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I hated myself for that.
I spotted the New York City skyline just before our bus dipped into the Lincoln Tunnel and breathed a sigh of relief.
We were back to normal. Back to crappy public transit, dirty sidewalks, and cheap hot dogs. Georgian buildings and green lawns had been replaced by no-nonsense tenement housing and endless subway tunnels.
But we were home. I had never been so happy to see it in my life.
* * *
“Frankie,you can’t hide from the guy forever. For one, Sofia’s his kid too, and he deserves to see her. He deserves to know where she is. Not to mention, you don’t want to be charged with kidnapping, you get me?”
It wasn’t until nearly seven o’clock that evening, after Matthew had come home from being out with Nina and I’d finally allowed Sofia to fall asleep (the poor kid was exhausted, being on London time) that my brother and I finally talked about what happened and what had suddenly brought me home.
I sat at our faded Formica counter while Matthew opened a bottle of wine, poured us a couple of glasses, and proceeded to dispense advice threaded with legal action the way only a former prosecutor could.
I took a sip. “This is good. What is it?”
“Barolo. Nina’s favorite.”
“Ah.” I put the wine down.
“Don’t be like that. She bought some for the house, but it’s to share with everyone. Go ahead and enjoy it.”
I took another sip, but it didn’t taste the same, knowing it was another gift from another rich person that we couldn’t have possibly afforded on our own. “You know, if I learned anything this summer, it’s handouts from rich people just don’t work for me. I’m not fancy like you, Matthew. I’m not caviar and designer clothes and opening night at the opera. I’m grilled cheese and sweatpants and my favorite book on a rainy night. Simple.”
Matthew didn’t respond, just watched me with that particular look I imagined he implemented a lot when he was in court, cross-examining criminals. It said, clear as day, “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”
Whatever.
I sighed and reached for the wine again. I supposed I could deal with it. “Don’t worry. I texted him when we landed. He knows where we are and knows we’re safe. I told him I’d be willing to talk tomorrow.” I checked my watch. “Well, tomorrow for him, since right now it’s about one in the morning over there.”
“Good. Because you know if he didn’t hear from you at all, he’d be breaking down your front door.”
I looked up. “You mean our front door? Or have you vacated too without telling me? So long, sweetheart, is that right? Hello, Boston.”
Matthew heaved a long sigh.
“I wish you could be happy for us,” he said while he turned his glass in circles, the only sign that he was the slightest bit nervous. “I don’t have a job in New York anymore, and Nina wants to finish her degree up there. It’s a fresh start for both of us. And we really need it, Frankie.”
I couldn’t deny him that, though the idea of living in a world without Matthew made my stomach tie into a series of ship-worthy knots. Sure, Sofia and I hadn’t noticed his absence in our lives this summer, but what about now? I knew that once I got up the nerve to talk to Xavier, he would provide at least a modicum of child support, probably enough to pay whatever rent I ended up needing. But what would happen if things didn’t pan out? Where would we live? How would we survive without Sofia’szioto keep us afloat?
What wouldIdo without my big brother’s sage advice on nights like these?
It was time for me to figure things out on my own. I just wasn’t sure I could do it.
“Anyway, I did mean yours.” Matthew gave me a knowing look, then rounded the counter and sat down on the other stool next to me. “The front door, that is. It can’t have escaped your notice that the only things I packed are in suitcases.”
I shrugged. I had noticed several bags already stacked near the front door and had chosen to believe they were empty.
“I thought that was just because Nina doesn’t like your secondhand crap. She’s pretty fancy.” I held up the wine as if to demonstrate.
Matthew chuckled. “She doesn’t. But also, I thought it should stay here.”
I nodded. “I’m sure someone will buy the place furnished.”
“Only if you want to sell it,” he said. “Since now, the house belongs to you.”
I jerked my head up. “What?”
