A Soft Place to Land: Chapters 11–21

“So...what do you think?” I ask, bracing myself for the worst.

I lead Nora back to my room, where our sisters are splayed out on the floor, surrounded by markers, stickers, and paper.

With Oliver gone and the music off, it suddenly feels eerie down here. This is my first time down here all by myself.

Ziggy is at her feet, wagging his tail, like he already knows he’s getting a walk. It’s probably because he’s got his harness and leash on.

“Eww, no way.” She grimaces.

“We have to make sure we clean all of this up when we’re done,” Elena says. “No crumbs left behind. The last thing we need is a mouse infestation down here.”

My shoulders slump.

“You’re lying,” Miles says, wincing.

“Rearranging the furniture,” Mom says. “We can come up with a better setup in here. Maximize what little space we have.”

I wish they would stop bickering about everything. It makes me more and more uneasy, like I’m standing on shaky ground that could collapse at any minute. At least this isn’t a full-on argument.

“Help you with what?” Nora asks. “If it’s math homework, you should ask someone else. I’m actually not that bad at it, but I despise it and don’t want to look at any more of it than I have to.”

“You’re welcome. My little entrepreneur,” Dad says as he hugs me back.

JOY: OMG check our email. We have a potential client!

When we get outside to the patch of grass in front of the building, Tank immediately starts doing his business. “He’s pretty efficient,” Rebecca says, with a laugh.

Tank seems a little wary of us as well. He keeps looking back to make sure Rebecca is still here.

“Since Carlos has the keys to everyone's apartment, for when he has to do maintenance or whatever, would you be okay with him letting us into your apartment when it’s time to get Tank? That way, we won’t need our own key.”

“Mateo,” Daniela says sternly. “What did I say about pushing? Disculpate con tu hermana.”

“Yeah. The school me and Elena go to—it’s a private school. But both of us got scholarships. It only covers tuition, though. If we want to join an after-school activity or go on one of the field trips, we have to pay for that separately. My parents aren’t poor or anything, but a lot of these other families are rich. Like, rich. My parents can’t throw money around like that.”

I give a sympathetic nod. Even though I don’t go to his school, I know exactly what he’s talking about.

Maybe Miles is not the one writing me messages. Unless he’s this good at hiding his true feelings. But he seems pretty genuine.

Something about this message seems... ominous. Like there’s more to it. Like they might...hurt themself.

When I open my eyes I’m disoriented.

There’s a glimmer of hope in my gut as I imagine Dad deciding not to stay at Uncle Spencer’s after all.

I cringe while listening to her describe the Hideout, a place that’s supposed to be only for the kids in the building.

Then Dad says, “We have no choice but to tell the other parents and Carlos about the room downstairs. We don’t even know if that room is safe to inhabit, if it’s structurally sound. And if the other kids are going down there, their parents should know.”