Go see Mack again...

Dan shrugged his shoulders. "We could find another hotel. Maybe one that's better than the one we used last night," he suggested. It wasn't a prospect he relished.

Laura pursed her lips. "I've been thinking. Mack didn't seem like too bad a person, and well... we can't keep spending money on hotels. Seven hundred a month... well probably more for a deposit... so double that, will take a big chunk out of what we have. Dear, I think... we need to seriously consider it. If we spend one month there, we could get back on our feet by then," she suggested.

Dan glanced at his mother and wondered if she realized how defeated her voice sounded. "We do need something," he admitted. "Should we look around? See what is available in the area?"

Laura looked at him and pursed her lips. "Normally, you need background checks, proof you can lease an apartment, down payments, and a laundry list of other things before you might be approved to move in. Mack is offering us a place, now. My... credit score isn't amazing, dear," she admitted.

Dan winced and nodded. He knew being a single mother had required his mom to make sacrifices over the years. Sometimes that was letting late bills run over until creditors tried to beat down the door. "Alright," he sighed.

Mack was still in his office when they returned. He was sitting in a wheelchair and spun to greet them. Dan watched as the older man stood on fake legs to walk over to the counter. "You're back sooner than I thought," he said with an easy smile. "Interested in the room?"

"What downpayment are you asking, what is the total per month we'd owe, and what does the apartment look like?" Laura asked in a businesslike manner.

A wider smile creased Mack's weathered face. "A woman of business, I like that. I need at least half the rent upfront, as a deposit. So, call it three-fifty. Total to move in is going to be one thousand seventy dollars. That includes the service fee to do all the paperwork and all that garbage for the government. Sorry, I won't wave that fee. The apartment is one room, one bathroom. Small kitchenette, no other furnishings at the moment. The bathroom has a sink, tub, toilet, and counter. A fridge, microwave, and stove is all it has, no dishwasher. You've got room enough to get a bed or mattress in, queen, at the absolute max. Maybe a sofa and a T.V. It isn't big, but it can put a roof over your head until you get back on your feet," he answered.

Dan and Laura exchanged looks. It sounded like a better deal than Dan expected. It was basically the motel they'd spent the night in already, except they'd have a kitchen to cook in.

"Can we see the room?" Laura asked.

"Absolutely," Mack answered and sat back in his wheelchair. "If you push me, it'll go faster," he added as he drew out a set of keys on a chain from the drawer under the computer.

Laura didn't wait and stepped up behind the wheelchair. The elevator ride to the second floor was cramped. "This is it," Mack said as he had Laura stop in front of the door in the middle of the corridor. After fumbling with the lock a little, the proprietor opened the door and let Dan go in first.

"It... looks good," Dan had to admit after looking over the place. It wasn't what he'd call comfortable, but it wasn't absolute squalor either.

"We'll take it," Laura said after she looked around for a bit. "We'll need at least a bed," she muttered.

"Blow-up air mattress," Mack suggested from the doorway. "It won't be the most comfortable thing in the world, but it'll work until you can get something. I might have a buddy who needs to get rid of a mattress or two. Can give him a call in bit, if you're interested."

"Please," Laura said with a smile. "Cash, right?" she asked with a subtle look at Dan.

"Let's go back to the office and get you squared away."

It took forty-five minutes to officially rent the apartment. Mack had them sign a standard agreement that they wouldn't trash the rooms and maintain a clean area around their door. He told them where the trash was and the closest laundry mat. "That just about squares you away," he said as he filed away their paperwork.

"Can you get the bags, I'll be up in a moment. I want to see if Mack can get me the number for a mattress. I don't really want to sleep on an air mattress if I can help it," Laura said with a smile.

Dan shrugged and left with the keys to the apartment. He got what little they owned and found his mother waiting at their door. "Well?" he asked with a little laugh.

"It might be a day, so we'll need to pick something up anyway. Sorry," she apologized with a sigh.

"Ah, well, it could be worse. We can always return the air mattress after we use it. I see stuff like that happen all the time."

"Well, let's take stock of what we have, what we need, and try to get settled in," Laura said with a weak smile as they entered their new home.