Chloe looked uncomfortable and was clearly fishing for something to say.
“Oh my, that’s just terrible, Steve. What a tragic, tragic twist. Thank you for sharing that very personal bit of information. We are pressed for time so let’s keep going. Anyone else?”
Others spoke about Faith. Carol listened until she felt the phone in her pocket buzz. It was Jim.
I’m in the parking lot.
Chloe was just ramping up a story of her own but Carol didn’t feel bad about leaving. Others had already done so, plus she was hungry for more than the protein bar in her bag or the Channel 9 cookie, if there were even any more left. She was turning to leave when a hand touched her forearm.
“Heading out already, Carol?”
It was Heather. She was smiling.
“Oh, yes, I have to get going,” said Carol.
“I’ll walk out with you. I have to go too.”
“OK, uh, sure.” Carol had barely talked to Heather and now she felt as if they were supposed to be bonded, but hey, a new friend who also loved Faith couldn’t be a bad thing, right?
“I was going to grab an umbrella,” Carol said, gesturing to the Channel 9 staffers in polos handing them out by the path to the parking lot.
“Me too! Let’s go together,” said Heather. They started to walk, and Carol noticed that Heather had a slight limp as if her knee or hip were bothering her. As they made their way across the grass, Heather said softly, “I hate to talk this way already but who do you think they’ll replace her with? I’m hoping it’s Abby. Maybe she’ll start up the earring forecast again. Matthew and Chuck are both just kind of average, in my mind.”
“I hadn’t really thought ahead, but I guess they’ll have to hire someone,” replied Carol with a long sigh. “No one will measure up to Faith, though, no one. The shoes are too big.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Heather said.
They walked in silence for a minute, but then Carol thought of something to say.
“Do you know what’s crazy? My niece was interning at Channel 9, just started last week. She got to meet Faith and all of the others.”
Heather stopped and turned to Carol, her eyes big. She grabbed Carol’s forearm. Heather’s casual nature with touching a stranger was a little off-putting to Carol, and Carol reflexively took a step back.
“You’re kidding me!” said Heather with an especially nasal squeal. “That’s amazing. What did your niece think of Faith?”
“Oh, she said she was very nice and that she showed her the weather center.” Carol decided not to tell her that Olivia might have been the last person to see Faith alive. Why would a stranger need to know that?
“That’s incredible,” said Heather. They resumed walking toward the umbrella area. A young woman reached into a cardboard box and pulled out two.
“Here you go, thank you for coming and know that we’re grieving with you during this awful time,” she said.
They nodded. A few steps beyond, a reporter stood with a cameraman.
“Hi, I’m interviewing people about Faith for a story for the news tonight, would you like to say a few words?” she asked.
“No thank you,” said Heather with a tight smile. Carol said the same. She knew her eye makeup had smeared from the heat and crying and she also knew she’d likely freeze up on camera with fright. They both walked past the reporter, who was already asking the next people walking out the exact same thing, word for word.
“Hey, I came alone, do you need a ride?” Heather asked.
“No, no thank you, my husband is picking me up,” Carol said.
“Do you live far? Honestly, I could save him the trouble,” said Heather.
“Uh—no, not really far, one of the suburbs,” Carol said. Why was Heather pushing this? Carol did not want to reciprocate and ask where Heather lived, because suddenly Carol’s antennae were going up. Sometimes when a woman level-jumped in a friendship in this manner Carol couldn’t help but wonder if the person might actually be hitting on her. Could Heather beattractedto her? Why was she asking how far away Carol lived? Carol wouldnever tell Heather her address, that was for sure. She valued her privacy.
“Well, listen, Heather, it’s been nice meeting you. I need to go meet myhusbandnow. I hope you have a nice rest of your day.”
Carol was grateful that she got to use the wordhusbandagain to show Heather clearly that she was heterosexual and in a relationship.
