Page 6 of Finders Keepers

She turns the knob and pushes the door open, stepping aside to let us enter first. Sophie and I cross the threshold, and I catch my breath.

The living room welcomes us with a comfortable-looking sofa, a coffee table with a small vase of wildflowers, and a rocking chair by the window. Everything is clean and tidy, with warm touches that make it feel like a home rather than just a shelter.

“Kitchen’s right through here,” she says, leading us through an archway.

The kitchen opens up from the living area, with a small dining table set for three. I notice the refrigerator humming quietly, and Ms. Lucy opens it to reveal shelves stocked with food. Milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables.

“Pantry’s full too,” she adds, pulling open a narrow door to show us staples like pasta, rice, and canned goods.

I feel Sophie squeeze my hand.

“Bedroom’s just down the hall.”

We follow her to a cozy bedroom with a queen-sized bed covered in light blue comforter. Fresh pillows are propped against the headboard, and a small lamp sits on a bedside table.

“For us?” Sophie asks, looking up at me.

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.

The bathroom is the last stop on our tour—clean white tiles, a shower/tub combo, and a shelf holding new toothbrushes still in their packaging, toothpaste, and the fluffiest towels I’ve ever seen.

Something breaks inside me. My vision blurs with tears, and I quickly wipe them away. Shame crashes over me. Needing this much help, being so desperate, bringing my daughter to rely on a stranger’s kindness.

Ms. Lucy notices immediately. She stands nearby, not touching me, but her presence is steady.

“Everyone needs help sometimes,” she says softly. “No shame in that.”

“I don’t know—” I struggle to find words.

“You don’t need to know right now. Just breathe.”

Sophie shifts against my leg, raising her arms in a silent request. I bend down and scoop her up, her little body fitting perfectly against mine as she rests her face in the crook of my neck. Her warm breath against my skin, and I feel her relax slightly as I hold her close.

“I’ll leave you two to get settled in,” she says, taking a step toward the door. “Take your time. There’s no rush for anything.”

“Ms. Lucy,” I call after her, my voice catching. “Thank you. For all of this. I don’t know how to—”

She just gives me a gentle smile. “No need for that. I’ve been in shoes not too different from yours, once upon a time. Life has a way of throwing curveballs.” She adjusts her glasses and adds, “I’m just up the road if you need anything. Anything at all. Please don’t hesitate.”

And then she’s gone, the door closing softly behind her. I hear the side-by-side engine start up, the sound growing fainter as her and jake drive away. Then nothing. The silence presses in from all sides, thick and unfamiliar. No traffic noise, no neighbors, no familiar sounds of the city.

“It’s too quiet,” I tell Sophie, giving her a little bounce in my arms. “Let’s turn on the TV.”

I set her down, and she stands in the middle of the living room, looking warily around the open space before her. Her eyes dart from the couch to the unfamiliar decorations on the walls, her little fingers still clutching Mr. Hoppy tightly.

“Can we sit there?” she asks, pointing to the couch but making no move toward it.

“Of course we can, baby.”

I take her hand and lead her to the sofa. “Here, you sit right here with Mr. Hoppy, and I’ll find us something to watch.”

She climbs onto the couch but perches on the edge, as if afraid to fully commit to being comfortable. I grab the remote and sit beside her, pulling her gently against my side.

“See? It’s a nice couch, isn’t it?”

She nods hesitantly and gradually allows herself to sink back into the cushions as I find a cartoon channel. As her attention shifts to the colorful characters on screen, my eyes move methodically around the room. Front door. Two windows in the living room. Kitchen window over the sink. Back door off the kitchen and there’s a window in the bedroom.

Six possible exits. I memorize each one, calculating how quickly we could reach them from different points in the house.

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