Maybe with a little tweaking and compromise, it could prove a solution to both the Plinskis’ and Robert’s problems.
“Mary Ann, I have an idea.”
Swiftly, she explained Robert’s situation. And then, as the old woman tsk’d in consternation, Darla told her how she and Jake and James were taking turns keeping a roof over his head while they tried to figure out how best to help him.
“You know how it is, Mary Ann. With needing to scrape together enough money for first and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit, there’s no way Robert can afford any place that’s inhabitable. I know your rent is pretty much what he makes here in a month now that he’s full-time, but maybe you can take some of it in trade? We’d have to ask him, of course, but maybe he could work for you a few hours on his days off. And since you know him, maybe you’d be able to waive all the upfront money.”
Mary Ann frowned, tapping a finger on her chin.
“Oh, Darla, I’m not sure,” she said in a tone of dismay. “That’s so much money.”
Darla immediately felt contrite. “You’re right, I shouldn’t have suggested it. You and Mr. Plinski need to do what’s best for you. We’ll find a place for Robert eventually, and in the meantime he can stay with one of us.”
“Oh no, my dear. You misunderstood me. I meant, that’s far too much money for me to charge the dear boy for rent.”
Then, as Darla stared at her in surprise, Mary Ann went on, “Frankly, I’m quite distressed that you didn’t tell me about Robert’s troubles before now. I had no idea that he wasn’t living with his father anymore.”
She assumed a militant expression, her strong gaze as she surveyed Darla and Jake that of a woman half her age.
“Face it, girls, Brother and I are old. And that means we can’t do things we used to do, that we have to swallow our pride sometimes and ask for help. And I have accepted this. But some people think that old means foolish. They think that they can take advantage of us just because we don’t see and hear as well as we used to. I don’t want to be one of those old people who wakes up one morning and finds out that her tenant stole her identity and emptied her bank account. And I don’t want to be the old woman who didn’t know her tenant was operating a drug lab in her basement.”
“Mary Ann, that would never be you,” Darla protested.
The old woman gave a firm nod. “And that is because I know that a fat rent check doesn’t mean a thing if the person signing it is a criminal. We know that Robert is trustworthy, and we like him very much. And it will be a comfort to have a strong young man around the shop on occasion to do the heavy lifting. So I think you need to call him over so that we can sign the deal.”
Darla grinned. “You bet! Robert, come down here,” she called upstairs. “Ms. Plinski is here, and she has a business proposition for you.”
Robert, dressed in black and wearing a tiger-striped vest, appeared at the top of the stairs. “Yo, Ms. Plinski,” he called with a smile and a wave.
Taking the steps three at a time, he landed at the bottom of the staircase and trotted over to join them. “Hey, food,” he said in approval and lifted the lid. “Green bean casserole, awesome! I just ate breakfast, but I can probably eat again.”
“That food is for later,” Darla admonished him with a smile. “We’ve got something more important to discuss. Mary Ann, why don’t you tell Robert our idea?”
“Of course. Robert, it’s like this. Brother and I need a tenant in our garden apartment. You would be doing us a huge favor if you moved in.”
“I’d love to, Ms. Plinski . . . but I can’t, you know, afford the rent,” he protested, looking embarrassed.
Mary Ann shook her head. “Nonsense. We are prepared to suggest a substantial reduction in the going rate in exchange for a few hours of labor a week. I believe the revised rent amount would be within your budget,” she said and named a dollar figure.
Robert’s eyes widened. “That’s not much more than Bill charged me to stay in his basement. Do you, like, really mean it?”
“Certainly. How soon can you move in?”
“I can move in, like, now!” he exclaimed,