by Allie Kay
Mateo sang every song he knew at least three times as we travelled across the state to Garden Falls. When he’d tired of those, he moved on to the songs he made up. Some were remakes of nursery rhymes, but with new lyrics, others were one hundred percent Mateo originals. Sometimes, when Mateo dozed off, I’d let the window down and listen to the wind rushing by. The wind, to me, seemed to carry a new freedom. A relaxation that had been missing for so long.
“I’m sorry for your wait, Joy,” the director, Amanda, said as she stepped back into the small office, her heels clicking loudly on the highly polished floor and pulling me out of my introspection. “I was reaching out to a realtor contact to see if she had some, shall we say, off the books rentals. Places that don’t ask for a credit check just to get in the door.”
“And?” I held my breath and waited for the young woman to respond. She seemed young to me for running a shelter, but there was a kindness to her eyes that made me think under different circumstances we could be friends.
She smiled sadly. “There really just aren’t many options in your budget with a safe neighborhood for Mateo and that don’t require a credit check. Not that there are many ‘bad’ areas in Garden Falls, per se. I mean, there is the trailer park and the apartments going toward Cantersville that aren’t where you’d want to raise a kid. But, in general, the crime rates here are low. Like most small towns, drugs tend to be our biggest issue. It’s just that the rental market here tends to be higher end near the lake, or efficiencies near the college. Looking for a two bed with a yard? Well, I’m sad to say there just isn’t much demand for those properties.”
I closed my eyes briefly. Garden Falls had felt like home the moment I’d driven across the scenic bridge over the bright blue water into the charming historic downtown. The rusted old clunker I’d stashed away for when I’d ran had seemed to think so too. It had promptly decided this was as good a place as any to break down. The mechanic who’d towed the car in had been friendly and had even helped me carry our bag into the motel where he’d dropped us off night before last. I really didn’t want to move on, but if there were no good rental options, I might not have a choice. “Are there any options?” I asked quietly.
“Well, she did find two options. She’s going to meet you here in a bit to show you, if that’s okay. One is only about eight hundred square feet, which should still be plenty for the two of you. It’s right at the top of your budget, but the location is close to everything. Minutes from the lake, minutes from downtown. You could even walk from here, it’s so close.”
“And the second?”
Doubt filled her eyes. “The other is a big older house that’s been converted to a duplex. The realtor said it has a huge fenced-in yard, lots of trees.”
I perked up at the description of the second property. I didn’t mind an older duplex and a fenced yard sounded perfect for Mateo. “The duplex sounds good. How much is it?”
“It’s only $750 a month. There is a bit of a downside the realtor felt I should mention.” The director bit her lip and looked unsure if she should say anything. She seemed to argue with herself for a moment before lowering her voice and adding, “This is just one cranky old realtor’s opinion, but she showed this particular unit one day last week. The neighbor in the front unit? Well, he’s apparently a bit... uh... rough around the edges. So, take that with a grain of salt, if you will.”
I bit my lip in thought. I’d had more than enough of rough men in my life, and the last thing I wanted was to put Mateo, or myself, into the sights of another man’s ire. But otherwise, the duplex sounded like just what I wanted. With only two potential options, I could hardly reject either sight unseen.
A few minutes later, after Amanda introduced us to the chubby older realtor, we were in the car again. I drove behind the realtor’s car to the first option. It was not far from the shelter and right on the corner of one of the main streets, which sent a spark of concern flying through me. Walking distance to everything, I remembered the realtor listing as a positive. Shaking my head, I pulled into the parking lot. We hadn’t even made it into the building and I already had serious reservations. Not a good sign.
Once parked, I got Mateo out of his car seat and he looked up at the big multi-story building with a bit of awe in his eyes. “Mama, that’s the biggest house I never saw.”
I ran a hand over his messy little mop of hair. “It’s an apartment building, sweetie. Lots of families live in this one building.”
He scrunched up his little nose. “Oh. Do I have to share my toys with them?”
I sighed. Every day I saw more signs of how sheltered our lives had been. At four years old, Mateo had never been inside an apartment building. Ricky and my parents had set certain standards and only things that met them had been acceptable. “No, honey. You won’t have to share your toys, unless you have a friend over. We would each have our own area. It’s kinda like a house inside a house.”
The realtor laughed and led us up a couple flights of stairs.
“No elevator?” I asked.
“Afraid not,” the older woman puffed, the stair climb getting to her. “The unit I’m showing you is on the fourth floor. The view of the town is amazing though. The buildings in the back of the complex here actually overlook the lake.” She stopped at the third floor landing and pointed. “If you look between the buildings there, you can just see the water. I wish I were showing you a unit in one of those buildings, the view is just to die for.”
“Mama, my legs is tired. Are we there yet?” Mateo tugged at my hand. Unless the duplex fell far short of the realtor’s admittedly scant description, I didn’t see this being an option. Near lake view or not. Getting Mateo and even a day’s worth of groceries up all these stairs would be backbreaking. The apartment would have to be absolute perfection to make it worth this climb.
Finally, we reached the fourth floor and the realtor stopped in front of a door with the numbers 403 engraved on a small bronze plaque. She fiddled with a box hanging from the knob until it popped open and a shiny key fell to the carpeted floor.
Picking it up, the realtor let us into the apartment. “Here we are. This sweet little apartment has beautiful solid surface countertops. And the kitchen is open to the living room.” She walked into the small kitchen.
I looked around. Not much storage space, but the dark cabinets were pretty. The light cream countertops did provide a nice contrast, but weren’t really my taste. Not that I expected to find a place I absolutely loved when looking at rentals…
Standing in front of the stove, I tried to imagine myself cooking in the small kitchen. I would be able to keep an eye on Mateo while he played in the living room, so that was a positive. But this was not a kitchen I’d want to spend a lot of time in.
“In just a second, I’ll show you the lovely handmade tile in the bath. But first, look at this adorable little balcony. It has the cutest little wrought iron rail overlooking the historic district of town.” The realtor slid open the glass slider and stepped out onto the balcony, waving her hand out toward the view.
Mateo started for the balcony and I snatched him up quickly. I stepped to the door with my son in my arms. The balcony did not look particularly safe for small children. The top of the rail rose only just above his head and there was a gap at the bottom between the railing and the decking big enough to send a shiver of concern creeping down my spine. The view was nice, if you overlooked the grocery store parking lot just below. Beyond that I could see some of the older brick buildings around the town square, the park-like center littered with bright fall leaves. The view did not quite make up for the questionable safety of the small balcony.
“I wonder if my cars will break if I push them off that rail?” Mateo asked, his innocence and fearlessness adding to my unease. “We are way high up, Mama. Like the birds!”
I stepped back and turned to the bedrooms. “Let’s see how much space you’d have for your cars in the bedroom instead.”
The small maste
r bedroom was on the right and had a door that led out onto the balcony as well. It would do, but it certainly didn’t sell the apartment. I put Mateo down and we stepped into the smaller bedroom. It had a tiny window that looked down to the parking lot and a small closet. With a twin bed and a dresser, there wouldn’t be much play area for Mateo.
“What do you think, buddy? This would be your room. Does this feel like home?” I sighed again. I looked around at the crisp white textured walls and windows without proper window sills. There was an air of formality that made me question how Mateo would fit in here. It would take a lot to turn this cold apartment into a warm, cozy home.
The realtor didn’t let Mateo speak before she butted in with her thoughts. “This room is just perfect for a little boy. Isn’t this place just too cute for words? You guys will be so happy here. There’s a small shared play area at the opposite end of the complex. There’s an on-site laundry next to the office—”
I interrupted her. “Wait... I have to carry the laundry up and down all those stairs?”
The realtor flinched. “It’s a bit of a downside, I know. But everything else about this place is just so perfect that it’s hardly a sacrifice.”
“Hmm.” I couldn’t say that I’d agree with that statement. But, if nothing else, I’d have the firmest ass on the planet climbing those stairs all the time. Still, this place didn’t spark any joy within me. “I’d like to see the duplex before I decide though.”
The realtor huffed a bit, clearly put out that I didn’t feel the same way about the apartment as she did. “Well, we will drive straight over there then. It’s a bit north of the historic district, right on the outskirts of town. Let me lock up here and I’ll meet you at the cars in a few minutes.”
3
Jack
Bright sunlight filtered down through the branches of the old oaks, the light shimmering as a slight breeze stirred the oak limbs. Most of their colorful leaves had fluttered to the ground, decorating the lawn with their autumnal brilliance. Fall in Garden Falls proved once again to be just as beautiful as Sean had claimed it would be.
I’d moved across state last year to the lakeside town sight unseen. A promise of a job and the best friend I’d ever had nearby promised a fresh start that I’d taken a giant leap for. I moved to a town where only one person had heard my name before. Best damn decision I’d ever made.
I grabbed the rake from the shed and headed around the house. The colorful carpet of leaves around the house crunched beneath my boots. I had the day off and planned to use it cleaning up around the duplex. Okay, so I’d requested the day off. I needed a day away from the lure of alcohol in the bar.
Some might think a former alcoholic working in a bar was a bad idea. Too much temptation. But most days, it only fueled my resolve to stay clean. Most days, seeing the darkness in people that I didn’t want to let out in myself again kept me on the wagon.
Sean helped keep me on the straight and narrow. My best friend, and now boss, knew the call of addiction himself. Some days, just knowing Sean got my struggle, knowing Sean had my back and wouldn’t let me cross that line, kept me going.
But then other days... I’d hit the AA meeting at the church earlier, but I might go to the one over on campus tonight too. That combined with some hard labor working in the yard should help quell any leftover urges. After years of enclosed spaces, yard work had become one of my favorite hobbies. Anything that got me out in the bright sunlight and fresh air helped renew my soul. So, the raking would be pulling double duty this time. And the yard desperately needed to be raked. The wind that had come in the night before last knocked the leaves to the ground a bit sooner than a light breeze alone would have taken them. The heavy rain had missed this neighborhood, thankfully, so at least the leaves weren’t a soggy messy. But the bright sun and warm temperatures yesterday and now today should have dried out any lingering moisture.
I stretched and looked over my little domain. The older home had looked magnificent in the soft light of spring. I’d been captivated by the intricate moldings and the little picket fence out front. As a single man, I’d had no real need for a rundown four-bedroom house with two kitchens and over three thousand square feet. But the grand old beauty had spoken to me, whispered of the glory it had once been and could be again.
Bartending in the hottest, okay the only, club within fifty miles gave me plenty of money to fix up the smaller projects at the house. I’d learned the art of slinging drinks fast, and how to flirt my way into better tips with the ladies even faster. My first project had been bringing the kitchens and baths into the current century. It had taken another three months to get it sorted into two solid units, but with the ease to convert back to a single family in the future.
Slowly, I was bringing out the character hidden beneath years of neglect. I wanted to rent the back unit out and put that rent money toward a new roof. But for that plan to work, first I needed someone to rent it.
The realtor had called about bringing a potential tenant over this morning. So, I started work on the side with the back unit entrance, hoping to clean it up enough before they showed to make a good first impression. I raked up two huge piles and stopped to wipe the sweat from my brow. Definitely more leaves than I’d estimated.
A trio of little brown birds came to peck at the swath of newly uncovered grass. These late morning hours had become my favorite time of day. The sun was up and bright, but not yet at full brightness above head. Birds still sang, their twittering songs musical in these slow hours. There was little hustle and bustle this time of day, one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. After a moment, I picked up the rake once more.
The fourth pile of leaves was well under way when the crunch of tires on the gravel drive caught my attention. I stopped raking and looked over at the driveway. The realtor’s ad-covered Smartcar had pulled in first, with an older sedan that had seen better days right behind it. Based on the flecks of paint remaining, the beat-up car might have once been blue, but the majority of the car was the dull gray of bare metal or a rough, rusty orange.
The door squeaked before popping loudly when fully opened. My heart raced when an attractive blonde rose out of the clunker. Damn. I sucked in a breath when she pulled her jacket off and tossed it into the front seat. Those curves... Wouldn’t mind looking at her on a daily basis. Having a thing with the girl next door would certainly make things convenient with the crazy hours I worked. The wind kicked up and ruffled those beautiful blonde locks. I could just imagine her hair draped across my bare chest, tangling it around my fist as I kissed her.
She opened the back door and a small boy hopped out. Damn. I wasn’t so sure about the kid thing. Nobody would ever think of me as father material, least of all myself. That killed some of the fantasy. I’d gotten ahead of myself. I didn’t even know if she was single. Even if she was, she was a mom. I didn’t do moms. I thought back to another blonde mom with a little boy I’d met. My memories of that day were clouded with the fog of pain from my broken arm, but if I could bump into that pair again, I’d maybe reconsider my stance on dating a mom. If I even recognized them.
The kid looked at the yard and squealed running toward the leaf pile closest to the driveway. His mama caught him with an arm around the waist just before he could dive in headfirst. Light-hearted laughter carried across the yard on the breeze as the blonde swung the child through the air.
Despite my reservations about dating a chick with kids, I couldn’t help the smile that turned up my lips at the sight. A longing rose in me that I couldn’t name. Before I could identify it, my thoughts were interrupted by a loudly cleared throat.
“Ahem.” My eyes shifted to the realtor and when we made eye contact, she shook her head at me disapprovingly. Apparently, smiling was against the rules. Stupid old bitch hadn’t figured out that I was more than just a tenant yet it seemed.
I waved a hand at her and went back to raking. Whatever. If she did know more about me, she’d probably like me even less an
yway. Prison records didn’t give the best impressions, after all. And she seemed like the type of snooty bitch that would forever throw my past up in my face. So, fuck her and her uptight attitude.
“Hiya, Mister.”
I looked down at the little boy and a spark of recognition triggered deep in my brain. I’d seen this kid before, but where? My time in Garden Falls had been spent pouring drinks behind the bar at Garden or working on this place. Frequenting places where children hung out wasn’t part of my norm. I ran through trips to the grocery store, or the infrequent meals at the diner alone, but couldn’t quite put my finger on where I might have bumped into the little guy.
“Hey, kiddo. How you doing?” I let my gaze roam back to the boy’s mother. She stood talking to the realtor who pointed at the back door.
“Mama and me are moving here.” The little one looked up at me and cocked his head to one side. He narrowed his little eyes into some approximation of a glare that just wasn’t quite angry enough to be effective. “Where do you live and what are you doing with my leaves?”
With a laugh, I waved a hand at the front of the house. “My house is the front and upstairs part of this house. Most of the downstairs is empty though, so maybe you and your mom will move in there. We could be neighbors. And we’d have to share the leaves, I suppose.”
“Mateo!” The woman hurried over to her son and eased him behind her slightly. She looked up at me and apologized, her eyes shuttered from all emotions, but not before I saw that hint of concern as she rushed to her child. “I’m so sorry. I’ve talked to him about stranger danger, I swear. I’m Joy.”
When she said her son’s name, the memories came rushing back. The reason for our initial meeting popped into my mind. I scanned her quickly and then ran my gaze over the little boy. He’d grown a lot since our first meet. Today, thankfully, there were no visible injuries on either and I breathed a sigh of relief at that. My thoughts from a moment ago were at the forefront of my mind. Could I make it work with a single mom? I’d spent many a long hour daydreaming about this particular woman. She was the one mom I might be willing to try the dad thing for.