I didn’t have long to contemplate Arin’s confusing comments about soup. During my walk from school to work, my phone rang.
I flipped it open as soon as I saw it was Gemma calling. “Remember the friend I told you about?” She said, sounding pleased with herself. “Well, she thinks it’s a great idea—you guys rooming together—and thought the three of us should get coffee or something so you two can meet. What do you think?”
“Sure,” I answered, my stomach performing handsprings without consulting me. Was I ready? I had to be ready. “What was her name again?”
“Olivia Cathen, but she goes by Livy. Great person, very quiet, very focused. She used to date my brother, about a million years ago. They broke up, but we stayed friends. She doesn’t have pets—pretty much what everyone wants in a roommate. Everyone serious, I guess. I think it’ll work perfectly for you guys.”
“What coffee times work for you and Livy?”
“Not to rush you or anything, but could you do something after work today? Turns out Livy’s anxious to find a place—she’s done with school and not particularly interested in staying with her parents for very long.”
“I’m off at six thirty,” I offered.
“Six thirty? How about this—forget coffee, we’ll do dinner. Well, if you want coffee with dinner, that’s your prerogative, but we’ll make sure there’s a meal in there. I can pick you up if you want and take you back to Jayne’s afterward.”
My mouth went slightly dry as I tried to piece the evening together in my head. I wanted to meet Gemma’s friend and a potential roommate, but I didn’t want Jayne knowing what I was up to. Not yet. I told Gemma dinner was fine and that I’d see her after work. After I hung up with her, I called Jayne.
“I’m going to see Gemma for a bit tonight,” I said, hoping Jayne wouldn’t ask questions.
“Nice. Have a great time,” Jayne said, not sounding the least bit suspicious. “I suppose I might be able to get your brother to hang out me.”
“You might.” The thought warmed me. I loved the two of them together. “Probably wouldn’t take a lot of convincing.”
“I didn’t think so. You never know though, he’s been pretty busy lately.”
“Has he?” I wracked my memory, trying to think what would have made him so busy. Sure, he had work, but Levi wasn’t the kind of person to let his job rule his life. “I guess I haven’t talked to him for a few days.” But then, I hadn’t been much for phone calls lately.
“Well, I’ll try my luck tonight. Maybe we’ll see what Gemma’s dad’s got on the menu at DiGrassi these days.”
I didn’t know what to say. I wouldn’t, couldn’t lie to her, but neither did I want her a table away, listening to every other word of our conversation. Even at every other word, surely she’d be able to fill in the gaps for herself. But I couldn’t say anything to dissuade her. “Good idea,” I said, and we hung up.
I started praying that my brother would be desperately hungry for Mexican food.
My afternoon at work flew by. William was holed up in the workroom most of the day working on book repairs and a display box for one of Richard’s favorite clients. Zach kept a running monologue during the slow times, regaling me with his impressions of Robert Duvall and Al Pacino. I’d never seen any of the Godfather movies, so I had no idea how accurate he was or wasn’t, but I laughed and lauded him just the same.
However, he quieted down the moment Gemma walked in the room, standing taller and straightening his shoulders.
“Hi, Sara!” She said, sweeping in looking as gorgeous and put-together as usual in her long teal wool coat and matching navy hat and scarf set.
“Hi, Gemma.” I gave the counter a final sweep with the dust rag before putting away my cleaning supplies. “I love your coat.”
“I love your blazer,” she said, smiling. “It’s a good color for you.”
“I’m Zach,” Zach blurted, extending his hand.
I looked from Zach to Gemma and back again. I’d never seen Zach so red.
Gemma shook Zach’s hand. “Hi Zach, I’m Gemma, Sara’s friend.”
“It’s, I, um…nice to meet you. Gemma.” Zach’s gaze never left Gemma’s face, despite his tongue-tied state.
“Very nice.” Gemma shook Zach’s hand a second time before removing her own. I noticed it seemed to take a bit of effort for her to retrieve it.
“I’ll grab my coat,” I said.
Gemma nodded. “I’ll go with you.”
“You’re awfully twitchy tonight,” Gemma remarked as we were escorted to our table.
“Jayne and Levi might be here tonight.” I admitted. “I couldn’t say anything.”
“Don’t worry,” Gemma said with the toss of hair. “I’ll shield you. If necessary, we can do an elegant, adult duck-and-crawl maneuver I perfected some time ago. There are windows in the pantry. We’ll make it work.”
“There’s probably a back door, as well,” I added.
“True. But why walk out a door when you can climb out of a window?”
“It’s probably easier on your clothes to walk.”
“Good point.” Gemma checked her watch. “Livy should be here any time. I told her 6:45 and it’s only 6:40.” She folded her hands. “I could give a description of Jayne and Levi to the maître d’…make sure that if they come they’re seated on the opposite side of the restaurant.”
I looked around. The restaurant teemed with people, as it did every Friday night. “I’m not sure that opportunity would present itself. Don’t worry about it.”
“I won’t if you won’t—oh look, there’s Livy!” Gemma stood and waved.
I stood myself. I’d learned in the last few months that I hated meeting people while sitting down.
Gemma performed the introductions, and Livy greeted me with a warm if distracted smile. I studied her as she and Gemma hugged.
Livy probably stood at about seven inches over five feet. Her fashion sense was nothing to remark about, and her strawberry-blond hair made her seem faded. But her smile was genuine and her eyes were kind. I could definitely live with her.
We sat back down at the table. Moments later, Gemma’s father appeared. “Such beautiful ladies!” he said, his voice thick with the Italian accent of his home country. “Thank you for coming so I may feed you here tonight.” With surprising ease he described the evening’s specials. “The Pollo Saltimbocca is very nice tonight, very nice. The chicken has been pounded thin, thinner than my pinkie finger, floured, topped with paper thin prosciutto and sage. It’s sautéed, topped with Fontina cheese, and served in a luscious white wine, sage, and butter roux.” A brief pause for air. “The saltimbocca is served with a broccoli rabe, which will always, always be served hot, always hot. My sous-chef has a trick to keeping it hot. There is no cold broccoli in my restaurant. The broccoli rabe is accompanied by roasted fingerling potatoes, buttered and tossed with sage and lemon zest. I think there is a little white wine in there too.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Livy said.
That was good. If she’d said something about skipping the cheese and just a salad, thanks, I didn’t think I could live with her.
Livy turned to me after we ordered. “Gemma tells me you’re a student at the Art Institute. How are you liking it?”
I tried not to fuss with my napkin. “I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m very excited about the program.”
“And you’re in fashion?”
I nodded. “Fashion design.”
“My first bachelor’s was in art history, before I felt led to the mission field.”
“Where exactly are you planning on going?” I asked before taking a sip of water.
“Kazakhstan.” She laughed, seeing my frown. “Don’t worry, a lot of people don’t know where it is. It’s Central Asia—south of Russia. Kazakhstan is one of the many ex–Soviet Union countries struggling to find its identity. Lots of people searching, looking for answers.”
I couldn’t imagine the country, much less a place so far away. The Amish had no missionaries. We expanded the church the old-fashioned way—by having babies and lots of them. “When do you expect to be there?”
Livy sighed, leaning back so the waiter could place the bread basket on the table as well as the dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. “Hard to say. There’s support to raise, though I’ve been working two jobs to put a nest egg together. Well, my boyfriend and me. Clay and I are planning on eventually getting married, when we’re ready, before going overseas. It’ll be a while because Clay’s still working on his studies. Don’t worry—I won’t be the roommate who’s in one day and gone the next.”
“How exciting for you,” I said, at a loss. The whole process seemed so mysterious to me. “Are you two engaged?”
“No, not yet. We’re waiting until we’re closer to our departure date.”
That made sense, I supposed. I hadn’t thought to worry about what would happen if a roommate left. I’d have to go through the whole process all over again. The thought made me want to shudder, despite the fact that Livy had just told me I wouldn’t have to worry about it, at least for a while.
But then, how long would I stay in Portland? Listening to my instructors, it seemed quite clear that anyone wanting a career in the kind of apparel I designed was unlikely to stay in the Pacific Northwest. The idea of moving so very far from those I knew terrified me, but I knew I had to be realistic. Being an English adult meant moving where the jobs were. I’d heard Britta talk about how her parents had recently relocated to Houston because her dad had been promoted.
I had several Amish friends and cousins whose families had moved at one time or another, but they certainly weren’t in the majority. Most Amish preferred to stay in their community from cradle to grave, the way their parents had before them. Only things like scant farmland and poverty necessitated a move.
I pushed my thoughts aside. “If you’re open to it, I’d love to room with you,” I said. “How do you feel about it?”
“I’m game if you are,” Livy said with a smile.
“Yay!” Gemma clapped her hands together. “I’m so glad.”
“There’s a unit I’ve been looking at.” Livy swirled her bread in the oil and vinegar. “It’s not great—no dishwasher, and could stand to be updated. But it’s clean, cheap, and has a washer and dryer. Good freeway access without being too noisy.”
“A washer and dryer would be great,” I said, feeling myself relax. My sewing projects would be so much easier if I could rinse and tumble-dry cottons in the apartment. Jayne had laundry in her place, and the thought of going without troubled me. Ironic, considering that I’d never used a mechanical dryer until eight months ago.
“We can go look at it early next week. I’d be happy to meet you there.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I wish I could. Maybe I could take the MAX there…the car I usually drive is in the shop.”
“No problem. I can pick you up. Where are you living now?”
“Um…my work is probably more central,” I hedged. “I’m off at six thirty most nights.”
“That’s fine,” Livy said with the wave of a hand. “How’s Monday?”
“Perfect,” I said. And in that instant, I realized I had something I’d been looking for. A not-crazy roommate.
“So,” Gemma asked on the drive home. “When are you going to tell them?”
I rested my head on the headrest. “Soon.” I exhaled, knowing that wasn’t right. “Tonight.”
The conversation hung heavy in my heart as Gemma’s car bumped into the driveway of the little apartment parking lot.
“Thanks again for dinner,” I said. “And please tell your dad thanks. It was delicious.”
“He loves feeding you. Says you have a good appetite.”
I smiled. “It’s an Amish thing.”
“Keep me posted on things,” she said, shifting the car into first gear. “Don’t forget your leftovers.”
“I think your dad gave me extra.”
“He probably did. See you later!”
I waved as she drove away, watching her car disappear before walking up the stairs to Jayne’s apartment.
Levi’s truck stood guard, parked in the spot near the stairwell. Well, at least he’d keep things from getting too dramatic.
They were watching a movie when I walked in, Jayne snuggled against Levi’s chest.
She blinked at me as though she’d been asleep. “Hi,” she said, her voice fuzzy. “Gemma good?”
“She is.” I put the leftovers in the refrigerator before joining them in the living room.
What do you think, Lord? I prayed. What should I say? I listened, hoping that one of these days I might hear something back.
“I’m moving out,” I blurted. And winced. That wasn’t at all what I’d thought about saying in my head.
“What?” Jayne sat straight up. “What did you say?”
I looked to Levi. His expression remained unchanged. “I’m moving out,” I said, slower this time. “It’s time.”
“But…” Jayne was clearly searching for words. “Did I do something wrong? Is there something that would make it easier for you to stay here?”
“No…” I shook my head.
“I’ll clean the ring out of the bathtub. And clean up the stray flour that’s been on the counter for a week.”
“It has nothing to do with the apartment or you as a roommate—not at all.” I shifted in the chair, pulling my leg so it was under me while the other dangled. “I’m English now. I need to learn to be independent.”
“How are you doing for money?” Levi asked
I swallowed. “I have some saved away…enough for a deposit and first and last month’s rent. I’ll be sharing the rent. My income is good at the bookstore. If I need extra, I’ll make a quilt or two and sell them.”
“You’re a hard worker.” Levi gave me a confident smile. “There’s no doubt about that. I just hope you won’t be so distracted that you’ll struggle with school.”
“My grades are good so far, and I’ve been working quite a lot. I can also use some of my financial aid to cover rent if I need to.”
“But…” Jayne’s face broke my heart. She looked completely forlorn.
Levi patted her head. “It’s Sara’s decision, and she’s a good decision maker.”
Jayne rested her head in Levi’s hand.
“I’m moving in with Gemma’s friend Livy,” I said slowly. “She’s very nice, very responsible, according to Gemma. I only met her briefly.” I gave a small smile. “I think it will be good.”
I watched them, hoping desperately in my heart that I’d made the right decision.