“I was going to tell you after you got back from your father’s this weekend.” She sure hadn’t wanted to upset them right before they left. “Let’s go upstairs and talk.”
Bella had underestimated the power of small-town communication. She should have told the boys right away. She asked her part-time helper to watch the store, and led the boys up to the apartment. The boys slid into chairs at the kitchen table. Timmy looked near tears and Jeremy glared at her.
“The building has been sold. We’re going to have to move.”
“Again? You’re making us move again?” Jeremy voice held barely contained aggravation. “We just moved here. You made me share a room with Timmy. Will I at least have my own room when we move?”
“I don’t know where we’ll live permanently, but for a while we’re going to move in with Uncle Gil. You two will have to share Gil’s old room.”
“I don’t want to share a room. We have our own rooms at Dad’s.” Jeremy’s eyes flashed with anger.
“I know this isn’t what you want, but it’s what we have to deal with. I’m going to have to move the store, too.”
“I think living with Uncle Gil will be cool.” Timmy looked up at her and she smiled at him.
“Shut up, Timmy. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Jeremy Hardy. You will not talk to your brother that way. Or to anyone. We don’t say shut up. Tell him you’re sorry.”
“Sorry.”
Not even a bit of truthfulness came through but she didn’t want to get into an argument on manners right now.
“I know there’s been a lot of changes for you boys in the last few years. For all of us. I’m sorry. I know it’s been a lot to deal with.” She reached for Jeremy’s hand, but he snatched it away. She wished she could make things easier for the boys.
“So, by the end of the month we’ll move to Gil’s. I’ll look for a new place for us to live and a new place to open the store. I’m going to bring up some boxes from the store and you can start packing your things when you get back from your dad’s.”
“Can I take all my stuff?” Timmy asked.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
“I think this is stupid. I’m tired of moving. I’m tired of going back and forth all the time.” Jeremy scuffed his feet on the floor.
She knew he hated change. He always had. She felt sorry that she had to uproot him again, but it was just the hand they had been dealt. “Jeremy, it’s just for a little while. I’ll try to find us a place that we can live in for a long time.”
“Right.”
“Jeremy, I know you’re upset, but don’t use that tone with me. I’m doing the best I can. I love you guys no matter where we live.”
“I love you too, Momma.” Timmy reached over and grabbed her hand. “Can we move to Uncle Gil’s right away?”
“By the end of the month.”
She heard a horn beep out back. Rick must be here to pick up the boys.
“That’s your dad. Go get your stuff. I hope you have a great weekend.”
“We will, Momma.” Timmy hurried off to get his backpack.
“I will. I’ll have my own room at Dad’s and won’t have to share it with Timmy.” Jeremy flung the words at her, and left to get his things.
Timmy gave her a big hug before he went clambering down the stairs. Jeremy left in stony silence.
She sat at the table, unwilling to move. Tired. Very tired. Worried about Jeremy being so unhappy, but knowing it was a life lesson that had to be learned. Life throws curves sometimes, like his parents getting divorced, and now having to move again. She’d have to help smooth things over with him during the transition.
She pushed up from the table and cleared some dishes that were still out from breakfast. They’d been running late this morning, and she hadn’t even had time to clean up the morning mess. She tidied up the family room area off the kitchen. This apartment was small, but it had been just fine for her and the boys. She was going to miss it.
The phone rang and she went to pick it up after the third ring.
“What’s this I hear about you moving the boys again?”
“Hi, Rick.” That hadn’t taken long.
“Don’t you think they’ve had enough change in their lives?”
Rick had evidently and conveniently forgotten that he was the one who had asked for the divorce.
“The building was sold. I’m going to have to move.”
“What are you going to do about the shop?”
She didn’t owe him an explanation. “I’ll figure it out.”