3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
K endra
“Okay, I’ll get it sorted out. I apologize for any troubles I caused.” I tightened my grip on my phone and ended the call. I couldn’t believe that psycho actually called the landlord on me—just because we had a little misunderstanding.
“Fine! If an apology is what he wants, an apology he will get.”
I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. A few minutes later, after brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower, I threw on my oversized shirt from my favorite thrift shop back in Alaska and a pair of comfy shorts. I pulled my hair into a ponytail with the elastic band I always kept handy.
There was no reason to be nervous about giving a simple apology, yet my blood was pumping faster than usual. I ignored the strange feeling and marched to Antonio’s door.
Raising my hand to knock, I noticed something I’d missed before— a doorbell . I glanced back at my own apartment and, sure enough, there was one on the wall. So, why hadn’t he rung it instead of banging on my door like a lunatic? I exhaled heavily and pressed the doorbell.
A moment passed with no response. I pressed it again, and this time the door flew open almost immediately. Antonio stood there, giving me a slow, deliberate once-over before his eyes settled back on my face. His gaze made me feel... exposed.
“Yes?”
“Good morning, sir ,” I began, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “I am here to apologize for my unruly, utterly unacceptable behavior last night. I’m so sorry I disturbed your beauty sleep and slammed the door in your face. Please, find a place in your big heart to forgive me. I’m really sorry I moved in next to you, and I solemnly pledge to never again disturb your peace and quiet.”
He eyed me, his expression darkening. The flash of annoyance in his eyes brought a wry smile to my lips. No one could say I hadn’t apologized, but it was as far from sincere as one could get.
“Is that supposed to be funny?” he growled.
“I don’t understand,” I replied, feigning confusion.
“You call that an apology?”
“If that wasn’t an apology, then what was it? I said I was sorry—twice.” I paused, counting the words in my head. “No, wait... three times, if you count the part where I said ‘I apologize’. How is that not an apology, Mr. Antonio?”
His brows shot up. “How do you know my name?”
“Oh, um... the landlord mentioned it when he called this morning and asked me to apologize.” It wasn’t entirely a lie—the landlord had said his name, but I’d recognized Antonio long before that from the moment I’d seen him scowling at me while I struggled with my bags.
“So, you expect me to accept this mockery of an apology?” He crossed his arms, reminding me why we were even having this ridiculous conversation.
“Well, I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t.”
“Okay.” He turned to retreat into his apartment, already closing the door when I instinctively reached out and stopped it with my hand.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, more sincere this time. The last thing I needed was another landlord’s call threatening to return my rent. I wasn’t going to let Antonio ruin my fresh start. “Please… I’m sorry for the sarcasm earlier, and for what happened last night. I’ll stay as quiet as I can and make sure we never cross paths again. Just... don’t call the landlord again. Please.”
He paused, his gaze softening ever so slightly. The deep crease in his brow relaxed. “Now, was that so hard?”
I ignored his taunt and withdrew my hand, standing a little straighter. “Thank you,” I said, turning back to my apartment. I might not have been totally sincere with my apology, but I was sincere with one thing; I was going to avoid him like a plague.
I neither had the strength, time, nor will for any male related drama. I bolted the door behind me, feeling the emotional weight pressing down on me. I missed my husband. I hated that I had to start all over, in a place where I didn’t belong.
My phone buzzed, interrupting the ache in my chest. It was the plumber I had called the night before. My first night in the new house was just one problem after the next. After the fire alarm incident and I discovered that I couldn’t salvage my dinner, I tried to wash off the pot before going to bed, only to find that the tap in the kitchen wasn’t working.
I had called the landlord but he wasn’t taking his calls, and asked me to text him instead. So I sent my complaint, and his reply was the contact of the plumber, with an apology for not remembering to fix it before I arrived, and a note to not bother with the payment.
“Hello, is this Ms. Kendra in unit 204?” the man asked, his voice gruff.
“Yes, this is Kendra.”
“I’ll be at your place in about forty-five minutes. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
I microwaved the leftover pizza from last night and made myself a cup of coffee. As the plumber worked on fixing the kitchen tap, I settled into the couch, sending out more job applications while scrolling through local hiking spots.
I couldn’t shake the weight of the last few days off my shoulders. Starting over was exhausting, and I was still grappling with the loss of everything I had left behind.
Once the plumber left, I decided it was time for a much-needed break. I changed into my hiking gear, grabbed my small backpack, and hailed a cab on Patton Avenue.
The Bent Creek Experimental Forest was only a short ride away, and the thought of getting out into nature gave me a brief sense of relief.
I needed the air to clear my head. From having to choose between apologizing to Antonio and being refunded my rent, to dealing with plumbing issues on my second day in Asheville… I was this close to calling my brother to come get me.
I knew Tom would send me a flight ticket the very next day if I asked for it. But I was no longer that little girl he had to keep safe from the harsh realities of life… I had to do this on my own.
As I started my hike, the scent of pine and earth surrounded me, calming my nerves. The trail wound through a canopy of trees, and I welcomed the crunch of leaves beneath my feet. For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe again.
I rounded a bend and noticed a woman taking pictures. She spun around too quickly, tripping over a hidden root. With a cry of pain, she fell hard onto the trail. I rushed over, helping her onto a nearby fallen branch.
“Are you okay?” I asked, eyeing her swollen ankle.
She winced, clutching her leg. “I think I twisted it.”
I reached into my backpack for my first-aid kit and expertly bandaged her ankle. She let out a breath of relief.
“Thanks, that feels better. I’m Tina, by the way.”
“Kendra,” I replied with a smile. “And, you’re welcome. Want me to help you get back out?”
Tina smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Kendra. I think I’ll be okay now.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, glancing at her bandaged ankle. “That looks like a nasty sprain.”
“I can make it a little further,” she insisted, testing her weight on the injured ankle. “It doesn’t hurt as much now.”
I raised an eyebrow, but didn’t push further. “Alright, if you say so. Just be careful.”
As I packed up my first-aid kit, Tina glanced at me. “You’re pretty good at this. Are you a nurse or something?”
I chuckled. “Not quite. I was a Girl Scout growing up, and I picked up some basic first-aid skills.”
“Well, you’re a lifesaver, Girl Scout or not,” she said with a grin.
I returned her smile, feeling a small spark of connection. It was nice to chat with someone after the isolating last few days. “So, what brings you out here today? Are you a photographer in search of the perfect shot?”
Tina glanced down at the camera hanging around her neck. “Nah, photography’s just a hobby. I’m mostly out here for exercise and some fresh air.”
I nodded. “Same here. I just moved to Asheville, and thought a hike might clear my head.”
“Oh, you’re new in town?” she asked, her interest piqued. “Where from?”
“Alaska,” I replied, a tinge of homesickness creeping in as I said it.
“Wow, that’s quite a change. What brought you all the way down here?”
I hesitated, not wanting to dive into the details of my life just yet. “A fresh start,” I said simply.
Tina nodded, seeming to understand. “I hear you. Asheville’s a good place for that. What do you do, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I’m a journalist,” I replied, then quickly added, “But I haven’t found a job here yet. I’m working at a diner for now, just until something better comes along.”
Her eyes lit up. “Journalist, huh? That’s awesome. I actually work for one of the local news stations—ABS. I’m part of the technical crew, though, not on-air talent.”
“That’s really cool,” I said, genuinely interested.
Tina beamed. “Actually, we’re hiring journalists right now. There’s an opening at the station, if you’re interested.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Really?”
“Yeah! I can send you the job posting, and if you want, we can grab coffee to talk about it. You’d be a great fit for the team.”
“Wow, that would be amazing. Thank you so much!” I said, the heaviness of the morning lifting just a little.
“No need to thank me. Consider it payback for the first-aid,” she joked.
We exchanged numbers, and as we continued walking, the conversation flowed naturally. We talked about everything from work to our favorite books, to the beauty of Asheville’s landscapes. For the first time in a long while, I felt a genuine connection with someone new.
By the time we reached the trailhead, it felt like I’d known Tina for longer than just an hour. We took a few photos together, and I promised to follow up on the job opportunity.
As I settled into the cab for the ride home, a smile spread across my face. The hike, meeting Tina, and the prospect of a new job... maybe things were starting to look up after all. It wasn’t Alaska, and it definitely wasn’t my old life, but maybe Asheville had something to offer after all.