Page 62 of Dating and Other Theories
Awesome. Exactly what she needed right now. She hadn’t talked to their mom since she’d had to refuse to give her money for the eBay Fiestaware. Esther couldn’t wait to hear what her mother wanted now. “What is it?”
“Don’t freak out, but Mom’s losing her apartment.”
“What?” Esther’s fists tightened on the steering wheel.
“I told you not to freak out.”
She let her foot off the brake as the car in front of her started creeping forward. “How? What happened? What’d she do?”
“It’s not her fault this time. Her landlord decided to cash out and sell the building. She’s got to be out by the end of next month when her lease is up.”
“We’re never going to find another place she can afford in that neighborhood.” Her mother had been living in the same duplex apartment building in Lake City for six years. Rents in the whole area had skyrocketed as a lot of the older buildings were torn down in favor of new construction, or renovated so they could command the same outrageous prices as the rest of Seattle.
“I know,” Eric said. He sounded exhausted.
Esther could only imagine how the conversation had gone when their mother had told him the news. Once again, she was grateful she’d removed herself to another state—and even more grateful Eric was in Seattle to handle things there.
Their mom was going to have to move farther north, probably. Maybe out to Lynwood or Everett, even. Which would make it more difficult for Eric to get to and from her place, making his life more difficult. Plus, she wasn’t going to want to do it. She’d put up a fight, drag her feet, complain that it was too far out, that everything in her price range was a dump. She’d do everything in her power to make this as difficult as possible, refusing to accept the reality of her situation, because that’s what she always did.
Esther could feel an anxiety stomachache ramping up already. “What are we going to do?”
“We’ll figure something out. We always do. I’ll help her start looking for a new place.”
She hit the brakes as a BMW swerved into her lane. “She’s not going to want to—”
“I know,” Eric said irritably.
Esther bit down on her thumbnail. “I could send more money.”
“No. Don’t you dare tell her that.”
“Why not? I can make it work if I have to.” She could cut back on luxuries like cable TV and the satellite radio in her car if she needed to. Start packing her lunch more often instead of eating in the cafeteria every day.
“She’s got to start taking responsibility for herself, not mooching more off you.”
They had this same fight a lot. Esther was always tempted to give in to her mother’s demands, just to get her off her back. But Eric insisted that if they gave in, it would only encourage her to keep doing it. And since he was the one who had to deal with their mother in person, he usually got the final say.
“Promise me you won’t offer her more money.”
“Fine,” Esther agreed. Reluctantly.
“It’ll work out,” Eric said. “I just wanted to give you a heads-up before Mom called you.”
“Yeah. Thanks.” She ground her teeth as the car in front of her dawdled just long enough for the light to turn red before Esther got through the intersection.
“Don’t stress about it.”
“Sure.” Like that was possible.
“I’m serious. Go do something fun tonight and forget about Mom. Go out with some friends or something.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. She could definitely use some company tonight. She always could call Jinny, but it was Friday, and Jinny would almost certainly want to go out. Which would involve makeup and dressing up and more traffic—none of which Esther felt like dealing with.
Alternatively…she could see if Jonathan was around tonight. They could stay in, order pizza, and watch movies again. The prospect was more appealing than going to a crowded bar with Jinny.
She’d knock on his door when she got home, she decided as the light turned green and she finally made it through the intersection. See if he wanted to hang out tonight.
She’d be the one to drop in on him for a change.
