Read Online From Riches to Rags by Mairsile Leabhair - Free Book Online

right now, you need to give yourself some space, get some distance from her and see if you still feel the same way after a few days.”
    I told George that he should have been a shrink, because he was giving me a damn headache, like they all do. After we hung up, I thought about what he said, about wanting Chris to feel obligated to me. Was that really what I was after? Probably so, but this time, it wasn’t on purpose. This time I could admit to myself that Chris intrigued me as much for her secrets as for her beauty. I had never seen such pain in a person’s eyes before as I saw in hers when she told me she wouldn’t share her past. Now that’s all I can think about.
    But isn’t that what George is talking about? Is he right? Do I want to know her only because I want to know her secrets? Or is it because I liked the way she stands up to me. Maybe it’s because for the first time in my life, I met a woman who was stronger than me, and I liked it. Whatever it is, I know this much, I can’t give up. This time, I can’t walk away.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Sacrifices and Surprises ‒ Chris Livingston and Melinda Blackstone
     
    “Blackie! Come back here!”
    I had left the door open, as I carried in her new plastic cat litter box and set it on the floor, and she darted out into the hallway. I was frantic. I cornered her just before she could bolt down the stairs, but when I got close, she darted between my legs and back in the opposite direction. I stopped, knelt down and began calling, “Here, kitty, kitty.”
    The door to apartment 5C, just one door up from where I was kneeling, opened slightly. It was an old lady. She looked skittish as she poked her head out and looked up and down the hallway, I guess to make sure it was safe. Then she tossed out a small ball that bounced a few times and stopped. Blackie ran after it. But as she got close, the ball began to move again, slowly across the tattered carpet, towards the old lady. She cooed at Blackie as she bent over and picked her up. I quickly walked over to her, and she handed my kitten to me. 
    “Thank you, so much, ma’am.”
    “Here, you can keep the ball, in case she gets out again.”
    “Are you sure you don’t need it for your cat?” I just assumed she had a cat, why else would she have the ball? Never mind, I don’t want to know.
    “No, my cat died…”
    Her eyes welled up and my heart broke.
    “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
    “Thank you, my dear. She was all I had, and now the apartment seems so empty.”
    I was going to say something else, just to give her comfort, but a sudden noise on the stairs diverted our attention. By the time I turned back to her, she had shut the door and locked it. I tucked Blackie up under my chin and walked back to my apartment, shutting and locking my door, as well.
    “She was all I had…” The old lady’s mournful honesty kept playing over and over in my mind. She must be terribly lonely now. I know that without Blackie, I would be terribly lonely again. Blackie must have heard my thoughts, because she bounced over to me and nudge my leg with her head. I patted my hip and using her claws, she climbed up my jeans. I scooped her up and set her on the bed, watching her play for a long time, while I struggled with an idea forming in my mind. Suddenly I needed some air, so I left her on the bed, and opened the window and climb out onto the stoop. Sitting with my butt on the window sill, I leaned back and watched the clouds move slowly across the blue sky. After suppressing my emotions until my head hurt, I bury my face in my hands and sobbed.
     
    *
     
    “What’s your business here, girl? You’re too well-dressed to want to rent one of my apartments.”
    “My name is Blackie and I need some information.”
    “What kind of information?”
    The landlord of the building where Chris lives, dressed in a ketchup stained T-shirt, was slouched in a chair behind a desk. At least I hope that was just ketchup