“Yes, I—”
“I told you not to leave there by yourself again. You were hurt, remember?”
“And I’m not alone. I have Nina and Christine in the car with me now. And, notthat I need your permission or anything, but I wanted to let you know I might not be coming home tonight,” I said. “And also, if you’re free, I might need you to look into a few things. Something doesn’t seem right.”
“It doesn’t?” Christine whispered, Nin just giving her an apprehensive look in response. “What would he even be looking at?”
The notion sounded innocent enough, but I knew to have Connor “look into” something was to have him digging into the deep depths of someone’s secrets. If Connor looked into the history of the shelter for us, he was bound to find something worthwhile. I assumed it was that implication that had him pausing, quiet and contemplative. I could feel his thoughts buzzing all the way from the beach.
Finally, his gruff voice returned. Gentle but cautious. “You’re okay?”
“Perfectly fine.”
“You’ll tell me everything later?”
“Every last word.”
“Alright then,” he said. And then, still gently but less familiar, he said. “I’ll send over some food. Be good ladies.”
“Thanks, Connor,” the two said weakly, with me echoing a softer, “Thanks, Con.”
Almost as soon as the phone clicked off, Christine heaved a sigh. “So… Is he, like, railing you yet, or what?”
God bless Christine for breaking the tension and getting us to laugh all the way home.
* * *
The awe picked right back up when we entered my apartment building. I could have blamed the climate controlled underground parking, the sleek lobby with its polished floors and quiet ambiance, or even the little mints we kept on every side table and entrance. But really I think it was Don the doorman who outed me.
“Hey, Miss Fernandez! Long time no see,” he said as we shuffled out of the elevators and through the lobby.
I tossed a smile over my shoulder but didn’t stop. “Hey, Donny! I’ve been pretty busy lately.”
“I bet! I know you lot are always working! Hey, I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I've got some mail we’ve been holding for you.” Don met me halfway to hand me a huge stack of mail. I must have winced because he gave me an apologetic look. “I know it’s a lot, sorry.”
“It’s okay, Don. It’s my own fault for not coming around,” I said, hiking the pile up on my hip. “Did I miss anything interesting?”
“Everything’s ship shape on this end ma’am. You enjoy your night.”
“Don’t call me ma’am, Don. I’m young enough to be your kid,” I said. And I would keep saying as long as he kept doing it.
He smiled. “Alright, Miss Fernandez. Have a good night.”
“Fernandez,” Nina said, tone eerily quiet. “I didn’t know that was your last name.”
“Hmm,” is all I said to that.
Christine snorted. “Is that supposed to mean anything to you?”
The way Nina held my eyes for several seconds across the mirrored elevator put me under the impression that it did. Even though she eventually just shrugged and followed me to my apartment.
When we entered, I went straight to the kitchen after turning all the lights on, my little ducklings following close behind me.
Just because my family insisted on doting over me (and I didn’t exactly fight them on it), didn’t mean I didn’t know how to do my own shit. Directing the two girls to sit, I got them a glass of water, poured each of them a shot and then began working on the coffee. The home espresso machine was a gift from Connor. He insisted it was more for him than anything, but he’d gotten it in baby blue and wrote out little instructions on how to use it when he wasn’t here, so I never quite believed that he’d gotten it for himself.
Everything that matters.
Christine snorted, picking her shot glass right up and knocking it back. “You really know how to treat a girl.”
