Free Home with My Sisters by Mary Carter Page B

and more worked up.
    â€œRight? It’s all on you. You have to do everything.”
    â€œThey make me so tired.”
    â€œThey certainly do.”
    â€œAnd angry. I am so, so angry.”
    â€œWell, I say enough.”
    â€œEnough!” He slammed his hand on the reception stand.
    â€œCall her, will you? Call my sister and tell her we have had enough!”
    â€œEnough!” the doorman said. He swept up the phone.
    Austin flashed Hope a smile. “Well played,” he said under his breath. Hope held her palm out and after a moment Austin gave her a discreet high five.
    The doorman put down the phone and approached with a smile. “She’ll be right down.”
    Yeah, right. Joy was probably scrambling down a fire escape as they spoke. “I appreciate you so much,” Hope said. He blushed and grinned some more. Hope grinned back. The doorman scooted even closer. Hope stared at a purple glass tulip dangling from the hipster Christmas tree. Suddenly Austin cleared his throat and threw his arm around Hope.
    â€œWe both thank you,” he said. “Right, babe?”
    â€œRight, cowboy,” Hope said. The doorman nodded, then trudged back outside with a few forlorn glances back. Austin retracted his arm. Hope wished the doorman would walk back in. The minutes ticked by. When she could stand it no longer, Hope got up and wandered to the elevators.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Austin said.
    â€œShe’s not coming down,” Hope said.
    A pizza delivery boy entered. Joy loved pizza for breakfast. It was now 10:30. She’d probably found the one place that started delivering for lunch this early. “I can take that up,” Hope said, grabbing the box out of his hand.
    â€œTwenty-two bucks,” the kid said.
    Hope looked at Austin. “Can we get this out of the granny fund?”
    â€œGot it.” He peeled off twenty-five dollars and handed it to the kid. “Keep the change.”
    The kid hurried away. Hope looked down at the order. Apartment 2801. Hope glanced outside. The doorman had his back to them. Hope pushed a button and the elevator dinged. She slipped into the elevator and pulled Austin in after.
    â€œThe twenty-eighth floor?” Austin said as the elevator started up.
    â€œSomething tells me Mrs. Mann doesn’t know her son is spending his days pretending to be homeless.” The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival. There were only two penthouses on the twenty-eighth floor, and 2801 was to the left. The door was already swinging open when Hope approached. At the sight of Joy’s sleepy face and patch of platinum blond hair, Hope’s heart gave a little squeeze.
    â€œPizza!” Joy shouted. Then her eyes landed and locked on Hope.
    Hope meant to start with “Hello” or a hug. Instead, the words rushed out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Why are you pretending to be homeless?”
    â€œShit.” The door slammed shut.
    â€œStill got the pizza,” Hope said to the closed door.
    â€œWhere’s the za?” a male voice asked from within.
    â€œWith my psychotic sister,” Joy said.
    Hope felt her face flush and she didn’t dare look at Austin. Soon she could feel his mouth near her ear. “Crazy women are the best,” he whispered. Hope laughed and finally looked at him. “She’s pretending to be homeless and I’m psychotic.”
    Finally the door swung open. A handsome black man stood in front of Joy. He had a boyish face, the type of face you liked instantly. “Manny actually let you up?”
    â€œI’m Hope,” she said, ignoring the question and handing him the pizza. “Nice to meet you.”
    â€œI’ve seen you on Joy’s Facebook page,” Harrison said. “You’re the one who works with dogs.” He stepped back and Austin and Hope stepped in.
    â€œDon’t let her in,” Joy said, hurrying away from them with