“Dad, you need a new For Rent sign. The edges are torn. The letters are faded.”

“This’ll do the job,” Leo said. He smiled at Alan to soften his tone. “I’m renting your apartment, not the sign.”

Leo finished taping the tattered For Rent sign to the front door of his two-flat. His son and daughter-in-law were moving to California. They’d asked him to move with them, and if he could’ve moved his home too, he would have gladly left Chicago.

It’s not that he didn’t like Chicago. He’d been born and raised on the city’s south side. The winters, though, were getting harder. Los Angeles weather would be kinder. But he couldn’t leave his two-flat. The two-flat was where he and his wife had raised their boy. Mabel’s touches were everywhere in their sunny first floor apartment. The curtains she’d made still graced the windows. The yellow kitchen walls still delighted him with the flowers she’d stenciled. The maple tree sapling she’d planted in their backyard 40 years ago was now as tall as their two-story apartment building.

But soon the second-floor apartment, where Alan and Beth had been living for the last five years, would be vacant.

Alan and Beth’s presence had distracted Leo from the vacancy in his heart. Without them, he’d be alone with his loneliness. But leaving his home would be leaving Mabel. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—do it.

***

Leo waited until Alan and Beth left for their new jobs and new life in California before scheduling showings.

The first applicant was a young woman. She stood on his doorstep with a wiggly little boy and wiggly little mutt. Behind her smiled an older woman with silver hair and dark eyebrows.

“I’m Jenny,” the younger woman said. Leo saw no ring on her finger. “This is my son, Jimmy. He’s 4 years old.”

“Four-and-a-half, Mama!” Jimmy shouted. “And I can ride a two-wheeler!”

Jenny laughed. “This is our dog, Tash. Full disclosure. She’s almost housebroken.”

“It’s my job to pick up her poop!” Jimmy exclaimed.

Leo worried as he introduced himself. Barking dog? Rambunctious child?

The older woman stepped forward. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Riggs. I’m Jenny’s mom, Claire.”

Such blue eyes, Leo thought. He saw a wedding ring on her finger.

“It’s probably too small for all of you,” Leo said. “Just two bedrooms. There’s a den, but no closet in it.”

“Two bedrooms are perfect!” Jenny and Claire simultaneously exclaimed.

“I’m not part of the package,” Claire added. “I’m just tagging along today to help my daughter find the right place.”

“Well, then,” Leo said. “I’ll give you the tour.”

He led them upstairs to see the apartment, though he was already thinking he shouldn’t rent to Jenny. Barking dog? Peppy kid? And no wedding ring on Jenny’s finger! Would that mean boyfriends visiting? He felt himself blush, imagining how Mabel would have chided him for being so judgmental.

In the apartment, Jimmy and the dog raced through the rooms while Jenny and Claire slowly inspected everything. In the living room, the two women nodded at the gleaming hardwood floors, the tall, sun-sparkled windows, the built-in floor-to-ceiling maple bookshelves.

“This is gorgeous,” Jenny murmured. “And those shelves! I could finally display all my pottery and yarns.”

Claire laughed. “And Jimmy’s storybooks, too.”

Suddenly, from the rear of the apartment, came the sound of frantic barking.

“Mama!” Jimmy shouted. “Come! Quick!”

They all hurried to the small back bedroom, Leo running. Did the kid fall? Is he hurt? A memory stabbed: the wailing ambulance screeching to a stop on a beautiful September morning much like this one, paramedics bursting in, Leo’s beautiful wife, his Mabel, collapsed on the kitchen floor, her cinnamon-colored eyes wide and vacant.

Now the three adults rushed into the back bedroom. Jimmy and Tash were pressed against the window that looked out on the backyard.

“Mama, there’s a nest in that tree. There’s four eggs in it! I could jump into that tree from here! Can this be my room?”

“There’ll be no jumping into any trees,” Claire said, laughing.

She has a nice laugh, Leo thought. Like bubbles. He felt a smile threaten. He frowned.

“That’s a beautiful maple,” Claire said. They all looked out the window.

“My wife planted it 40 years ago. It was thin as a pencil and not much bigger than you, Jimmy.”

“Your wife has a green thumb,” Claire said. “The garden is beautiful.”

Leo glanced at the wedding ring he still wore. It was getting a little tight. He’d have to get it resized.

“She passed away four years ago. I do what I can to keep her garden blooming, but you should have seen it when she was in charge.”

“When it comes to gardening,” Claire said, “the only thing I’m good at is weeding.”

“Mom’s being modest,” Jenny said. “Before they moved into a condo, my parents used to sell their backyard vegetables and flowers at a farmers market.”

“Jenny’s dad is the gardener, not me,” Claire said. Her cheerful voice had dimmed into a monotone, and Leo was puzzled to see two pink spots suddenly flare in her daughter’s cheeks.

“So can this room be mine, Mama?” Jimmy shouted. “Can it? Can it?”

Jenny and Claire both laughed, and Jenny hugged her mother.

“I love this apartment!” Jenny exclaimed. “It’s so clean and airy, and the location couldn’t be better. Mom?”

Claire nodded. “I have good vibes.”

“I’m gettin’ those good vibrations!” Jimmy sang. “I’m getting’ those good vibrations!”

Jenny scooped up her son. “There’s California in this one. He loves the Beach Boys.”

“My son and his wife, this was their apartment, and they just moved to California.”

Leo sighed. He knew what Mabel would be saying now: this California connection was a sign that Jenny and Jimmy were the right tenants. But signs, Leo knew, weren’t always right. Mabel’s last morning alive, over breakfast at their kitchen table, she’d read aloud like she always did her horoscope in the morning paper: “This is your day! New adventures are right around the corner!”

Mabel had sipped her coffee and dimpled a smile at Leo. “OK, honey,” she said. “This is a sign that we should go today and get a membership at that new Costco. It’s right around the corner, sort of. We’ll get our adventures and exercise walking around that mammoth store, and we can lunch on all the free samples.”

But an hour later, Mabel was gone.

“I teach third grade,” Jenny was saying, “at the school down the street. So I’ll be able to have lunch at home with Jimmy almost every day.”

So, Leo thought, there’d also be babysitters coming and going. A mother’s job was to raise her own child. It had worked beautifully for him and Mabel. Alan had grown into a loving, capable man. Once again, he could feel Mabel chiding him for being so judgmental.

“Can I fill out an application now?” Jenny asked. “And do you want a deposit now?”

Leo cleared his throat. “I, uh, just realized that I forgot to get those forms printed. And, uh, well, how about I get back to you when I get that done?”

Jenny’s smile faded, but when Leo extended his hand, she shook it and thanked him for showing her the apartment. She, Jimmy, and Tash headed outside, but Claire stayed behind.

“Mr. Riggs,” Claire said. “I’m guessing you’re probably concerned about noise from Jimmy and Tash, but please give my daughter a chance. I’ll be here with Jimmy when she’s working.”

“She and Jimmy seemed great,” Leo said. He held open the front door. “I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”

“If there are problems,” Claire persisted, “I’ll help them move out as soon as you say, and I’ll buy you a new For Rent sign. That one you’re using has seen better days.”

Leo smiled. “That’s what my son said.” He hesitated. Claire was twisting her wedding ring. Mabel, he knew, wouldn’t have hesitated at all. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s try a month-to-month lease and see what happens.”

***

One morning, three weeks later, Leo cut himself shaving. Pressing tissue over the cut, he blinked in surprise at his reflection in the mirror.

He looked different. Not younger, but, well, maybe vibrant was the word. Vibrant. A good Scrabble word. Not only a seven-letter bonus word, but a way to get rid of that pesky V without worrying about your opponent adding an S and racking up undeserved points.

Leo smiled at his reflection. Not bad. Not bad at all.

His face glowed. Maybe it was from all the time he’d been spending outside in the yard with Jimmy and Claire. It’s not like they did much. Leo spent most of the time sitting at the picnic bench, letting Jimmy win at checkers, but playing Scrabble competitively with Claire. She’d finally started beating him once in a while after he’d taught her all the weird two-letter words. And they all laughed watching Tash chase squirrels up the maple tree. Maybe that’s why his wrinkles no longer seemed to drag his expression down. He’d been laughing so much at Tash and the squealing squirrels that the lines around his eyes and mouth pepped up his face. The squirrels were never close to being caught, but Leo admired the little mutt’s perseverance. And the ache in his back had disappeared. Probably because Jenny, Claire, and Jimmy were doing most of the yard work.

Make a sandbox for Jimmy. It was Mabel’s voice in his head. He nodded. That would be a fun, simple thing to build. He’d let Jimmy “help.” It would be a way to say thanks for the yard work.

The first month was almost up. None of Leo’s fears about a barking dog, visiting boyfriends, or noisy kid had materialized. Well, maybe they sort of had, but so what? No biggy, as Mabel would say. Yes, Jimmy’s running around upstairs or Tash’s barking sometime woke Leo before his alarm clock rang. Yes, once Leo had stepped into a dog deposit in the yard that Jimmy had missed. Yes, a curly-haired fellow wearing a Chicago Cubs baseball hat—a teacher at Jenny’s school—had spent last Saturday afternoon under the maple tree with Jenny, which had led to an animated discussion when Leo joined them wearing his Chicago White Sox tee shirt.

Offer Jenny a year lease. Mabel’s voice again, in his head. He’d sound Claire out about it first. He’d invite Claire and Jimmy over for lunch today. Jenny, he knew, would be gone all day on a school field trip. He’d mention a year lease for Jenny during lunch, see what Claire thought. That way, he wouldn’t be putting Jenny on the spot in case the place wasn’t working out from her point of view.

Make my chicken soup recipe for them. Mabel’s voice. In his head.

***

“Delicious!” Claire said.

“More, please!” Jimmy exclaimed.

“Should we save enough soup for your grandma to take some home for your grandpa?” Leo asked Jimmy. He forced a smile. Claire never talked about her husband. Leo didn’t really want to give any soup to Claire’s husband. He didn’t want to waste time talking about Claire’s husband. Why had he even mentioned Claire’s husband?

“Grampa lives by Disneyland,” Jimmy said. “My step-gramma works there. She’s Cinderella in the parades!”

Leo’s gaze went from Claire’s wedding ring to her eyes.

She shrugged, tapped the ring. “This belonged to my mother. I wear it for sentimental reasons.”

“You told Mama it protected you from old goats!” Jimmy exclaimed.

Leo felt heat slam his face. Old goat? Was that how Claire saw him?

Claire looked at her water glass. She took a sip. Her hand shook when she set the glass down. She cleared her throat. “Hey, how about a Scrabble game, Leo? After I put Jimmy down for his nap.”

“I’m not tired yet, Gramma,” Jimmy protested. “And Mr. Rigg and me is supposed to play checkers after lunch!”

“Uh, I just remembered,” Leo said. “I have a dental appointment. This . . . old goat . . . has to get going.”

“Leo,” Claire began. “I didn’t . . .”

He held up his hand. “I don’t mean to rush you out, but I really do have to get going.”

“Scrabble when you get back?”

“I probably won’t be back until you’re gone,” Leo said. “And . . . I’m sorry you thought you had to waste your time with an old goat just so Jenny and Jimmy could rent upstairs.”

“Gramma,” Jimmy said. “Where’s the goat? I never seen a goat here.”

“Leo,” Claire began, “I’m . . .” but Jimmy jumped from his chair. “I wanna see the goat! I wanna see the goat!” The little boy squirmed and crossed his legs. Even Leo could recognize that Jimmy was doing the potty dance.

Too much chicken soup and apple juice for the little guy. Mabel’s voice again.

“I think the kid needs a bathroom,” Leo said. Was that his voice so loud and angry?

Jimmy stared at Leo, his eyes wide and unblinking. “Are you mad, Mr. Riggs?”

Leo felt shame loosen his muscles. His shoulders sagged. “Of course not, Jimmy,” he said. He reached to tousle Jimmy’s hair, but suddenly the little boy’s shorts darkened with wet, and a puddle spread on the floor.

Jimmy burst into tears. His face flushed. “Sorry!” he cried. He ran from the room.

“Hey!” Leo called after him. “It’s OK, buddy! No biggy!” But Jimmy was already running up the stairs to his own apartment.

Claire’s eyes brimmed. She hurried to the counter for the roll of paper towels.

Leo took the roll from her. “I’ll take care of it,” he said.

She nodded. “I’m sorry, Leo.” But instead of answering, Leo crouched and began wiping the puddle. He stayed kneeling on the floor until she left.

After cleaning Jimmy’s accident, Leo drove to Costco. He bought a membership and spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the vast store, until he knew Jenny would be home from school and Claire would be gone.

Thank God tomorrow was Saturday, Leo thought as he drove home. Jenny would be taking care of her own kid. Claire wouldn’t have to waste her time with an old goat just so her daughter and grandson could keep living in Leo’s upstairs flat.

Well, you kinda are an old goat. Mabel’s voice again. And it’s about time you joined Costco.

It was getting kind of annoying. Mabel’s voice.

***

The next morning, Leo answered the doorbell to find Claire standing on his front step. She held a gift-wrapped box.

“What’s the occasion?” he asked. He kept his gaze away from her blue eyes.

She touched his arm. He felt his heart tremble.

He took a deep breath, decided not to invite her in. Instead, he sat on the front top step. Waited. A long moment passed. Then she sat next to him and placed the package in his lap.

He unwrapped it to reveal a white cardboard box. He lifted the lid. Inside he found, nestled in tissue, a new For Rent sign. His throat tightened. “You’re leaving?” I mean, Jenny and Jimmy are leaving?”

“I know the trial month is almost up, Leo.”

“Do they want to leave?”

“There was never an old goat, Leo. Not here.”

“Is Jimmy OK?”

“He thinks you’re mad at him. He told me to tell you that he promises he’ll be a big boy, not have any more accidents.”

“Tell him . . . tell him . . . I’m not mad at him at all. He’s a great kid.” Leo held up the For Rent sign. “Thank you. It’s a spiffy new sign.”

Claire smiled. “Spiffy. That’s a good Scrabble word.”

Leo looked from the sign to her eyes. She tapped the wedding ring that was now on a chain around neck. “Sentimental reasons only, Leo. Here, anyway.”

“Maybe I don’t need this sign,” he said.

Claire looked at him for a long moment. “No vacancy?” she asked.

He took a deep breath. He heard Mabel’s voice. He repeated what she’d said.

“Not anymore.”

– Marie Anderson

Note: This piece first appeared in 2018 in Edify Journal (a zine that no longer exists and whose archives have disappeared).