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She puts the Bronco into reverse and backs out of my driveway. A loud sigh escapes her lips as she switches the transmission into drive. The slight rattle does not escape me, but I don’t mention that I heard it. She seems to have enough on her shoulders right now without recognizing her transmission is having trouble, too. A look comes over her face like stone as if she set her focus even harder on the route to downtown.
“Kate.” I do my best imitation of my mother’s soothing, comforting voice. “Tell me what’s got you so sad.”
“Ooooh…” she says slowly, as if she was making a decision whether to tell me or not. A tear tumbles down her cheek. “It’s just…” She sucks in a ragged breath. “I love where I live now.”
I wait. She falls silent as if that explains everything.
My eyes dart to the rearview mirror where we can look at each other. “Okay?”
I hope that prompts her to continue, but she seems more focused on the road instead.
“Kate? What is it about where you live?”
She draws in a long heavy breath and lets it out just as slowly. “I’ve lived there ten years. It’s home. I don’t want to move.”
“Move?” I blink. “Why would you have to move?”
“It’s a long story.” She sighs.
“Well, we got a few blocks to go.” I gesture as if I’m checking the time on my watch and smile up at her reflection. “I’ve got time.”
Her eyes dart into the long, narrow mirror. She looks so uncertain, it breaks my heart. I feel such fondness for this woman everyone calls Crazy Kate. She’s a fantastic person. So kind and willing to help at the drop of a hat. Well, of course, I’m paying her to drive me around but still, she’s always available. I’ve never quite figured that out about her, but I sure appreciate it.
She sighs, and returns her gaze to the road. “Yeah.” She turns onto Main Street. Cindy’s office is down by the high school so we still have several blocks to go.
“Kate, if you don’t want to move… why do you have to?”
She hiccups. “The landlord is selling my house.”
“Oh.” I think quickly for something positive to say. “Maybe whoever buys it will let you continue to live there.”
“No, the realtor already told me they want it empty to be able to stage it and have an open house by the end of the month.”
I nod. The answer to that seems pretty simple to me. “Why don’t you buy it?”
Her eyes leap to the rearview mirror as if I had asked her to kill a baby squirrel. Her brows slam together and her eyes fill with tears. “I can’t. I emptied my savings last year when…” she blinked and tears barrel down her face. “When my brother was in trouble. I haven’t been able to build it back up.”
I nod. As always, Kate is so generous she hurts herself to help others. My curiosity is prickling to know what trouble her brother was in that took her entire savings, but I know it’s none of my business. So, I don’t ask. All I really want to know is how I can help my friend not be so sad.
“Let me ask you one more thing.” I say cautiously, trying not to pry any more than I already have. “Have you looked into it? I understand there are all kinds of programs to help first-time buyers get a house.”
“Yeah.” She says slowly. “I still gotta have the earnest money, and a down payment, a show of good faith, and a steady income. I’ve got the steady income.” She said with a flash glance in the mirror. “You know, cause of my residuals from the program I wrote.”
Program? I jerk back a little. So, she is a hacker! Maybe.
“But I just don’t have, nor can I figure out a way to completely replenish that savings.” She sucked in air. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’d do it again, for Samual, in a heartbeat. Family is family, you know. I just wish he was back on his feet and could pay me back, like he said. Now would be an excellent time for that to happen.” She laughed the saddest snicker I’ve ever heard.
“Wow. That’s too bad.” I say at last as she parallel parks in front of Cindy’s office. “Don’t give up, Kate.” I say as I open my door. “Maybe we can think of something.”
“Nah,” She says with a gravelly voice I’ve never heard from her throat. “It’s not your problem. Thanks anyway. You’re very sweet.”
I smile as I step out of the Bronco. My heart is heavy, but duty calls. Cindy is waiting for me. I’m ten minutes late. Accountants generally prefer a person to be punctual.
“Thank you for the ride.” I tell Kate as she pulls away from the curb, like she has another client to pick up. I purse my lips and turn to enter Cindy’s place of business. I need to get my head into decluttering an accountant’s office. I expect piles and piles of files and paperwork everywhere.
A bell rings over my head as I open the glass door covered by lacy curtains that is pinned against the glass with curtain rods at the top and the bottom so it can’t blow in the breeze. A young woman looks up from the desk facing the wall. “How may I help you?”
Cindy steps out of a doorway toward the back. “She’s here to see me, Lisa.”
