Chapter 21 - Gabriella
I woke up to find the bed was empty. It had been almost two weeks since Lucia moved in.
Westley and I managed to share his bed without issues.
I hadn’t expected it to be so easy. I thought we might have issues, or I might get a little self-conscious or worried about sharing a space, but we didn’t.
It seemed almost normal, like we had been doing it forever.
I got dressed and headed into the living room.
I turned my laptop on before I slipped into the kitchen.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down at my laptop.
I was just gearing up for my new project I’d been assigned, when I heard a bedroom door.
I leaned back and spotted Hazel as she came down the hallway.
“Morning,” I said, as I raised my mug to her.
“Morning.” She came and sat down next to me. She rubbed at her eyes as she sighed. “What are your plans today?”
“Work, I have a new project I have to get started on. I think I’m going to run and grab groceries. Maybe a walk later. I don’t have my entire day planned out yet. What are your plans?”
“I have a shift at the bar. I should probably shower before I go in.”
I heard a door open, and Lucia walked out of her room. She came down the hallway and gave both of us a smile. “Morning, guys.”
“Morning,” I said, smiling at her. “How did you sleep?”
“Really well, actually. Thanks for asking.”
I glanced at Hazel, who didn’t say a word to Lucia, which seemed off. I knew that Hazel and she had been spending a lot of time together. Hazel was pretty protective of her, constantly trying to make sure that she had everything she needed.
“Is there some coffee left?” Lucia asked softly, rubbing her hands together nervously. She stopped just behind Hazel.
I nodded toward the kitchen. “Oh yeah, I made a full pot. There is still some creamer in the fridge. I’m going to make a run to the grocery store later. Is there anything you need?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Thanks for asking.”
She gave me a smile before heading into the kitchen. I turned to Hazel and dropped my voice into a whisper. “Why are you so quiet?”
Hazel frowned. “I just… something’s off.”
“What?” I looked at her like she was crazy. “What do you mean?”
Lucia walked back into the dining room, clutching a mug of coffee. She gave us both a tight smile. “What are everyone’s plans today?”
“I’ll be here,” I explained. “I have work to get to, and Hazel has a shift at the bar.”
Lucia nodded. “That sounds fun.”
“What are your plans?” Hazel asked, looking at Lucia differently than normal. Her voice came out sharper, and I kicked her underneath the table, glaring at her. I had no idea what was up with Hazel because she wasn’t the type to act like this.
Lucia shrugged, not seeming to notice. “I don’t know. I’m so used to moving around that it just feels weird to stay in a place for too long. I’m grateful for everything. So, I’m thinking I need to figure out what I want.”
“Have you thought about leaving?” Hazel asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
I wanted to elbow my sister, confused why she was asking so off. I, instead, shook my head. “I get that. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking of staying. At least for a while. For now, at least. I was thinking of looking for a job today. Maybe stop and see if there is a place I can stay. I don’t want to impose too long here.”
“You are more than welcome to be here. You don’t have to rush out if you’re not ready. We understand it can be hard to adjust to everything here, so take your time.”
Lucia smiled sweetly. “I know. But I don’t want to stay too long. You’re married after all, and the last thing you want is a bunch of people in your house.”
“Well, I can see if there are any apartments when I have some free time today. I can check what we have for local listings.”
Her eyes sparkled. “That would be great. I’m sure you guys know the good places and what to avoid,” Lucia chuckled, but Hazel didn’t. Hazel just offered a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“I actually need to shower before I leave. Are you guys using the bathroom?”
“Hazel was about to, but you can use Westley and mine if you want. I have shampoo and conditioner in there if you want to use them.”
“Thanks,” Lucia turned with her mug and headed back toward the bedrooms. I pulled myself up and stepped in front of Hazel, crossing my arms. I waited a minute for the door to shut before I spoke. “Alright, what the hell is your deal?”
“I don’t trust her,” Hazel snapped, looking over my shoulder. “Something isn’t right.”
“What? Since when?”
Hazel shook her head, tapping her fingers on the table. “I’m telling you! She’s lying about something. I can feel it. We can’t trust her.”
I shook my head. “Hazel, since when? You have been advocating for her, and suddenly this morning, you aren’t? What the hell changed? Did you guys have a fight?” It was the only logical thing I could come up with, considering just a few nights ago they were doing each other's hair.
Hazel rolled her eyes. “She’s hiding something.
I know it. I ask her questions, and the answers don’t connect with other stuff she’s told us.
I asked about her past, and she told me she was an only child, but she told us before she had siblings.
She told us that she’d never been married, but she has a ring line on her hand.
I sighed. “Everyone has secrets, Hazel. But none of that makes me question her as a person.”
“There’s more.”
“Like what? “
“Some of my jewelry is missing. I can’t find my favorite necklace. I just had it the other day. I can’t find some of my clothes. Money from my wallet has gone missing and one of my credit cards isn’t in my purse. I had to cancel the card.”
I tensed up a little. “You gave her clothes to wear so she might have just borrowed some.”
“I didn’t,” she grumbled, shaking her head. “And that doesn’t account for my money or my card being missing. We need to get her out of this house.”
I didn’t want to argue with Hazel because she was my sister, but Lucia was still adjusting. Lucia was sweet and helpful around the house. I didn’t see what Hazel was saying. I didn’t want to say she was wrong, but maybe she was being a little paranoid. She might have easily misplaced everything.
“I think maybe you’re being a little rough right now. And maybe she is a little odd, but you have to understand what she went through. We went through the same things. And it took us some time to adjust. I’m sure this is just a big misunderstanding, and you just left your stuff somewhere.”
“This is not the same,” Hazel snapped at me. “We are not like her.”
I crossed my arms, a little irritated now. “And I think you need to calm down and collect yourself,” I snipped back at her. “She’s done nothing wrong. I think you’re being a little paranoid. Have you even asked her about any of it? You can’t just jump to accusations like that.”
“You don’t get it,” Hazel said, storming down the hallway.
I heard her door slam, and I sighed. I knew this was probably about something else.
Maybe something was going on that was putting her in a bad mood and making everything seem wrong.
Either way, I was going to give her a little space for now.
I shook the moment off and sat back down in front of my computer. I tried to focus on work. Hazel left for work, and Lucia soon followed, explaining she was heading out for a couple of hours. I tried to work, but I kept thinking of what Hazel said. Things were missing. Things seemed off.
I pulled myself out of my chair and headed down the hallway toward Lucia’s room. I paused at the door, chewing on my cheek. I wasn’t seriously considering snooping in her room because of what Hazel said, was I?
No. It was wrong. Hazel was just having an off day, and I had no reason to get into her room. Hazel needed to talk with Lucia. I shouldn’t be snooping or getting in the middle of it.
I turned, heading back to the dining room, and sat back down. I sighed heavily and tried to get back into my work. But I kept looking back at the door, and I felt my leg bounce under the table. I chewed on my cheek.
“Fuck.”
I got back up and headed back down the hallway. I grabbed her door and pushed it open. The space looked like I remembered it. The bed was made, and the dresser was empty. I stepped further in and found the nightstand drawer slightly open. I pulled it open, and my hands froze.
Inside was Hazel’s favorite necklace. I felt like someone had just dumped cold water down my spine.
I picked it up, flipping it around in my palm.
I swallowed and slid the drawer shut. I turned and opened the dresser drawer.
Inside, I found clothes that I knew Hazel had borrowed from Lucia, but also clothes I wasn’t sure she would. I didn’t find money or Hazel’s card.
I took the necklace and the few pieces of clothing and put them into Hazel’s room.
I didn’t want to say that Lucia stole them, because I didn’t want to think she could do something like that.
She might have accidentally seen them and thought she could borrow them.
Hazel had told her she could use anything, and maybe she found them lying around the house. Hazel wasn’t the cleanest person.
I tried to focus on work the rest of the day, but it was hard.
When Lucia came back, I was tempted to question her.
I wanted to ask where she found them or if she had just taken them.
But I didn’t because I had a hard time believing she would.
There had to be a good reason that those items were in her room.
I hadn’t found the money or the credit card.
All she was guilty of was borrowing stuff.
Westley came home early and started dinner. Hazel didn’t come home, and I figured she was going to work late for her shift, which left me with Lucia and Westley.