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"I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner. Clover and I were in the woods doing a training run and got turned around. I didn't have cell service until fifteen minutes ago."
"Clover?" Mom says, frowning. "The Weston girl?"
"The one who's trying to take the gym from him," Amelia says.
"None of that matters right now," I say. "What happened tonight?"
Dad sits down next to Mom like the weight of the world is resting on his shoulders. "It's my fault. I was heating up a roast in the oven and I fell asleep. Didn't wake up until the smoke alarm went off."
"I was in the bedroom with the door closed, taking a nap before my shift," Mom says. "By the time the smoke alarm actually went off, the whole place was filled with smoke and flames were coming out of the oven. We got out of there and called 911, but that smoke alarm has to be faulty. Your dad inhaled so much smoke they took him to the ER."
"I'm fine," Dad says before I can ask. "And the fire department arrived in time to stop the fire from spreading to other condos, but the landlord has kicked us out."
"Can he do that?" I ask.
"He can do whatever he wants," Mom says. "That's the way it is when you don't own your home. Anyone can take it from you at any time."
"They don't have renter's insurance either," Amelia says wearily. "So they're going to have to replace all their furniture and clothes out of pocket, and the landlord has threatened to come after them for the cost of damages."
My heart sinks. My parents work hard, but they used most of their savings to help Amelia get back on her feet after Harper's father took off and decided not to bother with child support. He'd left Amelia responsible for the mortgage payments on a house they never should have bought in the first place, as well as a car. Our parents helped her pay off enough so she could stay afloat without having to short sell the house or get her car repossessed. They helped her get into the little house we're all standing in now.
"You two can stay in my place as long as you need," I say. "And I've got some money set aside. I can help." I should be able to help them and still get the gym as long as I keep working extra shifts at the bar. Tips have been good.
Now, more than ever, I can see how having that gym will benefit the whole family. A regular, reliable income will mean I'll be able to help my family when the need arises.
"We won't touch the money you're saving for the gym," Dad says. "We need to have something in this family that no one can take from us. That's what we should all learn from tonight. Your Mom and I will get everything paid for, it'll just take us some time."
Mom lays her hand over my father's. "We already have something no one can take from us. We have each other, all together again. That's worth more than any property."
Dad shakes his head, looking like he's aged ten years tonight. "I'm not saying I don't appreciate having my family, Doris. But if I'd never been so stupid as to get conned all them years ago, I'd still have my granddaddy's land and we wouldn't be in this mess."
Mom laughs. "Land doesn't put food on the table unless you know how to work it, honey. And property comes with burdens and expenses of its own. I for one would rather have my children and grandchild here with me tonight and no roof over our heads than acres of land."
Mom's always been a bit of a romantic, not a pragmatic bone in her body. It's probably where I get my romantic side from, but my stepfather taught me to be pragmatic as well. "I'm not giving up on on buying the gym, Dad. I can put in more hours at the bar, maybe take on another side job." Realistically, I'm not sure there are enough hours in the day, but I'll figure it out. "What's important now is getting you and Mom free from debt and into a new home."
Dad covers his face with his hands. "This is all my fault. It's my fault we lost the land. I was the one convinced your Mom we ought to believe in Weston's con job." He looks up at me, expression fierce. "I won't be the reason you miss out on your dream."
Mom wraps an arm around his shoulders. "It's Earl Weston's fault we lost our land. He was a criminal and he stole that money from us. And don't blame yourself for that fire. I could have as easily kept an eye on dinner. I fell asleep too."
Deep sadness lines Dad's face. "Getting that gym is more important than anything else, Asher. I'm not going to take your money. You've lost enough on my behalf."
"I've never lost anything on your behalf," I say, my throat tight. "You're the best thing that ever happened to this family." I look to my mother. "Mom, convince him to take my money? This doesn't have to be so hard."
She doesn't even have to say a word. I can see the answer in the firm set of her jaw and hard stare. "He's right, Asher. This gym is what you need to get back on your feet. Neither of us is going to take a penny from you."
My heart aches for them, looking so old and weary before their time, and I know better than to think I can change their minds. "Come on you two, sleep will make everything look better. You want to follow me over to my place? Or you want to drive?"
"I'll drive," Mom says. "We both need to get to work in the morning."
I help them to their feet and lead them out of the house.
***
"Hey," Clover says as she opens the front door of her home. She winces as she steps back to let me in. "How are your parents?"
"They'll be fine. Just shook up." She doesn't need to know all my troubles, she's got enough of her own. Hopefully, Russ won't mind if I crash in one of the back rooms of the gym until I can get my parents into a new place. "Why aren't you resting your knee?"
She shrugs. "This is my mess, I need to clean it up."
