Free Finding Home by Ninette Swann Page A

here.”
    She stepped onto the train, waving, a sad smile on her face. Ben’s stomach flopped and gurgled as he watched her leaving the station. He was nauseous and had to stop and lean against the wall to regain his composure. He walked with slow steps to the old SUV then headed home with emptiness filling his heart. His parents would be back in three hours. Somehow, he had to lift the veil of despair to greet them on their Christmas return.

Chapter Seven
     
    Jessica transferred to the Green Line after the train dropped her off at Riverside. She’d slept through most of the long trip home, and now was on the final leg. She felt scratchy and frumpy after spending nearly a day on the train, but she smiled with gratitude at the young man who exchanged her money for tokens at the turnstile. He wished her Merry Christmas with a grin. It felt nice to have some human interaction, and she gave him a tip with her remaining coins.
    It was Christmas day, and Jessica was on her way to her uncle’s house in Woodbridge. He’d left his full contact information in every email. She’d contemplated stopping back at her old apartment but had decided against it. She hadn’t paid rent since July, and she was sure the landlord had indicated he would have to get new tenants by now. She wondered what had become of her stuff. Anything that had been hers there must now be gone, destroyed or used by someone new. She’d given up so much on a cynical suspicion. She laughed in a rueful tone, causing the few other passengers on the T to look her way then buried her nose in a book she grabbed from the top of one of her duffles to avoid further glances.
    Just ten minutes after boarding, she reached her destination. Hauling her bags behind her, Jessica considered the long walk ahead of her. She didn’t have enough money for a cab. At least, her boots were warm and snug against her feet. She drifted down the stairs, the doubt and fear she’d been holding deep inside finally boiling over to the surface. What awaited her here? She hoped she wouldn’t entirely ruin Christmas for everyone.
    “Where you headed, Miss?” a cabbie asked from his taxi.
    “Oh, I’ve got no money,” she said, her tone sheepish. “But thank you.”
    She moved a few more steps when the voice called her back.
    “Excuse me,” the man said. Jessica peered into the car at the driver’s face. It was weathered and wrinkled, and kind amber eyes picked up the lights of the station, reflecting them back to her.
    “Yes?”
    “It’s just that it’s awfully cold out here, and you’re likely to freeze to death before you make it to any of them there houses. Where are you going?”
    She rattled off the address she now knew by heart.
    “Well,” the man smiled, “wouldn’t you know? I was going by there anyway. Let me give you a lift.”
    “Oh, I couldn’t.” Jessica ducked her head in embarrassment. “I truly have no money.”
    “Consider it a Christmas present,” the driver said. “Please.”
    She flashed him a grateful smile and walked to the passenger seat. “If that’s the case, I hope you won’t mind me sitting up front?”
    He grinned back at her. “Not at all. I’m Charlie.”
    “Jessica,” she said, opening the back door to sit her bags down then taking her place beside him.
    She made pleasant chit-chat with him, relieved to hear the thick Boston accent. She hadn’t realized she’d missed it.
    Charlie talked about his grandkids and spoke excitedly about seeing them that evening. She was to be his last run of the evening, he said.
    “Your last run is a freebie? I am blessed. I can never thank you enough.”
    “It’s nothing, Jessica. I’m happy to know you.”
    She snorted. “Well, that makes you the only one.” She fingered the rings around her neck and looked out the window.
    “Actually, Charlie, can you stop here for just a moment,” she said on a whim, a decision taking hold of her as she saw the brassy lights of a pawnshop signifying it