2: 2
At dusk, I let myself into the wedding apartment with my key.
Four women sat in the living room, the floor covered with sunflower-seed shells.
Virginia had her feet up on the leather chaise my mother had bought, showing off photos of the property deed to a few of her old friends.
"The deed is only in Roland's name."
"Sure, the bride's side put in a little money, but there's no man in her house. What would they know about property rights?"
"Once they're married, her salary and her mother's little stand both go under Roland's control."
One of the women stroked the arm of the sofa.
"This furniture wasn't cheap, was it?"
"Her mother bought it. Twelve pieces, over a hundred thousand."
"Once the wedding's done, I'm moving back to my own place."
"As for that old woman who fries breakfast pastries, I won't even let her through the door."
Out in the hall, a soup thermos knocked against the wall.
When I turned, my mother was standing in the doorway, a pot of homemade soup in her hands.
She glanced down at her own apron and took half a step back.
Virginia stood up.
"So the bride's mother is here?"
"Wipe your soles clean before you come in."
"This isn't that greasy market of yours."
My mother fished a red envelope out of her pocket.
"Ms. Lambert, Evie's young, she speaks too bluntly."
"Please bear with us. Take this money, put it toward something for the wedding."
Virginia reached out to take it.
I took the envelope first and pulled my mother behind me.
"Mom, we're going home."
"Evie, the wedding's only a few days off, don't do this because of me—"
"It's not because of you."
I dialed the moving company.
"You can come up now."
Virginia blocked the door.
"What moving company?"
"The one that moves furniture."
Once the four workers were inside, I took out the twelve purchase receipts and payment records.
"The chaise, the master bed, the two nightstands, the living room sofa, the coffee table, the dining table, the six dining chairs, and the entryway cabinet. Take all of it."
Virginia threw her arms wide in front of the sofa.
"This is my son's wedding apartment. Who dares touch anything?"
I held the receipts up in front of her face.
"Purchaser: Eleanor Fox. The payment card is hers too."
"No marriage yet, no completed gift. All of this belongs to my mother."
"Bullshit! Once it's in my house, it's mine."
"Then let the police decide."
I keyed in the emergency number.
The old friends got to their feet.
"Virginia, maybe you two should talk it over first. Don't really bring the police into it."
"Talk over what?"
"She's about to be my daughter-in-law. What's she going to do, turn the world upside down?"
I looked at the workers.
"Move it. If anyone gets in the way, I'll handle the police."
Two of the workers stepped to either side of the sofa.
Virginia was still sitting there when the sofa lifted off the floor.
She scrambled off, one slipper dropping loose.
"Evelyn, you touch that and I'll have Roland call off the engagement!"
"It's already off."
"He hasn't agreed to it. It's not your place to call it off."
The workers carried the sofa out the door, then took the chaise.
A few black shoe prints were still on the seat cushion. My mother reached out with a tissue to wipe them, and I caught her hand.
"Leave them."
She curled the tissue into her palm.
"Roland said his back was bad, so I bought this for the two of you."
"Take it home. It's yours now."
The furniture went out piece by piece.
After the dining table came out, the master bed was taken apart.
In under an hour, all that was left in the apartment were two plastic stools.
Virginia called Roland.
"Son, get back here now!"
"This jinx has cleaned out our whole place, and she's bullying me too!"
I steadied my mother and walked her out.
Just as the elevator doors were closing, Roland burst out of the stairwell.
He glanced at the empty apartment and threw up a hand to stop the elevator.
"Evelyn, come out."
"If you have something to say, say it here."
"Tomorrow at noon, the Goldbrook Grill."
"We'll settle the wedding once and for all."
"If you don't show, you can forget ever setting foot in this apartment again."
I pressed the close button.
"Fine."
"That's a good time to settle the accounts on this place too."
