Page 51 of His to Love
“I’m not.” I was. It was getting close to seven and I was anxious to share all of my good fortune from the day with Tyson over a burger. This time, I was getting the one loaded with bacon. But I also wanted to get this taken care of. There were only two, two-bedroom apartments currently available and I didn’t want to lose one.
I met Nancy at the kitchen island and pulled out my checkbook, ready to give her a deposit and first month’s rent after she rambled off her necessary spiel. It was only a few moments before I handed her my check, emptying the rest of my savings, and signed on several dotted lines.
I did it.
I just rented my first home. It was in a convenient location, close to the quaint downtown of Latham Hills as well as the freeway that would take me to downtown Detroit. With my father’s house on the south side of Detroit and my new, albeit temporary, office and Latham Hills on the northern edge, I was extending my commute to the house, but this place was worth it.
“Thank you,” I told Nancy as we shook hands at the front door.
My phone buzzed in my purse like it had done several times while I was touring the apartment but until then, I’d ignored it.
“I’ll call you as soon as your approval goes through,” Nancy said. She locked the door behind us as we exited. “It should only be a day or two, but I don’t see anything stopping this.”
“That’d be kind of you.”
I reached for my phone in my purse and pulled it out as we stepped into the elevator. It buzzed in my hand again, and I frowned when I saw my father’s name lighting up the screen.
A weight fell in my stomach.
He never called me this incessantly.
“Excuse me,” I muttered to Nancy and unlocked my phone. “I have to take this call. Is there anything else we need?”
“Not at all. I’ll send your information in as soon as I get back to the office.”
“Thank you.” I tried to smile but it felt forced.
As soon as I stepped into the lobby of the apartment complex’s main building, I sat down on a red leather couch and hit the redial button. My father answered halfway through the first ring.
“Where are you?” he snapped.
“I’m in Latham Hills looking at apartments. What’s going on?”
“You need to come home.”
My breath stalled in my chest for a moment, but I fought through my fear. “Is it Mom?”
“Just get home. Immediately.”
The click of him hanging up echoed in my ear and I closed my eyes. My shoulders heaved. I just ate dinner there last night. I spent most of the day before over at the house helping Clarissa bake more pies. My mother slept most of the day but was awake and alert for small intervals. How could she already be doing so poorly that I needed to hurry home?
With what felt like sludge weighing down my legs, I pushed off the couch and managed a weak wave to the doorman, Billie. He looked ancient—late sixties, at best, and his hair was completely gray. He sported what had to be the world’s worst comb-over, but he seemed friendly.
I reached my car, parked in a visitor’s spot directly outside the leasing center’s Clubhouse. The complex also housed a small workout room which I would most likely rarely see, but I also knew it had a pool and hot tub, which I was looking forward to using often once summer hit.
Once I started the car, I remembered my dinner plans with Tyson. The easiest thing would be to send him a text, but I wanted to hear his voice. Thankfully, once I dialed his number he answered almost as quickly as my father had.
“Blue?”
I sighed and my eyes closed. I really liked his voice and the way he said my name. “Hey. Listen, I’m going to have to cancel on dinner.”
“Okay…I thought you had news for me.”
“I do.” I fidgeted and ran my hands through my hair before I began tapping on the steering wheel. “Unfortunately my father just called and I need to see him.”
“I see.” His tone was clipped.
My lips pulled to one side. “I’m sorry. Raincheck for tomorrow?”
