before you go back? We're serving up blueberry pancakes for breakfast."
"No, thanks. I'm not hungry." I hand him my key. "I'll see you next weekend."
He eyes me. "Is something wrong? You seem to be in quite the hurry this morning."
"I just want to get on the road. It's a long trip."
"Oh! Before you go, I was going to give you our home address, in case you want to send Lois a little note or get well card. You certainly don't have to but I know she'd love hearing from you."
"Of course! Absolutely. I'd love to send her something."
"Let me just go write it down."
As he goes to the back room, I glance down at the counter and see a stack of papers that look like a contract. The name of the firm Aiden works for is printed at the top. It must be the offer, the one Aiden claimed wasn't done yet.
Peeking in the back room, I see Tom searching for something to write on. I pick up the contract and flip through it, stopping when I see the offer. I don't know what an inn is worth but the amount listed doesn't seem like nearly enough. I flip through the other pages, looking for anything that says they're tearing down the inn but all I can find is some vague language about modifications being made as the new owner sees fit. That could mean anything.
I didn't want to believe Celine was telling the truth but maybe she was. Why would Aiden allow this? And why would he offer Tom such a ridiculously small amount for the inn and all the land around it? Is it because he knows Tom has no choice but to sell the place? Did Aiden get to know Tom just to find out how desperate he was to sell the inn?
If that's the case, I really didn't know Aiden at all. He's not the person I thought he was, and definitely not a person I'd want to date. I guess having Celine show up here was a blessing. I needed to know the truth.
I quickly drop the papers when I hear Tom coming back.
"Here you go." He hands me a sticky note with his address on it. "If you want to give her a call, that's an option too, although she's been sleeping a lot since starting the treatment."
"I'll send her a note." I softly smile at him. "Take care, Tom. I'll be thinking about you both."
"Have a safe drive home." He gives me a wave as I leave.
Driving back, my mind shifts between Aiden and Tom. I'm angry at Aiden and sad for Tom. Both situations have me so worked up I can barely focus on the road. The rain continues to fall the whole way back, the clouds as dark and gloomy as my mood.
When I get to my apartment, there's a piece of paper taped to the door. A final eviction notice. I rip it off the door and go inside.
"Two days?" I say as I read through the notice. "Are you kidding me?"
I drop my stuff and go down to the first floor and knock on the landlord's door. He takes forever to answer, and when he finally does, he almost shuts the door in my face. He knows why I'm here.
"Wait!" I grab the edge of the door, hoping he doesn't slam it on my fingers. "I'll give you two hundred. Will that buy me another week?"
"Sorry, lady, but I've already given you two extensions. This is your last notice. You pay off what you owe or get out. And if you don't get out, I'll be cleaning out the place myself and changing the locks."
"I'll have the money. I just don't have it right now. I don't get paid until Friday."
"Not my problem. Now get out of here before I call the cops."
I back away as he shuts the door.
Going back to my apartment, I try to figure out what to do. I don't have what I owe him and there's no way I can get it in two days, unless I could convince Bianca to give me an advance on my paycheck.
It's Sunday, but I'm sure she's at the office. She's there almost every weekend. I head down there, thinking she'll be less likely to tell me no in person than over the phone. I go in the building and up the elevator, feeling more and more nervous the closer I get to our floor.