“You’re right,” she said. “I just… can we talk inside?”
Knowing there was no easy way around this, I unlocked the door and gestured for them to follow me inside. I tried to smile at my niece, but she wouldn’t even look me in the eye.
She had a backpack on her back, but other than that, they had nothing else, which was at least reassuring.
“Why are you here?” I said again the moment the door closed behind us. “I have to get back to work.”
There was no way I was offering them drinks or anything else. All I needed was for her to tell me what she wanted.
“Well, you see, I got a job interview. It’s… it’s nearby,” she started to say. “I can’t exactly take her with me, now can I?”
“Why not?” I questioned. “Where is this interview?”
“Oh, silly me,” she said suddenly, as if I didn’t ask a question. “Apparently, you’re not the only forgetful one. I forgot my purse in the car. Just give me one second.”
She practically ran out of the room then, slamming the door behind her.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Phoenix and I sat in silence for about thirty seconds before she turned to me, frown on her lips and defeat in her eyes.
“You know she’s not coming back, right?”
Shit, I was played by my sister once again. I should have known by the way she was acting that something was up, but the one thing that I did know was that this wasn't Phoenix's fault.
"So, um, welcome to your new home," I said, the words almost getting stuck in my throat. My life was a mess right now but I was a survivor and I'd make it through this. "Umm... so you'll have to take the couch for now and we can go apartment hunting soon to get you your own room. I need to get to work. Drop what you don't need and we'll head out."
She tucked her backpack on the far side of her new bed and gave me a nod.
"Great, do you like books?" I asked as I motioned for her to exit the door I was holding open for her.
"Meh, I’m not much of a reader," she muttered as she moved past me.
Well, maybe she'll change her mind when she sees where I work.
The pair of us descended the stairs and she waited for me at the bottom to show her which way to go. She was taking this far too well. It was unnerving.
"We’re within walking distance," I said as I took note of her worn out Converse. I mentally added new clothes and shoes to my ever-growing list.
Phoenix didn't say anything as I led her to the bookstore, but when we passed the diner I heard a gurgle from her stomach.
"I need to make a shopping list, is there anything that you do or don't like? Allergies?" I asked.
"Not really picky," was all she said.
The moment I had her settled in my office, I was going to run to the diner and get us both lunch. She was underweight and, clearly, needed something as soon as possible.
Another block and we were there. The silence between us seemed to only be awkward for me. That or she had every emotion locked down tight.
"This is where I work with my two best friends," I explained as we walked around to the back door, since it was closer to my office.
My niece didn't comment on anything as we moved through the back rooms. She seemed to be trying to fade into the background and that hurt my heart.
"We’re here," I announced when we stopped in front of my office door. "Would you like a tour of the bookstore?"
"Nah," she answered a little too quickly.
"No problem. Will you be okay in here while I meet with my partners then snag lunch?" I asked.
