“Like coffee,” I added, gesturing to Miss Jameson’s drink.
“Or an artisanal cheese selection.” Sam nodded quickly. “I just don’t have the palate for it, is all.”
Miss Jameson stared at him for a long time before she turned back to me. “Doyoulike them?”
“I’m, you know.” I just needed to lie. That was all there was to it. “It’s not what I grew up with like you and your family, so it’s some adjusting to do. But that’s just what it’s like when you’re doing something new, isn’t it? You have your perceptions challenged, you work to overcome it, and you grow fuller and richer as a person for it.” Yeah. That worked. Sam nodded eagerly.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” he said. Miss Jameson nodded slowly.
“Yes… maybe you’re right.”
“And that’s just how it is with Sam,” I said. This was such a wild-ass pivot, but maybe I could sell it. “He’s not what you pictured, but the more you think about him, the more you realize just how happy Kevin is with him, and we’ve all learned and grown from it.”
Miss Jameson let out a long, slow sigh. “Bridget,” she said finally, “is Victoria even planning on staying in town? Or is she leaving again?”
“Oh. Um. I don’t know.” My ears burned. I looked away. “I think she’s just taking it one day at a time, letting life do as it will.”
“Where is she planning to go this time? Seattle? Los Angeles? Why stop there? Maybe London or Tokyo.”
“I don’t think she’s going to London,” I said. “Or Tokyo.”
“We’ve always been traumatizing her by not letting her have feelings,” Miss Jameson sighed. “Isn’t that it?”
“See, I think you’re putting words in my mouth a little.”
“Apparently we were on that track even before I was born. I suppose maybe there’s no way out except for her to leave us for good this time.”
“Miss Jameson, I think these are your own feelings manifesting as something they’re not.”
She looked down with a heavy sigh. “I just thought she’d be closer, but now that she’s here, she’s farther away than ever…” She started for the door again, but I found myself in front of her, moving and catching her.
“I know,” I said. “But I… I mean, for what it’s worth, I really wish she’d change path.”
She gave me a searching look. I dropped my gaze.
“You know. Off this whole… not letting anyone see her, path. I wish I could be with her.”
She stared a minute longer before she softened, and she put a hand on my shoulder. With all the social grace of someone who had never done it before, she pulled me into a hug, awkward and searching, but I squeezed her. “You’re a good one,” she said quietly.
I doubted she’d really think that if she knew what my nice, respectable job was, but I’d take it. “Thanks,” I whispered.
Once she’d left the room with a whispered excuse about needing to get more coffee—her mug was full still—Sam spoke quietly.
“So you and Vicky aren’t actually together?”
“Um, we’re… no.”
“That was a lot of hesitation. Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t look right at him. That was probably a problem.
“Okay, talk. What’s the energy?”
“There’s all kinds. There’s, like, solar, wind, hydro… coal and natural gas…”
“Mm-hm…”
“There’s even nuclear.”
