Page 136 of Always Us

“It’s in a great neighborhood,” I say. “And it seems really quiet. Plus, when we drove in I saw some playground equipment next to the building.”

“This place is perfect. And like you said, it’s a great location. But do you really think I should get it? I still feel weird letting Garret’s friend pay for part of the rent.”

“Why? He wants to do it. Garret called him last night and told him and he said he’s happy he could help.”

“Okay, I’ll do it.” She squeals and hugs me. “I’m so excited about this!”

“Let’s go fill out the paperwork and find out when you can move in.”

After Sara fills out the forms, the landlady reviews them. Sara has a nearly empty bank account and her job pays next to nothing so I’m worried the lady won’t rent her the apartment. And from the look on her face, I can tell she’s about to turn Sara down. So before she can say anything, I introduce myself to the lady, making sure to say my last name and that I’m Pearce Kensington’s daughter-in-law. When I tell her I’m really good friends with Sara, she’s suddenly much more receptive to Sara living there.

I’ve never dropped the Kensington name before to get people to do stuff because it seems really lame to do that. But in this case I needed to or she wouldn’t have rented to Sara. Then I wrote a check for the first six month’s rent and the woman agreed to let Sara move in today. So I’ve now seen firsthand how money and a powerful last name can get things done.

I didn’t let Sara see the check I wrote. I told her it was a signed check from the foundation and I just filled in the amount. Then I told her Garret’s friend insisted on paying all the rent for the first six months and that she could help pay for the rent later on. She was thrilled about that, because even paying just half of the first month’s rent would’ve cleared out her bank account.

We get the keys to her apartment, then bring in all the stuff we packed in her trunk last night. She has to get back to work, so she’ll put everything away later.

“Jade, I can’t even tell you how happy this makes me,” she says as we’re driving to the coffee shop. “If it were just me, I wouldn’t care where I lived, but with Caleb, I. . .” Her voice trails off and a tear sneaks down her cheek.

“I know, Sara.” I smile at her. “But now you both have a safe and quiet place to live. And Caleb’s going to love it.”

She nods and wipes her cheek. “He will. Now he’ll be able to crawl on the floor. I didn’t let him do that at the other place and he’d get really mad at me. The boy just wants to crawl.” She laughs.

“I can help you move when you get off work. Garret has to study, so I don’t how much time he’ll have to help but—”

“Don’t worry about it. Alex gets back in town later today so he’s going to help me. You and Garret have done enough and you both need to study for finals.”

“What’s Alex think about you moving?”

“He’s so relieved. He hated my old place. He said it was too dangerous, but he didn’t have enough money to help me get a different place. And even if he did, I didn’t want him paying my rent. But he did offer to buy me a new bed as a Christmas present.”

“A bed, huh?” I tease. “Like maybe one you could both fit in?”

“No!” She jabs my arm. “He’s buying it because he thinks I need one.”

“You do. You need to replace that twin mattress.”

“We’re going shopping for a new one tonight. He’s getting me a queen mattress with a frame so it doesn’t have to sit on the floor.”

“That’s sweet of him.”

“I know. I really love—” She catches herself and her cheeks blush. “I have to go.”

We’re parked in front of the coffee shop now and she opens the car door to leave.

I grab her arm. “Wait. Did you just say you love Alex?”

“I have to go or I’ll be late.” She steps out of the car.

“Sara. Do you?”

She smiles really wide and nods, then shuts the door and hurries into the coffee shop.

I’m so happy for her. She found a guy she loves, and from the things she says about him, I think he loves her, too. And now she’ll be living in a better apartment and has plenty of diapers and baby clothes and other baby supplies.

I love Garret so much for finding a way to help out Sara like that. He was desperate to do something after he saw how she was living. I felt the same way, but I didn’t know how to get her to accept our help. But his made-up foundation was perfect. And I’ve been thinking that maybe we should make his fake foundation real, to help out people like Sara.

Garret gets home at four-thirty. Before I can tell him about Sara, he says, “The divorce is final. My dad’s finally rid of Katherine.”

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