“The day after you hurt yourself, we came to help you. You were out of it and mumbled about a few things you had planned to do. I took care of it.”
Meena couldn’t imagine handing off anything on her list to anyone, not even in a foggy state. “I don’t remember.”
Sabina brought over two glasses of water and put one in front of Meena. “I asked you about your intentions to rent this apartment out, and you told me things were already in motion. I saw Clifton’s business card on the console table by the door and called him. Then I took care of the rest.”
“That wasn’t your place,” Meena argued.
“I did it to save you the trouble,” Sabina said. “The units in this building are all owner occupied. It’s always been that way and is written very clearly in the building agreement.”
“I looked through the paperwork from the lawyers. There was no mention of any kind of rule.”
“I can review that paperwork if you’d like,” Sabina offered. “It is very clear in the bylaws of the homeowners’ agreement, which supersedes anything in the will.”
Meena drank her water. She needed to think, and look for this document Sabina had mentioned.
“You don’t know much about owning an apartment in a condominium building, do you?” Sabina asked.
Meena shook her head. “It’s not my area of expertise.”
“Then let me help,” Sabina said. “I know your job is to travel everywhere, and having to manage this place from all over the world is not very efficient.”
It was true, and in a way it was a bit of a relief if she didn’t have the option to rent it out. She hadn’t wanted to be a landlord. And she couldn’t sell it just yet. But she also wasn’t going to hand over everything to Sabina. “I’d like to look through this agreement.”
“Of course.” Sabina retreated. “I’ll email it to you.”
Meena rattled off her address, and Sabina typed it in her phone.
“How are you settling in?” Sabina asked.
“I’m used to navigating new places,” Meena said. “It doesn’t take me long to get situated.”
“That’s a great skill.” Sabina stood and washed out her water glass. “I’ve traveled a bit myself, but I’m very susceptible to jet lag.”
“Some time zones are easier than others.”
“Oh, before I forget . . .” Sabina tapped a finger to her chin. “What about your utilities? I was surprised to not get any bills these last few months, and yet everything seems to be in order.”
“Yes,” Meena said. “It was taken care of by the attorneys until I was able to get here.”
“I see.”
Sabina’s eyes didn’t give anything away, but Meena could tell that she didn’t like not knowing what was happening. It would be easy to fill Sabina in on the terms, make her an ally of sorts. She held off. She wanted to know more. Not just about Neha but also about Sabina. Meena could tell when someone was angling for information, and Sabina wanted to know something. Meena wasn’t sure what that was.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The moaning was her cue. Meena fussed with her hair in the oval mirror next to the front door. The gilded frame added structure to the glass. The distressed sepia-toned console table under it matched in style.
She pursed her lips to set the pink gloss as another moan pealed out from the hall. It was alternately soft and loud. Meena blew away the loose hair that brushed her forehead. This was the best she’d been able to do. The pumpkin-colored beret she’d picked up at the local market tilted to the right, and with a slight shake of her head, it slid off. She gave up and gathered all her hair with the fingers on her casted hand and bound it in a hair tie with her right hand. It was messy, but in an acceptable way.