Chapter 2 - The Key That Failed
The sound of metal scratching against metal rang through the small speaker of my smart doorbell.
On the screen of my phone, I watched Rachel’s smug expression morph into confusion. She jiggled the brass key violently, jamming it into the keyhole of my front door, twisting it left, then right, then left again.
It didn't budge.
"What is wrong with your door?!" Rachel snapped toward the camera, her voice rising in pitch. Her three friends—all wearing identical pink "Vegas Girls" t-shirts and holding giant pink rimmed sunglasses—were standing on my driveway next to an idling Uber SUV.
"I changed the locks," I answered through the speaker, my voice as calm as a quiet morning. "The old keys don't work anymore."
Rachel stared into the camera lens as if she couldn't process the English language. "You... you changed the locks? Why would you change the locks?!"
"Because it’s my house," I replied. "And you don't have permission to be here."
Behind Rachel, her four children—ages eight, six, four, and two—were spilling out of the back of the SUV, carrying oversized backpacks and sleeping bags. The oldest, Liam, looked up at his mother nervously.
"Mom, is Aunt Nora not letting us in?" Liam asked softly.
Rachel shoved her key back into her designer purse, her face twisting into a dark mask of rage. She stepped right up to the camera lens until her eyes filled the screen.
"Nora, cut the crap!" she screamed. "Our flight leaves in two hours! The girls and I spent four thousand dollars on non-refundable party packages at the Wynn! Open this damn door right now!"
"No," I said simply. "You told me on Thursday that watching other people's children is 'my problem.' Well, Rachel, watching your children for the weekend is your problem."
"Are you insane?!" she shrieked, banging her fist against the solid oak door. "I’m your sister! I drop them off every weekend! You're their aunt!"
"And I asked you for three hours on Thursday so I could go to an interview to feed my twins," I reminded her through the speaker. "You hung up on me and made me miss my chance. Now you can experience what it feels like when someone refuses to help you."
One of Rachel's party friends, a woman named Amber, walked up the porch steps, looking anxious. "Rachel, the Uber driver says he's going to charge us a waiting fee. Is your sister serious?"
"She's throwing a pathetic temper tantrum because she's jealous!" Rachel yelled, turning back to the camera. "Nora, I swear to God, if I miss this flight, I will make your life a living hell! Open the door!"
"If you leave those children on my porch, I will instantly call Child Protective Services and the police for child abandonment," I said, my tone ice-cold. "You have thirty seconds to get off my property before I file a trespass report."
Rachel stood frozen. For the first time in her life, she realized that the sister she had walked over, manipulated, and taken for granted for two solid years was completely gone.
"You bitch!" Rachel screamed, her voice cracking. "You ruined my trip!"
May you like
She turned around, violently grabbing her suitcases, and barked at her terrified children to get back into the car. The Uber driver slammed the trunk, threw the car into reverse, and sped away down the street.
Inside my quiet living room, I stepped away from my phone. My heart was pounding in my chest, but for the first time in two years, I breathed a deep, clear breath.
