“Earlier. Grant said you needed it.”
If it were anybody but Grant, I’d be grateful for the thoughtfulness. But…Grant? Thoughtful? I’d have a better chance of finding a cuddly rattlesnake.
“I see.”
“Just look at you. You’re a star!” Josephine smiles, obviously pleased with herself.
I look over at the mirrored wall of the lobby. It takes a moment to recognize myself. In a mustard top and magenta skirt, I looknothinglike earlier. The shoes are patent nude sling-back pumps, huge chandelier earrings dangle around my chin and my hair is expertly layered to frame my face.
“Amazing, right?” Josephine is buoyant with excitement. “Man, I’m good!”
I laugh. “Yes, you are.” It’s hard not to compliment her on a job well done, although part of me wonders what Grant will think of it. He might disapprove. After all, the man takes practically every opportunity to humiliate me.
The only car waiting outside is a black Mercedes, driven by a uniformed chauffeur. Splashy, but it’s difficult for me to enjoy the smooth ride or the luxurious leather seat when I’m so unnerved. This experience is reminding me too much of Malibu. There has to be a gotcha.
I ask the driver to take me to the office. I need to get my car—and drop by a deli near my apartment for a sandwich. I’m too frazzled to cook.
By the time I grab a turkey and cheese sandwich and make it back home, it’s after seven. As I park my car and climb out, I spot Mrs. Yang carrying two huge bags of groceries.
“Hi, Mrs. Yang!” I call out.
She pauses for a second to smile at me. “Hi!” She’d wave if it weren’t for the groceries she’s carrying.
“Let me help you with those.” I trot over.
“Oh, they’re very heavy,” she says with a concerned look.
“It’s okay.” I take them from her. They aren’t too bad, but I can see why she might find them heavy. She acts tough, but she’s a lot frailer than she lets on, which reminds me of Grandma. Nobody would’ve known she was in her sixties by observing her. So much energy, so much wit and humor. My heart aches as I remember her. If she hadn’t died so early, Grandpa might’ve been better. He aged two decades when the doctor announced he couldn’t save her. And he let himself go, too, like he no longer had any reason to live.
“You look fabulous. I love your new hair,” Mrs. Yang says, looking up at me.
“Thank you.”
“And your clothes. So stylish. That bag is Hermes, isn’t it?”
I start. I have no clue, to be honest. I just accepted whatever Josephine pushed in my direction. “Uh, yeah. I think.”
“It’s so fashionable. My son said he’s going to buy me one when he becomes a K-pop idol.” She snorts. “I tell him it’ll be easier and faster to be a doctor, but he’s not so smart. Doesn’t study.” She tsks.
“He might surprise you. Aren’t K-pop stars popular everywhere these days?”
She makes a displeased noise. “I doubt it. He’s too lazy to learn to dance. Not everyone can dance, you know? And even if he practiced, he has my mother-in-law’s face. He’s never going to be a star with a face like that.”
It’s good I’m not taking a drink at the moment. Since I don’t even know how to respond, I just smile and nod.
When we arrive in our hall, there are a couple of delivery men with boxes and boxes of things standing outside my apartment. One checks his phone, then the number on my door.
“Can I help you?” I ask.
“I’d be obliged. You know when the lady who lives here is coming home? We were told she should be here, but she isn’t answering the door. Or her phone.” The fellow is large and rawboned, and his nametag saysChuck.
I reach into my new purse and see a couple of texts and missed calls.Oops. “This is my unit. And you are…?”
“Chuck. And this here’s Norman. Josephine Blackwood sent us.”
“Already?” I squeak. When she said she was going to have the items delivered, I thought she meant maybe tomorrow or the day after. Not within a couple of hours, especially since we weren’t finished until the end of the business day.
“We’re actually running a mite late.”
