Page 60 of Castle's Cards

It’s so hot that I immediately let it fall back out. Carter stares at me with an amused expression on his face. I grab a napkin from the center of the table and wipe at my face before clearing my throat.

“The soup is quite hot.”

We both look at each other before erupting into giggles. What is it about this man that instantly puts me into a good mood?

“Duly noted.” Carter sighs and grabs my hand. “Addy, I know this isn’t an easy conversation to have, and you want to avoid it. But we need to talk about this. Izzy is so distraught about going to live with your mother that she walked all the way to the club.”

“Shewalkedthere?” I ask, blinking. It’s a long walk, and the neighborhoods you have to go through aren't the best. I’m going to kill that girl.

“Yes. It’s clearly important to her that we find another alternative so she doesn’t have to go there. So I think we should come up with a plan together so that she can stay here.”

I groan with frustration before dropping my head in my hands.

“What do you think I’ve been doing?” I ask when I finally look up. “I don’twantto send her to live with my mom. It’s not like I’m some evil villain who wants to sentence her to a miserable senior year. But what else can I do? The building is getting sold. I can’t get the last week of my rent prorated. And there is nothing -- and I mean nothing -- I can afford within the next two weeks. I’ve exhausted all avenues of searching through rental assistance funds and housing plans. There’s just nothing that’s going to work. She doesn’t know that there are things worse than living with Mom.”

“I can’t imagine how hard it must be.” Carter says. The look of sympathy on his face doesn’t make me feel better. My bottom lip wobbles as I fight tears.

“I went to check the shelter today,” I whisper. “There’s no availability. So we won’t even be able to stay there at all. I’ll be living out of the car before I can get a place, and who knows how long it will be until I can find something. She can’t live out of a car. I won’t do that to her.”

The tears spill over without my permission. I turn away so that Carter can’t see me cry. His chair creaks before he’s kneeling beside me. He gently takes my chin and turns my face so that I’m looking at him. When our eyes meet he wipes my tears away and smiles.

“Addy, please don’t cry. You don’t have to live out of a car and you don’t have to send Izzy away.” He takes a breath before squeezing my hand. “Come live with me.”

My eyebrows shoot up. I can’t even summon the words to ask the many questions I have to that request. He shakes his head.

“Don’t say no right away. Just listen. Izzy doesn’t want to go. It’s not just because your mom sucks or she won’t get to see Nate. Izzy doesn’t want to be away from you. You’re special to her, more than you’ll ever know. You’re just doing what you think is best for her, and I know that. I think deep down that she knows that. But you don’t have to make those sacrifices. You can stay with me for as long as you like. You can move in permanently or just stay until you can get your own place. Whatever makes you comfortable. But I couldn’t live with myself if I let you tear yourself apart when I’m here to help take care of you. Of you and Izzy.”

I’m breathless. I don’t even know what to say to him. This is everything I need, everything I want.

The past few days I’ve been splashing aimlessly in a violent river, unsure of how to get out. Now Carter’s just stuck out a branch. I don’t want to drown. I want to grab on, to let him pull me out of the river.

But what kind of precedent does that send? Am I giving in by letting him take care of this for me?

“Please?” Izzy says from behind me. I turn around, a look of shock on my face. I didn’t even hear her door open, wasn’t even aware that she had stepped out of her room. But there she is, standing in front of us with tear stained cheeks and a face begging me to accept Carter’s offer.

“You’re strong, Addy, and we all know that. But sometimes the strong thing to do is recognize when you need help. And we need help. I need help. Don’t split us up just because of your pride. Take the help – please.”

I stare at Izzy. Who is this young woman standing in front of me? I hardly even recognize her anymore. She’s so grown, so mature for her age sometimes. She’s so much smarter than I ever gave her credit for.

Most of all, though, she’s right. Which is why I turn to Carter and smile.

“Okay. Yes. I accept. We will come stay with you. Just until we can get a place of our own.”

“Yes!” Izzy squeals. She runs over and throws her arms around me. I hug her tightly. It feels like hours before we part. “Mmm. Dinner smells great.”

Izzy goes into the kitchen to fill her bowl. I turn to Carter and smile.

“Thank you,” I whisper. Carter leans forward and plants a kiss on my lips.

“Any time and anything for you. Just say the words and I’ll hand you the world.” Carter kisses me again before sitting back in his seat. When Izzy comes to the table we start our meal, chattering about our days and our future.

Talking like a normal family.

Chapter Twenty-One

Carter

It’sonlyacoupledays later that I’m standing in the apartment, packing away the pots and pans in Addy’s kitchen. Or what used to be her kitchen. After a lot of talking we decided it would be best for them to move now rather than to wait until the last minute. Addy put in for a couple days of paid leave at work, and of course she got them off. We made a game plan to have the apartment packed within a couple days.

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