“How quickly can you move? I have a waiting list of students who can pay for the room. You’ve been habitually late with every payment.”
“Carmen, please?!”
“I’m sorry, Katherine, but I’d appreciate you vacating so I don’t have to take legal action to have you evicted.”
Katherine felt her heart sink as she listened to Carmen hang up the phone. Knowing there was no way she could get to Tennessee, no way to contact her cousin Jacob, and no way she could survive a week on the streets before her next paycheck, she slumped to the floor and burst into tears. Her dreams were shattered. She’d have to drop out of school.
Marty stared at Katherine’s swollen eyes. “Katherine, what happened to you?”
“I’m dropping out, I don’t have a choice. I just stopped by to say goodbye to you.” The tears, once again, spilled over.
“No! Don’t drop out, okay? We can figure something out. I’ll find a way to get some extra money and I can give it to you.”
“I have to go pack up my things and move out of my apartment. I can’t make rent and I can’t afford a ticket back to Tennessee. I can’t do a damn thing!”
“Katherine, call your uncle.”
“My uncle is barely making ends meet. I can’t and won’t call him.”
“Do you know anyone with money? A long lost relative, perhaps?”
“I’ll keep in touch, Marty. I love you.” Katherine gave her friend a kiss on the cheek and a strong hug. She hurried and walked away before he could protest. She picked up two empty boxes in the administration office after dropping her classes and carried them back to her apartment.
Daniel sat in the coffee shop, checking his phone every two minutes to make sure it was on. Katherine, please call me! After an hour, he got up to walk around the campus. Maybe he’d get lucky and find her. He looked up as a screeching bus came to a stop. He saw Katherine struggling to carry a suitcase and two boxes. The driver was giving her problems.
“Look, I have to get on this bus!” Katherine sat her things down as the driver shook his head and started moving forward. She would try to at least make it to a shelter, but she was quite aware that there was a waiting list, and women with young children got first dibs. The shelter was at least ten miles away. She began to cry and sat down on the cold ground. Suddenly, she felt two strong arms around her, lifting her to her feet.
Without thinking, Daniel pulled her into his chest while Katherine wept. The wind was freezing, and he wanted more than anything to get her into a warm, safe place.
“Daniel—“
“You’re coming with me. Whatever is happening, you can tell me and I’ll make it better.”
“Nothing can make this better!”
Daniel led her to his Jeep, put her boxes and suitcase in the back, buckled her seatbelt for her, and then drove to his motel.
“Why are we here? I’m not going to sleep with you!”
“We aren’t going to sleep, Katherine. I’m going to get you a nice, hot cup of coffee and make you put some warm food in your stomach, then we’re going to talk.”
Katherine leaned her head against the cold window and let him find a parking place in peace. She had no more energy to fight, and eat? When was the last time she’d eaten anything?
Daniel found a spot in the parking structure near his motel, then gathered Katherine’s belongings and led her down the block and through the lobby.
“Sir, you are paying for a single occupancy,” said the manager when he saw the woman and her belongings.
“Well, then charge me for two.” Daniel wasn’t in the mood for his petty behavior.
“How long do you plan on having this woman stay with you?” The manager was sure that the rich man had found himself a companion for the hour. He wasn’t running that kind of establishment.
“If this place was for sale, I’d buy it just to fire your ass. I’ll settle the bill when we leave.”
The guy looked at Daniel, but spoke not another word.
Daniel was staying in a suite. He set Katherine’s things in the corner and picked up the phone to order room service. He didn’t know what Katherine wanted, so he ordered many things. By the look on her face, she didn’t know much of anything. She looked absolutely numb and lost.
“Katherine, let me take your jacket. These blankets will be warmer. If you’d like, you can take a hot shower or bath.”
“Really? That’s the first thing you can come up with?” Katherine angrily got up and headed for her belongings.
“Look, it’s obvious that you’re in some kind of a bad situation. All I want to do is help you. If you’d like, I will get you a room of your own. If you’d prefer a house, I can get you one of those as well.”
“Wait, you’d get me my own room?”
“On whatever floor you want if there’s a vacancy.”
“I’ll be honest with you. My choices are living on the street, or living on the street. I don’t feel comfortable staying in a room with you. If you can get me a room I’d appreciate it, and in due time I’ll pay you back. If you need the money now, then I’ll be on my way. I’m down to fifty bucks.”
Daniel picked up the phone and rented another suite. It was located around the corner at the far end. He also told them to provide her with anything she wanted and that all bills were to go to him.
“There, it’s all settled. I’ll run and grab the key at the desk and you wait right here.”
Daniel went outside the room. As soon as Katherine heard the elevator ding, she went digging. How did he find me? Opening his briefcase, she stood shocked when she saw a picture of herself crossing the street on campus. What the hell?! That son of a bitch had me followed? Oh my God! Every detail of her existence was written neatly on three pages. Run!
As quickly as she could, she grabbed her boxes and suitcase and headed out of the suite. She ran as quickly as she could to the elevator. Come on, come on, come on!
The doors opened and Daniel stepped out and looked down at her. She was breathing hard, her eyes were wide, and she was shaking.
“Katherine, what’s wrong?” Daniel was afraid that something had happened to her while he was gone.
“You had me followed?! What kind of a freak are you? You’re some stalker!”
“I had an investigator look for you. Do you know how hard I tried to find you? I tried to get to Tennessee on Thanksgiving but I wasn’t able to get there. I looked you up online and there were too many women with your name. If you would feel more comfortable, I’ll call you a cab to take you to the police station and we can talk there. I don’t care where it is. I just want to talk to you.”