Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
I just couldn’t stop myself from looking into motels in the area with pools. It took a while, but I finally came across one that had a sign with an alligator, like Denali had said.
Then I clicked on the pictures.
And saw the reviews.
They weren’t staying at one of the decent motels. Oh, no. They seemed to be staying at the cheapest one. The cheapest one that didn’t have the keyword ‘bedbugs’ in the reviews, at least.
My mind traveled right back to the car. Runa’s beat-up shoes. How she’d packed lunch. The tension in her face in the gift shop.
Money wasn’t just tight.
There might not be enough to function normally.
I’d meant to get answers from Runa at the zoo. About where they’d been. About what had been going on. I’d just gotten so distracted by having a daughter and getting to spend time with and get to know her that I’d let all that other shit go.
Clearly, it needed to move up on my priority list, though.
“This is where they’re staying,” I told Velle, turning the screen so he could see.
While his face did tighten like I expected, he sighed and said in a reasonable voice, “It’s probably all Runa can afford.”
“And that’s a problem.”
And partially my fault. I didn’t know a lot about kids, but I knew they weren’t cheap. They were constantly growing out of their clothes. And all that growing probably meant a lot of food. That wasn’t factoring in things like medical care, toys, experiences.
If I’d been paying child support this whole time, things would have been easier. Or if I’d been accessible to them, so they could move down here and let me take care of them.
“I’m moving them out of there. As soon as possible.”
“You might not want to step on Runa’s toes here. Especially if she has a lot of pride.”
I was sure she had pride. But she would swallow it for Denali. Everything about her said she would do anything for that girl. And I didn’t think she would even pause to think about it if I offered her somewhere nicer to stay.
I turned the laptop back toward me, closing out the hotel search, and looking instead for apartments.
It was short notice, but I wanted some place ready by our next meet-up. In my experience, money talked. If the usual turnaround was two-to-five days to move in, I figured paying the full year up-front would make things move as fast as I wanted them to. Because I didn’t just need to get the keys. I needed to get some furniture for it. Pots, pans, plates, and bowls in the kitchen. A fridge and pantry full of food.
I had a lot to get in motion and was pretty damn clueless about where to even get shit like same-day furniture around this area. The last time I had my own place, ordering a damn couch took six fucking weeks.
“Either of you know where I can get furniture around here?” I asked. “Shit I don’t have to wait weeks for.”
“What you looking for?” Eddie asked.
“Couch, beds, mattresses, dining table, nightstands, lamps…”
“You can get just about all that the same day without an issue. The only thing you might run into trouble with is the couch, but I can ask one of the girls. They would know better than us.”
“While you’re at it, maybe ask what a five-year-old girl might want in her bedroom.”
“You might be overstepping a line here,” Velle warned.
“I don’t care. I’m not demanding they stay there indefinitely. But while they’re in the area, I want them to have somewhere nice to be.”
“You’re gonna rent an apartment for possibly just a week or two of them staying in it?”
“Well, I’m hoping Runa might decide to stay close. I get the feeling that she’s not only here to let me meet my daughter.”
“You think she’s in some kind of trouble? Is that just suspicion talking, or did she say something to give you reason to think that?”
“It’s a few things she said or how she reacted. But also something Denali asked.”
“What’d she ask?”
“If I was going to be nice to her mom too.”
“Hm,” Velle said. “I mean, kids say weird shit. It could be nothing. But it could also mean she’s seen someone not be nice to her mother.”
“Exactly. I’m hoping to get more information on that. But I don’t want Denali overhearing it.”
“Yeah, that’s smart. So, how are you handling all this?” he asked as he walked over to the coffee machine and made us both a cup.
He wasn’t going to give up until I confessed something. “I’m probably still a little in shock about it. But I’m in. I want to know her. Runa seems happy to have that happen.”
“Does she know you’re her father?”
”Not yet. Unless Runa told her now. She asked if she could if Denali asked.”