Chapter 5
“Dora, you’ve seen how things are here. You didn’t get to enjoy the good times with us, and now that things are harder, I don’t think it’s fair to ask you to squeeze into this tiny sixty–square–yard apartment with the rest of us. I can rent a place for you nearby and give you a monthly allowance. Would that work for you?”
Dora took the last sip of her water, set the glass down, and looked at him with a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. “You, don’t want me to live here?”
Alberto froze, flustered. “No, of course not! I just thought maybe. you. wouldn’t be used to it.”
As she saw that she was welcome to stay, Dora’s smile brightened. “If you really don’t mind, I’d like to live here. I want to come home.”
Keith, who had been helping Dewey clean his hands, paused mid–motion. His gaze flickered.
He didn’t really believe Dora had come here to stay. After all, she hadn’t brought a single bag. She was probably just curious–dropping by to meet her biological family out of obligation or interest.
The Hendrix family had everything–wealth, power, status. Enough for Linda to turn her back on this family without hesitation, to abandon seventeen years of memories and ties.
‘How could Dora be any different? Could she really give all that up–walk away from her life of privilege and return here, empty–handed, to squeeze into a tiny apartment with five strangers?‘ he thought.
And yet. she said she wanted to stay.
Chapters
Rhoda was caught off guard too. After a moment of thought, she said. “I’m heading back to school tomorrow. If Dora’s staying here, I’ll pack up my stuff and clear out the room. We can swap the bed for a larger one.”
Alberto’s brain practically short–circuited. He didn’t want Dora to feel like she was being treated unfairly, but that didn’t mean he could favor one daughter over another. ‘Rhoda is my child too–how could she not have a room in her own home?‘ he thought.
Before he could protest, Dora smiled and chimed in, “Sounds great. If we get a bigger bed, we could even fit a vanity in there. Then you won’t have to keep your makeup stashed under the bed. When school’s out for the holidays, we can just share the room.”
Rhoda stared at her, eyes wide with surprise. Emotions flickered in her gaze like stars.
Linda had complained constantly
on out not having a room to herself.
She’d brought up more than once that Rhoda should just stay in her dorm and stop coming home–so she could have the room all to herself.
She couldn’t even tolerate sharing a space. And yet here was Dora–saying they could sleep in the same room.
This wasn’t at all the kind of spoiled heiress she’d imagined.
Everyone stared at Dora, stunned into silence. Since no one said anything, she just kept the conversation going.
“Keith and Dewey’s room is too cramped. They’ve only got one desk–it’s not great for studying. I was thinking of asking a friend to help rework the room layout tomorrow.”
Alberto was the first to come to his senses. He didn’t want Dora feeling like she needed to use her connections for their sake, but when he thought about it again–this was for her brothers. He really had no reason to refuse,
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and even less right to speak on their behalf.
Sensing Keith’s hesitation, Dora added, “Don’t worry, it’s just a childhood friend. It’s really no trouble at all.”
Keith pressed his lips together and thought for a few seconds before nodding. “Alright. Thank you–I appreciate it.”
Dewey’s big eyes lit up as he turned to her. “Dora, does that mean I’ll get my own desk?”
Dora had never really spent time with little kids. The Hendrix family only had older brothers, and she was mostly surrounded by people her own age. As she looked at Dewey’s round, innocent face, something inside her unexpectedly softened.
“You really want your own desk that much?”
Dewey nodded eagerly. “Yeah! I love drawing, but one time I accidentally got paint on my brother’s homework. If I had my own desk, that wouldn’t happen anymore!”
“Then let’s get you your very own desk,” Dora said, her smile tender, peach–blossom eyes curling into soft crescents.
Just then, Chris came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “Dinner’s ready–let’s eat. After we’re done, I’ll tidy up the room. Dora, you can stay there for tonight, and we’ll get a new bed delivered tomorrow.”
She’d heard everything from the kitchen. And now that she was sure Dora had truly accepted this family, some of the unease in her heart began to
ease.
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