Down to Business (Business Series) (2 page)

“I know. You remind me every day,” Mom replied in her annoying singsong voice. She reversed aggressively out of the parking spot with a tight smile. “Auti, you didn’t forget anything at home did you? We are only halfway there, we could still go back.”

I knew this was another one of her attempts to keep me from moving. She would have preferred if I stayed in Hamilton and went to Colgate College that was only a few miles away, but I wanted my college experience far away from her, Malones, and the rest of my family.

“No, I packed everything I need,” I answered with my eyes closed so I didn’t have to see her guilt-trip stare in the rearview.

“Did you get your retainer out of the medicine cabinet?”

“Yes.”

“What about your phone charger?”

“Yes.”

“Did I put the first-aid kit in your suitcase? I can’t remember.”

“Yes Mom!” I snapped. “And if you didn’t, I’ll buy another one. Stop freaking out.”

She released a deep sigh and turned on the air conditioner full blast. “I can’t help it! I’m worried. My baby is moving to college.”

“I’m not your baby. Josh is your baby.”

“You’re my baby too.”

I did a mental eye roll.

“Make sure you buy her some birth control,” Grandma cut in. “You can’t trust kids these days. I see them all the time on the television. They pull their panties down and their willies out for anyone. They get SNDs too.”

“You mean STDs, Grandma.” I corrected.

“I don’t know all these silly words you kids use for things these days. In my day we called it the clap, the drip, or crabs.”

I snorted and shook my head. “Jesus, Grandma.”

“Auti isn’t going to get any STDs.” Mom declared. “She doesn’t act like those girls on the television, and I’m sure if she does find a boy she likes, she will make sure to protect herself. Right Autumn?”

“Right Mom,” I agreed, frowning at the thought of having sex.

“I heard you can get crabs from sitting on a toilet seat. I hope I didn’t get crabs from that bathroom.” Grandma said.

I covered my face with my hands and groaned. Mom turned off the air conditioner as we pulled back onto the interstate and I repeated my mantra.
Two more hours and I’ll be free.

“There it is, Autumn. Adelphi University!” Mom announced as we rolled past it at one mile an hour, becoming a traffic hazard.

I sat forward and stared out at the sprawling three story red brick building with white trim and perfect rolling lawn dappled with large oak trees. I could already imagine myself heading to class on the first day. My heart skipped a beat. I finally made it!

A horn blaring from behind us jarred me from my daydream. I realized that we had come to a complete stop. My mother rolled down her window and attempted to direct the car behind us to pass her. Instead of taking her cue, they just laid on the horn again.

I looked over my shoulder to see two guys my age in the car behind us throwing their arms up and looking pissed.

“Mom, can we go? I’ll see it when I start my classes.”

“They can wait honey, this is your moment, enjoy it. You’ve waited so long to get here.”

The sound of tires screeching into action filled the air. The guys behind us swerved into the right lane, coming to an abrupt stop next to us. I sunk low in my seat and covered my face.

“Stupid old bitches!” the driver yelled and flipped Grandma the bird.

“Well I never! I hope you both get SGDs!” Grandma yelled after they sped off around the next corner. “See Lori, those are the boys I was telling you to worry about!”

Mom frowned and pressed on the gas. “I thought you said this was a nice area, Auti.”

“It is…” I defended. “People don’t like when you stop in the middle of the road for no reason.”

Mom huffed and cranked the air full blast. “Well, people need to learn some patience. Can you give me the directions to Lindy’s apartment again?”

I read off the directions Lindy sent me from a text message on my phone. After making a wrong left and a U-turn, we finally made it to the parking lot of Lindy’s apartment building. Three grey brick buildings four stories high with tiny white balconies and pretty white doors sat in a U shape around a communal picnic area. It even had built in barbecues, picnic tables, and a swing set. Planters with seasonal flowers lined the buildings and a few newly planted trees dotted the lawn. I assumed it was only a mile or so from campus, so I could walk to class if I ever needed to. It was perfect.

I climbed out of the car to stretch my legs, and inhaled a deep breath of freedom.

“Josh, unload the trunk please.” Mom said.

“Yeah, that’s all I came for right?” Josh groaned as he moseyed over to the trunk. He yanked one of my duffle bags out and dropped it carelessly on the street.

“Josh! I have breakable stuff in there!” I snapped as he dropped my suitcase with just as much care.

“Actually Josh, you came to say goodbye to your big sister.” Mom corrected. “We won’t see her until Thanksgiving.” She rubbed her hand over my back. I knew she was getting emotional and she’d be giving me the guilt trip look so I refused to look at her. Instead, I grabbed my plastic laundry basket full of belongings from the trunk before my brother could drop it.

“This backpack weighs like fifty pounds! How much crap did you bring?” Josh complained.

“I brought everything. I’m moving, remember?” I glared at him and yanked my overstuffed backpack out of his hands, slinging it over my shoulder. “Don’t touch my room while I’m gone.”

“I’m going to use your computer and download viruses.”

“Who cares, I have my new lap top Dad bought me for college.”

“I’ll put tons of porn on it and you won’t be able to use it ever again.”

“Mom, did you hear that? Josh is watching porn.”

“Joshua. Stop tormenting your sister. I won’t let him in your room, Auti. I’ll put a lock on the door.”

“Pornography is for perverts, Joshua. You’ll go to hell.” Grandma warned him.

“I’m already in hell.” He groaned and lifted my duffle bag over his shoulder.

“Autumn!”

All of my frustration faded to elation as I turned toward the building to see Lindy jogging toward us.

“You’re here! You’re actually here!” She cried and yanked me into a tight hug.

I was shocked by how much she had changed since I saw her last. Her once dirty blond hair was highlighted with bright blond streaks and she had lost at least ten pounds. Her perfectly flat stomach peeked out from her tight white t-shirt that failed to meet the bottom of her low-rise jeans.

“Oh my God! Lindy, you look so great!” I said as I pulled back to admire her.

“Thanks! I have been going to the gym with Tyler. He is on the Adelphi wrestling team and into working out.”

“Hello Lindy.” Mom said.

“Hey Mrs. M.,” she said and headed over to give my mother a hug. “It’s good to see you. How’s my mom doing?”

“You’re hair looks beautiful and your mother is doing well. She misses you.”

“I know.” Lindy said, her voice soft. “Give her a hug from me?”

“I will.” Mom sighed. “This is hard on us, not having you girls around. I don’t know how I’m going to make it without Autumn.” She reached out and pat my hair.

“You’ll be fine Mom…” I rolled my eyes and picked up the laundry basket again.

“Lindy, you make sure Autumn stays out of those sorority houses where the trouble happens,” Grandma warned, wagging her finger at Lindy. “I don’t want her coming home pregnant.”

“Grandma!” I cried.

Lindy laughed. “I will keep her out of trouble, Grams. Don’t worry.”

Lindy took one of my bags and winked at me. Once we had all of my belongings, she led us across the parking lot and to the building on the right side.

Her apartment was on the top floor. By the time we got to the door, all of us were breathing hard besides Lindy. I noticed grandma was still below us on the second landing.

“Josh, go help her please,” Mom said and wiped her forehead.

Josh rolled his eyes and dropped my suitcase.

“Josh, dammit! I have picture frames in there!” I slugged his shoulder as he passed me and jogged back down the stairs.

I could tell Lindy was holding back a laugh as she held open her apartment door for us. “Welcome home, Autumn.”

Tiny butterflies invaded my stomach as I stepped into the apartment I had heard so much about. It was clean and smelled like cucumber-melon, Lindy’s favorite scent.  It was smaller than it looked in pictures, but I loved it anyway. The living room furniture was mismatched. I knew it was second hand but it all came together cute. Her plum colored sofa was accented with vibrant striped throw pillows. The pillows matched the floor rug situated under a retro wooden coffee table covered in a tall stack of celeb gossip magazines. A vintage looking dresser she had painted white held a TV, DVR, and DVD player. Sheer vanilla colored curtains hung from all the windows, and clusters of photos dotted the room. A small eat in kitchen with a dinette table sat to the left of the living room. I noticed a silver framed picture of us from high school on the counter in the kitchen next a clear vase of Gerber daisies.

“What do you think?” she asked, throwing her arm around my shoulder.

“I love it,” I said and squeezed her.

“What a beautiful apartment, Lindy.”  Mom gushed. “It smells so nice in here.”

“Thanks! Make yourselves at home, there’s drinks in the fridge,” Lindy said and took me by the hand. “Let’s go see your room!”

She led me through the living room to the hall. I peeked into the only bathroom, which was located between the bedrooms, decorated in lavender and white floral prints that screamed Lindy’s style.  Afterwards she led me to my bedroom door, which was to the right of the bathroom.

“Close your eyes.” she commanded.

I did as I was told. I heard the doorknob turn and she pulled me inside.

“Open them!”

My eyes opened to a sunlit room with a single bed and simple white antique furnishings. The Victorian style white metal headboard matched perfectly with the blue and white floral print bedding, complete with fluffy throw pillows. A vase of artificial white daisies sat on the bedside table next to a picture of us. The words Best Friends was printed on the frame. The walls were white and bare besides a single picture that hung over the bed. It was an inspirational quote that read: accept your past without regret, face your future without fear.

My throat tightened with emotion and I smiled.

“So, you love it, right?”

“I do, thank you.” I turned and hugged her tight. “I love that quote.”

“I found that at a thrift store and I thought of you when I read it.” She smiled and squeezed me.

“It’s just what I needed.”

“It’s the truth. It’s time for you to stop living in the past.”

“Yeah, I’m going to try.” I looked over my shoulder hearing my grandmother complain about the stairs.

“Ready to kiss them goodbye?” she asked with a smile.

“You have no idea.”

We walked back out to the living room to find Grandma at the dining table and my mother going through one of my suitcases.

“Mom?” I frowned. “What are you doing?”

“I was making sure I put that first aid kit in your bag… I also packed you a few of my own scarves in case you need extra ones.”

“I don’t think I’ll need extra scarves, it doesn’t even really snow down here.”

“Where is that damn first aid kit?” she snapped. “I swore I put it in this suitcase.”

Lindy and I exchanged a glance and I walked over to my mother and calmly took her hands out of my suitcase. She looked up at me and the frustration in her eyes turned to resignation.

“I’ll buy another one, Mom. I’m twenty, not two. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m going to miss you so much, Auti,” she whispered and pulled me into a tight hug.

“I’m going to miss you too, Mom.” Tears invaded my vision unexpectedly and my chest ached. Maybe I would miss her more than I thought.

She stroked my hair and sniffled. “Call me every day like you promised.”

“I will.” I whispered back and fought off my unshed tears.

“Do you have a bathroom? All this driving messes up my plumbing,” Grandma said.

“Yeah, down the hall, first door on the right.” Lindy answered with a laugh.

“You have toilet paper in there don’t you?” Grandma asked as she hobbled past her with her cane.

“Can we get something to eat? I’m dying of starvation,” Josh groaned.

“I was planning to stop someplace nearby,” Mom said, dabbing the corners of her eyes with her fingers. “Grandma needs to eat to take her pills.”

“Are you excited to be a senior this year, Josh?” Lindy asked my brother, who had made himself comfortable on her sofa.

“Not really. High school fucking blows. I can’t wait until I get to go to college.”

“Watch your mouth.” Mom chided.

“College is no joke either,” Lindy said. “You don’t have anyone to hassle you to go to class. It’s easy to fail.”

He shrugged and tossed the gossip magazine he was looking through back on her coffee table. “I’ll probably never get to go to college anyway. Autumn got lucky because she got a scholarship. I’ll just be a line cook at Malones for the rest of my life.”