out, grabbing my arm. “Tristan is my nephew, please let me help.” His eyes pleaded with me to give in. “I want to know that you’re all safe. Not just him, but you and your sister too.”
When he put it that way I didn’t see how I could say no. I’d been forced to keep Tristan from him and his family long enough. I didn’t need to do it anymore.
“Fine,” I relinquished. “But if you change your mind and want me to pay, just say so.”
“I won’t change my mind,” he winked, tossing his arm over my shoulders like we were old friends as we walked out the door. “Luca will be here any minute. I’ll leave him here, and we’ll get your things packed and moved in.”
“I already packed everything,” I admitted, shrugging off his arm as I descended the steps. “Most of it’s already in my car, I couldn’t fit everything, but there’s not a lot left.”
It was really quite sad how little the three of us had.
“Cool,” he rubbed his hands together. “We’ll get your car unloaded and you can go get the rest of your stuff.”
“Thank you,” I told him, finally allowing myself to sigh in relief. I had a place to stay with the kids. We didn’t have to spend one more night in that house that haunted me. We could start over new.
“You don’t ever need to thank me,” he smiled, walking towards my parked car.
“Yes, I do, believe me,” I muttered under my breath. Trace didn’t understand how much his simple acts of kindness had meant to me. “It’s unlocked,” I told him, since he stood by my car waiting. I hadn’t bothered to lock the piece of junk when I arrived at work.
He opened the back door, grabbing one of the clear plastic bins I’d used to pack our stuff. I hadn’t had boxes and I’d gotten crafty.
“These are heavy,” he said, unnecessarily, seeing as how I’d loaded them in the car and knew what they weighed, “so let me carry them. It’s a long way to the apartment.”
He was right, but I hated being useless. As soon as his back was turned, I grabbed one.
I knew I wouldn’t make it up the steps without dropping it and spilling the contents, so I left it at the bottom of the steps. At least he wouldn’t have to walk as far with it. That counted
for something.
I unloaded the rest and found Trace waiting for me, staring at the bins as he shook his head. “Didn’t I tell you not to help?” He eyed me, a smile playing on his lips—lips so similar to the ones I missed.
I forced a smile, tucking my hair behind my ears. “I’m not the type to sit back and not do anything. I have to help.”
“I’ve figured that out,” he laughed, wetting his lips. “I’ll get these brought inside, why don’t you head home and get the rest?”
“I can do it later,” I shoved my hands in my back pockets. “I need to work.”
