4
Everybody was sad to see Carli leave on Sunday, especially Penelope. They had to promise her that Carli would be back. Sheldon tried to convince Carli to live with him when she started school. Unfortunately, Carli said that wouldn't really be very practical. Not only wasn't USC that close to Pasadena but Carli, like Sheldon, didn't drive. Growing up in Brooklyn she really didn't need to. She told them that Penny no longer even owned a car. When they needed one they'd rent a Zip Car, which was located right down the block.
When Penny met Carli at the airport she looked tired. She'd rented a Zip Car for the drive home.
"Mom, what's going on?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, sweetie."
"Mom."
"Okay, money's a little tight, especially after paying your tuition bills."
"Mom, I could always stay at home. Or go someplace closer, like Purchase College. It's a state school. It'd be a lot cheaper."
"No. You wanted to go to USC. You got in. And you should spend some time where you were born. Maybe you might even get to see some of our old friends eventually."
"Mom, why haven't you stayed in touch with them? Why haven't you at least spoken to Sheldon?"
"Sweetie, I don't want to talk about it. Okay? It just hurts too much."
"Fine. Listen, I heard from our new tenants. They'll be here on Wednesday."
"Good we can use the rent money. Fucking Kurt isn't paying his."
"That and his pals all drink for free. Mom, you need to cut that guy loose. He's bad news."
"Honey, just stay out of it. And stay away from him. Okay? There's things there you don't understand."
Carli bit her lower lip. She knew exactly what was going on and she didn't care that Kurt was her biological father. He was a stranger and more important he was an asshole who was taking advantage of her mother. Carli wasn't sure if there was physical abuse, but she knew there was psychological abuse. She wanted to say something but she decided to hold her tongue until the cavalry arrived.
"So who are the new tenants?"
"Well he teaches college and she's in the entertainment industry."
"They actually have jobs, right?"
"They have jobs and I checked their references and I did a credit check. They were just between banks and they'll give us all the money on Wednesday."
"Okay. I want to meet them just as soon as they're settled. But I like the idea of a college professor living in the building. Lots of good memories."
Carli knew what her mom was remembering. Carli liked seeing that wistful smile on her mother's face. She was thinking about her wackadoodle husband that she hadn't seen or spoken to in ten years. Her husband who she still loved more than anything. The husband that she didn't know was about to walk back into her life.