7

 

Fifteen minutes later Cali was beating her forehead against Nat’s doorjamb. “Are you serious?”

The baby started to cry. Grimacing, Natalie waved her out into the hall, pulling the door partially closed behind them.

“I’m sorry.”

“That doesn’t help me, Nat. It’s only for a week.”

“I know, but mom is worried you staying here will draw attention. You know that I’m not even supposed to have her here. If the manager finds out I could be evicted,” Nat said, wringing her hands.

“It’s less than a week. I can move into the new place on the thirty-first. I’ll be out job hunting most of the time. Please. You won’t even know I’m here,” Cali pled.

“Do you think the Johnsons will let you stay there just—?”

“That’s not going to happen,” Cali snapped, cutting her friend off.

The wailing intensified on the other side of the door and the TV volume with it.

“If I could, I would. You know I love—”    

“Natalie Ann! I watch these kids all night while you work. I’m not going to do it all day too!” her mother screamed over the blare of the TV.

Nat let her head fall back so it pounded against the door.

“Yeah, because me staying here for a week is going to draw more attention than that,” Cali said waving her arms in sarcastic frustration.

“I know. I know. I said I was sorry, Cal. What am I supposed to do? It’s my mother. You don’t know what it’s like.”

Cali blinked at her friend. What the fuck? Had she really said that? She worked her jaw and then just shut her mouth. It wasn’t worth it.

“Fine. Let me get my shit and you won’t have to worry about me anymore.”

“It’s not like that, Cal,” Nat protested, opening the door.

“That’s exactly how it is.”

Natalie’s mom gave her a dirty look when she walked in front of the TV. Cali glared right back. Screw the bitch. Sure, she watched the kids while Nat worked but she also lived rent-free and enjoyed the benefits of Nat’s food stamps while bitching and whining.

Yanking her drab olive duffle out from under the crib, Cali riffled through it to find a hooded windbreaker and a pair of worn flip-flops. Unfortunately, her decent sandals had been left behind in her flight from the Johnson’s.

“You can leave some of your stuff here if you need to.”

“I don’t want it in your mom’s way. Besides, I don’t know where the hell I’m going or when I’d be able to come back to get it.”

“Come on, Cal. Don’t be like this,” Nat begged.

“Don’t be like what?” Cali asked. “Pissed off because my only friend said I could stay with her and then backed out with no warning? You wouldn’t even return my calls. How in the hell am I supposed to be?”

Jerking her backpack and the one box toward her, she tried to figure out how to condense the shit so she’d be able to carry all of it. She slid the shadow boxes between clothes in the duffle and managed to stuff a couple of books in the big pockets. The few other things in the box might fit in her backpack with the laptop.  

“I said I was sorry. Can I at least take you somewhere?”

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Cali looked up at her friend in frustration. “Are you even listening to me?”

“Of course, I am. You’re the one refusing to accept my apology,” the other girl cried.

Cali hung her head. Nat just didn’t get it. “We’re good. Don’t worry about it.”

Standing up, she experimentally pulled the old Army bag up on her back, slipping her arms through the straps. Heavy, but doable. She’d have to cradle the smaller backpack in her arms. It wasn’t comfortable, but it would work and it hid her purse that hung across her body.

“I know you’re mad, but I do care. Seriously, what’s the plan?” Nat asked softly.

Blowing out a breath, Cali shrugged. “I’m going to go talk to my new landlords and see if I can change their minds and move in early. They said they were going to be doing some major cleaning, painting, and shit this week. Maybe if I offer to help with that besides paying for the extra week.”

“Natalie! Little Kevin’s diaper is full to bursting. Are you going to let it fall off his ass or are you going to come change him?”

Nat fisted her hands in her hair and gave a wild tug.  “I swear if she wasn’t my mother…”

Her friend left the sentence unfinished but Cali got the gist, mom or not. She nodded. “I’ve got to get going. I’ll catch you around.”

Trailing her to the door, Nat grabbed her in an awkward hug. “Call me and let me know you’re okay.”

Cali forced a nod, swallowing the sarcastic question of if Nat would answer the phone. Her friend pushed her back, looking like she was going to say something else but a loud crash and the toddler’s cry cut her off. Her shoulders sagged.

Offering a wiggle of her fingers and a sympathetic smile, Cali headed down the hall. “Have fun, mommy.”

Hitting the street, she tugged up the hood on her windbreaker and mulled over which bus she was going to need to take to get to the new place. She skirted puddles and storm debris on autopilot as she walked. Anger and hurt coursed through her. Nat’s actions and words felt like a betrayal. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d called the older girl her only friend. At the moment, she felt alone.

Thunder rumbled and she hunched her shoulders. The rain started to come down a little harder and she closed her eyes. Lucky her. She might not have a mother but Mother Nature seemed determined to cry with her. Stumbling over an upraised section of sidewalk, she cursed under her breath. Skinned toes protesting, she hopped a few steps. Taking a deep breath, she hitched the heavy bag higher and trudged on toward the bus stop. She could do this.  

Reaching the bus shelter, she let her smaller backpack rest on the bench, straps still tight in her hand. She pushed back her hood, shaking some of the water away. Tucking hair behind her ears, she turned the bag to search the small pockets for a hair band to pull the unruly mop back. A horn made her jump. Her head jerked around. Jarek’s truck was hard to miss. Stopping in front of the glass lean-to he put his flashers on and waved to her. Cali sighed. What did he want? Like she wanted to step out in the rain again. People were staring at her. Her conscious kicked her in the ass. What was wrong with her? As nice as he’d been, the very least she could do was hear him out. She pulled her hood up and stepped out to the curb.

Jarek leaned over and pushed open the passenger door. “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

“You don’t even know where I’m going.”

“You’re going to talk to your new landlord about moving in early. I don’t know the address, but you can give it to me when you get in the truck.”

Cali’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know that?”

“I just talked to Nat and she told me what’s going on.”

“Why the hell would she do that?”

“I don’t know. It sounded like she was worried about you,” he said, nudging the door with his fingertips again. “Come on. Let me give you a ride.”

“Why?”

The word came out angry and petulant. It hung between them, her wishing she could take it back and from the looks of things him trying to figure out why in the hell he was bothering with her.

“Because when I was alone on the street someone helped me.”

The answer cut through the bullshit and struck home. She handed him her backpack and swung the big duffle onto the floorboards before scrambling in and closing the door. He checked the mirrors and pulled back out into traffic.

“I can’t believe you went to Nat’s apartment. Stalker much? How did you even know which one it was?”

“I didn’t go to her apartment. I checked the recently dialed numbers on my phone and called. I just wanted to make sure she’d been home and you were safe.”

Cali snorted. “At least she answers when you call.”

He looked at the address she held out to him and nodded but didn’t say anything else. They rode in silence until her conscience got the best of her again.

“Thank you. Again.”

His pale blue eyes narrowed, wrinkling in the corners as he watched traffic before making a turn.

“You know, I’m not the enemy. I’m not your foster parents or DCFS. I was where you are four years ago. I know how freaking scary it is to be on your own.”

“Freaking again. What is with you and the F word?”

Jarek laughed. “Mama Murphy had a bar of Ivory soap that convinced me to tone my language down. Some habits are hard to break.”

She smiled at the story and nibbled her lip. Four years? He seemed so together.

“How old are you anyway?”

“Twenty-two,” he said and then shook his head. “Twenty-three.”

“Which is it?”

“I just turned twenty-three a couple of weeks ago,” he said shooting her a sheepish smile. “Still haven’t gotten used to it.”

“A Taurus, huh?”

“Yep. Bullheaded.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being stubborn and determined. It seems to be working for you.”

He glanced at her in surprise and then shrugged. “I guess so.”

She stared out the window, her eyes scanning restaurants for help wanted signs. “I’m sorry. I have a tough time trusting people,” she muttered.

Jarek nodded. “I know. I’m not real good at it myself. According to the counselors, it comes with the territory in the system.”

“Don’t you just love their psychobabble?”

He smirked at her sarcasm.

“You seem older than twenty-three.”

“Geez, thanks.”

She grinned. “I’m not saying you’re old. You just seem to know what you want and have your shit together. It makes me think that maybe I can make it too.”

“You can,” Jarek said.

She wished she was as sure as he sounded. She was tempted to ask him how he knew, but was afraid he wouldn’t have an answer. For now, she would just soak up his confidence.

“So, how’d you get into construction?”

“Old man Murphy worked construction. I was lucky. He got me on with his crew doing odd jobs after school, holidays and summers. When I graduated they took me on full-time.”

“So, you knew by the time you graduated that it was what you wanted to do?”

“Yeah. It pays well. I like being outdoors. The old man said something to me when he bought me my first tool belt. He said, any job will earn you a paycheck, but a trade is something that you’ll use your whole life,” Jarek said, slowing the truck to turn into the parking lot. “He encouraged me to help the roofers, plumbers, electricians, and check out their trades to see what I wanted to do. In the end, I love building things, general carpentry, but I picked up enough of the other skills to do a lot of the work on my place.” He flashed her a grin. “And I know the guys with the licenses.”

“It’s all about who you know,” she quipped.

He put the truck in park and she looked up at the apartment door. Mentally crossing all her fingers and toes, she pulled her backpack to her.

“Thanks for the ride, for everything.”

“I’m not leaving this time until I know you’re safe and settled,” he said, his jaw setting in a stubborn clench.

“You’re not my keeper,” she snapped back.

His expression softened. “I know that, but I’d like to think we have the beginnings of a friendship going.”

“Friends?”

“Yeah. I don’t know about you but I don’t have a lot of friends and we have a lot in common.”

Their conversations and confessions whispered in her mind. There were layers upon layers untouched, but she’d shared more with Jarek in the last thirty-odd hours than anyone, ever. 

“We are both Bears fans,” she said slowly.

Jarek laughed at the deflection and played along. “See what I mean? We’re practically soulmates, but I think it’s too early in the friendship to talk baseball.”

“That’s more dangerous than politics or religion in Chicago,” she agreed, fighting a grin.

“Are the Blackhawks safe?”

“I have to admit that I don’t totally understand hockey, but there’s nothing like a little blood with your sport.”

“I’ll explain it to you some time.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” She glanced back at the apartment door. “I’ve got your number. We’ll hit a sports bar for a burger or wings. It’s the least I owe you.”

“It’s a deal.”

Opening the door, she slid out. Jarek put a hand on her duffle when she reached back for it.

“Why don’t we leave that stuff until you talk to them?”

“We?”

“Helping your friends move is a major rite of friendship and adulthood,” he said solemnly.

“Lucky for you I travel light,” she said, closing the door.

He met her at the front of the truck. Cali opened her mouth to tell him she didn’t need her hand held, but didn’t think it would make any difference. Shaking her head, she let him trail along. It took a couple of attempts to be heard over the television inside but her new landlord finally answered the door. The blue-collar man carrying a lunchbox and dressed in a uniform shirt that she’d met a week ago, was now shirtless and very obviously inebriated. He leaned against the bars of the heavy screen door giving her the once over.

“What can I do for you, little girl?”

Cali cringed and her stomach flip-flopped as a wave of paint fumes, stale beer, and body odor wafted over her.

“I’m Cali O’Neil. I talked to your wife about renting the spare room.”

“Right,” he said snapping his fingers. “I knew I remembered you from somewhere. Sorry, Red.”

Ignoring the unoriginal pet name, she charged ahead. “I know that we left things that I would move in on the thirty-first, but I was wondering if it would be possible for me to pay a prorated week and move in now.”

“Amber got a hormonal stick up her ass and ran back home to mommy and daddy.” The man glanced at Jarek for the first time. “Women. Who the fuck understands them?” His bloodshot gaze swung back to her. “But I’ve got no problem with you moving in early. Maybe we can work something out and drop the rent a little until she gets back.”

Cali stepped back from the leer.

“You know. If you don’t mind cleaning up around the place,” he added, but it was too late.

Jarek was tense beside her. Feeling his sharp gaze, she glanced up. The shake of his head was barely perceptible, but the concern was clear. She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. Sometimes that prickle at your nape was all you had to go on.

“If I were your wife I wouldn’t be comfortable with me being here. I’ll uh…I’ll check back next week if I haven’t found something else.”

“It’s your call, Red,” he said taking another swig of his beer.

Jarek stepped out of the way, motioning her past him on the walkway. The door closed behind them. Cali swallowed the lump in her throat. Strike three. What a shit day. Trailing her hand down the wet railing she tried to remember which of the local fleabag motels was the cheapest by the week. She’d researched that option while apartment hunting. Back to square one. Biting the inside of her cheek she fought the feeling of hopelessness. She’d thought she had it all figured out, that she was so smart. So much for fucking plans. Finding a new job had to be her priority. She was in a no-win situation. No one would rent to her without an employer and her savings wouldn’t last long.