We get out and hurry up to the door. A man in a heavy blue overcoat opens the door and says, “Good evening Miss Blake.”
She smiles and replies, “Afternoon Roy. Still have the half empty outlook, hummm?”
He laughs and says, “In this weather? You bet. The quicker I can get home the better.”
She pats him on the shoulder and says happily, “Merry Christmas.”
She gestures to me and says, “This is Melissa. She’s my newest addition.”
I said, “Hello, Roy. Hope you have a Merry Christmas.”
He looked at me with a strange look for a second then replied cheerily, “And to you too ma’am.”
Vickie said to Roy brightly, “Here, see if this doesn’t brighten your day.”
She hands him a manila envelope she had pulled from her purse.
He opened it and his eyes became huge. He stood with his mouth open.
Vickie giggles and says, “I’ll see you after New Years, Roy. Enjoy it and don’t spend it all in one place.”
He was speechless. The expression on his face was priceless too. I never knew exactly what it was she gave him, but he was a much happier man after that.
She took me by the arm and pulled me quickly inside out of the weather.
I followed her across the lobby as she dug a golden key from her purse. We walked up to the elevators. There were four Elevators on one side of the corridor and a single one on the other.
There were no buttons on this plate, just a single key slot she put her key in.
The elevator arrived quickly and we stepped in.
I asked, “Which floor is your apartment on?”
She giggles softly and says brightly, “Were going to party. Guess we go to the top floor and party.”
I asked, “You live in the penthouse?”
She giggles again as she looks at me with a sparkle in her eye and says softly, “You could say that I suppose.”
She flips open her cell again and punches a button. I can hear her telling someone to get the gang together cuz it was party time. She giggles several times and says, “We play on the top floor, you know that silly. Oh, tell everyone I’ve got the Angel too. Yes, she’s a real cutie. Tell them to be patient.” And closes the phone.
She looks at me and bounces up and down as she claps her hands. She says happily, “The party will be getting here shortly. You just make your little ol self at home sweetie. We are gonna have a great time.”