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I patted my hand luggage. “Everything. I’m all good.”
She peeked up at me. “You’re coming home for Christmas, right?”
I opened my mouth to say yes, but then I thought about it. I shrugged lightly. “If I get time off, definitely.”
This answer did not placate her. At all. She scowled. “You better come visit.”
I glared right back. “Why don’t you come visit me?”
She made a face. “Because I have a salon to run and it would be easier for you to visit us here.”
I placed a hand on my hip. Oh yeah, she knew she just threw down. “Well, you have two sisters in New York now. Get off your fat ass and come vacay with us sometime.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Why should I? You’re the assholes who left!”
I continued to glare while she scowled. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
We stood there another minute or so before I caved. I’d miss my sister. I love my sister. Even if she is a total fucknut.
With a sigh and roll of my eyes, I rushed over to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. The bitch didn’t hug me back for a full minute, but then her hands gently gripped the back of my jacket and she pushed her head into my shoulder. I felt wetness there. I kissed her cheek and whispered, “I’ll come home for Christmas.”
She sniffled and choked out, “And I’ll come visit. I promise.”
We held each other tight until an overhead announcement aired. My flight was now boarding. I
waved goodbye to my forlorn family and boarded a flight to my new life.
Nat told me she’d left a key with the little old lady in apartment 309, the apartment across from mine. As soon as I landed, I gathered my suitcases and caught a cab over to the apartment complex. When it came into view, I broke out into a huge smile as butterflies flew around in my stomach, a mixture of nervousness and excitement flowing through me.
The cab driver is sweet enough to help me with my suitcases. We walk them up the stairs to my apartment on the first floor, I pay him, and then I knock on apartment 309. Not a second passes before it opens with a jarring bang as the security chain stops it from extending all the way. I jump and hold a hand up to my heaving chest. She scared the crap out of me.
A wrinkly face appears in the gap, covered by thick coke-bottle glasses. I force a smile. “Hello. I’m Helena Kovac. My sister Natalie told me she left a key with you for me.”
The tiny woman’s face wrinkles in confusion. She yells, “What?”
I blink.
Are you fucking kidding me, Nat?
I clear my throat and speak louder. “My sister Natalie says you have a key for me.” But the lady just blinks. I dip my chin to stop myself from laughing. After I get myself under control, I lift my face and smile. I point to my own ear and say, “Can you hear me?”
But the woman just frowns at me. “You’ll have to speak up. My hearin’ isn’t what it used to be.”
I nod sympathetically and near-shout, “My sister Natalie says you have a key for me. I’m Helena.”
The woman scowls. “No need to holler, young lady. I hear just fine, thank you very much.”
What the fucktruck?
She heads inside and locks the door. I wait patiently, but nothing happens.
She’s abandoned me.
I knock again. The door opens and the little old lady looks up at me through her glasses expectantly. I’m not sure what’s happening here, so I go on and just stare back. When she attempts to close the door in my face, I quickly say, “I need the key Natalie left you to get into my new apartment.”
The woman blinks. “You’ll have to speak up. My hearin’ isn’t what it used to be.”
