Page 59 of The New Couple in 5B

“Miles can be such a little chatterbox. And a storyteller. Isn’t that right, Miles?” says Ella easily. He drifts over to her, playing shy and clinging to her waist. She pours some soap in the wash, pops some quarters in the slots and starts the load.

“You won’t stay down here by yourself, will you?” she asks, turning on her way back to the elevator, leaving the basket on the washer.

“I like to read down here sometimes. And it gives Paul some space to write.”

She looks around and wraps her arms around herself. Miles has walked off, is peering around the corner.

“You’re brave. This place makes me nervous.”

“I’m not afraid,” I say with a shrug.

“Come up for coffee instead of staying in this dank place,” she offers, glancing around uneasily, dropping a loving hand on towheaded Miles, who has returned to look the part of her little angel, gazing at me innocently. “People say that all the Windermere ghosts wander down here.”

I laugh at the silliness of that. But it seems rude not to take her up on it. I follow them into the service elevator.

On the ride up, Miles is watching me again, this time with a mean little grin. How careless to let him see me! How stupid! I stare back at him, stare him down, really. I’m not afraid of a little boy, and besides, he’s a known liar. Finally, he looks away.

In Ella’s apartment—so opulent, the heavy chenille furniture, the stunning art on every wall, a sculpture on a pedestal, pictures in coordinating silver frames on every surface, the grand piano in the corner. Even the throw pillows seem to exude a kind specialness, an only-for-the-very-rich kind of energy. Paul does well but this is old money, hoarded through generations. The space is much larger than ours. In fact, our apartment at one time was part of theirs, divided and sold off for a tidy profit, I’m sure. There is a universe of difference between 5A and 5B, it seems.

She’s effortless as she glides into the kitchen, chatting about the weather, how I must come to game night where they play cards sometimes for penny antes.

“Be right back,” she says. “Make yourself comfortable.”

Then I am alone with Miles.

“Come here,” I whisper, trying to look like I have a wonderful secret, or a hidden toy. He’s stupidly trusting, like all children, and makes his way over to me. When he’s near, I grab him hard by the arm and put my finger to his lips. He tries to wrest away from me, whimpering.

“You’re a little liar and everyone knows it,” I hiss. “If you ever tell lies about me, I’ll call the police and they’ll come and take you away from your family and this pretty apartment forever.”

“I’m not a liar,” he whispers, lip quivering. “I saw you.”

“You’re a foolish boy who knows nothing. Keep your mouth shut or go to jail with all the other liars.”

His dark eyes grow wide, and he runs from me, footfalls echoing down the hallway, door slamming.

“What’s happened?” Ella asks, unconcerned, returning with coffee.

“I have no idea. He just ran off.” I am very good, too, at feigning innocence. She offers a sigh and a rueful shake of her head, then joins me.

“So how are you enjoying the apartment?” Ella asks, watching me over the brim of her cup.

“Oh, we love it.”

“It used to be ours, you know.”

“Oh, yes,” I answer. “You split the unit, is that right?”

She glances over toward the door that leaves to the kitchen. Our space is tiny compared to theirs. They kept the lion’s share of the place for themselves. “The kitchen wall butts up against your second bedroom, Paul’s study, I believe.”

I nod, sip at my coffee. She’s gone a bit cool. Maybe they sold the place because they needed to. Maybe they are not as perfect as they seem. The thought gives me a kind of dark pleasure.

“Sometimes I try to imagine him in there, writing his wonderful novels.”

I smile. People are always curious about writers, how they do what they do. But I’m not sure Paul even knows himself where his stories and characters come from.

“And what about you? Did I hear your show closed?”

“Yes,” I say. “Sadly. But I don’t know how much longer I would have been able to continue on.”

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