Love in a Carry-On Bag

 Chocolate-Covered Sundays

 Erica knew she shouldn’t have answered the telephone. She was already running late for her train from New York to D.C. Her carry-on was propped next to her office door, her desk had been tidied and the computer was shut down for the day. But in her haste to get out of the office, she dropped a manuscript all over the floor. She was on her knees reordering the pages when the call came. Her initial thought was to let her assistant, Prudence, pick up, but by the fourth ring it was apparent that she had stepped away from her cubicle. Letting it roll to voicemail was another option, but something told her to answer it. Daughter’s intuition maybe. The moment she heard her mother’s breathy voice, she regretted her decision.

 “Slim, the heater’s out again,” her mother belched. “Mr. Handy down the street said he’d fix it, but I won’t have money ’til Tues-dee and it’s cold as the dickens in here.”

 Erica felt her shoulders tense. “I’m rushing to catch a train.”

 “You goin’ see Warren?”

 “Yeah, and I’m late. He’s performing tonight.”

 “That’s nice, glad to see you guys making it work. What ya’ll been dating, a year?”

 “About that.”

 “Well can you just stop at the bank real quick? My back’s aching from the cold and I ain’t goin’ make it through the night with just blankets.”

 Erica should have been immune to her mother’s needs by now. The last time she cried for money it was because her electricity was shut off and Erica had to shell out for the six months that was past due. Before that, there was a leak in the roof. The decayed tooth back in February had Erica on a monthly payment plan, and last week there was the ingrown toenail that needed to be removed before it caused gangrene. Her mother had more problems than a prostitute on her way to jail. But once again Erica gave in. It was just easier than arguing with her.

 “How much you need?”

 “Said he’d do it for sixty bucks.”

 “Ma, I want it back. My rent is due and you still owe me from the last time.”