Lettie volunteered to do the dinner dishes that evening, but Alex gave her a pass as a reward for yet another college acceptance, this time into the honors program at UMass Amherst. She seemed quiet all evening, as if something was on her mind. Alex asked what was wrong but got the brush-off.
The only topic Lettie broached at the table was college. “I get an air conditioner in my room if I go to UMass,” she said without much enthusiasm. Her plate of enchiladas that Nick had made, normally a favorite, had gone mostly untouched.
“And a state school means more money in your 529 account for graduate school,” Nick added.
“I guess that means you won’t pay if I do get into USC?” said Lettie.
“I’m just trying to teach you the value of a dollar,” Nick said. “We both know a BA in environmental sciences from either school holds essentially the same weight, but one is half the cost.”
“Sorry I’m not worth it to you,” Lettie said under her breath.
Alex topped off her wine.
Nick looked stricken. “Honey, that’s not what I mean,” he said. “The courses are basically the same, is all. And you got six thousand dollars a year in scholarship funds for being in the honors program. That’s amazing and awesome.”
“Awesome because it’s less money for you to pay even if it’s not where I want to go.” Lettie carried her plate to the kitchen, with Zoe trotting behind her as if in solidarity. She went upstairs to do her homework, leaving Alex to load the dishwasher while Nick finished clearing the table.
“Why do you have to make such a big deal out of money for college?” Alex asked. She closed the door to the dishwasher with force. “I’d understand if we didn’t have it, but we do. You’re kind of being a Scrooge.”
Nick looked hurt. “I cooked a nice dinner, and you’re calling me a Scrooge?”
“I already thanked you for dinner, and what does that have to do with the college argument anyway? She’s leaving, Nick. Let’s not add emotional distance to the distance we’re already going to have. Can’t we just support her and allow her to choose where she wants to go?” Alex finished that thought, then finished her wine.
“It’s not that I don’t want to help her out,” Nick said. “It just isn’t worth it.”
Alex looked away in annoyance. “I think potentially saving your relationship with your daughter is worth a lot. Maybe instead of issuing mandates, why don’t you try connecting with her? You tell her to see your point of view. Why wouldn’t you try to see hers? Talk to her about this environmental science program. Find out why she thinks USC is better. Start acting like you care about things that matter to her before she’s gone. You don’t get this time back, Nick.”
There. That put him in his place. Alex was feeling quite pleased with herself. And she wasn’t wrong. Time wasn’t something to take lightly. The end was fast approaching. Valentine’s Day had come and gone, here they were already in March. The school year would be wrapping up in no time, and life felt like it was moving in fast-forward.
“I won’t change my mind about teaching her the value of a dollar, but you make a good point,” Nick admitted. “You’re right—I need to connect with her more. I’ll come up with something.”
Alex took this as a small victory. “Thank you,” she said. “I really wasn’t up for an argument.”
They resumed their seats at the table. Alex topped off her wine and offered some to her husband, who shook his head.
“Early day tomorrow—none for me. You should think about that, too,” he said, eyeing her glass with concern. “I thought after Christmas you were cutting back?”
“First of all, I have cut back,” Alex said.
“What, from two bottles to one?” Nick asked.
Alex wasn’t amused. “Very funny. I’m just unwinding a bit. Work’s been a lot recently, and I’ve been worried about everybody … Lettie, Emily, even Mandy Kumar. I know you think it’s nothing, but I’ve been concerned about her more and more as time goes on.”
“Do you still think Mandy and Ken have something going on?” asked Nick.
“It’s certainly possible,” said Alex. “And I don’t think you’re taking the red flags with Samir seriously enough.”
Nick looked slightly disapproving. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, honey,” he said, “but you’ve talked about this before—with me, and I assume with Emily and maybe Brooke as well. But have you talked to the most obvious person? Have you reached out to Mandy?” He gestured toward the direction of her house. “Tried to be a friend? Maybe everything is just fine, and it’s not what you think. Or maybe instead of accusations and innuendo, you can give her some support. It’s a lot more helpful than gossiping about your neighbors.”
The word gossip struck Alex like a punch. She wasn’t that person. She solved problems, that was her job. She didn’t add to them.
Alex sat up straighter. “You know, I think you’re right,” she said. “I’ve let Samir intimidate me. I’ll just be more up-front with him. In fact, I saw Mandy coming home not long ago. I’ll head over now—pay a surprise neighborly visit.”
It might have been the wine emboldening her, but Alex stood with confidence, prepared to offer a helping hand—or if need be, confront the new neighbors. However it played out, she was ready. “Thanks, hon.” She gave Nick a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Um, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind,” Nick said. “You’re being a little impulsive, don’t you think?”
“Carpe diem!” Alex called as she left the house with a purposeful stride.
Whatever bravado she’d carried across the street left her the moment Samir answered the door. He was dapper as always, nary a crease in his khakis. His mouth attempted a smile.
“Alex, what brings you here?” he asked. His affect was as flat as his expression. There was no warmth in his voice. No cheery welcome. He seemed to be channeling the evening’s cold March wind.
“I was hoping to speak with Mandy,” said Alex. She wished her voice wasn’t shaky, but no luck there.
“Well,” said Samir, “she’s not at home.”
Alex could feel herself sobering up quickly. “That’s odd.” She peeked over Samir’s shoulder into the empty hallway beyond. “I saw her come home not that long ago.”
Samir leaned forward.
Alex wrapped her arms around her body, as if that might shield her from his intense stare.
“Are you asking to come inside, search about, see if I’m lying?”
“No…”
“Because I assure you, you won’t find her here,” he continued. “And I’m not sure I appreciate the insinuation.”
“What insinu—”
“Let’s not go there, shall we?” Samir interrupted. “We both know what this is really about, Alex.”
Her nerves jangled. “We do?”
“Why did you follow me to the supermarket that day?” he asked.
“Me? Follow you? No, I was just—driving—to the market…” Alex placed a hand against her chest, her heart pumping on overdrive. She hoped Samir couldn’t tell that her whole body was trembling.
“Down streets that took you in the opposite direction of the market?”
“I—I—” I have no good answer, Alex realized.
“Let me be clear about something,” Samir said. “We like our privacy. We cherish it, in fact. Friendsgiving was a favor to Mandy, but it wasn’t meant to be an open invitation to pry into our lives.” His finger stabbed the air, too close to Alex’s face for her liking. “Now, I would very much appreciate it if you would respect my wishes. It’s fine to be neighborly, but we don’t need friends.”
That last word came out with notable hostility. Though shaken, she pressed on. She thought of Brooke—her secret life with Jerry, the hidden suffering she had endured at her husband’s hand. Her radar was pinging too loudly for her to slink away. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself.
“It was you who sent me that note attached to Zoe’s collar, wasn’t it?” she said scornfully. “You did it to send me a warning.” She watched his eyes, looking for the tell.
Wide open, unblinking, they remained veiled. “Have a good night, Alex,” Samir said roughly before closing the door firmly in her face.