Page 47 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
Damian cracked a tiny smile that didn’t make it to his eyes. “You sound like Richard, just less elegant.”
“You don’t need elegance to hear me.”
“I know.”
“Seriously, DaSu. Tell me that going back isn’t the plan.”
“Armada is eighteen in four weeks. She’s told Hypatia she means to petition the judge to give her Habibi. But she won’t have her high-school diploma yet, or a job, or a place to live.”
“We could give her a job and a place to live.”
“How?”
“The parsonage or whatever it’s called. The place the priest or pastor used to live, next to the sanctuary.”
“It needs repairs.”
Jun rubbed his face. “How bad is it?”
“Better than the sanctuary. The roof is fine, last I had it checked. If I remember right, the stairs needed repair, and the water heater is broken. The entire place is outdated and trashed.”
“Tomorrow, let Collin and I go look at it.”
“It might not be safe.”
“We’ll have security with us. I’ll see if Émeric can get one of those building inspectors to go look at it with us.”
“That’s not going to give Armada a job.”
“It’s big, right?”
“Yes, way more than she needs.”
“What if 5N rented it? We’ll need a housekeeper. Room and board in return for some amount of hours a week. Maybe ten? If we’re not picky about decor, then you could cover her salary with the rent. She won’t be alone. We can keep an eye on her and not let her get isolated.”
Jun shut up. He might have gone too far. He couldn’t even guarantee 5N could pay rent yet.
Damian chewed slowly, eyes unfocused. “You should ask for a contract that stipulates updates to the property while you’re there. And she’s going to need to get her GED or have childcare for the rest of the school year. I don’t think we have a high school for parents with children here.”
“That’s a thing?”
“In some places.” Damian nodded. “I’ll go out to the building tomorrow and ask Émeric about you and Collin looking at it. Armada will be back tomorrow with Betti. Betti is asking to stay with her friend and her friend’s mother, so I have to go down there tomorrow to meet them. Welwick and I don’t think she should go back to school again until Thaddeus is arrested. And he knows where her friend’s family lives, so… even if she wants to go there, it might not be a good idea.”
Where was a long, white-haired Russian operative with gray morals when you needed one?
They fell asleep with Habibi between them on the bed again. Fortunately, the little one didn’t poop again that night.
Mi Hi called early Friday morning as Jun and Damian were getting the kids dressed for school. Damian got them down to the cars while Jun took the call.
“I’m on my way down.” Mi Hi let him know. “The realtor can meet at eleven.”
While warming Habibi’s bottle, Jun filled her in about his idea from the night before.
“I’ll stay in town after, then, look at it with you and Collin when you’re free next,” she said.
“Where do you plan to stay?”
“With Alice. We’re watching chick flicks and doing nails tonight with Dana and Ash.”
