Mafia's Desire

2

When I got back to my car, I sat and observed my surroundings for a little while. I made a mental list in my head of things I needed to accomplish. Getting a job was on the top of my list and I'd accomplished that. Finding a job here also meant I would be living in this town or somewhere close to it.

Thankfully, I hid a decent bit of money from Michael in the form of my tips. I had enough to pay in cash for my seven thousand dollar car and I had about $1,500 leftover, so I wasn't completely broke. Securing a job did take the stress of money off my shoulders though. When he first started hitting me, a few weeks after our wedding, I began saving my money. I didn't know when I would leave but I knew eventually I would. I had to build up the courage to do so first.

The top priority on my list was a house or an apartment of some kind. If I could find that today, most of my stress would be relieved.

I walked back into the bookstore and looked around until I found Dorothy. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon, Anna," she said. I needed to get used to that name.

I smiled at her greeting. "I was wondering if you knew of any apartments for rent or anything like that?"

She smiled back at me. "I do actually. My sister-in-law, Lori, owns a building a few miles down the road on the edge of town. She has a vacancy or two she's looking to fill. The apartments aren't bad. They aren't very fancy or anything, but they will make a good home for you, and her prices are fair. I can give you her number and the address of the building if you want."

"Oh, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much," I said. She scribbled down the information on a piece of paper and handed it to me.

"See you tomorrow, Anna!" She called.

"See you then."

The apartment building had a red brick exterior. It didn't seem dilapidated, so that was comforting. I pulled my prepaid phone from my purse called the number Dorothy had given me. A woman picked up and told me she'd be right over to show me the two apartments she had available after I told her I was interested in one.

I waited in my car until I saw another vehicle pull into the parking lot. A woman walked over when she saw me and waved. I stepped out of the car and met her on the sidewalk.

"You must be Anna!" She greeted. I was a little taken aback by the kindness these people had regarded me with. I'd only met two people so far, but they seemed so welcoming.

The suburban town I'd lived in with Michael was crawling with rude, pretentious people. This small town was a welcome change from that. I already felt like I could make this place a home for the walnut and I. Walnut was the nickname I gave the baby.

"Yes, I am. It's nice to meet you."

"You too, Anna. I have a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom if you'd like to see them. Both come with a kitchen and one bathroom. The fridge, stove, and microwave are included in the kitchen," she said as she led me into the building.

"Yeah, I'd like to see them both." The two-bedroom would be ideal once Walnut arrives, but if the price difference was too large, I would have to make do with the one-bedroom.

"Alrighty. Also, there is a laundry room on the bottom floor."

Lori showed me both apartments. Dorothy was right, they weren't the most beautiful apartments to live in, but I was already imagining myself making a home in one of them.

After I'd looked through the apartments and the laundry room, Lori and I discussed prices. The two-bedroom apartment wasn't much more costly than the one-bedroom, so I opted for the two-bedroom for convenience.