“I’m sure it belongs to someone,” said Avery, but Lucky was already darting across the street, frantically beckoning for them to follow her.
“Come on, before someone else gets it,” she called over her shoulder.
Bonnie looked at Avery with an indulgent smile, shrugged, then crossed the street too.
“Guys, this is a waste of time,” called Avery from her abandoned side of the street.
When it was clear they were going to ignore her, she gave up and trotted after them, dodging a slow-moving taxi. The three of them stood before the fridge, which was about Avery’s height, in respectful awe. The fridge stared back. Lucky swung open its door and peered inside.
“It’s in, like, mint condition,” she said. “No gunk or mold or anything.”
“I’ll admit it’s cool,” said Avery. “But we don’t need a fridge. In fact, the last thing on earth any of us need right now is a big pink fridge.”
Lucky removed her head from inside.
“Aves, can’t you see that this, like, is Nicky in an object? We have to take it.”
“It’s very Nicky,” conceded Bonnie.
Avery gave her a look to show she expected better from her.
“Not to mention the fact these things cost thousands of dollars,” continued Lucky. “It’s essentially the holy grail of New York street finds.”
“But we’re here to get rid of Nicky’s stuff,” said Avery. “Not add some random kitchen appliance none of us need just because it happens to be her favorite color. Where would we even keep it?”
“In the apartment,” said Lucky, as if this was obvious.
“Right, yes, of course, the apartment they’re planning on selling in a month. Great idea.”
Lucky’s face fell.
“Okay, we’ll store it at Mom and Dad’s place upstate. Or I’ll ship it back to Paris. Or Bonnie will take it.” Lucky puffed through her nostrils with frustration, just like she used to when she was a little girl and couldn’t keep up with her older sisters. “I don’t know! All I know is we have to take this. It’s Nicky, I can feel it. Nicky is giving us this fridge.”
Bonnie went behind it and tipped it toward her, testing its weight.
“It’s not as heavy as I thought,” she said. “But it will take all three of us to carry it back.”
Lucky looked at Avery imploringly, who shook her head.
“Absolutely not,” she said.
“Pleeeeeeeease?” Lucky wheedled, shooting Avery her lycanthropic grin.
“It’s a ridiculous idea,” said Avery.
Lucky’s magic wolf smile disappeared and it was like the sun leaving the sky. Avery swallowed. Why, she asked herself, did she always have to be the naysayer? The adult? Wouldn’t it be fun to be Lucky’s carefree sister for once instead of her scolding mother? She placed a hand on the glossy pink surface.
“I’ll take the middle,” she said.
—
By the time the three of them got the fridge back to their building, they were winded less from the effort of carrying it than from laughing so hard. Several times, they’d had to set the Smeg back down on the sidewalk so they could give in to the fit of giggles that was overtaking them. It wasn’t exactly clear why crab-walking down the sidewalk like the Three Stooges while carrying a ginormous pink fridge was so hilarious, but it was.
“Hey there!” said the doorman in surprise as they shuffled inelegantly through the entrance. “You ladies need help?”
“We’re good,” called Avery. “I think we need to take it up ourselves as a matter of pride at this point.”
“It’s our pink cross to bear,” said Lucky, hitting the elevator button with her elbow, and the three of them dissolved into laughter again.
The doorman gave them a perplexed smile.
“If you’re sure,” he said. “Oh! Before you head up. Your mother stopped by and left this paperwork for the broker. Do you want to take it, or should I keep it at the desk for them to pick up?”
The three of them stopped laughing. They put the fridge down.
“Our mom was here?” asked Bonnie.
“Yeah, she came by while you were out.”
“Did you tell her we were all here?” asked Lucky.
“Sure, I told her the three of yous had just stepped out.”
“And did she say anything? Is she coming back?” asked Lucky, her voice rising.
“I-I don’t think so,” stammered the doorman, clearly thrown by their instant change in demeanor. “She just gave me the paperwork and left without going up.”
Lucky checked her phone.
