Sisters and Friends

Chapter 23

House Hunt

"Have you found any possible digs for you and Annie?" Daria pulled the pizza out of the oven, setting it down on the top of the stove to cool a little. "You're kinda cutting things close."

Quinn sighed, rinsing off the colander full of veggies. "I know. I'm thinking that I need to stay here over break and really work at that. Annie was up here meeting with her advisor during midterms and had to get back to Lawndale State to keep from falling behind, so she agreed to go with whatever I could find."

"If we had more room, I'd say she could stay here too, but you know it's already kind of crowded."

"It was already crowded with Trent here," smirked Quinn. "This place was just right for you and Jane. You guys were really lucky to find this place."

Daria pulled down plates, carrying them over to the little dining table. "Are you checking with the student housing office? You need to keep on them, you know. Their listings change, especially this late in the term. People sometimes move around this time, although it's more common to find the openings after the spring term. If you can afford to attend summer sessions you'll have an easier time getting into a place."

"I guess Annie could stay in a dorm till the summer term, but I know I'm in your way," sighed Quinn. "I appreciate you guys letting me stay. I've been checking the listings at the housing office every day, but so far nothing's panned out. Trent's been asking around for me too."

Daria looked around the little cottage for a moment. "You know, there aren't many places around this neighborhood being rented to students. I seem to recall that Linda was almost reluctant to let us see the place. She had some pretty awful tenants before us. Some guys on an athletic scholarship. Really messed the place up and a lot of the neighbors complained about them."

"Linda's your landlady? You know, I don't think I've ever met her. I've been so caught up in trying to stay on top of my classwork…"

"I let her know that you were going to be here temporarily," Daria mused, "And she was okay with it. I think she's happy with us as tenants. Maybe she knows someone who has space for rent." She got out a stool to retrieve a new package of trash bags from the high cabinet.

"This is a quiet neighborhood," smiled Quinn as she pulled out some plates. "Nothing like the ones that list with student housing."

"Let's go see if she's home after we have lunch."

Linda MacBeath set Annie's C.V. down on the kitchen table. "Your friend appears to be a nice young woman," she smiled. She turned to Daria. "Would Quinn and Annie be responsible and a good fit for the neighborhood?"

Daria nodded, looking at her sister with a small smile. "If you had asked me that while we were in high school, I'd have had a good laugh at her expense. But Quinn's really matured, and both she and Annie are in competitive, demanding fields of study. I don't think that either of them would be throwing wild parties. I know Quinn can afford a little nicer place, but her friend Annie is on a strict budget."

"That sounds like you and Jane," smiled Linda. "When I met you I knew you'd be a good tenant, but I wasn't so sure about Jane. I went with my instinct and decided to trust that if she was your best friend, then she would be fine."

"Jane's budget determined what we could afford for rent. She's not one to accept charity from anyone, especially me. Quinn's in the same situation. She didn't mention this, but she started a company that is doing well. She has more money available than Annie does, but respecting their friendship is more important."

Quinn nodded. "Annie insists on paying her way. I'd say that she's a responsible person."

Linda picked up Quinn's C.V. and read it more closely. "Mosaic? The company that makes the financial management system?"

Quinn smiled. "You've heard of it?"

"My accountant just set me up with it. It's very easy to use. That's your company?"

"My sister, Jane and friends helped me with it. That's how I got into the Raft Industrial Design program. My dad is the CEO, so it's really his company now. I'm just trying to get through school."

Linda stood, transferring freshly baked cookies into a container for the girls. Pouring a fresh round of coffee, she smiled broadly. "Let me ask around the neighborhood for you, Quinn." Daria, Jane and Trent are good kids and dependable tenants. If Daria says so, then Quinn and Annie should be no trouble at all. Maybe Carol across the street would be willing to rent them her guest cottage, now that her daughter and son in law have bought their own place.