The instant she saw me, Lulu launched herself in my direction, enveloping me in a bear hug. “Are you OK? What the hell! You must have been so scared.”
“It did freak me out,” I admitted, relishing the warm comfort of her embrace. It felt like forever since I’d been held.
“You’ve got to come stay with me.”
I was tempted to take her up on her offer, but moving out of the home Ali and I had shared for most of our marriage would confirm my worst fears about myself: that I was unworldly and dependent and couldn’t make it without a man.
“No, thank you.” I shook my head as I led her into the kitchen. “I like to sleep in my own house.”
“That was before your husband died and someone broke in!” She spotted Nasser eating at the counter. “Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
He spoke around a mouthful ofmaklooba. “I agree that it would be safer for her to stay somewhere else.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not going anywhere. The kids have a short school break coming up, so I won’t be alone.”
“But you will be after they leave,” Lulu pointed out.
“Nasser just installed a security system. And I’m going to have cameras put up outside.” Maybe I was in denial, yet again, but whoever broke in didn’t seem to be after me. The intruder ran away the minute they could, rather than confront me. Besides, I wasn’t about to draw any potential danger to Lulu’s house. She had young children.
“Aren’t you afraid to sleep here alone?” she asked.
Yes.But I needed to prove to myself that I could stand on my own two feet. Besides, leaving the house would be like relinquishing another piece of my old life. Purchasing the house with Ali and making it into our home—a haven for us and our children—was core to our life as a couple. I wouldn’t allow fear to push me out. I’d lost enough.
“I’ll be OK now that I have a security system,” I said, pretending to be braver than I felt. I looked to Nasser. “And maybe we could put a better lock on the door to the primary bedroom?”
“No problem. I’ll take care of it first thing in the morning.” Nasser rose and rinsed his plate off in the sink. “I’ll leave you two ladies to it.”
I followed him out. “Thanks for the security system.”
“Anytime. Oh, I almost forgot.” He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small blue canister. “This is for you.”
“What is it?”
“Pepper spray. Just in case,” he said quickly. “It attaches to your key chain, but you can carry it separately in your purse.”
“OK.” I accepted his offering without protest. “Thanks. I’ll keep it with me whenever I go out.”
“Good.” He reached for the door. “I’m glad you’re being reasonable about security.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m not a complete idiot.”
What I didn’t say was that I was my children’s only surviving parent. I needed to stick around for them as long as I could.
After several days of trying, I finally got Fred Perkins on the phone.
“I didn’t realize your husband had passed away,” he said. “Please accept my condolences.”
I asked about the house and whether, as Ali’s spouse, it now belonged to me. After a long pause, Perkins finally answered.
“I have the operating agreement right here.”
“And?” I pressed, my heart pounding hard. “What does it say?”
“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that information. The contents of the operating agreement are private.” He cleared his throat through the phone. “However, I can tell you that the house at 104 Cozy Glenn Lane does not belong to you.”
“But ... how can that be?” I was speechless. Flustered. Floored. “My husband paid for that property out of our joint savings account. Who gets the house?” I held my breath, waiting for him to utter Carol Darius’s name.
“Unfortunately, that is also confidential. I am very sorry.” And he did sound it. I could hear the sympathy in his voice.
