And with that, I’m ready to start the day on a new note.
Chapter 9
But of course, that wishful thinking has to be dashed almost immediately.
When I get down the elevator and open the outside door, I can’t believe who I’m standing in front of. Kwan and another neighbor, Gladys, are happily chatting and laughing with Eli. Gladys is looking at him like he’s a slice of cake she’s ready to devour. And to be fair, it’s jarring to see him this happy and easygoing. I got an image of him from our therapy sessions as a combatant, all downturned expressions and blocked-off posture. When someone is that defensive, they naturally look less attractive.
But standing here now, he’s got more of a glimmer of warmth to him. He still has that bombast, but when he’s in control, it seems less forceful. He’s reeling them in, and they’re more than happy to let him take the lead and regale them with whatever sucking up he’s doing to get them on his side. He’s got that stupid British fashion sense that looks effortless yet casual, and I mildly hate him for it.
Kwan sees me and smiles. “Hi, Nora! Have you met Eli yet?”
He’s looking so expectant and friendly that I have to plaster a sanguine expression on my face so he doesn’t think I’m a rude troll. Maybe that’s what I’ve actually become in this scenario—my apartment is like the troll’s lair under the bridge, and I’m just waiting to attack. But obviously I’m not going to show that side of myself to Kwan.
“I have,” I say, reaching out to pet Lucy as she sidles away from Kwan and up to me. George allows it because Lucy is the only dog heseems to deem as acceptable to have a relationship with. Maybe she’s stayed with us enough that he’s over it. Or maybe he likes that Lucy doesn’t try to make him play. She’s a stoic dog and matches pretty well with his irritated small-man energy. “Nice to see you again, Eli,” I say with a sweetness laced only with the tiniest tinge of prickle.
By the look on his face, I can tell I’m not fooling him. “Oh, I’msohappy to run into you, Nora!” If I was pretend sweet, he’s now nausea-saccharine, the false enthusiasm clearly for my benefit since he already knows it’ll annoy me.
He turns to Kwan and Gladys. “Nora was so helpful when I moved in. She prepared me with the lay of the land with regard to renovation bylaws and building timing. I’m so grateful she gave me a heads-up so I could be sure to come to the board totally prepared.”
He turns to give me a subtle look that is both smug and entertained, as though his eyes are saying,Game on.
I’m surprised that instead of annoyance, heat snakes through me. His undertone is unexpected, like he’s waging a secret war only for me. As though I’m a worthy opponent. I don’t know why it’s a little bit thrilling. Everyone who actually knows me sees me as the person who fixes things, and there’s something strange about the idea that to him, I’m someone who’s trying to knock things down. To Eli I’m a storm, a crash, a hurricane—so different from everyone else’s concrete foundation. And I’m not sure what’s possessing me to want to live up to this alternate role of adversary.
“I do know all the bylaws quite well,” I say, hoping my bullshit will sound authoritative and a little mysterious. “There’s so many specificities to keep in mind. I wouldn’t want someone to start pouring money into a renovation that would get extra attention from all the various government entities and permitting places that have to approve them. Being from another country means you’re probably not aware of everything that happens here.”
There’s a little flash of worry that crosses his expression, and it makes me internally triumphant. If my goal has to be to minimizewhatever he’s going to inevitably do, then the best way to get him to pare back is to cause him to do it preemptively out of concern. And I do have one actual trick up my sleeve.
“But I’m glad you had Hearn send out the full plans, because my best friend is an urban landscaper, so she’s going to look everything over and make sure there’s no holes in what you’re planning.”
I can see that my deliberateness throws him off. I don’t think he expected me to have taken it that far already. “That’s so helpful, Nora,” he says slowly. “Thank you for looking out for the whole building.”
“Anytime,” I reply, trying to subsume the laughter that I’m holding in. He’s so easy to rile up. It’s probably why he couldn’t handle therapy. Being open to therapy requires some amount of humility; it requires some self-awareness that’s open to change. But he’s a bowling lane with the bumpers put up. There’s no option for him but to hit the rails and go straight ahead.
“Nora seems like such a great addition to the building,” Eli says with an undercurrent of steel in his voice, now changing tactics. I’m not sure I like where he’s going. “Gladys,” he says, turning to our neighbor who’s still just as enthralled with him. “Could you imagine we’d all have ended up here when I was hanging out in your apartment as a little kid decades ago? I’m so lucky to have been around here for so long, and it’s so nice to see new people taking to it as well.”
I watch as Gladys completely falls for this trip down memory lane, and it douses the flame of victory I’d allowed to grow inside me over the course of this conversation.
“Oh yes, it’s so nice to have you back, Eli,” Gladys says warmly, petting his arm like he’s a lamb she would rather coo over. “Esther would be so happy. She loved how many summers you spent living here as a child with her.”
Well, that’s news to me. I didn’t realize helivedhere as a kid. Even if he hasn’t visited much as an adult, that would endear him to anyone.Shoot.
And Gladys keeps going. “I just miss Esther so much. She and I used to walk almost every morning together. She got me out of my house and never let me slow down. I really feel so incredibly lost without her.”
“I bet Eli would love to walk with you,” I blurt out, not sure if now I’m taking it too far, because I can see the surprise lining his expression. But he quickly recovers.
“You know, Gladys, I would love that. And I bet Nora would, too, since—look—she has a dog and probably already walks every morning. We’ve all got you covered.”
He pats her on the shoulder, and she beams, his physical reciprocation melting her like sun on an ice cream cone.
Every time I think I’ve got him one-upped, he swoops back in again. There really is no way to decline, especially when I started it.
“Great point, Eli,” I finally say begrudgingly, knowing that George isnotgoing to take kindly to a chatty companion on his morning walks. “We should definitely do some walks together, Gladys.”
“So kind of you, dear,” she says, clearly touched, and now I feel bad for unwittingly dragging her into this immature feud subtext our conversation is having. “I never think to ask because you always keep so much to yourself. It would be lovely to spend some time together.”
Thatgets a genuine grin out of Eli, as though he’s won the war of being closer to our neighbors. I want to shout outI Help Kwan with his Dog!But I know there’s no way to bring that up without making our poor, unwitting conversationmates wonder where this chat went off the rails.
I have to get out of this. I have work and a dog to walk. I can’t spend my whole morning letting Eli get under my skin.
