Astute Kurt. I’d given him my maiden name when I’d called. No reason to do differently until I was actually signing legal documents. But my trepidation at looking at new places must’ve shone like a lighthouse beacon. Add in the lack of enthusiasm over the beautiful apartment and he’d figured my situation out. I accepted the papers from him.

He folded his hands in front of him. “Any questions? Would you like to see another unit?”

“No, I’ll think on this.”

He rubbed his temples, one of the many nervous tics he had. “These do tend to move fast—when they’re open.”

A kind, and anxious, fellow. Still a salesman. “I understand.”

Beaming, he stuck his hand out. “It was nice to meet you, Ms. McDonough.”

“Thank you, Kurt.” I’d told him to call me Kate. Mostly because hearing my maiden name only reminded me that I’d been too chicken to give him my real name.

I parted ways with Kurt, relief melting off my shoulders the farther I got from the massive apartment building. Tossing the papers in the back seat, I slid behind the driver’s seat and heaved out a long breath.

This was the first apartment I’d looked at since I’d left my house, and I’d hated the experience.

Aiden had asked me for time, but we weren’t much different than his cattle: going through the chutes and coming out the other side in a pen that looked exactly the same. Except Aiden and I weren’t even going through the motions anymore. He hadn’t called me since I’d ditched him at the Thai place.

My phone buzzed. No one called me except for Aiden, but when I glanced at the phone, it read Dad.

“Hey, Katie-bear.” My nickname had survived the divorce. My brothers shunned most things related to our father, but Katie-bear had stuck. “I’m coming through tomorrow, late morning. You free?”

Dad’s visits were normally bittersweet. I was happy he called me, then the guilt set in. A little resentment that he only hit me up when he was coming through town for his job. Today I expected a bigger hit of bitterness, but it didn’t come. Tomorrow he’d be saving me from a day of figuring out how to stay out of Mom and Randall’s way. They didn’t get much time together when they weren’t exhausted. They didn’t need a mopey daughter to deal with.

“Sure. Tell me when and where.”

“I’ll know better when I stop tonight. I’ll message you. Love you, Katie-bear.”