Page 28 of Knight
If I could have him again, I would?—
But I couldn’t. Aiden would never again be that guy. I had to get that through my thick head. He’d made his boundaries clear.
I slowed for the turn into the park and rolled up to the doublewide trailer that served as Nina’s office. The door to the office was open, so I leaned in.
“Hey, Nina. Got a minute for me?”
Nina swiveled her office chair away from the television mounted on the wall, where she was watching that new hospital drama on HBO.
“Oh, good. You’re here to work?”
I nodded and pulled Aiden’s check out of my back pocket. “And pay rent.”
Her eyes brightened, and she moved a little faster. “You usually pay cash.”
“This is from the new roommate.” I dug out my wallet and withdrew a handful of hundreds. “And here’s my share, plus some of the back rent.”
She counted the cash. “You’re still two hundred short.”
“It’s all I could swing, but I can work off the rest. I’ll do four hundred dollars of labor for two hundred. It’ll be a good deal for you, Nina, I swear.”
She narrowed her eyes, looking skeptical. I held my breath. Icouldcome up with the money now that I had Aiden paying at least half the current bills, but I’d have to cut back on something else. Shit was tight.
“Fine,” she said reluctantly. “You can work off the last bit. You owe me two more weeks of maintenance, though.”
“I’ll do it. Thank you.”
She snagged the check out of my hand and squinted at Aiden’s slanting script. One thing was for sure, he already had the handwriting of a doctor. Nearly illegible.
“But you need to tell this…Alder Doma?—”
“Aiden Donovan,” I said.
“Him. You tell him he needs to sign onto the lease. If not, you’re solely responsible legally.” She wagged afinger at me. “And you’re not off the hook on this rent until the check clears!”
“He’s good for it.”
She grunted. “Follow me, then. Let’s get you started on all this work you’re going to do.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We went out the back door and across a strip of tall grass to a rusting metal shed. She spun a combination dial on a lock on the door. “The combo is 12-12-12. My grandson’s birthday.” She looked up, eyes narrowed. “I’ll know if you steal any equipment.”
“I wouldn’t?—”
“And the combination will change after you stop doing work. So, don’t even think you’ll come back later and clean me out.”
“Nina, I’d never do that.”
She snorted. “That’s what they all say. Besides, I know what you are. You’re one of those ex-cons. I let you live here because I think everyone deserves a place to live.”
And because my money was green, I’d bet.
“But I’m not a fool,” she continued. “Don’t think you can take advantage because I’m some helpless old lady. I’ll get you tossed back in prison. I know you’re on parole.”
A pit opened in my stomach. If I violated parole, I’d go back to prison for another six years. Nina was just trying to protect herself. I got that. But I hated that she thought it was necessary.
She saw me as a criminal not to be trusted—so many people did—but I just wanted to work and pay my bills like anyone else.
