Chapter Six

 I headed toward the stairs.  “I haven’t mentioned the possibility of a new roommate, so for now could you make sure to keep it out of conversation when Maddie’s around?”

 “Of course,” Jay said.

 “So I was thinking,” I said as we reached the top of the stairs, “You could take these two rooms.  That would give you the whole upstairs, really.”

 He took a couple steps in, trying to peek around the corner.

 “You can go in, you know,” I laughed.

 He laughed back.  “I feel like I’m trespassing...”  He took a better look at the two rooms, careful not to hit his head on the low ceilings the roof’s A-frame gave them.  “What are those little doors?”

 “They lead to little storage crawlspaces...  You could use them too if you like.  I don’t have much in them, they’re a pain to use.”

 He looked around thoughtfully.  “So... I’d be uprooting Madison, would I?”

 “Oh, that’s just one possibility,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t refuse the place out of guilt.  “Come on, I’ll show you the rest.”  I led him downstairs, and showed him my rooms.  “I don’t know if this one is big enough,” I said of my guest room.  “That’s why I thought I’d give you the two upstairs, and let Maddie take this one.”

 “If you offer me anything,” he reminded me with a smile.

 “Yes, if,” I teased.  “Would you like to see the basement?”

 “Sure.”

 “You can use the washer and dryer, of course,” I said as we tromped down the stairs.

 “Whoa,” Jay said.

 “What is it?”

 He gestured to one of the walls.  “All those shelves, you’re hardly using them?”

 “Oh, the previous owners built those.  Why?”

 He continued walking around the basement.  “You know, I don’t have a lot of things.  What takes the most space is my books.”  He looked around again.  “I don’t know that I would have to uproot either of you.  This would work.”

 “What, the basement?”

 “Why not?”

 I looked around myself.  “Well, it’s a basement.  There’s cobwebs, and it’s dark, and cold...”

 “It’s dry and it has lots of shelves.”

 “You’d have to hear us walking around all the time.  And I have to come down and do laundry.”

 That one made him think.  “Guess that makes a point for taking the upstairs...”

 I shrugged.  “Well, we have time to sort all that out.  I have to check on Maddie.”

 We looked into the backyard to find Mariah trying her best to teach Madison how to throw a stick.  She would throw it some of the time, but would also take off running with it in her hand, Mariah chasing after her.  “It’s nice to see her get some real exercise,” Jay said.  It took me a second to realize he was talking about his dog.  “I’m too wiped to play with her anymore.  Not that there’s a lot to do in an apartment, or our tiny yard.”  He said it distractedly, then smiled with a small laugh.  “Sorry, I’m not trying to pressure you or anything.”

 “It’s alright,” I said, getting away with a caress on his arm.  “I didn’t take it like that.”  I invited him to sit at the table.  “Did any of the places you looked at Monday strike you as appealing?”

 Jay gave a frustrated laugh.  “Definitely not.  I wonder if anyplace decent only gets advertised by word of mouth.  Of course, like I said before, having a dog limits my choices.  I picked what I thought were the best prospects.  I saw a trailer that was so close to its neighbors I’d smell their breakfast cooking.  There was an apartment that had an argument going on next door, that’s one way to learn how thin the walls are.  Finally, a house that might have done for awhile if the air wasn’t teeming with newly hatched flies.  That whole place was disgusting, really.”

 “Do you have anything else lined up?”

 He shook his head.  “I thought I’d see about here, before I tie up any more of my time with other appointments.”

 “So...  You’re serious about this, then?”  Throughout the conversation, I had been paying less and less attention to what I was hearing, and more to what I was looking at.  When he mentioned that tiny bit of commitment to the idea, the reality of the possibility made my heart flutter a little, and my voice dropped.

 “I’m here, aren’t I?”  His voice had dropped as well.  He said it in a low, comforting, confidential tone.  Almost sensual...

 I could only nod.  I stood for the sake of moving, to clear my mind.  “I’m going to start getting dinner ready.”

 “Would you like any help?”

 “No.  Just relax, please.  I don’t get many guests, it’s a pleasure.  Besides, Maddie picked the menu.  I don’t think I could accept help if I wanted to, it’s just spaghetti and biscuits from a tube.  Would you like a drink?”

 “Please.”

 All he wanted was a glass of water.  “I don’t know much about interviewing,” I said as I started the water boiling for the pasta.  “What would you tell me about yourself, as far as being a roommate goes?”

 “Heh,” he said, sitting back.  “I think I’m pretty easy.  I spend a lot of my free time reading lately.  If I listen to music, I use headphones.  I don’t have friends in the area, so there won’t be many guests.  None, really, I suppose.”

 I used the chance to fish for information.  “Not even a girlfriend?” I asked in a satisfactorily even voice.

 Jay scoffed.  “That’ll be the least of your concerns.”

 “Oh, are you...?”

 He looked at me when I paused, then laughed at my discomfiture.  “I’m straight.”  Sorry, Manny.  “Let me put it this way.  I only go to work, and for the time being at least I’m friend-zoned by every girl in the hospital...”  He trailed off to himself for a moment before continuing, and I resisted asking him to tell me more.  “I think the worst part for you two would be my coming and going when I’m on call.  It’s two nights a week, usually.  I’d buy a cellphone so they don’t call your house, at least.”

 I took in everything that he had said.  “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

 “If it came down to it, I could sleep at the hospital when I’m on call.  If sleeping here became too troublesome.”

 “I don’t think it would cause a problem.  Do you know how long you would be looking to rent for?”

 He sighed.  “No, sorry.  I’m sure I could give you plenty of notice before I moved anywhere, though.  And I could probably move pretty quickly, if you needed me to.”

 “Well, that’s getting a little far ahead, anyway...”

 “I hate to ask, but do you know how long you’re going to need to think about this?”

 “Not that long.  Maybe a day or two?”

 “Oh,” he sighed his relief.  “I was thinking it might be weeks.  No, that’s fast enough.  My lease isn’t up for a few months anyway.  Well, the end of the year actually.”

 “Oh,” I said, unable to mask my sudden disappointment.  But it’s spring, and I need you now!

 “I don’t care about that,” he said hastily.  “If you do offer the room, I’ll want to move in as soon as possible.  I’ll pay you a month’s rent, another month as security, and an extra two hundred as a security for my dog.”

 The two hundred alone sounded like a life saver.  “Well, this is embarrassing.  I haven’t given a thought as to what to charge you.  Of course I don’t even know where to put you, or what it’d be worth...”  My mind started racing, and I felt overwhelmed.  I sat down after getting the biscuits in the oven.

 “You want to talk about this part later?”

 “No, if I’m going to sleep on it I should have some figures in my head, I suppose.”  I started talking out loud to myself.  When I mentioned how much my mortgage was and started to question if he should pay a half or a third of it, he interrupted me.

 “What?” he snapped.

 “Oh, I wasn’t going to ask for that much, I’m just thinking out loud and...”

 He was still looking at me, wearing a wry smile for some reason.  I stopped talking to let him speak.  “Listen, my rent is almost twice that.  Why don’t I pay you what I’m paying now?”

 My mind staggered at the idea of having almost four months’ worth of mortgages in my bank account within the week.  “I wouldn’t want to overcharge you...”

 “The places I went to were in the same price range, and they were horrible.  It’s expensive to rent.  It’ll be less space than I’m used to, sure, but I don’t need a lot.  What I need is a bit of quiet, and a clean place to rest.  If I can start getting some real sleep it’ll be well worth anything you charge.”

 I felt horrible about it, but I couldn’t say no to the money.  I almost told him he could have the place for sure as long as he won Madison over, but I didn’t want to affect his behavior toward her.  I decided to focus on how the two of them interacted for the rest of the night.  After all, I was already only too aware of the fact that I liked Jay myself.  “If you’re sure you can afford that, then I guess that part’s settled,” I said, still a little stunned.  Your job must pay you well.

 Madison came in with Mariah just then, both of them panting.  I put down a bowl of water for the dog, and had Madison wash her hands.

 “Did you have a good time out there?” Jay asked her when she joined us at the table.

 “Oh yes.  Why’s Mariah so fast, Jay?”

 “Hmm...”  It was one of those little kid questions that sounded so simple until you tried answering it.  “It must be because she has four legs.”

 “It must be,” she agreed in a serious tone, drawing a laugh from us.

----

 Jay continued to make small talk with Madison as I set the table.  I was pleased to notice he would occasionally look around with a wistful expression.  He had his heart set on moving in.

 I put the food on the table.  “Jay, would you like some wine?”

 He bit back an automatic polite refusal.  “Oh, half a glass wouldn’t hurt.  Thank you.”

 “Don’t mention it.”  I took out a couple of glasses, and opened the bottle.  “I was going to have some anyway, now I won’t have to feel like a lush.”

 “What’s a lush, Mommy?”

 Jay grinned as I said, “It’s someone whose only friends are these funny-smelling drinks.”

 “Then why aren’t you both lushes?”

 I faltered, to Jay’s further amusement.  “She’s tough, isn’t she?”

 “All the time,” I said.

 “Your mommy and I are friends,” Jay said.  Hearing him say that made me feel warm.  “So the drink isn’t our only friend, right?”

 “But why would she feel like a lush if you don’t drink it too?  Aren’t you still friends anyway?”

 “You are tough!  Do you have a logic tutor?”  He laughed at the expression she made.  She didn’t like the subject to be changed unless she was the one doing it.  Jay got creative for a moment.  “The funny smelling drink isn’t allowed to have only one friend, either.  If it has two at least, then nobody is a lush.”

 “Oh,” Madison said, completely satisfied all of a sudden.  She started eating the food I served her.

 We ate quietly, and I noticed Jay’s wine was gone already.  “Can I pour you some more?” I asked.

 “I’m driving,” he said with a note of regret.

 I remembered him telling me how much he dreaded going back to his place.  “You don’t have to,” I said.  When he looked at me for clarification I added, “You’re welcome to my guest room.”  I managed to keep myself from commenting on how he might want to get used to sleeping here anyway.

 “Hmm...”  I felt butterflies in my stomach as he thought seriously about it.

 “Jay should spend the night, Mommy!” Madison said as she lit up suddenly.  Our heads turned to her.  “Then the mean old troll can’t come over!”

 My face started reddening instantly.  “Oh, Maddie, Jay doesn’t want to hear about any old trolls,” I said, hoping to steer the conversation to something, anything else.

 Maddie fell silent and looked at her plate.  Just as I was thinking I’d saved myself she said, “Mommy’s looking for her knight in shining armor, you know.”

 My face was already red.  I put my hands up to try and cover it and said, “Oh, lord...”

 Jay had a moment of uncomfortable silence as well, but he recovered first.  I heard him lean in and ask Madison, “Well, did she say what he looks like?”

 “He’s handsome!”

 “Oh...”  He searched for another question.  “Am I handsome?”

 “Yes.”

 There was a pause.  I took my hands away from my face to see Jay smiling at me.  “Madison?” he said.

 “What?”

 “I was trying to lighten the mood, and I made things even more awkward.  What do I do now?”

 “Umm...” she started thoughtfully.  “Tell a joke?”

 “A joke,” Jay said happily.  “How about this one.  What did one wall say to the other wall?”

 “I don’t know.”

 “Meet you at the corner.”

 Madison got it but didn’t laugh, which made us laugh.  I’d heard that one before.  “Okay, Salinger,” I said, smiling and twirling my glass by the stem.  He looked at me with an expression of pleasant surprise.  “What, you think you’re the only one who reads?”

 “Well, no...  I’m kind of amazed that you would pick up on that reference, though.”

 I filled his glass again for him and the conversation moved to my brief experience as an English Lit student, Earl’s existence again buried.

Reviews

[Jennie Lynn]

I agree with the previous reviewer about the rush of moving in together, even as a renting arrangement. No discussion of if she'll provide meals, or maybe just dinner. No discussion of a lease or contract or anything. No references on Jay from employers even. Hell as a mother I'd do a criminal background check! I know they have chemistry between them so that might cloud both their judgments but again I think that has to be tempered on Laura's part. (Almost) Everything has to be about Maddie. I can't see a single mother acting any other way and still respect her, low self-esteem or not. It all seems so neat. He's paying more than what she needs to cover the mortgage, so that problem solved. You can tell already he'd kicked the troll out on his a*s if he showed up again.

It's much clearer that Jay has feelings for Laura, which I like. I think it's really important in first person single POV books to be able to decipher other character's feelings easily because otherwise as a reader I'm in the dark on them. The chapter is again written wonderfully. You have a knack for conversation and dialogue I'm jealous of :)

[Christopher Miller]

Another blind spot... You're so helpful! This is lacking indeed, and probably deserves its own chapter.
As for your prediction on the troll... You may be in for a surprise.

[Jennie Lynn]

You know I'm starting to hate you lol. The more we talk about the story the more I NEED to know what happens next. Patience is not one of my virtues. First time I've reviewed another's work and grumbled because I couldn't read more. After the scene with Jay discussing fairy tales I felt a twist coming, but I try so hard not to write ahead of the author when reading books. It's a bad habit I have.

You did discuss the lease later on, but I needed more on the technicalities of renting. It could slow down the narrative but it makes it more believable. I don't envy you balancing that out.

[Sarah]

I think this chapter was done perfectly. Although, my one question is why Jay is so rushed? Why is he so eager to move in with Laura? I understand he might not like his place, but it all seems so sudden. Just once glance at the place and it's decided? Not even concerned about the noise a five year old could make or giving further thought to Laura having to come down to the basement and do laundry that could disturb him. He must be very trusting if he's willing to move in so quickly. I'm also wondering what he thinks of Madison's comments about the "troll." He brushes them off quickly, but I can't help but wonder if he's curious about all of that too, and if he is wondering why exactly Laura had asked him to move in.

I really did like the scene where Madison burst out the words about the troll. So accurate to something a little kid would do. They have no filters. And I think they way Laura handled it was very accurate as well, covering her face, trying to hide her embarrassment. Also, side note, seems a bit odd that Jay would spend the night so suddenly. Doesn't he have to work the next day? What about the dog? There's no food or anything.

[Christopher Miller]

I admit that part was based on experience... I lived above just such a neighbor. Believe me, the rush is very plausible. I happened to move to a new place that was only barely a step up, still had no regrets.
Good point about his brushing off the troll comment, especially in light of Laura's rush to have him move in. I'll think of an improvement on that. Probably have him visibly weigh whether to ask about it or not and decide not to as things are embarrassing enough, to Laura's relief. Jay works the next afternoon, but they should put a bowl of food down for the poor puppy, shouldn't they?

[Sarah]

Yeah, more Mariah! She should get a bowl of food and water, and maybe somewhere to sleep!