Minna looked like she wanted to say something but didn’t.

“This is your mess,” Nadine said, gesturing around her at the kitchen. “And I am not ‘evicting’ you. You’re breaking the law, so don’t put that on me. Every day I — ”

Adelaide interrupted her. “I know for a fact that you used that cast iron yesterday. I was in here when you — ”

“Can you please just do it!” Nadine yelled.

“Come on, guys,” Minna started to say, but then Nadine and Adelaide started talking loudly at each other, over top of each other.

I wanted to leave but I would have had to walk in front of all of them on my way to my bedroom, so I just sat there.

“You’ve created an inhospitable environment for me,” Nadine finally said. Adelaide trailed off of whatever she was saying and just stood there.

“And?” Adelaide said. “You’re weaponizing the law to get us kicked out.” Then, Adelaide turned to me. “Leo, isn’t it wrong to do that?”

“Nadine, back off,” I said quietly.

“I’m asking for something simple right now,” Nadine said. Her face was red and her eyes were wide and her voice sounded husky. “I let you walk all over me,” she said pointing a finger at Adelaide, who just stood there smirking.

“I’m not doing your fucking bidding, you psychopath,” Adelaide said, and turned around.

Nadine reached for a mason jar on the counter and threw it at Adelaide’s head. She missed and it shattered on the cabinet and sent shards flying away in all directions. Adelaide ducked away and Minna let out a scream that was more like a squeak.

“What the FUCK, Nadine!!!” Minna shouted.

I walked over to Nadine, who looked like she had immediately, finally, regretted everything that had led to this point. Her arms were hanging limp by her sides.

“I think we should go for a walk, Nadine,” I said, reaching out to touch her arm.

She shoved me away and stormed out herself, leaving those two paper bags on the floor.

None of us talked much. I helped Adelaide sweep the broken glass off the floor. Minna sat on the couch and stared at her knees. When we were done, Adelaide held her as she shook and cried.

I couldn’t find Nadine at any of her usual places, and she didn’t return a phone call. I didn’t know what I would say if I saw her, so I guessed it was all just as well.

♒

I called my sister.

“Wait, what the hell? What have you been doing?” she said. “Are you still in New York? You should have a degree by now.”

“Ask mom,” I said.

“She and I aren’t talking right now,” she said.

“Oh, you too?” I said sarcastically.