The next morning, I sat with arms folded on a kitchenette stool, Finn sitting on my lap; already dressed up for school but still taking his cereal. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand, yawning. I was so tired – it’d felt like I’d slept for barely two minutes before Finn came jumping into my room – announcing that it was morning already. I’d been too damn exhausted to change out of my dinner clothes, and Cora spent a long time with Mr. Salazar – she still hadn’t told me what they discussed – if he agreed to keep his mouth shut and not tell Me. Sturm about Finn.
“Come on now, Cora,” I prodded. “What did he eventually say? I don’t know, but my baser instincts are telling me to pack up a suitcase and get the hell out of this place.”
She laughed, smoothening her tresses with her fingers. “Relax, dear. Remember how long it took to get that job. You’re not in New York for anyone but you and your son. If Mr. Sturm finds out, so? Fuck him.”
“Do you think he’d be able to press charges against me for not informing him about Finn?” I bit my bottom lip worriedly. The least thing I needed at the moment was a criminal record and a possible lawsuit. Where would I even get the money to pay a defense lawyer if things went south?
“That’s unlikely. It’s not like you two had sex for a baby. It was a fun night for clubbing and sex – you two hadn’t anticipated him at all. So he can’t press charges, hun.”
I rubbed my left temple and exhaled in relief. “Okay. That was… helpful.”
“I know,” she giggled smugly, running out of the kitchen until her footsteps receeded up the stairs. Finn and I exchanged a look.
“Is it just me or don’t you also think that Aunt Cora might be hiding something from us?”
His blue eyes came alive as he nodded. Cora wasn’t an early-morning person as she had to get up early for work, but here she was already dressed up – her hair done and was that… make-up on her face? I stared at her in awe as she came in through the kitchen door once more, clutching a small mirror.
Finn and I watched her in shock. She held up the mirror to her face, humming a tune and applying a bright pink lip gloss. She smacked her lips together in satisfaction and frowned at us. “Why are the both of you giving me that look?”
I gaped like a fish. “It’s almost 7 AM.”
She shrugged. “So?”
I raised an eyebrow. “And you’re dressed.”
“Uh-huh?”
“You’ve applied make-up and brushed your hair.”
She beamed. “Don’t I do all these every morning, Elaine.”
“Y-yes, you do,” I spluttered, exasperated. “But not by this time. Not this early. You’re acting way more perkier than you were yesterday with Mr. Salazar.”
Flipping her hair, she sashayed over to the living room. The doorbell rang and I cranes my head to shout. “Could you please get the door?”
When she didn’t respond, I patted Finn to stand so I could go check out who was calling at the door. We weren’t acquainted with the neighbours yet due to our busy work schedules so it was a bit of surprise seeing a tall, blonde man in a three-piece suit, holding a briefcase in his left hand.
“Good morning,” I tilted my head uncertainly, glancing at Cora who stood rooted as though she was in a trance. The man smiled in greeting.
“Good morning, Elaine,” I hesitated before slowly taking his outstretched hand. “I’m Terry Edwards, Cora’s colleague. We normally go to work together.”
“Oh,” But it still didn’t make any sense why Cora was acting wierd. I poked her side with my elbow now and she yelped. Terry’s gaze flitted between us. “It’s nice to meet you, Terry. Cora never mentioned anything about you.” I glared at my best friend.
Terry laughed. “How ironic. She always talk my ears off at the office on how generous and kind you are,” he turned to her. “I’m a bit butt-hurt that Elaine doesn’t even know me.”
“It’s not like that,” Cora said defensively, fiddling with her fingers. “I was going to tell her about you today. Something just came up and it slipped my mind. I’m sorry.”
Terry shrugged, looking her over. “It’s no problem. Are you ready yet?”
“Uhm… I haven’t had breakfast. Can you wait for me a bit? I promise I won’t take long.”
“Okay.”
While Terry got settled on the sofa in the living room, Cora dragged me into the kitchen, her hands shaky. “Oh my goodness, Cora. He’s hot!”
“I know, I know,” she lets out, a faint blush dousing her cheeks. “He’s everything I want in a man, Elaine. Fuck, I haven’t felt like this in months.”
I nudged her arm. “Chill out. You two would look great together.”
“Really?” she cocked her head to the side.
I frowned. “Yeah. Why do you look so sad? It’s a good thing.”
“I dunno. He’s already asking for more but… I won’t be able to stay in New York for more than a year. I have a lot of things to keep me in Manhattan, and it’ll be selfish if I force him to quit his job at the bank and follow me.”
I sighed, placing my arms around her shoulders in comfort. “Seriously, Cora? You worry too much. Even more than I do.”
“But I don’t – ”
“Shush,” I pressed a finger against her thin lips, “everything will be fine. Stop worrying about the future… just give him a chance and revel in the moment. I admit that I don’t know so much about him, but I’ve got a feeling that he’s a great guy. If he makes my best friend this jumpy, then sure I approve of him. It’ll be fine.”
“Sure?” she breathed.
I smiled and took her hands in mine, pressing it softly. “Sure. Now go get him tiger. I’ll take Finn to school myself.”
I helped her stand, gasping when she drew me into a hug. “Thank you, Elaine. Thank you for existing and coming into my life.”