Weightless [Jack Barakat]

Chapter Eighteen

Juliet's POV

The weekend came to a close, and monday morning I woke up early with Eleanor to see her off to school. We ate breakfast together in a sleepy silence as Bill and Mrs. Jacobs rushed back and forth, getting ready for work.

Afterwords Eleanor slung her backpack over her shoulder and waved goodbye as she walked down the street, and I went back inside.

I was alone, and I mostly just lazed around, flipping aimlessly through TV stations, pacing back and forth down the hallway. Eventually I settled for taking a nap, but just when I settled down the doorbell rang. At first, I ignored it, because it could be a neighbor and it would be awkward, but then I thought it could be a package getting delivered.

It rang again. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," I grumbled under my breath.

"Dad?" I was surprised to see him standing on the steps, all dressed up in a suit with a loosened tie.

"Hi sweety," He said, and kissed me on the head. "Glad you're here. Is anyone else home?"

"No...just me. Come in." I stepped to the side and he came through the door. I poured him a cup of coffee and then sat down across from him at the kitchen table.

"So why did you stop by?"

"Well," he said, "I wanted to see you. It's been a couple days. Also, I have a bit of news."

"Yeah?" I asked.

"There's this great three bedroom apartment just a couple miles from here, more into the city. Its got a great view of the sunset in the evening, and a balcony that we can put a table and some chairs on. its a great building, really. There's a lot of kids, and everyone seems really friendly."

I was confused. "That's great, Dad, but why are you looking at apartments? Don't you have to wait until we find out about the job?" He grinned at me, and then it clicked. "You got the job?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I called our realitor back home and the house is up on the market. I also talked to the landlord, and we can move into the apartment I was talking about next week."

"That's great!" I said. "I thought we were going to be here for two weeks though?"

"Me too, but I guess I found out sooner. I was thinking we could maybe leave either tomorrow or wednesday, go get everything sorted out and pack up?"

"Yes, that's fine! This is awesome, I can't wait to tell Eleanor!" I was ready to put things that happened in New York behind me.

"That's the other thing. I want to take the two of you out to dinner tonight to celebrate. I figured we could all get caught up. It's been a while."

"That sounds great. We can go to that diner we always used to go to."

We visited for a while longer, but then he got a phonecall and had to go. I told him I would see him later for dinner and he left.