“No, of course not. But businesses need lawyers, don’t they?”
“Yes, but I’m not going into corporate law.” Adelaide sipped her tea, then grimaced. “Ugh.”
“Huh?”
“This tea. Don’t know what I was thinking.” Adelaide let down the window and tossed out the hot fluid, careful not to hit Maya’s car.
“That does it, Addie! I’m taking you out for dinner to celebrate the end of your coffee career. I’d suggest we wait for your last day, but I have PTA Monday night. Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really feel like celebrating. Besides, it’s Saturday. Any place good will be full.”
Maya shook her head. “Why this Eeyore act? Is this about parting with Common Grounds or is something else going on? You’re not usually such a buzzkill.”
“I know. It’s probably this time of year.”
“Oh, yeah, I totally forgot your mom died in late November. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It’s probably more than just that. Forgive my little pity party, but I’m feeling bummed over how long it’s taking to get through law school. I know younger attorneys with well-established practices, and here I am still slinging coffee and—”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You got this far on your own. When you start practicing law, you can be super proud of your achievements. Nobody handed it to you on a silver platter.”
“And I can say the same about you. You put yourself through college too. But unlike me, your tuition is paid off. I still have a pile of college debt and—”
“Yeah, but it’s taken seven years, and I’ll never make as much as you. I’m only a teacher and—”
“Only?You know how important teachers are, Maya! Haven’t I told you how proud I am of you?”
Maya laughed. “Like a million times.”
While bantering over which was better—to be loved by little children and get paid less or earn the big bucks and be despised by many—they drove around looking for a good dinner spot that wasn’t overly packed until Maya finally admitted her car’s battery was running low.
Adelaide pulled out her phone. “There’s Robie’s Barbecue down the street. I’ll call in takeout and we can pig out on ribs inprivacy. They just put in a new charging station down the street from my house. We can eat there while your car juices up.”
“Now that sounds like a sensible plan.”
“Just promise not to criticize the housekeeping or”—Adelaide paused to place their order.
“I never criticize your housekeeping,” Maya said after Adelaide hung up. “I just criticize your house.”
“It’s notmyhouse,” Adelaide defended herself. “Only the second floor. And Mrs. Crabtree could charge me twice as much if she liked. Probably three times.”
“Not once a potential tenant saw her seven cats. Or smelled them.”
“She’s down to six now,” Adelaide said. “Sweet Pea died last week.”
As they waited for their order, Maya continued to challenge Adelaide’s preference of a landlady who preferred felines to paying higher rent. But as they drove the short distance to the hundred-year-old home Adelaide shared with Mrs. Crabtree, she felt confident the jury would side with her persuasive argument. She’d never get a whole second floor somewhere else for what she paid each month. Besides, she’d been with the old woman ever since her mom died.
“I have to give it to you, Maya,” Adelaide said, “you’ve always been a good sport in our friendly debates. I guess you know how much I love a good argument.”
“I’ve always known you’d make a good lawyer.”
She smiled. “I think we’ve been agreeing to disagree ever since you told meFinding Nemowas better thanShrek,” Adelaide pointed out. “Remember how we almost came to fisticuffs over it?”
“Yeah, in third grade.” Maya laughed as she plugged her car into the charging station. They carried the food into the house, and Adelaide noticed Maya’s nose wrinkle when she opened the door. Snatching her mail from the basket in the foyer, Adelaidecalled out a warm greeting to Mrs. Crabtree, then hurried up the creaky stairs. Admittedly, the aroma was stronger than usual tonight. At the top landing, she grabbed her can of lavender air freshener and gave the stairs and hallway a liberal spray before rushing into the room she used as her study and closing the door behind them.
“Whew, that was bad.” Maya opened a bag of aromatic barbecued food and literally stuck her face into it, inhaling loudly.
“What a drama queen,” Adelaide teased.
