Wade shoots me a look of surprise. “Not too bad in here.”
“So far,” I say, raising my eyebrows. “Still plenty of opportunity to scare me off.”
“Ye have little faith, young one. Come on. The landlady said she’d meet me at apartment thirteen,” he says, walking down the hallway and stopping in the middle of the T junction, trying to decide which way to go next.
I laugh under my breath and follow after him.
“Ah, yes. This way. See, not too difficult,” he says, straightening his shoulders and taking the left hallway.
We walk down and turn to the sixth door on the left. The small number thirteen looks like it’s been branded into the wall next to the door, which is wide open.
“Hello?” Wade calls out, entering the tiny efficiency apartment.
My eyes flit around the space, taking as much in as possible, until the landlady walks out of the bathroom drying her hands. She’s barely older than the two of us, but her overall aura is that of an old soul, for sure. Her strawberry-blond hair is piled up on the top of her head in one of those messy buns I would kill to be able to pull off and her green eyes flash with mischievous insight.
“Ah, Mr. Hoffman. Right on time,” she says, setting the hand towel on the breakfast bar and thrusting her hand out.
Wade glances down and after a brief pause, shakes her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Sorry, just wanted to make sure the bathroom was sparkling before you arrived,” she says, sensing his hesitation.
“Oh, thanks. I appreciate that,” he nods, shooting me a sideways glance.
The woman steps forward, her eyebrows raised, as she reaches out for me as well. “And you are…the wife?”
“Girlfriend,” I say, eyeing Wade as I shake her hand. My cheeks burn at the idea of being mistaken for a married couple. “Autumn.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Autumn. I’m Chelsea Hammond. I know this place doesn’t look like much, but I’m working on it,” she says, smiling. “There’s only so much I can do at a time, though.”
“It’s actually quite nice,” I say, clasping my hands behind my back and surveying the open floor-plan.
“Thank you. I bought the building last year and I’ve been working on it room by room. I know it looks like a dump outside, but I figure people aren’t living outside, so it can wait. Besides, it keeps the riffraff away, if you know what I mean,” she says, smirking.
“Valid point.” I laugh.
Despite the somewhat small interior of the one large room and a bathroom, the apartment isn’t terrible. New carpet, fresh paint, and an updated compact kitchen are also a plus. As much as I loathe to admit it, there’s not much I can hate on here.
“So, will it be the two of you…?” Chelsea begins.
Wade shakes his head. “No, just me. But hopefully Autumn will visit often.” He turns to me, narrowing his gaze and scrunching the side of his face.
I sigh, dropping my shoulders in defeat. “Of course.”
“Did you want to take a look around? At least check out that bathroom I painstakingly scrubbed, would you?” Chelsea laughs. “It will make me feel better.”
Wade nods enthusiastically. “Oh, most certainly.” He glances in my direction, nodding toward the door.
“Oh, go on then. I have to see this bathroom,” I laugh, shooing him with my hands.
Wade walks inside the tiny space, twirling around with his arms splayed out wide. “Look, Autumn. Not a single cockroach to be found.”
I snicker. He’s right. The bathroom is actually cleaner than the one I have back home, albeit much smaller.
“Yeah, yeah. I admit it, the place is better than anticipated.”
Wade beams, stepping behind me and wrapping his arms around me. “So, does it mean you’ll visit me here?”
“I already said I would,” I say, shaking my head.
“Yeah, but that was when the landlady was staring you down,” he says, placing his chin on my shoulder.
“I can still hear you,” Chelsea mutters from the other room.
I burst out laughing and have to cover my mouth with my hand.
“I like her, too.” I jab my thumb toward the doorway.
“And for $350 a month, you can’t beat it. Not in this town,” Wade says, straightening his stance like he just said he was just nominated employee of the month.
My mouth pops open and I nod. “Wow, that’s actually an awesome deal. How did you manage that?”
Wade shakes his head. “Beginner’s luck?”
“Okay, guys…you’re making me feel like I should rethink my pricing strategy here,” Chelsea says, walking up to the doorway.
“Too late now. I’ll take it,” Wade says, holding out a hand. “Where do I sign?”
Chelsea tips her head to the kitchen counter behind her. “Lease is on the bar.” She steps out of the way, allowing space for Wade and me to leave the bathroom.
Wade picks the piece of paper up by pinching both sides and holding it out in front of him like he’s about to recite the Gettysburg Address.
“You can’t just read it like a normal person, can you?” I say, grabbing it and putting it back on the bar so we can both look it over.
“Where’s the fun in that?” he says, leaning forward and placing his elbows on the breakfast bar.
I shake my head, grinning to myself. Together, we read the document, making sure it’s legit.
“Looks good to me,” he shrugs.
“Same.” I nod.
Without another word, he picks up the pen from the counter and signs his name. When he’s done, he hands the lease to Chelsea.
“Thank you, sir. Now, all we need to take care of is the deposit and 1st month’s rent. Then, all of this glory is waiting to be yours,” she says, widening her arms.
Wade grins, turning to me.
“Welcome home, lord of the manor,” I say, shaking my head.
He chuckles, pulling out his wallet and opening it. “Here’s the check. It should cover everything.”
“Excellent,” Chelsea says, setting the lease and check on the breakfast bar. She digs into her front pocket and brandishes a key. “This is officially yours. I know the first isn’t for a few more days, but the space is open. May as well move in whenever you’re ready. You said the house you’re in is closing, right?”
Wade nods. “Yeah, later this week.”
“Well, I hope it all goes well,” she says, pressing her lips tight. “I’m sure it’s a little bittersweet.”
“Definitely,” he says, taking a deep breath.
Surprised, I take a step back, watching their exchange. It’s obvious he’s talked to her beyond just knowing where and when to meet.
A twinge of jealousy snakes through my insides.
Should I be concerned?
“On the upside, this will make the transition much easier,” Wade continues, glancing around. “At least now I have someplace to move my stuff.”
“Indeed, you do. Well, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to go down to apartment twenty-two. The handyman is installing a new dishwasher and I need to breathe over his shoulder and make him nervous,” Chelsea says, grinning widely and making for the door. “God, I love my job.”
Wade snickers, then looks at me from the corner of his eye.
With a final glance into the apartment, Chelsea raises her hand and waves. “Have a nice rest of the day, guys. It was lovely to meet you both.” Then she trots off down the hallway.
“Yup, I like her, too,” Wade announces.
Despite my proclamation of liking her earlier, again, my gut clenches. I smile softly, hoping it masks the strange layer of possessiveness rearing its ugly head.
Wade walks over to the large picture window on the opposite end of the room. “Well, here it is. My first official apartment rented in my own name.”
“Have you never had your own before?” I ask, surprised. “I thought before your grandpa got sick, you were out on your own.”
&nbs
p; He nods. “I was, but for the most part, I was too young to have my own lease. So I, uh, just stayed with different people.” He runs his hand along the backside of his neck.
I get the distinct impression he’s not overly excited about the way his earlier years were spent, so instead of pushing it, I nod.
“Feels good…but weird. You know? God, I hope I can find a job in town. My savings won’t last super long. Especially considering tuition. Any ideas on where I could apply?” he asks, turning back to me.
My eyebrows rise and I step into the middle of the room. “Well, there’s the library…or the Bourbon Room. Pick your poison. Food or books.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Difficult choice.”
I nod. “Right? I guess there’s always the hospital or nursing home, too. You know, if you want to continue your personal care assistant type work.”
Wade’s brows tug in. “Hmmm… Maybe? I am already certified, so there’s that. I’ll have to give it some thought.”
“Sure.”
Suddenly, the theme song to the television show Lucifer bursts out of Wade’s pocket and he reaches for his cell phone. “Hello?” His face transforms from open to faltering in a matter of seconds. “Oh, yes. Um… I’m waiting on the funds to arrive. I should have it for you—” His eyes flick to me, then to the floor. “Yes, yes. I understand,” he says, biting the side of his cheek and kicking at the carpet. “No, don’t do that. I will definitely have it to you by the end of the week. Yes, thank you. I appreciate that.” He pulls the phone from his ear, pressing the red button and cramming the phone back into his pocket. Everything about his energy has deflated.
“Not good, huh?” I say, walking up to him and placing a hand on his upper arm.
He screws up his face and shakes his head. “Not really. They need my first trimester’s tuition by Friday or they’ll have to open my spot to another student.”
“Will you have the money from your grandpa by then?” I say, trying not to sound as alarmed as I feel.
He shrugs. “Probably not.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I dunno. Pull a bank job?” he says flippantly.
“Wade,” I groan.
“Kidding. Well, mostly kidding.” He steps away, rubbing his hand over his mouth. “I don’t know. I’ll have to call the lawyer, I guess? Figure out if there’s a way to speed up the process. If that doesn’t work, then… I’ll resort to plan B.”
“Which is?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow.
His face turns ashen and his nostrils flare. “You probably don’t wanna know.”
Chapter 4
Desecrated
My pulse picks up speed as I slow down Big Blue and pull into the parking lot for Wade’s new apartment building. I hope to God he’s received good news from the lawyer today. If not, I shudder to think of what he’ll try to do in order to make things work. Especially since he seems hell-bent on not accepting help from anyone.
School starts on Monday and if he can’t pay his tuition today, there’s a good chance the school will give away his spot. After everything, it would be devastating for him. Especially to be this close, only to have to wait until next fall—or longer.
I park the car and take a deep breath, grounding myself for what’s to come. I truly sympathize with his plight. If it hadn’t been for my dad’s surprise payment, I never would have been able to make it work. Just saving for the U was bad enough. The stress will eat you up alive if you let it.
It’s freezing outside today. The temps have dropped below zero and even as small of a walk as it is from the parking lot to the front door, the chill can cut right through you. Making a mad dash from my vehicle to the building, I pull my coat in tight and thank the heavens for such warm gloves. The iron handle of the door is likely to remove skin at this temp. Other than the cold, when I reach the front door, I pull it back and enter without any of the previous reservations I had about the building. It’s funny how much a little perspective shift makes such a big difference.
I walk down the hallway, noticing the old-fashioned sconces along the wall. The decorative embellishments suggest they were created in a different era, which makes me smile. Blackwood Manor is full of the same kind of antiquated decorations, and they add to the overall ambiance of the place. I couldn’t imagine it being updated for a more modern look. It would just seem weird. This sort of decor makes me wonder if the same architects designed both buildings, or if the lighting was just the “in thing” at the time.
As I raise my hand to knock, Wade pulls back his door, ready for me.
“Hey, thought that was you,” he says, swinging it open farther. His eyes sparkle, taking the edge off my nerves about his tuition.
“Really? Was I walking like an elephant or something?” I laugh, dropping my arm to my side and walking in.
He chuckles, twisting around to point behind him. “No, I saw you pull in, thanks to the extra large window currently lacking curtains.”
“Ah, I see,” I say, smiling. “Guess we should make a trip to the store to get some of those, huh?”
“Probably wise.” He nods, closing the door with a click.
“So, go on then. What’s the good news?” I say, unable to help myself.
Wade takes a step back, his eyebrows lifting into his hairline. “Well…”
“Oh no, it is good news, right?” I say, my nerves getting the better of me again.
He flinches. “Yes and no, I guess.”
“Okay, you gotta give me more than that,” I mutter, removing a box from one of his wooden chairs that are butted against his tiny, two-person dining room table. Setting the box on the floor, I take a seat.
He leans forward on the other chair, pressing the palms of his hands against the back of the seat. “Well, do you want the good news or the bad news first?”
“Good, definitely good,” I sputter.
“Okay, then. Good news is,” he takes a deep breath through his nostrils, “I can pay tuition for this semester.”
“Yay,” I say, clasping my hands together as relief floods through me. “That’s excellent news. Are you kidding me?”
“It is,” he says, his expression faltering.
I narrow my gaze. “But?”
“But…” he pulls back, running his hand across the back of his neck. “My inheritance money won’t cover as much as I originally thought. Even with the house sale, the county is taking a large chunk to recoup the costs for having the hospice services come out. So…” His voice trails off and he walks away.
“So…? What does that mean?” I repeat, standing up and following him.
“It means I’ll just about have enough to cover a full year.” His eyes drop to the floor and he presses his lips tight. “And that’s it.”
“Okay, well, that still gives you time. Right? I mean, that’s not terrible.”
He tilts his head to the side, shrugging. “I suppose. But it really just delays the inevitable. I either have a money problem now, or I have a money problem in a year.”
“But in a year, a lot could change. You can apply for scholarships and grants in the meantime. If you get a part-time job, you could save up. There are options,” I say, pressing my fingertips into the tabletop.
Wade steps forward, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. “Have I told you, I love your optimism?”
I press my cheek into his chest and pull him in tight. “Why do I get the impression that’s your way of saying you’ve lost hope?”
“I’m not. I’m just a realist, Autumn. There’s a good chance I won’t be able to continue after this year,” he says, stepping back. “I don’t want to sugarcoat it and make it something that it’s not.”
I shake my head. “No, I refuse to accept that. There’s gotta be something we can do between now and then.”
“There is,” he says plainly.
“What? Anything… Name it, let’s do it,” I say, my eyes wide.
“Come with me to the academy so I can g
ive them my cashier’s check for the year. Then, help make this year the most amazing one ever,” he says, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.
He flashes me one of his trademark winks only he can manage.
I swallow hard. Can I do that? Spend the next year trying to forget that it might be his only year in the school? Or act like it’s no big deal?
“Please, Dru?” he whispers, rubbing his thumb across my cheek. “I need this.”
I sigh, dropping my gaze to the tabletop. “All right. Get your things.”
He bends in, kissing the spot where his thumb just was. “Thank you,” he breathes against my cheek.
I roll my eyes in defeat and stand up.
Twisting around, he walks over to the breakfast bar and grabs his keys and wallet. Then, he moves to the door and swings it open. “After you.”
I tip my head, walking out the door and into the hallway, practically running straight into Chelsea.
“Sorry, dear. Had my head in the clouds,” she says, wrapping her hands around my upper arms and steadying us both.
I shake my head. “No, it’s my bad. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I guess I sorta figured the hallway would be deserted.”
“Fair dues, considering most of my tenants are introverts,” she chuckles. Then her face suddenly turns dark and serious. “Hey, did you guys hear about what’s happening in town?”
Wade steps out, locking the apartment door. When the lock clicks into place, he spins around and shakes his head. “Been holed up trying to get unpacked. What’s going on?”
Chelsea looks to me and I shake my head as well. She leans in, clasping her hands together. “Someone’s been digging up graves in town. And it’s not the cemetery’s gravedigger.”
“What?” I practically snort. “Why would anyone do that?”
She shrugs. “Who knows? My money is on kids. There were two newly dug graves that were desecrated. The ground was completely dug up and the bodies missing.” Her green eyes widen to the point of practically falling out of her head. Even though it’s horrifying news, it’s pretty clear she’s enjoying the gossip of it.
“That’s horrible,” Wade says, his eyebrows tugging in.
Soul Legacy: A Supernatural Ghost Series (The Windhaven Witches Book 2) Page 3