Chapter 24
HANNAH
‘D are I ask what crisis you’re dealing with now?’ Zoe answered by way of greeting after the call rang only once.
Hannah laughed into the device as she ambled down Sixth. ‘For the first time in forever, I think I’m ahead of a crisis, shockingly enough.’
Today had gone far better than she’d expected. She’d hoped to have McKenzie open up a little, but he’d gone even further. When he’d started to talk about his high school days, and then the tough, domineering coach that shaped his early playing years, there had been an openness and vulnerability to him that she’d suspected was there all along but he was so far reluctant to reveal.
She thrived on people opening themselves up to her, and letting down their guard. She understood that it was a gift they were offering and made certain never to abuse the privilege either. When Ward had talked about those early years, she’d seen in his eyes that vulnerable, immature kid he used to be.
Which made her want to uncover so much more. She needed to take her time though, and be doubly careful to ensure she didn’t scare him away. But weirdly, the more she got to know this guy – the real one – the more of a conundrum he seemed to be.
‘So it seems like I have a client who is finally willing to work with me and a neighbour who doesn’t want to set me on fire,’ Hannah said, having filled in her friend on recent events. ‘All in all, a win, yes?’
‘Which is usually when the other shoe drops, no?’
She stopped in her tracks, ready to argue the point and, in doing so, caused a powerwalking, smartphone-wielding stockbroker to collide with her, practically knocking her over. ‘Feck, sorry,’ she gasped, which earned her an insolent glare.
‘Goddamn phone-zombie tourist …’ the man barked, before unironically returning his attention to his own device and picking up the pace.
‘You OK?’ Zoe queried.
‘Yes, I’m just starting to remember where I am. I forgot how rushed everyone is here.’
Her friend clucked on the other end of the line. ‘Regretting the decision to relocate, are we?’
Hannah let out an involuntary shiver, her thoughts briefly transporting her back to LA and the reasons for her escape. ‘Nope. I just have to remember that people are less … zen in these parts.’ She started walking again, trying her best not to dawdle lest she cause a proverbial pile-up on the sidewalk. ‘So,’ she continued, ‘about the other shoe dropping … oh, you of little faith, but I’m thinking positive. I honestly feel like I’ve turned a corner. Things are looking up.’
‘What’s the strategy then?’
Hannah heard the smile in Zoe’s voice, and she suddenly missed her friend, badly. She wished they could go to a bar and have a brainstorming session over a bottle of wine like they used to after a long day’s work.
‘As far as the hockey player goes, I need to get the thinking cap back on now that he’s feeling agreeable to working with me instead of against me. And I need to make sure I get results, so he remains agreeable.’
Easier said than done though. The joys of choosing a career managing people.
With that, Hannah turned her thoughts to her neighbour.
‘And as far as Ed in P-1 goes … well, I just need to not rock the boat. He’ll be in my rear-view mirror once Courtney’s back in six weeks anyway. Until then, I just need him to not call the cops because he believes I’m breathing too loud.’
Zoe sighed heavily on the other end of the line. ‘Crotchety old grump. I mean, how does a guy like that even live in New York if they don’t want people around them? Seriously, go move out into the country, buy a house in the woods and become a proper hermit like the Unabomber.’
Hannah laughed. ‘Let’s hope he’s nothing like the Unabomber, or even my Rice Krispie buns won’t save me.’
‘So,’ Zoe continued, changing the subject, ‘it’s Friday night. What’s the plan? Any hot dates on the horizon?’
Hannah snorted. ‘Ha. I have more than enough on my plate at the moment.’ But Zoe made a good point. It was the weekend and she didn’t know her colleagues at the New York office well enough yet to socialise with them, plus she was still hesitant about making connections until she could be more confident about what they did or didn’t know about the reason for her transfer.
The idea of returning to the apartment and tiptoeing around in case of upsetting her neighbour didn’t appeal either. Nor did eating alone again. As wonderful as Courtney’s place was, Hannah figured that maybe this week she had at least earned the right not to burn or obliterate another ready meal.
‘Actually, I think I’m going to take myself out,’ she decided on the spot. ‘Have a glass of wine, some nice food and do a bit of brainstorming.’
‘Heard anything from Rob?’ her friend enquired then, her tone changing. ‘You’d tell me, wouldn’t you?’
‘Not a dickie bird,’ Hannah muttered truthfully, still a little unsure how to feel about it.
‘I’m really hoping that’s one of your weird Irish expressions meaning no, otherwise I might just have to fly over to talk some sense into you in person.’
‘Ha. No need for straight-talking on my part. I’m way over all that, honestly.’
Hannah hoped her friend couldn’t tell that she was spinning a tale.
Now all she needed to do was believe her own narrative.
Having treated herself to a meal and a couple of glasses of wine at a French bistro at 63rd and Park, Hannah returned to the apartment still feeling a little lonely and out of sorts. She waved to Bruno the doorman as she headed through the lobby and tapped her foot as she rode the elevator up to her floor.
Upon exiting, she paused in the hallway listening for any sign of activity in P-1, briefly considering knocking on the door to see if Ed would answer. Given their recent impasse, it felt like the time might be right to introduce herself directly and put a face to the name. And she also wanted to see if reality aligned with the picture she had painted of him in her head. Raising a tentative hand, she then backed down at the last minute. After all, she had promised him peace and quiet so knocking on his door out of nowhere on a Friday night would surely set back the progress she had made.
So instead, Hannah continued down the hallway and opened the door to P-2, shutting it gently behind her. She listened for a second. The apartment was deathly quiet. No errant technology on the fritz or roaming animals, which made her sigh in relief.
But also served to highlight her current solitude, especially in such a big and buzzy city. It was still early days with regards to making friends at work, plus in truth she kind of welcomed the peace and quiet after such a tumultuous year. But if she didn’t start putting herself out there more, she ran the risk of ending up much like her neighbour.
Which definitely seemed like a depressing prospect.
Going into the kitchen, she opened the Sub-Zero fridge and grabbed a bottle of Pellegrino before extracting a glass from one of the kitchen cabinets.
She wondered how Ed had become the way he was – ornery, angry at the world, presumptively stuck in the past. He seemed to be homebound and, from what she could glean so far, only seemed to have his nurse as a visitor, which amid a city like this seemed so bleak. If she were in his position, Hannah figured she would welcome the chance to talk to other people and to feel like there was still a world outside those walls. Heck, she felt like that right now.
Well, they said the opposite of depression was connection, so since she and Ed were both pretty much lonely in New York at the moment, maybe their little faceless to-and-fro was the perfect way to offer one another a lifeline.
Hello P-1,
I appreciate your understanding of the situation. Nothing seems to be going haywire with the tech over here since, so maybe the situation has solved itself.
Which also applied to my working week as it turns out. A stumbling block I was facing with a difficult man who was a bit of a tough nut to crack is beginning to sort itself out too. He needs my help but is very much … let’s just say, stuck in his ways. So I took myself out to a nice dinner tonight hoping to get some thoughts flowing, but I’m afraid that didn’t happen. All was not lost, though, as I had a divine mushroom risotto and a to-die-for chocolate soufflé. (And just in case you think I’m the type of person who takes pictures of their food to post online, I can assure you that I do not. I’m far too interested in eating!)
But being new to the area, I’m not sure where else is good around here. Maybe as a local, you could provide recommendations? No pressure, I don’t know if that’s your thing or not. Admittedly, I’m not much of a foodie, and outside of the no-bake I sent over, not much of a cook either.
Hannah wanted to sound breezy and chatty and perhaps appeal to his empathetic side by mentioning her lonely dinner and that she had a few struggles of her own. Nothing compared to his of course but … She tapped her fingers on the makeshift countertop, unsure of what to say next and, with that very motion, remembered something.
Tomorrow was Saturday, the day the marble installers were due. Probably a good idea to give him a heads-up about that in case of any noise or ruckus in getting the materials up here or having the countertop fixed in place. Considering he was already so averse to construction noise.
Which leads me to the reason for my note. There’s a small work crew coming tomorrow so there might be a little noise. Nothing major, just a couple of guys to install a new countertop.
Rest assured, I’ll be here to supervise and ensure things go as smoothly (and quietly!) as possible. I’ve been told it will only be a couple of hours at the most. And you’ll be especially relieved to know this is the very last of the upgrades. No more construction work.
She signed off by telling Ed that his understanding throughout the entire remodelling process was deeply appreciated and that she’d go out of her way to ensure he wasn’t disturbed any further.
Hannah grimaced and folded over the note.
Fingers crossed.