Даниэла Стил - Neighbors

She finally went to her own room at midnight, after making sure that everyone had what they needed. The two children were fast asleep by then, with Daphne clutching her doll, and Ava looking even more stunning in a short white T-shirt that left her midriff bare, and tight jeans. She and Joel had changed into clothes as soon as they got there.

A few minutes after Meredith got to her bedroom, Debbie came to see her in the guise of checking if she needed anything. She looked like she had something else to say as she lingered with a disgruntled expression.

“I’m fine. And thank you for the delicious sandwiches.” Meredith smiled at her, to cheer her up. She assumed that Jack had retired for the night, since their night security men were patrolling the house, making sure that no one tried to force their way in, come over the outer wall, or slip in a window. A night where most of the city had no power was an open invitation to intruders. And with the generator, Meredith’s house wasn’t dark. It was the only house with lights in the neighborhood, which made it stand out more than ever.

“You can’t let these people stay another night,” Debbie said boldly, taking Meredith by surprise. She had thought Debbie was upset by the earthquake, not the guests.

“Why not? Of course I can. Their homes may not be safe, and will have to be inspected before they go back in and can stay there. Heavy objects may be ready to fall on their heads, and there could be dangerous structural damage. There’s no electricity in any of their houses. We at least have some light, and all our mechanical devices are up and running. Jack said so.”

“But you don’t know who these people are, Meredith. They could rob you blind during the night, or even hurt you.”

“I can’t imagine a famous blind concert pianist holding me at gunpoint, or any of the others for that matter. His young novelist employee, a doctor and his wife and two children, and an internationally known founder of high-tech startups and his girlfriend.” Joel had made sure that everyone knew who he was. “They don’t seem dangerous to me, and I want them to stay as long as they need to,” she said clearly to Debbie. Meredith was in full control of the situation. She was enjoying their company, and even the sound of their voices in the hall. The house was no longer silent and it felt full of life. For an instant, she wondered if Jack and Debbie were jealous. They had been used to her full attention for so many years now, almost like children. Maybe they didn’t want to share her with strangers. But Meredith was enjoying every minute of it. The earthquake had suddenly put new vibrancy into her home, and was making her feel needed. But she could see that she wasn’t going to be able to convince Jack or Debbie to welcome their guests. They felt threatened by them, which seemed foolish and unfriendly to her. She was loving it. Their being there gave her a purpose, even if only for a few days, or however long they needed her. She was happy to welcome them and help them, whatever Jack and Debbie said.

When she went to bed that night, Meredith thought of Daphne and her doll, the fabulous concert pianist she was thrilled to meet, and all the others. There had been something endearing and vulnerable about Tyla. That drew Meredith to her and made her want to mother her. The two hotties in their bathrobes were intriguing too. Ava seemed like a bright girl, but Meredith could see easily that Joel didn’t appreciate her fully as a person. He just wanted her as a toy to play with. Peter seemed mesmerized by Ava and couldn’t keep his eyes off her. They were an intriguing group.

As she drifted off to sleep, after Debbie left the room, Meredith could hardly wait to see them all at breakfast the next day. She was sure they would want to check on their houses, and she’d ask Jack to help them.

Alone with Jack in the kitchen, Debbie was saying that she would have liked to poison them all and get rid of them. She reported that Meredith was being stubborn about them. They had a last drink from Meredith’s bar, which was better than their own booze, and went to their apartment, convinced that their impromptu houseguests were going to be trouble, and they were determined to get rid of them as fast as they could.

What they didn’t understand was that for the first time in fifteen years, Meredith was having the time of her life, and she wasn’t going to let anyone interfere. Her home was full of life again, with people who needed her. There was a sense of community and caring, which made each of them feel stronger and braver in the face of adversity. Welcoming them into her home had made them feel safe and brought them comfort and had turned a trauma into an opportunity to make new friends. And Meredith intended to hold on to that for as long as she could. And no one was going to spoil that for her.

Chapter 3

Meredith’s houseguests emerged shyly from their rooms the next morning, some of them having slept later than they had intended to. The events of the night before, the shock of the earthquake, and the steady stream of small- to medium-sized aftershocks had worn everyone out, and their rooms at Meredith’s home were so comfortable that when they finally fell asleep, they slept for hours.

The weather the next day was cooler, and the sky was gray. The ongoing sound of helicopters overhead and the sirens of fire trucks in the distance were a constant reminder of the state of emergency and chaos that the city was in. The governor had come to observe some of the damage the night before, and the president had promised to come in the next few days. He was on a state visit to Southeast Asia at the time. The whole city was shut down and all businesses, schools, and offices were closed.

When Meredith came out of her room early that morning, in jeans and a T-shirt, and an old pair of gardening boots from the back of her closet, she found Daphne sitting on a chair politely in the hallway, all alone, holding her doll. She looked as though she was waiting for someone, and was afraid to move. The house was large and daunting, and she seemed happy when she saw Meredith, who smiled at her.

“My mommy and Will are still asleep,” she whispered. “Martha and I woke up.” She had dressed herself and was wearing pink jeans with hearts on them, and a gray sweatshirt inside out, which were the first things Tyla had grabbed out of a drawer when she went back into their house for some clothes for them. And Daphne was wearing the pink light-up sneakers she’d had on the night before. Meredith had admired them when they met.

“Did you and Martha sleep well?” she asked, stopping to talk to her with a warm smile. Daphne’s long dark hair had been haphazardly brushed, and she nodded in answer.

“You have a very big house. Do you have children?” She was curious about her.

“I have a daughter. She’s grown up, and she lives in New York.” Daphne nodded, absorbing the information.

“You live here by yourself?”

“Jack and Debbie live here to help me. You met them in the kitchen last night.”

“My daddy said you’re a witch, before we met you. Like in Hansel and Gretel.” Meredith was a little shocked and then she laughed. God only knew what others said about her, since no one ever saw her, or didn’t recognize her when they did. “I think you’re a good witch,” Daphne added. “Martha thinks so too. She said so last night.”

“Thank you.” Meredith grinned, and held out a hand to her. “Would you and Martha like some breakfast?” Daphne nodded immediately. She’d been sitting in the hallway for an hour, waiting for someone to get up.

“She’s very hungry.”

“Me too,” Meredith said. They held hands as they walked down the grand staircase, and then a smaller one to get to the kitchen in the basement. The generator provided enough electricity to run the basic equipment to prepare a simple meal, and Jack had one of the refrigerators running on it as well. Debbie was in the kitchen when they got there, looking on her phone at the news of the destruction around the city.