“No, thanks.”
“Okay. I’ve got a couple things to do.” He handed me a huge remote that looked like it could run a seven forty seven. “If you push the power button, the TV will appear.”
Appear? Of course, my curiosity got the better of me, and I had to push it. What looked like a double dresser across from the end of the bed disgorged a huge plasma TV.
He set a big mug of water with ice next to me on the nightstand, along with a box of cinnamon graham crackers, and gave me a pain pill, which I knew better than to refuse. I had found out the hard way that I needed to keep something in my stomach when I was taking pain medications. Eventually, I could start declining the meds, but not until I had some time to knit myself back together. “Have some crackers, but you are not to get up except for the reasons I gave you. If you disobey me…”
Anthony gave that look again, and bent down to kiss me on the top of my head. “You’ve already got one punishment coming. If you truly do something stupid, like try to hobble your way home while I’m gone, I’ll tack another, worse punishment on to the list for when you’re healed.”
“Anthony! I do not have a punishment coming for anything—”
“I’m sorry I have to go, but there are some things I need to take care of as soon as possible.”
I knew he wouldn’t hear it, but I said anyway, “I’m fine.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Take as long as you need. I’m probably going to fall asleep, anyway.”
And I did exactly that. I was asleep practically before he left the room. And when I awoke, most of what I owned was around me. My phone was on the nightstand next to me, and there were several paintings on the floor. I couldn’t imagine what had happened, why those things were staring me in the face when they should have been safe at my apartment.
“Anthony!”
He literally ran to my bedside. “What? What’s the matter? Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay! Did something happen to my apartment? Why is my stuff here?” I was on the verge of tears, figuring there had been a fire or something, and I might have lost some of my work. Or that I had been evicted even though I remembered paying the rent. I clutched at his shirtfront as he sat down gingerly on the side of the bed.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Nothing happened to your apartment except that you don’t have it anymore.”
“I what?” I squeaked. “Why am I homeless? What happened? I was never late with my rent, not once, even when—” I almost slipped and said ‘even when it meant I didn’t eat that week,’ but I was able to stop myself before it got out.
* * *
Anthony
I knew she’d never been late, and I’d begun to suspect, considering her living conditions, that she had done so at her own expense, somehow. Until I had seen her apartment, I hadn’t realized just how dirt poor she was. But now that I knew, I wasn’t about to let her continue to live in squalor. No way.
And the worst part of my afternoon had been the lunch I had set up with Christopher Maddox. It wasn’t that I hated the man—although I wasn’t any too fond of him, either—it was what I had learned from him.
We actually had a reasonably decent lunch together, finding common ground in our obvious love for Raychel. Christopher had taken my measure as closely as I had his, and we each came to the silent conclusion that—as far as Raychel was concerned—we at least would tolerate each other for her sake.
Some of the things I had learned about how Raychel lived made me cringe and want to start a self-flagellation routine that lasted the rest of my life. Christopher had been surprised at my shock, assuming that I had known more about her living situation, or as he had put it with a bit of an edge, that I hadn’t cared enough to know more.
No wonder she hadn’t had a winter coat. She couldn’t afford it. And all those times when I had wanted to go do something expensive… I just wanted to knock myself upside the head. How could I have been so oblivious? I had no idea that she truly was poor. I had foolishly just believed she was a free spirit and artistic soul who didn’t focus on materialistic things. How could I be so blind?
Christopher had done what he could. Of course, Raychel was as proud and stubborn with him about being helped by friends as she was with me. She wouldn’t accept much, because she didn’t have much to give, as far as she was concerned.