“You don’t need someone?—”
“I’d feel better.Now that people know Justin’s been staying, I’d rather it wasn’t empty.You’ve been here with Justin, so you’re familiar with everything.Please say you’ll stay.I wouldn’t have bothered you, but if you’re looking for a place, then it kills two birds.”
I’d have been willing to bet what little savings I had that she’d have left the house empty before I showed up, but it was kind of her to offer.If Arne and I stayed, I could make sure the house was clean—maybe do a bit of the gardening that Justin had fussed about.It was such an answer to all my prayers that I couldn’t say no.If it was just me… But for Arne, I wouldn’t be too proud.
“I know you’re being kind, but yeah, I’ll take you up on that offer.It’ll give me time to work things out.I can get the garbage bins out, mow the lawn—anything like that.”
“Thanks, Mia.Something tells me Grandma would be happy to have you here.”
Justin
Cooper would have banned all cell phones at his retreat if possible.It wasn’t.Players needed to know if their agents called.The family guys were giving up a lot of their offseason time and wouldn’t cut themselves off from their spouses and kids.
So, when we came out of a training session, I checked my phone like the others.There was a message from Jess,
CALL ME!
I dialed immediately.
“Justin!You okay to talk?”
All the worst-case scenarios started scrolling through my head.Mom?Dad?Alek?“Is everyone okay?”
She sighed.“Physically, everyone is good.But Mia stopped by the house.”
“Why?”It wasn’t to see me, since she knew I was in Toronto.Had she known Jess was there?She couldn’t be hurt, or Jess would have said, but she wouldn’t have stopped at Grandma’s place without a reason.Arne?Her mother?
“She was upset.Ended up crying.”
The edges of the phone dug into my palm as I forced myself to listen to what my twin had to say instead of immediately heading for BC.“What’s wrong?”
“She had a fight with her family.”
Mia, fighting with her mother?Bruce, sure, but… “What happened?”
“Her siblings are leaving and her mother wants Arne to help more.I didn’t get all the details, because she was upset, but she’s moved out.”
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
“She moved out.”
That was big.Huge.I didn’t understand what exactly had caused it, but I would help.Did she have a place to stay?Did she have her things?“We should?—”
Jess cut me off.“I asked her to stay at Grandma’s house so Alek and I can house hunt in Seattle.”
“Didn’t you just find a place?”
“I lied.”I could see her rolling her eyes, even though I didn’t have video on.“Mia agreed to it, so Alek and I are leaving tomorrow and she’s moving into the place with her son for a couple of weeks.”
I let the tension out in a long breath.“Thanks, Jess.Thanks so much.”The thought of Mia worrying or maybe taking a room in a cheap motel where she and Arne wouldn’t be safe would have eaten me up.
“You need to come.”
I couldn’t have heard her right.“What?I’m supposed to give her space.”
“She needs you, Justin.She’s got some big decisions to make, and you want to be part of that.”
Jess definitely got the brains between the two of us.“Absolutely.I’ll be there as soon as possible.Thanks—for giving her a place to stay, and for telling me.Does Mia know you’re calling me?”