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Normally it was just Maple and me. On the weeks she wasn’t here, I kept myself busy with chores and attempting to learn Spanish. Why Spanish? Because I spent a lot of time in L.A., and there was a big Latino community I partnered with there. Having Dial sitting cross-legged next to me, shaking entirely too much soy sauce on her noodles, was like a luxury or a sweet treat.
Her presence made everything better. The pad thai wasn’t just delicious because she’d prepared it—it was also the company that made my taste buds come to life. The movie, which I could practically recite by heart, was all the more entertaining because I was able to witness Dial’s reactions. An ordinary Saturday night was elevated by her aura.
Dial was watching the TV, and I was watching Dial laugh at a line in the movie. Everyone always talks about finding the love of your life, but no one tells you what comes next when it doesn’t work out and you’ve said things in the heat of the moment you can never take back. We’d been through too much to start over, but sometimes I wished we could.
When the credits rolled, I half expected Dial to jump up, grab her bag, and head for the door. But she remained in the reclined position with a neutral expression on her face. “I still think the second movie is the best.”
“I’m partial to the third one, actually.”
“The one in the prison?”
“Yeah, because they were just regular people, not super soldiers.”
Dial took a sip from her watered-down basil mojito while scanning the living room. “I love what you’ve done with the place.”
“Not too much. I’ve been busy.”
“I guess so, because the curtains I made out of dollar-bin fabric are still up.”
“They serve their purpose, so I don’t really have cause to replace them.” Practically, less was more. I spent my money where it counted, on trucks, farm equipment, and ATVs.
“After we finish the renovations at my folks’ house, maybe we could swing by here and fix up yours.”
“Whoa, you’re not touching a whoozit or a whatsit in this place. I like it just the way it is.”
“Dated?”
“Cozy.”
“Yes, a two-bed, one-bath clocking in at eight hundred square feet is definitely that.”
“My square footage is where it counts, in my backyard.”
“Makes sense, I guess, seeing how you travel half the year. Speaking of, how was Arizona?”
My head jerked back. “You keeping tabs on me?”
“No, your momma came into the nursery, and you know she’s a chatterbox.”
“She likes talking to you. My mom thinks you’re a nice girl, but that’s only because she doesn’t really know you.”
“Your mother saw my vagina in the delivery room. She knows me.”
I chuckled. “Fair enough.”
“She was going on and on about the new facility in Texas.”
“Momma mentioned that?” I popped a cold dumpling in my mouth. This was the perfect opportunity to bring Dial up to speed, but for some odd reason I chose to stay mum, just nodding.
“Will you get to visit?”
“Mmm, probably.”
“You don’t seem too pleased. Is the expansion a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Ain’t figured that part out yet.”
“I get it—who gets excited about more work? And I imagine managing a second property while a thousand miles away in Hume will come with challenges.”
