A couple minutes passed and I studied the doorbell, trying to decide if I should press it again or if I should give up and just leave the box. Gran could see, if she was watching, that I had done my best. Besides, if I left with this box, I quite possibly would never get back in this place again.
The door swung open before I had time to think much further on the matter. A woman dressed in a red satin robe, long dark hair piled atop her head in a messy bun, what I would guess were real diamond earrings in her ears, gold bracelets on her wrists, several flashy rings on her fingers and a cigarette between two of her fingers that showcased sharp red fingernails stood in front of me. This was not at all what I expected and I was, once again, at a loss for words.
“Can I help you?” she asked then put the cigarette to her lips.
“I need to give this to you,” I said, holding the box out.
She glanced down at it but didn’t reach for it. “I don’t accept deliveries. The front desk knows that,” she replied and started to close the door. I had to stop her or I was going to be forced to ring the doorbell again.
“No, wait, I am Honey Warren’s granddaughter. She left me a list of things she wanted me to do. This is on the list. She wanted me to bring you this box and,” I paused and reached for the key to the elevator in my pocket, “the key too.”
The lady’s face changed then. Her annoyed expression became one of sorrow. She stared at the box as if it held something more valuable than the jewels she was wearing and I was sure that it did not. My gran did not own anything that valuable. I waited as the woman stood there and took her time looking at the box. Her eyes began to fill with unshed tears then she sniffled and lifted her eyes to meet mine once again.
“Henley,” she said my name.
I nodded, surprised she knew me.
“Please, come inside. I’ve heard so much about you from Honey,” she told me and the emotion was thick in her voice.
I stepped inside and if I had thought the elevator and hallway were elegant, they were only a small preview of the inside. There were no windows looking out over the gulf, the walls themselves were the windows. It was a complete wide open view as if you were sitting there on the beach while lounging on the sofa or standing in the kitchen. I found myself caught up in amazement and forgot for a moment where I was.
“Honey loved this view too,” the lady said as she came up beside me.
“She loved the water,” I said, remembering how she said it was the only thing that could heal the soul.
“Yes, she did. God, how I miss her,” the woman said then and I turned to look at her just as she wiped a tear from her face. She smiled at me sadly. “I’m sorry. Haven’t introduced myself. I’m Lily. Your gran was the truest friend I have ever had. When I was at my lowest, and let me assure you I have had many low times, Honey was here by my side.”
“That sounds like my gran,” I said.
Lily laughed softly and held out her hands for the box. I gave it to her and watched as she held it as if it were precious. “I’ll leave so you can be alone to read the letter and open it,” I told her.
She nodded her head but didn’t look at me. She was still looking at the box. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I turned to leave and saw a child’s drawing in a frame on the wall. It seemed so out of place here. Just as I reached the door, Lily called out my name. Looking back at her, she held out the key I had given her. “Take the key. Come visit anytime. The view is always here,” she said.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about having a key to the penthouse elevator or how I would ever get through the gate again, but at this moment with tears on Lily’s cheeks, I didn’t have the heart to mention it. I took the key and I would figure out the rest later.
“It was nice to meet you,” I said not sure what else I should say.
She smiled through her tears.
Once I was back in the elevator and headed down to the parking garage, I slid the key back into my pocket. Perhaps I could find her phone number at Gran’s and call her in a week or so to explain about the guard at the gate. She had been Gran’s friend and as odd as it was with all her wealth, she seemed lonely to me. Maybe I had read it wrong, but there had been a brokenness deep in her eyes. One I recognized.
When the elevator door opened, I started to step out but instead came face-to-face with Mr. Blue truck once again.
Three
“Hey,” I blurted out, surprised to see him.
He smirked as if he was amused and stepped back so I could exit the elevator. “You leaving already?” he asked.
“Yes, I just had to drop something off,” I explained then added, “thank you for earlier, at the gate.” My cheeks heated and I knew I was red. Thanks to my pale skin, any and all embarrassment was clearly broadcasted on my face.
“No problem,” he replied.
“Saul, you ready? I’m fucking starving,” a guy called out, and Mr. Blue truck turned his head toward the voice.
He had a name. His name was Saul.
“In a minute,” he replied then looked back at me.
“I swear I’m gonna take your truck and leave your ass if you don’t, well hell-ooo. Who is this?” the other guy drawled as he walked around the corner into view. His hair was as light as Saul’s was dark and his eyes were a hazel color that could be considered pretty because his eyelashes were so thick and long.
“I said I was coming,” Saul repeated.
The blond was wearing a pair of jeans that hung low on his hips, no shirt and no shoes. “I’m not in a hurry,” the guy said smiling at me. “What’s your name, sugar?”
I didn’t particularly like being called sugar, but I was in Alabama so I let it slide. “Henley,” I replied, glancing from the blond to Saul then back to the blond.
He held out his hand toward me. “Drake,” he said and I slipped my hand in his and instead of shaking mine, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed the inside of my palm.
“Jesus,” Saul muttered.
Drake grinned and winked at me. “He’s just jealous because I’m the pretty one.”
I would greatly disagree with this statement, but I would do it silently. While Drake was, in fact, nice to look at and his lashes were things Maybelline would give billions for, he was not the better looking one. However, this was neither here nor there. It did not matter. I was leaving.
“It was nice to meet you,” I said then looked at Saul. “Both of you. Thanks again.” I started to take a step to move around Drake when he moved with me.
“Wait, we were just headed to a friend’s house. There will be free food, beer, cocktails, whatever. She’ll have it. Come with us,” Drake asked.