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“Very well.” She smiled broadly, setting Llew’s iced tea on the table with a huge hunk of sweet potato pie.
He knew something had been baked recently. He wouldn’t be rude. He washed his hands in the sink and sat down to enjoy his desert. After a few moments of silence, Ms. Pat asked her question again.
“So do you already have a place in mind, Llew?”
“No ma’am, I mean um, no, Ms. Pat. I don’t. My bus just came in. I was looking through the classifieds for rooms when we met.”
She sat down with her own glass of tea. “You mean when I ‘bout knocked you down.” Her smile was infectious. But he ducked his head and ate his last bite of pie. “Well, since you’re looking for rooms… fate just knocked you upside your head, honey. Because I have a room for rent. It’s not a lot, but I’m proud of it. It’s over the garage, newly finished.”
Llew looked up at her with shock and confusion. How could she possibly offer him a place to stay when— His stomached dropped, and even though the pie was delicious, he wished he didn’t have it in his stomach right then, because it was turning over. He felt sick inside. She was only offering because she didn’t know who he was. An ex-con, a just-released convicted rapist. As soon as she found out, she’d have him out on his ass before he could say he didn’t do it.
“Well, don’t look like that, dear. It may not be what you had in mind, but at least take a look at it first,” she said softly, patting his hand. “Let’s have another piece of pie and then you’ll look.” She was nodding her head while she cut them both another piece.
After Ms. Pat tucked Jimmy Jr. in for his nap, she took Llew to see the room. They walked through a door to a small space before she unlocked the second door. While he walked up the back stairs, she told him that the room was just done and she hadn’t even listed it yet. He almost dreaded it. He was sure he’d love it, but when it was ripped away, it was going to hurt.
She unlocked and opened the door. “You’d have your own set of keys. No one would be able to enter but you.” The smell of fresh paint assaulted his nose as soon as he stepped into the wide space. It was a completely open floorplan. On one side was a small L-shaped kitchenette on a square of tan linoleum; a small, two-burner stove with an oven. The counter was just big enough to hold a microwave, and maybe a toaster. On the opposite side of the stove was a pretty nice-sized mini refrigerator. On the corner was a single sink.
“Go on dear. Have a good look.” She beamed. Was the look in his eyes already saying how much he loved it?
Llew walked all the way inside. His boots making large prints on the brand new tan carpet. He looked out the window at the quaint neighborhood first, and then opened one of the three doors in the room to see a decent size walk-in closet. He’d never have enough belongings to fill it. He closed the closet door, walking back across the room to open the other door, which led to a small bathroom. There was a small oval mirror with a pedestal sink standing beneath it. An organizer caddy for storing personal items sat on the floor between the sink and toilet. The standing shower looked barely big enough for him, but he’d lived with worse. Llew found that the last door led out to small landing and a staircase leading out to the side driveway.
“That way you have your own entrance. You don’t have to use the front door, ya know, and come through the house,” Ms. Pat said from where she stood with her hands on her ample hips. “I knew you’d like it. It rents for three-fifty a month, all utilities included. You’d have access to the washer and dryer in the garage. There’s a doorbell at the bottom of the stairs. It was my son’s idea. If you want to come into the house, just ring it, and I’ll open it up. My son’s a stickler about things like that. Privacy and all.”
Llew didn’t quite know what to say. He did like it and it was well within his price range. He still had some money on his card and his entire paycheck, which Leslie had practically forced him to accept. Hopefully, by the time his next month’s rent came due he’d have a job. Hell, even if it was fast food, he’d do it. Llew looked up at her and nodded his head; telling her, “Yes, I really do like it.”
