Chapter 4 - Do You Know Who I Am
I got Ellie's zipper up halfway, tucked her against my chest with Grace, hooked the diaper bag over my shoulder, and pushed the stroller into the hall with my hip.
A small crowd had gathered outside the door. Six, maybe eight people.
Diane came after me, chin up. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
I didn't answer. I was busy pulling Ellie's blanket up with my chin.
"My name is Diane Kessler. I work for Keystone Property Group. I process rental applications for half the buildings in this part of the city." She said it slow, like each word was a coin she was setting on a table. "And you're wasting my time. I should be with my daughter right now."
My stomach dropped for real this time.
After the funeral, I'd started applying for smaller places, something closer to Rachel's mom so she could help with the girls.
Diane saw my face change, and she smiled.
"One phone call," she said. "One. And you will never get approved for an apartment in this city again. Just give me your name and it's done."
"That's illegal."
"People like you always think the rules don't apply to them."
"You cannot threaten somebody's housing because he changed his kids' diapers."
"I can protect a building from letting in unstable people."
I looked down at Grace and Ellie. Then back up at her.
"Call whoever you want," I said. "You're not going to shame me into failing my daughters."
That's when a pregnant woman stopped at the edge of the crowd, one hand flat on her belly. A tall man in a canvas jacket stood next to her.
I didn't know either of them. Diane clearly did.
"Megan," Diane said. "Stay out of this. You too, Ryan."
"I'm in it," the man said. "I'm her husband. That makes it my business."
Megan stepped forward. Her face had gone pale. "I heard you, Mom. From the hallway. We both did."
"This man was in the women's restroom—"
"He told everyone why before he went in," Megan said. "I heard him apologize through the door."
Diane's jaw locked. "When you have this baby, you'll understand. A child needs its mother."
May you like
Megan looked at me. Then at the two tiny heads against my chest.
"No," she said. "Being pregnant is exactly why I understand how cruel you're being right now."
