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“All working singles mostly. You might get a noisy party on the weekends, but they’ll usually invite the whole building.”
“I work shift work, three days on, four off,” Jake explained. “I don’t know if I’ll have a party or not.”
“Are you a fireman?” she asked.
“I am. Jake Saint,” he said, holding his hand out.
“I’ve had one or two of your relatives here as tenants,” she replied.
“When can I move in?”
“Today if your credit report comes through okay,” she said. “Do you want to fill out an application?”
“I’m ready.”
Excited about taking this step on his own without mommy and daddy’s approval, he remembered when his brothers moved out, and the production they’d made was laughable. Grow up already. The farther he got from the complex as he drove home, a few memories helped to crumble down his bravado. A picture of Roberta’s stunned face and Big Mike with tears rolling down his cheeks when brother Mike announced he was moving in with his girlfriend Aisling.
“You’re not moving in with anyone,” Jake said out loud. “It’s not a sin to live alone.”
Breaking out in a cold sweat, he would confront the folks as soon as he saw them. Nerves failing though, he turned down a street two blocks from home instead. Three brothers lived on this street: Joey, Tony and Leon. Joey was standing outside with the hose turned on his pickup truck, so he stopped there.
“Ma send you over with food?” Joey called.
“No. Was I supposed to be bringing something?”
“Yes, but that’s okay. What’s up?”
“I found an apartment,” Jake said. “Any advice on how to approach the topic?”
Joey walked to the house to turn the faucet off. “Come inside.”
Jake followed his big brother into the house. They had two children, a girl and a boy. The front room was in chaos, with toys everywhere. A frazzled-looking Candy, chasing after their laughing little boy, came into the living room to greet Jake with a big smile on her face. Joey planted a kiss on the little girl’s cheek while Candy kissed Jake, the little boy tugging on Jake’s jeans.
“Uncle Jake, pick me up,” which he did, of course.
“Come into the kitchen. Instead of cleaning, I’m baking. Let’s have coffee and muffins.”
“And instead of helping my wife, I’m washing my truck,” Joey added guiltily.
“I want a clean truck when we shop for our Christmas tree tonight,” Candy said. “I see a photo op just waiting for us.”
“Can I come along?” Jake asked. “It sounds like a good date op, too.”
“Ha! If you want to bring a girlfriend on a shopping expedition with two kids, you’re more than welcome,” Joey said. “Is that okay, Candy?”
“Of course! Is this Geri we’re talking about? I want to meet her.”
“You’ll meet her. The reason I stopped by is because I just signed a lease on an apartment. Now I have cold feet about telling the folks.”
“They’ll be okay, trust me,” Joey said. “I think they’re getting ready to have some alone time.”
“Plus Roberta wants to get rid of a bunch of furniture, so this might be a great time, actually,” Candy said.
“I can move in anytime, so I might take a load over tomorrow.”
His phone beeped and he read a text from the rental agent that his credit report had come through and all was well. He could pick up the key anytime before five.
“I have to pass on coffee,” he said. “I can get the key. I’ll go drop the bomb now, and maybe Mom will want to come with me. What time are we leaving to get a tree?”
