Maggie gave a tiny closed-mouth smile in return.
“So is leaving LA why you’ve been so mopey the last couple days? I was starting to worry your Minnesota nice was broken.”
Maggie rubbed her cheeks with her hands, “I am sad about leaving LA but… there’s other stuff too.”
“Does it have to do with that hot guy that came in?”
“Maybe… I kinda flew to see him over the weekend… in Alabama.”
“Family emergency, huh?”
“Well, to be fair, there was a family emergency… just not with my family.” Maggie explained about Cam’s accident and how Chase left suddenly. Then she told her how Celeste encouraged her to go see him, how amazing Alabama was, and how it all ended with her running away.
Ada twirled her gum on her finger. “I know it’s hard to believe, but there’s been one or two guys that have broken my heart. Of course, that was before I learned the golden rule of LA dating—‘if you can’t find anyone nice to date, don’t date anyone nice at all.’
“Ada…”
“Hey if you know what you’re signing up for, you can’t be disappointed.”
Maggie shrugged. “I guess that actually makes sense.”
“That's my rule. You’re still optimistic and innocent. I can tell you believe in love and happily ever afters and all that. If you really like Chase, I don’t think you should give up on him.”
“But I’m leaving…”
“Ugh I can’t believe I’m saying this. It’s only because your sweet self has left a mark on me somehow… you’re like a gel manicure that won’t come off…”
Maggie smirked.
“Listen, if it’s meant to be, I think it’ll work out. You’re adorable, Maggie. Good things happen to people like you.” Ada swiveled to look out the tiny office window.
“Thanks Ada… I think there might be a swoony romantic that still believes in happily ever afters behind that perfectly contoured face.”
Ada sat forward and crossed her legs. “Aw you used the word contoured like I taught you. And thank you, itisperfectly contoured isn’t it?” Ada used her hands to frame her face.
“My vocabulary has expanded… and I’m prettystokedabout it.”
A cackle escaped from Ada. “LA slang still doesn’t sound right coming from you, but I applaud the effort. Now, what are you gonna do to make things right with Chase?”
Sighing, Maggie said, “I don’t know. But, I’m gonna try to think of something. In the meantime, I’m helping to organize an event to raise money for a local homeless ministry. It’s Friday night at The Break—you know that bar down the street?”
Ada nodded.
“Wanna come?”
Examining her perfect nails once again, Ada replied slyly, “I’ll have to check my calendar, but I might be able to squeeze it in.”
Maggie sat on her flattened futon cushion. Sleeping on it nowadays felt like lying on a spiky lawn chair, but even so, she was gonna miss it.
Maggie looked at the pile in front of her. There was one box filled with kitchen utensils that she was planning to donate. Then, there was a suitcase overflowing with her new Urban Wear LA wardrobe. She was trying to decide what to keep and what to give away. It was surprisingly hard to part with the clothes she once felt so strange wearing.
Since talking with Ada earlier in the day, she still hadn’t figured out what to do about Chase. The Help for the Homeless benefit was in two days.Will he come? Probably not. Especially with everything going on. Lord, you’ve been with me through this all. Got any ideas for me?
Maggie laid back on her futon and closed her eyes. Then, she texted Celeste. She needed her insight. A few minutes later, she heard her phone ping and glanced at the screen to read Celeste’s response, “I actually had a cancellation for this evening. Would you like to meet for a session in thirty minutes?
Maggie quickly typed back, “Yes! That would be great. Thank you!”
She was eager for a sage life coaching session. When her computer screen rang out, Celeste appeared—as ethereal as ever.
