Chapter Five: The Arrival

It was just after sundown that Zorell and Leland reached Chicago. Never having been to the big city before she was a little overwhelmed by what she was seeing. Even when she was away at nursing school she was living in a smaller city. She was surprised that so many people were out at night. She would have thought that there would be less, and she thought back to all the stories her father told her about how horrible the city was at night, and how dangerous it could be. Perhaps he wasn't exaggerating, after all. Even still, she was excited to be there. Leland gave her the directions to his apartment building, and she followed the path he instructed.

"So, this is where you've been living the past year," Zorell said, looking at the drab building. She said it in a teasing manner.

The city was full of people who lived in buildings like this. Only the truly rich had full houses, and they were usually located outside of the city. She figured that she would be living in one of these buildings before long. She was excited about it, but just hoped that she didn't have any loud or obnoxious neighbors.

"It's nicer than you think," he said, after she had parked his car in the back lot. He led her to the back entrance and down the hall where the elevator was located. They waited for the small wooden and metal box to open.

"Hello, Stan," Leland said and looked over to see an old man with a grayish white beard. He as dressed in a simple gray suit.

He looked a little tired and worn down, but Zorell couldn't tell if it was just from a long day at work, or was it just old age creeping up on him. He had a beard that went down to his chest, and to Zorell he looked like he could have been Santa Clause, but that was just the image that most people thought of as Father Christmas.

She hesitantly stepped inside not really liking the idea of an elevator. When she was away at nursing school, she read in the paper about a horrific elevator accident at an expensive hotel where a sixteen-year-girl and her mother were killed when a wire snapped and sent them plummeting to their death. She wasn't one to give into paranoia, but it just was not the way she envisioned her own death.

She stood as still as she could, not wanting to do anything that might cause the elevator to malfunction. Leland looked over at her and saw her face go pale. She didn't like anyone seeing her like that, but right now she felt so vulnerable. It was a feeling that she loathed.

He took her hand and squeezed gently. He knew of her fear of tiny enclosed spaces and gave her comfort quietly and discretely. He didn't say a word, not wanting to embarrass her in front of a stranger. She let out a breath once the partially wooden and metal contraption stopped.

The man called Stan opened the doors, and she quickly exited without hesitation. She felt a little shaky and weak after the ride, but she managed to come back to her senses while Leland led her to his apartment.

Being an unmarried woman on her way to a man's apartment who was also unmarried, was not the act of a proper young lady, but Leland was indeed a relative even if only by marriage.

"Here we are," he said and led her inside. He did the gentlemanly thing and carried her suitcase as well as his own. He set one of the suitcases down so he could open the door. She walked in and looked around curious and observed how a bachelor lived.

The living space was small, having only a small sofa, with a lamp on a small table with a set of matching chairs. On the other side was a radio and phonograph and saw he had a small collection of records stacked on a shelf next a phonograph. He also had a collection of books on the two-tier shelf as well as a tall potted plant on the other side of the room. She could tell it was a hyacinth plant with small white blooms. She had kept a few of those herself over the years but was forced to get rid of them. Her father complained that they made too much of a mess when the blooms fell off. 

The living space was small, having only a small sofa, with a lamp on a small table with a set of matching chairs. On the other side was a radio and phonograph and saw he had a small collection of records stacked on a shelf next a phonograph. He also had a collection of books on the two-tier shelf as well as a tall potted plant on the other side of the room. She could tell it was a hyacinth plant with small white blooms. She had kept a few of those herself over the years but was forced to get rid of them. Her father complained that they made too much of a mess when the blooms fell off.

There was also a long red velvet curtain that blocked the windows behind the sofa and wooden hand carved long table that sat in front of the sofa. It seemed to her not to be Leland's taste and she wondered if it was Shanee who picked that piece out.

"It is nice here," she said as she turned to him. "Except for the elevator."

He let out a laugh at that. Zorell considered herself to be strong and independent, but she feared something as simple as an elevator. She usually avoided them when she did encounter them, which were only times when she was able to visit nearby cities.

When she was at nursing school, she lived at a boarding house where her room was in the third floor, but in that instance, she used the stairway. She was teased by her follow nursing students about her phobia. She could deal with a dying patient with open wounds with blood flowing out if every pour, but not a wooden and metal contraption held by a few wires.

In this incidence, she couldn't avoid it and put her fear aside if only barely. She didn't like showing weakness, but Leland already knew of her phobia. Two of her brothers Zach and Trevor would always tease her about it, but Devlin and Leland never did. Everyone had some kind of fear, and this was just something she had to deal with.

"It's at least a few hours before we can go to the hospital, so why don't you get some sleep?" she asked, but Leland looked restless and anxious.

"Why can't we go now?" he asked, but Zorell looked at him like he knew it should be obvious.

"Because the sun as not yet come up and the doctors and nurses are not going to admit visitors in the middle of the night," she said and sat down on the sofa with him. Her argument was rational, but he was not in a state to see logic.

"I know you're right, but I just want to see her," he said and looked over towards the other side of the room.

He was staring at a painting. Zorell didn't know why she didn't notice it before. It was of a young woman with red hair and the most hypnotic green eyes she had ever seen. She wore a half smile and was dressed in white.

"Is that her?" Zorell asked, as she stood up and walked over to the painting. She turned back to see that Leland nodded in answer to her question. "She's very beautiful."

"The most beautiful girl in the world," he said and forced a smile. "Last year she had that painting done and gave it to me as a birthday present. After she left me, I thought if getting rid of it, but I just couldn't."

"I can understand why," she said, still not able to take her eyes off the painting. "Despite the fact that she broke your heart you still love her."

"I can't help it," he said and she turned to him, and anyone else would think he was foolish for pining over a woman, even one this beautiful."

"Don't feel ashamed, Lee," she said and came back over to where he was sitting. She stood there as he looked up at her. "Not everyone is lucky enough to find a love like that or any love at all. Don't be embarrassed about how you feel."

"Thanks, Zorell," he said, she felt a sudden exhaustion come over her. He noticed it right and away and stood up fearing that she might fall over. "Why don't you get some sleep too? You can have a rest in the bedroom."

"You need rest as well, and I wouldn't think of taking your room," she said, but he put his hand over her mouth to stop her from saying anything more.

"Being your host, I must insist," he said and took her hand and led her towards the bedroom. "I'll sleep out here on the sofa."

"That little thing," she said, pointing to the small davenport that couldn't even accommodate her size.

"I've slept in worse places," he said, and she couldn't argue that fact.

"Alright, you win," she said and held up her hands in defeat. "Just promise me that you'll get some rest."

"I will, now go," he said, as he opened the door to let her inside.

Hey, everyone. I hope you are enjoying this story. There is more to come, and I'll get up as quickly as I can. I added a few pictures of 1920s apartments and an old style record player (phonograph). No internet in this time period. I actually have a record player that was my grandfather's that he bought in 1929, and guess what. It still works. Sometimes antiques are better.

Remember to comment below. I would love to hear from you, and I hope you all like the new cover.