“Three at one place, six at another. But…” Beth pointed at Carly.
“I understand.” Little ears did not need to hear. “Is there someplace we can talk?”
“Here I am.” At that moment Ida appeared, and Beth was never so grateful to see her. “You’ve made some good progress. The movers will arrive at seven and I’ll supervise while you’re at work. You’ll be all gone by Mr. Anderson’s deadline.” Ida paused as she saw Quinton.
Beth wanted to groan at the speculation she saw in her elderly neighbor’s eyes.
“This is Dr. Searle,” Beth offered.
“He saved me from dying at the hospital,” Carly added.
“Well, I…” Quinton began.
“We met the other night but weren’t formally introduced. I’m Ida Caruthers.” She extended her hand and Quinton shook it. “It’s nice to meet you. Are you here to help Beth pack?”
“He’s here—he’s…” Beth found herself oddly relieved when Quinton simply took charge and said, “Ida, would you mind giving us a few moments alone?”
“Certainly. Come on, Carly. I have some ice cream in my freezer and I can’t eat it all.”
“Do you have sprinkles?” Carly asked.
“Oh, I’ll have to see what I can muster up. I may not have sprinkles, but I bet I have chocolate sauce.”
“Yum,” Carly said.
Moments later Beth found herself alone with Quinton.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Don’t be.” She was too tired for anger, too tired for anything but bittersweet regret. “I fought the good fight, but no one wins against fate.”
“Maybe you can.”
“No, I can’t. As of noon tomorrow I have to be out of here. I broke down and used the last of my money for movers and a storage facility. How I’ll ever scrape up enough for a security deposit and first month’s rent on a new apartment I don’t know.”
He’d caused this, and his conscience demanded he fix it. “Let me help.”
“You can’t.”
Sure he could. He could solve any problem he set his mind to, except perhaps with his family. “Let me pay your security deposit for a new apartment. I’ll even pay the first month’s rent. You can pay me back whenever.”
“I don’t take charity.”
“It’s not charity. Consider it a loan. A favor. In fact, you can repay me with one.”
Beth shook her head. “I won’t take loans. Not from individuals. They end up being charity. And I dislike favors. They have to be repaid at too high a cost.”
“Yet you’d strip to earn the money.”
“Stripping was work. Not politically correct, but honest. I’m not a hooker and I don’t strip bare. I’ve only done it a few times—a long time ago. It’s quick money. I needed that money. But I waited too long—I didn’t think Mr. Anderson would really evict me, not after the past few years I’ve had.” She swallowed.
She was so tired, so sick of fighting to eke out an existence. Still, she pressed on. “You wouldn’t know what it’s like to be poor, would you? You wouldn’t know how hard it is to put food on the table, to make sure your child doesn’t suffer. You wouldn’t know…” She suddenly saw two of Quinton.
Both Quinton’s spoke. “Beth, you don’t look good. You’re pale and…”
“I’m fine,” Beth said. “I’m just fine.” She was always fine. She couldn’t afford not to be.
And then, as if fate mocked her, the world went black.
Chapter Three
When she awoke, it was to gentle light and a pillow underneath her head. Where was she? Panic filled her and Beth forced herself to try to sit. Pain filled her head.
“Relax.” Quinton’s voice. “You need to rest.”
Beth closed her eyes and let herself sink back into the softness. Then she remembered.
“Carly.” Beth’s frantic voice came out a mere whisper.
“She’s fine. Ida’s got her.” Quinton’s voice was reassuring. “Just rest,” he said again. “Carly’s fine. Right now she’s probably watching Mulan.”
She kept her eyes closed. “Why are you still here?”
“Because you passed out in my arms. When’s the last time you had something to eat?”
“I don’t remember. Maybe lunch?”
“Which was hours ago.”
Beth’s eyelids snapped open, the light was too intense. She closed her eyes, waited a moment and tried again. Although this time her eyes adjusted better, she still winced. She then struggled to sit up.
“Not so fast,” Quinton said. “Let me help you.”
She felt his arms around her as he moved her to a sitting position.
One arm around her, he said, “Now that you’re up, drink this.” With his other hand, he brought a cup to her lips.
Parched, Beth allowed herself a long drink of the grape-flavored liquid. It tasted familiar. “What is it?”
“Sports drink. Full of electrolytes. I drink it after I work out. I had a bottle in my car. In my medical opinion, your body is dehydrated, hungry and plain fatigued. You need rest and hydration.”
Beth struggled to free herself from his arm. “I’m fine. I have a lot to do, and you need to go.”
A firm but gentle hand on her shoulder stopped her from rising.
“You’re not fine. You collapsed and lost consciousness.”
“I—” Beth began.