Page 13 of The Reluctant Roommate

“Not helping.” Fiona put the phone back on the counter.

Heidi had a close up of Fi’s hands slicing tomatoes.

Fiona’s voice echoed through the line. “So, how will you pretend you’re a perfect housemate? If this Morgan is as anal as you’re implying, you won’t get away with just closing the door.”

“I’ll have to improve. It’s a gorgeous bedroom with an en suite, five minutes from the light rail which takes me to work, and there’s the cutest coffee shop on the corner.”

“Does she own the house?” Fiona asked.

Heidi sucked her lip. “You know, I didn’t ask. But I bet she does. She had this sort of proprietary air when she showed me around. She didn’t say anything about getting me added to the lease either. But, then, I am on trial. Best behavior for three weeks.”

“Longer.” Fiona’s face loomed in front of the camera for a moment. “If she’s that neat, you’re going to have to improve, Sissy. You’ve always been the neat one in other share houses, but that’s setting the bar really low. We weren’t raised to be tidy children. So I guess I can’t complain that Iza is such a grub. It’s obviously in our genes.”

“I’ll behave. It won’t be so bad.”

“No not wiping the counter after you’ve cooked. Empty the washing machine when the cycle finishes, not when the next person wants to use it. Vacuum into the corners. You need to smarten up. Still, you’ve got somewhere to live; now you need a better job. One with a livable wage.”

“Yeah. I’m looking.” And since one of the sketchier customers had trailed her along the street after her shift, she was looking harder. A lot harder. “Lula’s happy in her new job. I’m hoping something will open up there.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Fiona’s phone fell to the counter face up. “Iza, I make you a healthy sandwich. Can you bloody well eat it for once?”

“It has tomato in it.” Iza said. “I’ll have Vegemite toast.”

“Just pick the tomato out.”

“Whatevs. Going to Jasper’s place to hang out.”

“Fine.” Fiona picked up the phone again, and Heidi had a sideways glimpse of her niece putting white bread into the toaster. The kilogram jar of Vegemite sat open on the bench.

Fiona waited until Iza had disappeared again before she asked, “Anything from Serena?”

“Nothing. Certainly not an email that says sorry for running out on you, and by the way, here’s your twenty grand back.”

“You’re just going to let it go?” Fiona asked. Her long hair fell over her face as she wiped the counter clear of Iza’s debris.

“What else can I do? I can’t afford to hire a PI. Her cell phone is disconnected—she must have a new number. I don’t even know what state she’s in.”

“Promise me.” Fiona’s face loomed on the screen. “Promise me you’ll look for a better job, and when you get one and can afford it, you’ll hire a PI. That was your money to start you off at college. To get you set up in in San Diego with her. I can’t believe that bitch just took it.”

“To be fair, it was partly my fault. Leaving my banking app open.”

“Heidi, stop that.” Fiona glared. “That’s like saying a woman was asking for it because she wore a short skirt. A decent person wouldn’t have picked up your phone in the first place, wouldn’t have looked at your bank account when they found you’d left it open. And certainly wouldn’t have transferred your money to their own account. It’s theft!”

“It is, yes, but I can’t prove it. I was logged into my account. My bank says no one else accessed my account. Therefore, I did it.”

“She’s a fucking thieving, lying bitch, and I hope she gets run over by a Walmart truck. I hope she gets eaten by a mountain lion or mauled by coyotes or her weed-slimed body is dragged out the swamp half-chewed by crocs—”

“Alligators over here. Not crocs. Don’t hold back, Fi; tell me how you really feel.”

“Maybe that is a bit harsh. But I don’t want her to get away with it. The police—”

“Say the same as the bank. I tried, Fi. I really did.”

“We’ll talk more next time. Gotta go, Heids. Gotta log on to work in five. See you.” Fiona blew her a kiss, and the call ended.

Heidi set the phone on her bed. It was always good to talk to Fi. Out of all her siblings, she was the one she was closest to, and the only other girl. Maybe that was part of it. Oh, she knew the three boys had her back, but Fi and her were tight. She even missed Iza, with all her huffiness and drama. Well, Heidi hadn’t been easy at seventeen either. Iza would settle. Eventually.

She moved the heavy pack from her bunk and tucked it underneath the bed. It was too big to fit in her locker now, but she intended to move into Morgan’s place early, before her shift at the FlyInn.