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Her fingers pause over the keys and she eyes me over her glasses. “Yes…” It takes her a moment to place me. “Ms. Reed?”
“Can we talk?”
When she realizes it’s more than a quick pleasantry, probably because the unease of bad news is written all over my face, she removes her glasses and waves me in. “Come in, hun.”
I plant myself into the chair across from her.
Her gaze flickers down to my bandaged hand. “How can I help you?”
“I, um…I don’t have a job anymore. So, I’ll be late with my rent.”
She offers a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry.”
I nod my thanks.
Something seems to spark remembrance. “Wait.” She looks at me strange. “Didn’t you…” She shuffles some papers around. “You should be paid up.”
“For this month, yes.”
She eyes me. Confusion settles into the lines of her face.
She stands and pulls her cardigan down. “One moment, Ms. Reed.” And she disappears into the next room.
I don’t have to wait long before she returns with Cathy, her assistant, by her side. “Ms. Cathy says you’re good on your rent.”
I try not to sigh. She’s not listening. “No, I know. I’ve already paid this month. I just won’t be able to pay in two weeks when the rent is due for March.” And possibly the month after.
They give each other a knowing look. “Ma’am,” LaTonya says, more firmly this time. “I mean your rent has been taken care of.”
“For the next year,” Cathy adds.
Wait…what? “I’m sorry?”
“A gentleman called this morning and asked to pay your rent for the next year.”
The breath leaves my lungs.
“I’m sorry?” I repeat, searching their eyes. Is this a joke?
“He made us promise not to tell anyone his real name if they asked. Even you.”
Jake. It has to be Jake.
“He…he did?”
“Yes. But said if you pressed, and he was sure you would, there was another name we could give you.”
I wait in stunned silence.
“Mr. Bojangles,” Cathy said. And she somehow managed to say it with a straight face. “He said we could tell you it was Mr. Bojangles.”
