I looked up from the open suitcase in front of me, then got up, walked over to the window, and leaned over the couch so I could see the street below.

In the glow of tail lights I could see the shadow of a man standing on the sidewalk in front of our building.

The buzzer rang again. This time I picked up the phone.

"Hello," I said.

"Airport shuttle."

I hesitated, glancing toward the bedroom.

"We're on our way down."

I hung up the phone and walked back through the apartment, stepping over the suitcase to get to the bedroom door.

"The shuttle's here," I said into the dark room. "I'm gonna start bringing things down."

After yanking the zipper around from one corner to the other, I drug the suitcase and our other bags to the front door and set them in the hallway. I slung the baggage over my shoulders and struggled to the elevator. ... read more >>