“Windy’s son?”
“Yeah. He’s got a strong back. Fortunately for me.”
“Maybe you and Max would like to join us for dinner,” she offered. “It won’t be anything fancy. Just spaghetti and salad and bread. But there will be plenty.”
“Max is gone. Previous engagement. But I could go for a home-cooked meal.” He tilted his head. “But I thought you didn’t cook.”
“I don’tlovecooking, but I do know how. And it’s always more fun when there are people to cook for.” She glanced at the clock. “I should probably get the meat sauce going. It’s always better if it simmers awhile.”
“Anything I can do?”
She strained her ears. “Sounds like Windy’s calling for you.”
“Maybe she’s decided where to put her AC unit.” He stood.
She picked up their empty glasses. “I want to go say hi to Laurel and check out her new digs.” She set the glasses in the sink. “Then I’ll start dinner.”
“If the AC biz doesn’t take too long, my offer to help is still good.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “So, are you saying you’re a good cook?”
“Nah, I would never make that claim. And if I did, September Wind would blow in and show me up.”
She chuckled. “September Wind. I can’t imagine growing up with a name like that. Although Riva was no walk in the park when my friends had names like Susan and Sandra and Pam.” She pointed at him. “And August Storm?” She laughed. “Sorry.”
“To be honest, it wasn’t so bad once we moved to the commune. All the kids had weird names. By the way, do you know the meaning of your name?”
“It was my grandmother’s name. She was Jewish and told me it was related to the name Rebecca and something to do with rivers. But that’s about all I know.”
“Well, I thought it was an unusual name, so I did some research,” he said as they started up the stairs.
“And?” She turned to look at him.
“It has an interesting meaning.”
“Really? What?”
“Riva means to join or connect.”
“Interesting. I never heard that before.”
“Ironically, it seems that’s what you’re doing now.” He paused at the landing. “Joining with and connecting friends together in your home.”
She considered this. After a year and a half of grieving and becoming somewhat reclusive, the idea of bringing people together felt like a hopeful sign. Like maybe she was going to live up to her name.
Chapter7
Riva knocked three times on the ensuite door. She’d need to start referring to this space as “Laurel’s room.” When the door opened, she was greeted with a big smile.
“Come in, come in,” her new housemate said jovially.
Riva paused in the doorway, gazing about. “Oh, Laurel, it’s lovely. Your patchwork quilt with these pale blue walls is beautiful. And those old curtains look as good as new. They’re still white.”
“They just needed a careful washing.”
Riva ran a hand over the comfy-looking recliner. “And this fits in here just fine.”
“It all fits just fine.” Laurel beamed at her. “What didn’t fit is now in Windy’s storage unit, thanks to Marcus and Max.”
