7
We’re having coffee at Mischa’s today. I can’t wait. My friends have been a blessing during my time away from work. Without them, I’d probably lose my mind. I hurry down the stairs, and I smile at the sight of my feet. I’m wearing sweats and Birkenstocks. I’ve pretty much given up on life. I suppose that’s what happens when unemployment hits.
God, I hope I don’t run into Noah.
Mischa greets me with a smile and gives me one of her very formal hugs. She’s a sweetie but at first glance, she seems very uptight. Everything about her is perfect; her hair, her pressed clothes and her flawless smile… unlike me, with my permanent bed hair and slightly crooked incisors.
She urges me in. “Everyone is already here.”
“Sorry, I’m late.” I don’t tell her that I just realized that old aunt flo was visiting, just before I was about to leave. Immediate action had to be taken.
The last thing I’d want to do is accidentally bleed on Mischa’s sofa. Her loft is just as flawless as she is. Everyone knows that if you move a cushion on her sofa, you should probably put it back exactly where it was. Otherwise, she’ll do it for you. Claudia likes to mess with her and tilt the frames on her wall, just for fun. Mischa doesn’t find it as amusing as we do.
We exchange quicks hugs, and I settle on the sofa, next to the girls.
“The usual?” Mischa asks.
“Sure… thanks.”
“So… tell us all about dinner?” Claudia says in a sing-song voice.
An impish grin traces my lips. “What dinner?” I say innocently.
She grins playfully. “Dinner with the boy toy,” she clarifies.
I laugh. “Well, he’s young, but I wouldn’t exactly call him a boy toy.”
“I need to see this guy,” Gretchen says. “Why haven’t I seen him?”
“Well, you are on the other side of the building,” I point out. “And you’ve probably seen him.”
Truth is, Gretchen might have not noticed him. She’s been walking around like a zombie ever since her husband’s death. It’s all about her son Ethan, and she doesn’t see anything else.
“Well, it was quite nice,” I tell them. “Lots of talking… lots of laughing. He liked my meal and he was full of compliments.”
Claudia shuffles to the edge of the sofa. “Any tongue action?”
I shake my head. “No, no tongue action, Claudia.”
“But you wanted it, right?”
“Uh…”
Claudia cracks up. “She did. She totally did.”
“Okay, enough about me already,” I plead. “What’s new with you, Mischa?” I ask, a desperate attempt to change the subject.
Mischa laughs.
My phone sings, rescuing me.Thank you, phone.I excuse myself and walk to the privacy of the hall.“Hello,” I say, chipper.
“Hello, is this Abigail Cooper?”
My heart skips a beat. Could this be them finally getting back to me about the job. “Yes, this is she.”
“Hello, Mrs. Cooper. This is Melanie Adams from Warden Social Services. How are you?”
“Oh, hi, Melanie… uh… Mrs. Adams. How are you?”
