1
Valencia
Sipping on my morning coffee, I sit out on my patio, watching a fat robin hop around looking for worms.The sliding glass door opens behind me and my forever-friend-since-camp, Kaye, shuffles out with a mug in hand.
“I can’t believe you’re still such an early riser,” she says through a yawn.
“Early bird, you know,” I quip, pointing at my robin friend.
Kaye slouches down in the patio chair and nurses her coffee.
“So, don’t get me wrong, your apartment is adorable.But now that you officially have your inheritance, aren't you looking to move into your own place?”
Drawing the hot, creamy coffee into my mouth, I smile internally because it took Kaye three full days into her trip before asking me about this.My ride or die is learning constraint in her 40s.
“All in due time, all in due time.Plus, it’s not like just because I now have my grandma’s fortune that I am going to become all Rich Bitch.”
“Buying your own place because you can afford it is far from Rich Bitch.”Kaye says with a laugh, “But, anyway, as long as you don’t back out on this tea leaf reading with me, then I’ll leave it alone.”
“So you were serious about that?It wasn’t just the wine talking?”
“Yes!I have always wanted to get my tea leaves read and me discovering that Lady Merla’s social media account on the way to see you was kismet!”
“Fine, fine, but you’re the guinea pig.”
Lady Merla’sshop is in the heart of downtown, not too far from my job at Sea Glass Coffee Roasters.One big reason I am happy to rent in my apartment building is the location.Convenient to work and convenient to most of everything here that isn’t beach-related.
The July morning is already humid when we head out to walk to the appointments Kaye booked for us last night during an online drunken dash.I thought she was kidding, but here we are, a five-minute walk away, and about to pass my favorite house in town.
Turning the corner, Kaye blurts out, “Holy shit, Val.Isn’t that your house?”
“Huh?”
“Your house!Look what’s in front of your favorite house!”
Jetting my eyes to the historic house, I see a For Sale sign dangling from a wooden post.
“Oh, wow!These owners have been here for at least twenty-years.”I say, jogging up to the fence.
“I think you know what I am going to say,” Kaye says, coming up from behind.
“That this is kismet?”
“That this is fucking kismet, baby!”
Walkingout from behind the deep red curtains, Kaye grasps my hand with a wild look of happiness in her eyes.
“That was fricken amazing.Your turn, Val.Good luck!”
“Oh, you’re coming with me, lady.I’m not doing this alone.”
Snorting, my friend loops her arm into mine and walks back behind the heavy velvet curtains.
The silver-haired woman with violet-blue eyes looks up at me with a smile and then at my friend.
“Kaye, look at you, already offering support when it arrives at your feet.”
My friend gives her a shy smile as we sit down at the small table.
