Chapter 240: Moving Day
The night before the move, Cammy stood at her landlords’ doorstep, heart heavy with the truth she could no longer withhold. They had asked about Greg again, curious and well-meaning, wanting to thank him and Ric for the remarkable transformation of the building.
She smiled weakly, her voice trembling as she finally told them what had unraveled.
Their faces shifted with understanding, their arms wrapping around her in a warm, silent embrace. They offered gentle words, wisdom worn with age and kindness—but beneath their compassion, Cammy caught it. That glint of pity. It stung sharper than she expected.
By dawn, the apartment buzzed with the rustle of packing tape and the soft groans of cardboard boxes. Cammy, Eve, and the Moores moved like clockwork, determined and focused, masking their emotions beneath the tasks at hand.
Ric had arrived early with the moving trucks, all business, though his eyes often flicked toward Cammy with unspoken concern.
"Ric, we really can’t thank you enough for the renovations," Mr. Moore said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Too bad Greg isn’t here to see all this."
Ric waved him off, grinning. "Mr. Moore, if you thank me one more time, I’ll start charging rent. Just feed me your authentic ramen next time, and we’ll call it even."
Laughter bubbled through the group, easing some of the weight in the air.
"I’ve already prepped the ingredients," Mr. Moore replied, his eyes twinkling. "Lunch’s on me later—at the restaurant. Won’t take long."
With the last box secured, they all piled into Ric’s SUV, the road stretching ahead toward new beginnings—or perhaps old ones, reimagined.
"Where’s your car, Cammy?" Mrs. Moore asked, her voice light, unaware of the wound she had touched.