“Sorry I’m late.” Twyla grabbed an apron from behind the counter before heading into the kitchen. “I had to walk this morning,” she called. “Someone siphoned off the gas in my car last night.”
“What is going on around here?” Holly muttered. Who stole gasoline out of cars anymore?
“Things are strange everywhere these days,” Paige agreed. “Is it okay if I go check on Charlie? I could call if you’d rather—”
“No, go ahead. Oh! Hang on.” Holly dashed into the kitchen to grab a set of keys. “Twyla? Can you keep an eye on things for about fifteen minutes?” She pointed up and Twyla stretched her overpainted red lips into a wide smile.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Thanks. Paige, I have something to show you.”
She led the way outside and around to a staircase at the back of the building. “I know you like the Chrysalis Motel.” Holly unlocked the dead bolt. “But that’s got to be racking up some serious rent.”
“It is what it is. Nothing’s free.”
“Well, I know it’s not much, but—” Holly pushed open the door and waved Paige inside. “It’s yours and Charlie’s if you want.”
“Wh-what?” Paige stepped forward with such a look of wonder it was as if she’d stumbled into a magical kingdom instead of a one-bedroom apartment. “Holly?”
“It’s small, but it’s clean. And it’s private.” Holly was more than pleased with the cleanup she, Abby and Ursula had done. “I’d been using it as a storeroom the past couple of years, but all it took was some of my grandmother’s furniture. Abby donated the linens and Ursula fixed up the kitchen, stocked the pantry for you. Just don’t start outdoing her in the kitchen more than you already have,” Holly warned with a teasing wag of her finger.
Delicate lace curtains draped the single-paned windows where a scarred desk sat. A daybed took up most of the far wall to be used for either seating or sleeping. The small bedroom was large enough for the double bed and nightstand, along with a bookcase and small dresser, and the bath, well... As long as they didn’t try throwing any parties, the place should be more than serviceable. Personally, Holly envied the old-fashioned claw-foot tub outfitted with a modern hand-held shower wand.
“So.” She slapped her hands together and looked at Paige. “What do you think? Paige?”
Her friend was sitting on the sofa, her pale face streaked with tears.
“How much?” Paige whispered.
“What?”
“How much is the rent?”
“What rent?”
Paige blinked, as if the question held no meaning.
“Paige, you’ve more than paid me with the work you do in the diner. I can’t afford any more hours, but this was just sitting here. It doesn’t cost me anything more than a few extra dollars a month for electricity and water. It’ll help you out, right? Let you start socking some money away. Then maybe you can find a more permanent place here in Butterfly Harbor. If and when that happens, it’ll be ready to rent out.”
“You’re giving this to me.”
“To you and Charlie. Something tells me you’re a long time between breaks.” It felt so good to be able to give someone something they really needed. “Besides, I need Charlie close by so she can keep Simon in line.”
Paige hugged her arms around her waist and rocked back and forth. “This is so much, Holly. Too much.”
“It’s not. Not for me.” Boy, she was on a roll these days. The fact Paige wasn’t taking the offer or the apartment for granted proved Holly’s instincts were dead-on when it came to her new employee...and friend. “We single moms have to stick together. Now—” she held out her hands and wiggled her fingers “—how about you take the rest of the morning, go home and pack up your daughter and get settled in.”
“Yeah.” Paige nodded and swiped her fingers under eyes that continued to spill tears at a dehydrating rate. “Oh, Charlie’s not going to believe this.”
“You look as if you don’t believe it.” Holly couldn’t remember the last time she felt this happy, this lucky. Maybe, just maybe Paige wasn’t the only person getting a break. She thought of Luke’s amused, smiling face as he’d had breakfast with her father and son. The easy conversation and banter they’d exchanged. And how her insides had fluttered as soon as she’d seen him this morning. Loosening up on all that anger and resentment she held on to for so long was paying off in spades. Finally, her luck was turning around.