Eliza's POV
It was day five in Chicago and it was her own little fairytale. Her personal life was in disarray but she was assured her decisions were in favor of her child.
Nick called constantly to check up on her and the baby, he always had updated news to give her and she couldn't wait for what he had to say today.
"Hello!" A voice called and she made to get up. She remembered she knew nobody in the city aside from her landlady who she had met online.
Miss Tilly was nice, friendly and dramatic and was very quick to forget. When she had moved in the night she arrived in Chicago, they had shared pleasantries and it was welcoming. The next morning she had been awakened to the screams of burglars and loud drumming on her door.
The old woman forgot she was the newest tenant! It made her nervous that she had paid her for three years ahead, what were the odds that Miss Tilly would forget that?
Knock knock knock
"Hello! Anybody here?" The shaky voice of Miss Tilly called out from the front door and I dropped my laptop and went to the door.
My landlady stood on the opposite end of the door and was smiling brightly at her.
"Miss Tilly, what a nice surprise!" I say to her and she smiles a cheeky grin.
"Hello Eliza," she greeted me and handed me a grocery list. I stared at her with puzzlement.
"What is this Tilly?" I asked her and she looked at me like I had gone out of my mind.
"That is a grocery list and this is my Credit card. I need something from the store, I don't feel so good and you have been here all week. That baby needs to stretch her legs." She muttered in a matter of fact tone and I wanted to laugh at the dramatics of it all. What had I landed myself in?
"I don't understand," I started as she walked away.
"Get all that's on the list please. I think you should change into something more comfortable if you are thinking of finding a good man." The old woman grumbled as she left and I straight up laughed.
I didn't know what this was but I liked it.
*********
Just to spite Tilly, I had gone out in my track pants and Coca-Cola shirt. I repack my hair in an even tighter bond and slide flip flops on. I made the short walk to the store and felt happy to be outside again, though I needed to talk to Miss Tilly about her approach, which I knew she would not see an issue with, I needed to talk to her about it all the same.
"What the hell is Sriracha honey?" I muttered as I looked over the list Tilly had given to me.
"According to Google, it is a pleasantly spicy blend of jalapeño and hundred percent U.S honey to get your tastes bud buzzing." A voice said from behind me and I turned to find a smallish lady.
She was dressed similarly to how I was and I liked her immediately.
"Hi I'm Anastasia," she said with a cute smile plastered on her face.
"Anastasia?" I echoed stupidly and the smile spread farther.
"One and only. You dropped your tote on the fruit aisle, I thought I should hand it back to you ". It was not until she said it that I noticed my bag strapped over her cart.
"Oh my, I didn't even notice. Thank you so much!" I told her sincerely and she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Call me Ana. You're new to the Windy City?" Ana asked as we pushed our carts along the aisle and she remained with me at every stop.
Was she just weird or desperate for a friend? Did everybody act like this here?
"Yes. I came recently, on a journey to 'restart'" I responded, air quoting the restart and she laughed.
At the end of our shopping, I knew I had made a friend, she lived a fair five minutes from where I stayed and was a data analyst, single mother with a complicated back story. I knew I liked her.
We cashed out at the cashier and exchanged contacts as we walked down the path, she got to her turning and by then I already had an invite to a barbecue she was hosting with some of her friends.
"I don't want to seem like an intruder" I said to her, smiling awkwardly, wondering where my social skills were flying to.
"Oh no, we always want more company. I know I will see you on Sunday right?" She prodded and I gave in.
"Of course! Enjoy the rest of your day, bye!" I called out to her as she walked away. "Yay!" I mouthed and continued down the path that led to Tilly.
"Were you able to get it all?" Miss Tilly asked me as I stood with the bags in my hand.
"Yes. Please relieve me of them!" I breathed and she chuckled.
"You're so lazy! Did you get a man? There are fine ones around here and I look at them sometimes and wish you came out more." She teased and I laughed. My mind straying to a hit CEO I was sure was currently pouring coffee on someone right now.
"I just came here, give me a few days, a few years maybe." I joked and she caught the baggage of emotions beneath my voice because her next question threw me off.
"There was another mister," she whispered and I knew it wasn't a question, it was a proclamation she could sense my wariness, for someone that forgets everything it was rather intuitive.
"Not entirely but I won't say you're wrong."I told her and she nodded.
"I am never wrong. Did you make any friends at least?" She asked me and I sensed a sliver of concern in her tone.
"Yes I did. I'm going for a barbecue come Sunday. Her name is Anastasia."
"Anastasia?" She echoed just as I had done.
"Yes! She is nice."