The cat meowed before the sound of his paws banging on the dumpster and then away reached her ears.
She held her breath and listened.
Kendrick’s heavy footfalls told her he was walking back around the building toward the stairs.
As difficult as it was to lay still in the garbage, she waited a few minutes until the hammering started once again. Perhaps that would conceal the noise she’d make when she jumped out, though she’d be as careful as possible.
Hopefully the smell on her wasn’t too bad. It seemed to be heavy, but she realized that it might be in her head. After all, she’d been laying on a pallet of garbage.
She only breathed easy once she was out of that dumpster and down the street, safely toward the bus stop. And it didn’t just have to do with the rotten stench.
Kendrick had almost caught her! Everything could’ve been derailed.
That was a close call. She just prayed it was the only one and that she could get Tonya safely “moved” to New York City.
But something told her it wouldn’t be easy…
Chapter Fifteen
Samantha—or rather Tonya—reached Auntie Athena’s an hour after she’d crawled out of the dumpster behind her apartment.
She’d ducked into a little donut shop along the way to use their restroom so she could examine herself in the mirror. Thankfully, she didn’t get dirty or stained during the dumpster diving. Her fake boobs had held up, too.
Now, she was ready to end this little charade once and for all.
Part of her would miss Tonya. She’d been a way to escape a life that wasn’t so great. In a weird way, she felt like a friend now.
But Tonya also brought lots of guilt. At least now she wouldn’t be carrying all that around.
Plus, if things worked out with Kendrick, her new life would be far better than the imaginary life she lived as Tonya.
It was definitely time to turn a page.
First, she had to get through today.
Trevon was waiting on the other side for her as she approached the gate.
“Good morning,” his deep voice said. “Welcome back.”
“Thank you, Trevon,” she said in that faux voice she used when masquerading as Tonya. It was sort of a mix of Valley Girl with a snooty, uppity quality to it. It was also a little higherthan her normal tone. It did a pretty good job of masking her Kentucky drawl.
Trevon hesitated before opening the gate. But he finally did so, allowing her to pass.
He probably hates letting me in, she thought. He doesn’t really like me, and I can’t necessarily blame him.
Guilt momentarily flashed through her. She’d sure made a mess of things as Tonya. But that didn’t matter now.
New chapter. Just get through this, Sam, and turn the page.
Her shoes clacked on the walkway as she walked toward the front door. She stopped when she heard Trevon say, “Ma’am.”
Turning around, she found him standing near the gate, looking sternly at her. “There won’t be any trouble today. Right?”
Samantha gulped. “None at all.”
He smiled and nodded. “Good. Just making sure. Lots of folks here for the holidays and I hope everyone is on their best behavior.”
“Of course.” She almost told him that he wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore. But nerves dictated she wrap up the encounter as quickly as possible.
