Mile (an excerpt)

"Argh! I hate this weather," she said to nobody, as a cab finally pulled up in front of her, a sanctuary from the sudden icy wind. Libby climbed in, wrapping her long leather coat around her to keep it from the grease of the car door. "I don't know why the hell anybody would want to live in this miserable city. Miserable weather."

"You are right about that, Señorita." The Hispanic cab driver turned up the heat and gave the stock answer.

Thank God for small favors, small carry-on bags, and smalls fares. With unusually light  late-night airport traffic, Libby and her pocketbook and her computer case were home in less than ten minutes. She slid quickly out of the back seat and handed the driver a twenty through the window. The winds had picked up even more, and a frozen drizzle had begun, spotting her glasses. 

The driver fumbled with her change for several seconds, then counted the bills into her hand in rapid Spanish. Then several more seconds for the receipt. Shivering and annoyed with the delay, Libby pushed a few singles toward him and hurried to the door of her apartment building, an exasperated "Hi, I'm freezing out here, Señor," under her breath. Her key ring jingled along with the phone as she pushed the door to her apartment open. It wasn't a penthouse suite, but it was spacious, clean (the White Glove Cleaning Service was here today, thank you very much, she thought.), and impeccably decorated – she took pride in the fact that every single article in this apartment was purchased by her, with her own money, and with her own good taste.

Libby could have set her clock by the phone call coming in – she'd left her mother the obligatory message when her plane landed, and this was Ginny calling back. Libby wiped the rain off of her glasses and listened without picking up. "Hi, honey, got your message. I'm home now --  I just got back from the community center – no I'm not saving the whales today, I know that's what you're thinking – it's the Thanksgiving baskets for the needy. We're putting them together Sunday morning, come down with me if you aren't too busy. Ok, anyway, just wanted to make sure you got home okay in the rain – it's getting bad out there, be careful, honey –"