“Just coffee.”
“I know a great breakfast spot”—he put the truck in gear—“if you’re game.”
“As long as it can be my treat,” she said. “To thank you for your help.”
“You won’t get any argument from me.”
“I like your truck,” she said as he drove down her hill. But even as she said this, she wondered why being in his pickup made her uncomfortable. Was it because it was so similar to Paul’s? Like somehow she was being unfaithful?
“Thanks. I like it too. I have an electric car too, but this old beast is more fun.”
“I can see it’s a Ford, but what year?”
“It’s a ’64.”
“Did you restore it yourself?”
“Yes. I thought it was just a hobby when I got it, but it turned into serious therapy after Anne passed. Guess it kept me off the streets and out of trouble.”
“Right.” Still feeling uneasy, she glanced out her window and suddenly wished she’d turned down his offer to help today. She could’ve gotten the plants by herself. What if this seemed like a date? And what if Laurel was hurt by it? And why was she making a mountain out of a molehill?
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Huh?”
“You seem a little distracted today. Having any regrets about taking in your housemates?”
“Oh...” She considered this. “Maybe a little. I mean, I really like them and all. But I guess I’m realizing how different personalities living under the same roof could get, well, dicey. And I suppose I’ve gotten used to being alone.”
“It’ll probably be an adjustment, but the companionship might be worth it.”
“I did enjoy our evening last night,” she admitted. “I’m probably just overthinking things. I do that sometimes. More so after losing Paul.”
“Sometimes it helps to talk things out.”
“That’s something I really miss. Paul and I used to talk things out. But being alone now, well, the decisions and changes and aging and life ... it can get overwhelming.”
“I know. I feel the same way sometimes.”
“Overwhelmed?”
“Not exactly. Anne’s been gone a long time, so I’ve had time to adjust. But I still feel like I need someone to talk to, someone I can run things past and make plans with. Like a few years ago, when I was deciding whether to retire from teaching or not, I remember wishing Anne could give her opinion.”
“But you did choose to retire.”
“Yes. And I actually felt Anne would approve. Early in our marriage, she always wanted me to work less and live more. She wanted me to consider early retirement, but I never felt ready. When I finally did retire, I didn’t know what to do with my spare time.”
“Besides helping your sister move or restoring old pickups?”
He smiled. “Yeah. But after my first year of retirement, I was surprised at how easy it became to fill my time. I don’t regret retiring at all.” He glanced at her. “I suspect you won’t regret takingin housemates either. Give it time. After all, you’re living up to your name, Riva. Connecting with people and bringing them together.” He pulled up to a small café called Nellie’s. “Have you ever been here?”
“No. I don’t even recall seeing it before. Is it new?”
“I think Nellie has had it for a couple of years.”
“You know her?”
“Oh, yeah. She’s a good friend.”
