Absentminded Angel(Divine Creek Ranch 20)(56)

So much for thinking the scales were finally starting to tip a little in my favor.

The musty odor of wet carpet assailed her as she made her way up the water-logged stairs toward the sound of Kendry and Marvin’s voices. Even though she’d made the place into a cozy little home for herself and Whit, there was no denying the fact that it was an old house, with old pipes and wiring.

Marvin looked a little worse for wear as she spotted him and Kendry in the kitchen. He came to her and patted her shoulder. “So sorry, sweetie.” The paneling on one wall in the kitchen had been torn out and a man in a work uniform was crouched down, while one of the firemen held a flashlight for him as he worked on the busted pipe.

Kendry kissed her temple and stroked Whit’s head and said, “When the guys heard what was happening, they came over to help, so I think we can get most of it out for you pretty quick.”

She looked around at the rapidly emptying apartment, thankful that she’d kept it neat and tidy so she had little cause for embarrassment, except for the humble size of her space, which was really not all that embarrassing to her. Several firemen nodded and smiled at her when she said a quick thank you. “What do we do now? What about tonight? We can’t leave my things outside overnight, and I imagine this will take a while to dry out. Do we get industrial fans up here to dry it out? Has the pipe been fixed yet? What’s it like downstairs in your office space?”

Marvin didn’t look very optimistic as he said, “Ceiling tiles are all soaked, some of the paneling is buckling. The office got the worst of it.”

“All your equipment,” she said with a gasp.

Marvin waved a hand. “I’m more concerned about you and your space up here. The plumber says that with the wiring not being up to code and the possibility of this happenin’ again…I’m not sure what I’m gonna do with this place. My main worry right now is getting you and this little baby situated somewhere safe and warm.” Her heart sank as his pessimistic tone registered.

“But maybe if we just rip out all the carpet and get fans in here it’ll be okay.” This can’t be happening. She breathed deep to keep panic at bay. She was not moving home with her dad.

She walked around the small space, cold water soaking into her work-worn flats from the carpet, and shuddered. It’s supposed to dip below freezing tonight. I can’t keep Whit warm in this space even if they remove the carpet, run fans the rest of the day, and I run the bathroom heater all night. We’ll both be sick.

Suck it up, buttercup. It’s that or call Dad.

She sat on a straight back chair and cradled her forehead for a few seconds as she tried to think. Whit patted her cheek with his pudgy hand. She knew she was just delaying the inevitable. “I guess I need to call my dad and tell him we’re moving home.”

Kendry squatted down by her chair. “What about another rental? If we call around we may be able to find another apartment or a small house for rent.”

Her cheeks heated up as she whispered, “I can’t afford anywhere else. I emptied my savings buying fabric and supplies. The only way I’ve made ends meet so far has been because Marvin gave me a great deal on the rent.”

“Kitten?” Kendry said as Jared joined them. “We may have a solution.”

“We just don’t know if it’s one that will interest you,” Jared said with a dry chuckle. “I hope you’re not superstitious.”

“Huh?”



* * * *



Presley Ann stood in the entry of the small rock cottage, looking decidedly unsure of herself. Whit’s head bobbed as he looked around the dim space. Thinking it might help to shed a little light on the subject, Jared moved around the small living room with Kendry, opening curtains and propping windows open.

“It needs a good airing out,” Jared said. “But if you think it might work, it’s yours. All of the furniture came with the place, so you can use whatever you want. ”

Earlier at the apartment, with the slump of defeat in her shoulders, she’d said it was time to call her dad. Jared knew that the thought of moving home, even temporarily, bothered her. And he’d felt guilty for forcing her to spell out the fact that she couldn’t afford to move. If he’d thought she would accept, he would’ve offered to move her into their house. Then he’d remembered about the mother-in-law cottage.

“So…she died here?” she asked as she looked around at the ceiling, the sheet-draped furniture, and the dusty carpet.

“Yeah.”

“Was she…”

Jared chuckled at the slightly worried look in her eyes and her questioning tone. “No, she wasn’t murdered. She just died of massive heart failure in her sleep. When he showed us the place, the real estate agent made a point of clarifying that, since he knew we were considering buying it rather than just leasing it. You never answered me,” Jared said as he parted the metal screen to investigate the interior of the small fireplace.