Postal Services

New Beginnings, New Neighbors

Holding onto Cameron's hand, we walked together on the sidewalk in the frosty Canadian morning. After three days of travelling and not knowing where to go, we ended up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It has been a long time since I've been here last, but it was the only place I could think of. The fall weather was a lot chillier than it was in Nevada, so both of us wore new winter jackets and hats on top of our heads, with me pulling both suitcases with my other hand. We were headed towards the real estate office at the end of the block just down the street from the bus stop we were dropped off at, in hopes to find a place to stay for a while.

'Mom, are we going to see Dad soon?" Cameron asked hopefully. I sighed and tried not to be impatient with him, reminding myself that he doesn't know the real reason why we had left.

"No Cam, we are on our own for a while, Dad is... busy working," I supplied for him, hoping the pathetic lie was enough for him to drop the subject. I decided that telling him would do more damage than good at this point. I forced him to leave the only place he's ever known, his friends, his dad... everything. I know in the end it will be for the best, if he were to find out the secret that tore apart his family as a teenager I am sure things would not go well. I just needed time. For him to adjust, and maybe just so I can prepare myself for the tears and confusion.

We turned and entered the real estate agents office and stood on the rubber floor mat placed in front of the door. The warmth of the building began to reheat my rosy nose and chilled fingertips. I let go of my suitcase handle and walked up to the bulletin board hung above a row of plastic chairs and examined each sheet of paper that had 'for rent' written as the title. Up in the top corner of the board was a picture of a tiny, two bedroom apartment for a reasonable price. I pulled out my phone and quickly saved the number so that I could call later. A surprised and bubbly voice greeted me, asking if I needed any help. She nodded when I politely declined and turned to go behind the desk and finish the paperwork she was so engrossed in before. I quickly grabbed our suitcases and Cameron's hand and headed out the door.

"But Mom its cold outside!" he whined and tried to pull back to go into the warmth of the building.

"Cameron, I need you to cooperate with me right now," I squatted down to his level, "Mom needs to call a friend and ask for directions, I need you to stay and wait until I am done, okay?"

"Okay," he eventually replied. My closed lips curled slightly and we continued on to a park bench and sat with our suitcases next to us. I pulled my phone out and dialed the number that was posted on the bulletin board and sat waiting for the ringing to end. I handed Cameron one of his toy cars from his suitcase to occupy himself, when a voice spoke up from the other end of the phone.

"Hello?" the man asked.

"Hi! My name is Avery Millar, I just saw your ad for your apartment for rent down on Avenue East North and was wondering if it is still available?"

"It sure is! Would you like to take a look at it?"

"Well, I was wondering how soon I could start renting—I really need a place to stay right now..." I returned while biting my lip.

"Well why don't you come up and check it out first?" he asked me politely. I considered for a moment, and thought that he probably would like to meet me in person before renting out his apartment so soon.

"Sure! That would be great!"

"You can come by anytime, I'll be around," he replied with a smile in his voice.

"Thank you so—"I stopped talking when I spotted my son being escorted across the park by a man and his golden retriever. "Cameron James!" I hollered angrily, rushing closer to the pair walking on the grass.