Charity Starts at Home

I stormed out of the apartment.

Roddy came up from behind and stopped me. “Laurel, don’t go there and cause a scene!”

I slammed the door in his face, shutting out his angry voice.

Drawing a deep breath, I rang the doorbell next door.

The sound of shuffling feet approached the door, and a young whiny voice boomed. “Who is it in the middle of the day?”

Natasha opened the door, dressed in her expensive nightgown, a facial mask plastered to her face.

She was surprised to see me.

“Oh, Mrs. Turner. What is it?”

She looked rather impatient.

“Is Lorelei there?”

“Mom’s out getting a facial,” Natasha said offhandedly. “You can just talk to me.”

“Fine.” I inhaled deeply. “I’ll be straight with you then, Natasha. My dad is in the hospital in need of surgery. Roddy has loaned your family 187,400 dollars. I need you to return the money now. It’s a matter of life and death for my dad.”

Natasha’s face behind the mask stiffened.

She looked me up and down like she was staring at something filthy.

“Mrs. Turner, I don’t quite understand what you’re on about,” she drawled. “Money? What money? You said that Roddy loaned us money. Is there an IOU? If you're just going to make things up to get cash, you might as well rob a bank.”

Having known this was coming, I pulled out the photo of Roddy’s ledger. “Roddy wrote down the records of the loans detailing the dates, amounts, and reasons. Should I call the authorities and have them cross-check against the bank statements?”

Natasha glanced at the phone with a scowl. However, she was quick to pull herself together and arm herself with hostility.

“Tsk, that’s just something he scribbled down. Who knows if it’s even real? Besides, he gave us the money willingly. He’s kind. He saw we were struggling and wanted to help.” Her voice turned shrill.

“Don’t put this on us because your dad is sick. This is not an attack on you, Mrs. Turner, but if you can’t afford your dad’s medical bills, that’s on you. Don’t come here to scam us. Have you no shame?”

“He gave the money willingly?” I sneered, “Natasha, so you’re saying that your college tuition, allowance, phone, laptop, makeup, even your mother’s physio sessions, medical bills, and home renovations were money given by Roddy out of the kindness of his heart? Do you think he’s running a charity? I’m here to collect today.”

“Why on earth would we pay it back?”

Lorelei’s voice cut through from the stairwell.

Cocking my head back, I caught the taunt on Lorelei’s well-kept face as she approached. a spa gift bag in hand.

Lorelei walked to the door and pulled Natasha behind her like a mother hen.

“What’s with all the fuss, Laurel? What do you mean by paying you back?” Lorelei’s voice was loud. “My good neighbor, Roddy, felt sorry for us and gave the money of his free will. It’s what neighbors do. You’re not even part of the equation. Mind your own business.”

Neighbors, she said?

I felt like I was about to throw up.

“Legally speaking, Roddy and I are married. His debts and spending are part of our joint assets. He lent you a large sum of money without my consent, and I reserve the right to reclaim those funds. Either you pay up, or I’ll see you in court.”

“Is that so?” Lorelei made a face as if she had heard the funniest thing. “Go ahead. Let’s see if the court thinks you even have a case. Here’s the thing, Laurel. You won’t see a dime from us. If Roddy wants the money, he can tell me to my face. I’d like to see if he actually has the nerve to demand it from me.

“Get lost! Stop blocking our door. You’re bringing bad vibes.”

Lorelei gave me a shove.

Caught off guard, I staggered back and nearly tumbled.

“Bam!”

The heavy door of Apartment 302 slammed shut in my face, the echo ringing down the hallway.

I could even hear the mother and daughter’s muffled giggles through the door.

“She’s gone desperate!”

“She’s lost her mind over money!”

“No wonder her father fell ill. Karma!”

Standing there, I shook in rage.