Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
ELENA
Although Elena felt awful about Sofia losing her job and was outraged on her sister’s behalf, it had also been a relief having Sofia on hand more to help look after Luisa.
Elena had been able to focus on work without any family-drama interruptions.
She’d stopped panicking every time her phone rang, and her stress levels had significantly decreased.
She’d even had time to tend to her own needs, like going away for the weekend with Danny, something she wouldn’t have been able to do while Sofia had been working full-time.
But all that could be coming to an end as a date had been set for her sister’s ET hearing.
Disgruntled employees normally had to wait months, but Sofia had accepted a last minute cancellation, which meant everything could be concluded in a few days.
And if her sister was returning to work soon, it was time to step up and pull her weight.
Consequently, when she received a message from Sofia asking her to come home as there was a problem with Luisa, she didn’t hesitate to respond.
It was the least she could do. Plus it gave her another excuse to avoid seeing Danny ahead of their date tonight.
The window for procrastination was closing and she needed to make a decision.
Having locked up her clinic, she headed down the stairwell, mulling over the situation, and glad to note Danny’s door was shut. It saved her from making small talk ahead of seeing him later.
She hadn’t been on a date since splitting with Felix in the New Year. It was all very well to actively steer clear of ‘suits’, but allowing the encounter with her ex to prevent her from finding happiness with anyone else was self-sabotage, and she was smarter than that.
She’d been cautious of Danny in the beginning, wanting to avoid repeating the same mistake, as only a fool would go for a guy with the same hang-ups.
But Danny wasn’t Felix, not by a long way.
Underneath the suit was a guy who liked messing around, who wasn’t a judgemental stiff, and who was, in fact, a frustrated rebel, subdued by life’s cruelties.
Once he let go and relaxed he had no problems showing affection, being daft, or laughing at himself.
Plus, he seemed to like her the way she was. He got frustrated with her, he didn’t always agree with her, but so far he’d never asked her to be anything other than who she was, and that’s where he trumped Felix, who’d always wanted her to ‘tone it down’.
Overthinking usually resulted in more confusion, but on this occasion working through her feelings helped her to reach a decision. She was going to date Danny Jackson. She liked him. It was time to shake off her wounds and take control of her destiny.
Besides, if Danny ever infuriated her, she’d just do what she did yesterday and stun him into submission by kissing him. Arguing with him might prove to be enormous fun.
She ran down Portobello Road, swerving in and out of the stalls, happy with her decision. It felt right, a significant turning point in her life. She was heading back into the world of dating. And about time too, her sisters would say.
She was breathing hard by the time she reached Lancaster Road, her legs feeling the burn as she ran past the rainbow-coloured houses lining the street.
Energised by her decision to welcome romance back into her life, she sprinted up the steps and burst through the front door, announcing her arrival. ‘I’m home!’
‘Up here!’ Sofia’s head appeared over the balcony.
Elena raced up the stairs. ‘What’s happened?’
‘No idea.’ Sofia looked flustered, her ponytail had come loose, her top was untucked, and she was missing an earring. ‘Luisa’s stuck inside her art studio and I can’t get the door open. Something appears to be wedged against it. I’ve tried talking to her, but she’s making no sense.’
Elena paused for breath. ‘Is she ill?’
‘I don’t think so, but I’m not sure.’ Sofia headed up the second flight of stairs. ‘I waited for you before deciding whether we needed to call an ambulance.’
Elena followed Sofia up to the attic space. ‘If we can’t get the door open we might need the fire service as well.’
‘Another reason why I waited for you.’ Sofia glanced over her shoulder. ‘She doesn’t sound ill, more like drunk.’
‘Drunk?’ Elena baulked. ‘At eleven-thirty in the morning?’
‘I know.’ Sofia stood aside to allow Elena past. ‘I’m sensing something bad has happened.’
Elena banged on the art studio door. ‘Luisa? … Luisa! Open the door!’
‘Go away!’ Luisa slurred. ‘You don’t need to worry about me … I’m fine.’
Elena rattled the door handle. ‘If you’re fine, then open the door and let us in.’
‘No, I’m working. I’m in the artistic flow, and I don’t want to break concentration. Come back later. You must never disturb the muse.’ There was a thud, followed by a low groan.
Elena banged on the door again. ‘Luisa, I’m going to keep banging on this door until you open it, and if you don’t open it, I’m calling the fire service and getting them to break it down.’
‘Go ahead, I like men in uniform.’ Luisa hiccupped. ‘It’ll be exciting.’
‘I don’t think they’ll see it that way.’ Elena rattled the door handle again. ‘Come on, Luisa. This is crazy, open the door.’
Silence descended.
When Luisa eventually spoke, her voice was low and muffled. ‘I don’t want to see anyone right now.’
Elena exchanged a worried look with Sofia. ‘Why not?’
‘I’m depressed.’
Elena softened her tone. ‘Luisa, we’re worried about you. … Are you drinking?’
‘Who cares, it’s not like it’s going to kill me.’ She sounded belligerent. ‘I’ll be dead long before I get alcoholic poisoning.’
Elena beckoned Sofia away from the door so she could whisper without being overheard. ‘You’ve no idea what’s caused this?’
‘Not a clue.’ Sofia gave a shrug. ‘I’ve been out here for over an hour, but she won’t tell me what’s upset her.’
‘I can hear you talking about me!’ Something hit the door, indicating Luisa must have thrown something.
‘So open the door and let us talk to you instead. Please, Luisa.’ Elena returned to the door and tapped again. ‘Come on, talk to us, what’s happened?’
‘Maybe I like wallowing.’ Luisa started singing an off-key rendition of the REM song Everybody Hurts.
Elena rolled her eyes at Sofia. ‘Something must have upset you. Talk to us.’
‘I miss Papi.’ Luisa sounded grumpy. ‘When you’re on your own … in this world.’
‘Yep, we miss him too. But until he comes home, we’re all you’ve got.’ Elena shoved her shoulder against the door, which wouldn’t budge. ‘How about opening the door and letting us in. We can wallow together.’
‘Everybody hurts … sometimes,’ Luisa sang, followed by a lengthy pause before Elena heard the sound of something being dragged away from the door.
This time when Elena tried the handle the door opened.
Luisa was sprawled on the floor holding a near-empty bottle of wine. She was wearing her homemade artist’s poncho, purple tights and bunny slippers. Her hands were covered in dried paint. ‘I’m a tap-dancing fairy.’ Luisa kicked her legs up and sent one of her slippers flying across the room.
Elena headed over. ‘Okay, I’ll take that,’ she said, crouching down to remove the bottle from Luisa.
‘I’m not finished!’ Luisa tried to grab the bottle.
‘You can finish it later.’ Elena sat on the floor and crossed her legs. ‘Talk to us, what’s happened?’
Luisa pointed to her phone, which was lying on the table. ‘Bastards want to cut me up.’
Sofia fetched Luisa’s phone and lifted her sister’s limp hand to activate the finger ID. Sofia’s frown turned into a sigh as she read something on the phone. ‘It’s an appointment notification from the Brompton hospital.’
‘Read what it says,’ Luisa said, waving her hand about. ‘Talk about insensitive.’
Sofia spoke softly. ‘It’s a review meeting with the transplant team.’
Luisa looked glum. ‘My time’s up. Transplant, or diiieeee.’ She mimed being strangled and flopped backwards, playing dead.
‘It means nothing of the sort.’ Elena took her younger sister’s hand and pulled her upright. ‘It’s just a review meeting to discuss your options. No one’s implying anything has to happen yet. They just want to make sure you’re aware of all your options for the future.’
Luisa slumped against Elena. ‘I’m not having a transplant.’
‘Okay. If that’s how you feel, fine.’ Elena squeezed her hand. ‘But the hospital team wouldn’t be doing their job if they didn’t keep that option open, in case you change your mind further down the line.’
Luisa poked her tongue out. ‘I won’t.’
‘Then don’t go to the meeting, decline the offer. But getting drunk is not the best way of dealing with it.’ Elena wished Papi was here. He was better at coping with a morose Luisa than they were, he had a knack of bringing her out of her slump.
Luisa wiped her nose with the back of her hand. ‘What else can I do?’
‘You can talk to us.’ Sofia sat down next to Luisa. ‘You know we’re here to support you. Always.’
‘You can’t be running after me all the time, you have your own lives to lead. I’m a burden.’ Luisa hiccupped on a sob.
‘No, you’re not. Never think that.’ Sofia wiped tears away from Luisa’s face. ‘And the ET hearing is not for a couple of days. What will be, will be. The decision is out of my hands, it’ll be down to the judge to determine what happens next. Whatever happens, I’ll be okay.’
Luisa slumped against Sofia’s shoulder. ‘It’s not just the ET hearing, I’m screwing up your love life too. You’d be at the community centre today if it weren’t for me.’
Sofia’s cheeks flushed a little. ‘Like I told you, I’m happy staying home with you. I don’t need to be there every day. Besides, I think it’s better I keep my distance for a while.’
‘Why?’ Luisa sat up. ‘Has something happened? Did you ask him out? Did he ask you out? Tell me.’
‘Who are we talking about?’ Elena wondered what she’d missed. ‘Don’t keep me in the dark.’ She looked at Sofia. ‘Have you met someone?’