Drawn to You

by Jillian Anselmi

  I wander over to the door that leads to the outside terrace and stare out. I feel rather than see Chase behind me. He places his hands around my waist, pulling me close. “Well, what do you think?”

  “I think it’s too expensive,” I murmur almost under my breath.

  “No, it’s in your price range. I promised I wouldn’t show you anything that was over your budget.”

  “How is that possible? Look at this place,” I whisper, not wanting Madelyn to hear.

  “Don’t make any assumptions yet. Trust me.”

  “Okay,” I sigh. “Show me the rest of the apartment.” He gives me a radiant grin then leads me toward the master bedroom.

  By the time I see the entire apartment, I’m dizzy. I’ll admit, the place is gorgeous. But I don’t see how I can afford it. I turn to Madelyn. “So, how much is this listed for?”

  “Since this is a sub-let, it isn’t actually listed. For all intents and purposes, this is a rent controlled apartment. The tenant has since moved to something smaller, and the building manager doesn’t know. Her rent was two thousand a month.” Two thousand? Did she say two thousand? That’s a steal! “These are the rest of the amenities written down here.” She reads from her script once again. “This incredible full-service landmarked building from 1902, when it was the largest building in the world, not only has one of the most impressive marble lobbies in the City, there are also some of the best amenities available. Well-equipped fitness center with a separate room for stretching, Pilates and yoga; Wi-Fi lounge with a catering kitchen plus large flat-screen separate game room with pool tables and a golf simulator; children’s playroom; live-in super, on-site property manager and common laundry room.”

  “Wow, that’s incredible.” I’m amazed. All this for two thousand a month? Chase is giving me an I-told-you-so look. I narrow my eyes and scowl at him.

  “The other apartment we are going to look at today is rent controlled, as well as the first apartment. They’re all around the same price, but this one is the nicest,” she boasts. “Ready for one more?” We both nod our heads and back down the elevator we go.

  The last apartment is a few blocks away on Pine Street. We walk back toward Wall Street, go over Nassau Street, than make a right onto Pine Street. She leads us to a gorgeous older building. The building itself has a very distinctive pre-war facade with ornamental and architectural characteristics. I don’t think it started life as an apartment building.

  Madelyn leads us through the double doors and into the lobby. Once at the elevators, it’s up we go again. The doors open, and she click-clacks down the hall to a door where she produces a key and opens it. She waves us through.

  “This is a large, fully renovated one bedroom, one bathroom apartment,” she begins. “There are soaring nine foot plus ceilings, oversized windows and open street views. It is located just one block from Wall Street and across the street from the 2 & 3 subway lines. The sleek kitchen features custom cabinetry, black granite counters and GE Profile appliances. The spacious living room with dining alcove features a fireplace and etched double sliding glass doors opening into an enormous bedroom with walk-in closet. This building features a 24/7 doorman/concierge, laundry on every floor, a Club Floor with 24/7 fitness center, media room with Internet access, private club room for entertaining with wet bar and conference and billiards rooms.”

  It’s prettier than the first one, but not as palatial as the last one. The front door opens up into the living room with the kitchen to your left. The bathroom is across from the kitchen. You then walk through the living room to get to the bedroom, and there is no door. It’s a true open floor plan. I’m not thrilled with the bathroom so far from the bedroom. Chase is again behind me. I turn towards him, and he has a scowl on his face. “I don’t like it,” he states. “It’s too small, and the bathroom is all the way over there.” He must be reading my mind. I nod my head in agreement. “So, what do you want to do?” he asks.

  “I really like the second apartment, but it seems so expensive. I don’t know if I need all the space.”

  “It’s a beautiful apartment and so close to mine,” he murmurs seductively, so only I can hear him. He stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Whatever you want, you’re choosing your apartment,” he whispers in my ear, emphasizing the your, then nibbles on my earlobe. Ahhh. “What do you want to do?” He is distracting me from the matter at hand, the bastard.

  “I’ll take the second apartment. When can I move in?” Madelyn looks very pleased and so does Chase.

  “Whenever you want. There will be a lease, but it’s between you and the current tenant. As far as the building knows, you’ll be her granddaughter.” Oh, okay. Chase is over the moon ecstatic.

  “I am so glad you chose to live in Manhattan. You won’t regret it, I promise.” He picks me up and spins me around. Wow, he’s really happy. He makes me giggle.

  “Put me down,” I squeal through laughter. He releases me under protest, I think.

  “I’ll send over the paperwork to you, Mr. Remington, so you can look it over,” she smiles to Chase.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Madelyn turns her attention back to me. “When would you like to move in?”

  “Immediately,” Chase answers for me. I wriggle out from his grasp.

  “I can’t pay the rent yet. I have enough for the deposit and part of the first month, but that’s it,” I protest.

  “No, you don’t need to pay the full deposit, just five hundred. If you move in now, it’s the middle of the month. You’ll only be responsible for half the rent, which is one thousand.” Madelyn directs her comments to me.

  “Oh, well-” I start to speak, but Chase cuts me off mid-sentence.

  “She’ll move in on the fifteenth.” He’s definitive. I know I can’t argue with him. I roll my eyes and shrug my shoulders.

  “Fine,” I acquiesce. His smile gets even bigger.

  “Okay, let’s get out of here,” Madelyn says, and we all head out of the apartment.

  Back at Chase’s building, my head is spinning. I have this gorgeous apartment but no furniture. Crap!

  “I can’t move in yet, I don’t have any furniture,” I whine.

  “So, we get you furniture,” he states. But it’s not that simple.

  “I have enough money to pay the rent, but I can’t swing buying furniture too,” I say, distressed.

  “Don’t worry about it now.” He pulls me into an embrace. “We need to celebrate. Dinner later?”

  “I can’t. I’m working tonight.”

  “When are you going to quit that awful job?” He lets me go as his menacing words spill out.

  Whoa, mood swing. He looks angry.

  “Um, I don’t know. I guess when I start the NOAA job. Maybe sooner. I don’t want to have to commute that far,” I say bemused.

  “Good, I don’t like you working there,” he says with chilling finality.

  What??

  “Why not? It’s a good job. It pays the bills at least.” What the hell is wrong with him?

  “I just don’t,” he almost growls.

  Jeez.

  “Well since I’ll be moving in a few days, it seems it’s a moot point anyway,” I snap back.

  “Good,” he says. “I need to get back to work. I’ll look over the lease and call you later if I need anything.” He’s still annoyed.

  “Okay.” He gives me a chaste kiss, and heads back into his building. I just stand there stunned. What the fuck was that? I’m not sure how to react to that display of oppression. I walk back to where my car is parked. Once inside, I find a good station on Pandora and head home.

  I call Brenda and fill her in on all of the details concerning my new place. She’s in shock as well. At least she offers to help me move, although, I don’t have much to move with.

  Now, the job of telling my mother. It will be tricky. I need to remind her that I’m a grown woman and need my own space without making her feel like I’m abandoning her
. I decide that now is as good a time as any, and I make my way downstairs knowing I can’t escape the inevitable. I find her on the couch watching reruns of The West Wing. That was one of my dad’s favorite shows.

  “Mom, I have something I need to tell you,” I start.

  “Can it wait?”

  “No, not really.”

  She hits pause on the remote and turns her attention to me. “Okay, what’s so important?”

  “I rented an apartment.” I am trying to keep my tone casual.

  “Oh?” she replies, her voice squeaky with surprise. Now I’ve got her attention. “Where?”

  “Manhattan. It’s closer to my new job.”

  “But . . . you’re just starting that job . . . isn’t it a little soon to be looking at apartments?” Her face is twisted into a deep frown.

  “No, not really. Besides, it was too good of a deal to pass up,” I say. “I’ll be moving out by the end of the week.”

  “You can’t move to the city. It’s too far,” she whines. Here we go. I knew this would be a hard square to circle. She’s going to try and guilt me into staying, or at least moving somewhere closer. I won’t let her.

  “Mom, it’s not even an hour away. I’ll be here all the time, you’ll see,” I soothe.

  “You have that fear of bridges. You shouldn’t drive over them every day.” She tries to reason with me. I do hate going over bridges, but as long as I don’t look down, I’m fine.

  “Mom, stop. I need to do this.”

  “You’ll leave me here all alone? With no one to look after me? You would do that?” Jeez, she’s not taking any prisoners.

  “I am not leaving you, I’m moving to the city. You knew it would happen eventually.”

  “I didn’t think it would be this soon. It’s because of that boy, isn’t it?” she accuses. This is ridiculous.

  “No, Mom. It’s not because of Chase. I’ll be working in the city and western Nassau. I don’t want to commute for hours a day. This is what I want, what I need.”

  The tears start to run down her cheek. “But I need you here,” she sobs. I sit down next to her on the couch.

  “Mom, I’m not leaving you. I’ll be by on the weekends, and there’s always the phone.”

  “You promise, you’ll come by?”

  “Yes, of course.” I sigh. “I’m not moving out of the country, Mom, it’s just Manhattan.”

  She tries to smile, but it’s a halfhearted attempt. I give her a hug. “I promise.” I know she’s hurt, but I need to start my life and I can’t do it here.

  “You don’t have any furniture,” she says, releasing me. “Or a bed,” she sniffles.

  “I’ll worry about that later.” I brush off her change in topic. I don’t need her worrying about that too.

  “At least let me buy you a bed. You need a bed.” Yes, that will help her transition.

  “Okay, but just a bed. Nothing else.”

  “Do you need help packing anything up?” Helping me pack would be good for her. I could use that time as a bonding moment.

  “Sure, but I don’t have much to pack.”

  “Of course you do. Everything in your room is yours,” she says softly.

  “I thought I’d leave that stuff here, in case I want to stay over.”

  “Oh, okay.” She smiles as though the thought didn’t occur to her. “Yes, that’s a good idea.”

  “I thought I would start packing some of my clothes tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I’ll be home later in the afternoon.” A faint smile blooms on her lips. Well, that went better than I expected.

  “Okay Mom, thanks.” I give her a quick kiss on the top of her head and go back upstairs.

  Crisis averted. At least she can help me and maybe use that time to transition to an empty house. I can use the help. I’ve always hating packing. At least I only have clothing and maybe some bathroom accessories. Otherwise, all the furniture will be staying here. I should look online and see if I can find some cheap furniture, maybe on Craig’s List before I need to get ready for work.

  I get to work just before six and decide to wait to tell Anthony about my quitting until after the rush. I don’t want to tell my regulars yet either, for fear they might try to talk me out of it. Or worse, have Anthony talk me out of it. My regulars are like friends. I’ve known them for years. So, I put on a smile, suppressing my anxiety, and get to work.

  The bar is busy, keeping my mind on the task at hand. I’m enjoying myself and will miss this scene when I’m gone. Maybe I can find a bartending job in the city one or two nights a week.

  The restaurant starts to slow down so I begin my clean up routine. I decide to wait until most of the staff have gone home so Anthony and I can have a private conversation.

  I approach him as he locks up the front doors. “Anthony, can we talk?”

  He looks over at me as he’s rushing by and seeing the panic on my face, stops mid stride. “Yeah, of course.”

  “Can we sit?”

  He walks over to one of the tables by the bar and motions me to sit. “What’s up?” he asks puzzled.

  I take a deep breath. “I’m moving next week. I rented an apartment in Manhattan.”

  “That’s great,” he says. “Where?” He sits down across from me. It’s so strange to see him sitting. We all call him “Man on Fire” because of the way he tears around the restaurant.

  “Wall Street district, on Broad Street.”

  He shakes his head and whistles through his teeth. “Wow, that’s a nice area. Must cost a fortune,” he says with a smile.

  “I’m subletting, it’s very reasonable,” I assure him.

  “So, what do you need? More hours to pay for the place?”

  “Not exactly.” I take another deep breath. “I’m giving my notice.”

  He looks at me with shock at first, but then a smile crosses his face. “I figured this day would come. I was hoping I had more time,” he sighs.

  “You knew?” I gasp.

  “Of course I knew. You just got a great job. I didn’t expect you to stay here forever. As much as I would like you to.”

  “I don’t want to quit. I love working for you.” I start to tear up. He is, and will always be, the best boss I will ever have.

  He gets up and walks behind the bar, grabbing two bottles of beer. Opening them, he brings them back to the table, pushing one of the bottles in front of me. “There will always be a place for you here,” he says with adoration. “I can never replace you, as hard as I might try. You’ll will be missed, Liv.” He picks up his beer bottle. “To your new endeavors. I hope they bring you happiness,” he says, which makes me cry even harder. We clink glasses, and I struggle not to drink the entire bottle in one gulp.

  “I’m really going to miss this place,” I say through my tears.

  Anthony smiles. “Don’t be sad. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I could guest bartend sometime.”

  “Anytime, you know that.” His voice is soft and comforting. I smile, knowing that he means every word. “You need to help me find a replacement, not that you can be replaced,” he corrects under his breath.

  “There isn’t anyone here that can take the days?” I ask concerned.

  “Of course there are, but they suck.” Oh, wow. “Do you know of any good bartenders that need extra hours or something full time?”

  “No, not really.”

  “Fine. I’ll hire someone, but you’ll need to help me break them in before you go.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” With that, he stands up and gives me a hug. “Let’s finish cleaning so we can get the hell out of here.”

  After a Saturday evening of web surfing to no avail, I head downstairs to dig through the refrigerator for some semblance of dinner. I was lucky enough to find someone to pick up my shift tonight so I can finish packing. Finding nothing in the fridge, I decide to heat up a can of soup. As I come back up the stairs, I hear my phone ringing from under my pillow. It’s Chase.

>   “Hello.”

  “Hello, beautiful.” Ah, that seductive voice. “How was your day?”

  “It’s been okay,” I reply. “I broke the news about the apartment to my mom yesterday.”

  “How did she take it?”

  “Better than I expected. She wants to buy me a bed.”

  “I’m glad it went well. I know how nervous you were about talking to her.”

  “I told her I’d be moving next weekend. I need to start packing, and she wants to help.”

  “I can come over as well,” he says wistfully.

  “Thank you, but I think I need to spend this time with her alone. She thinks you’re the reason I’m moving to the city in the first place.”

  “Well, aren’t I?” he asks. I can hear his smile through the phone.

  “Yes and no,” I answer truthfully. “It will be nice to be closer to you, but I need my own space as well.”

  “I’m teasing,” he says playfully. “Of course you need your space. I’m glad I’m able to help.”

  “I never had a chance to properly thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. It’s my pleasure. Speaking of pleasure, I need to see you tomorrow. I thought we’d take a look at furniture styles so I can help you furnish your tiny place,” he says deadpan. “Also, I went over the lease. Everything looks okay, you just need to sign.”

  “Okay. And I have other news.”

  “Oh?” His interest is once again piqued.

  “I told Anthony last night that I was moving, and I gave him my notice.”

  “Really?”

  “I plan on breaking the news to my regulars next weekend, so it might be rough.”

  “I can come down and keep you company,” he purrs into the phone.

  “No, I’ll be okay. But thank you for asking.” I let him down easy. I need this time alone with my friends.

  “Okay. How about brunch tomorrow?” he says still stinging from my denial.

  “Oh, brunch!” I love going to brunch.

  “After, we can check out a few places, and you can-” I cut him off mid speech.

  “You know I can’t afford much,” I remind him.