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Emma
“How was your weekend?” Jessica asked Monday afternoon. I loved working with her and I loved working at Julian’s, a coffee shop near Western’s campus. I’d been upgraded to keyholder over the summer and my added responsibilities also meant a raise. Between teaching tennis and Julian’s, I’d managed to put away a good chunk of money over the summer. Enough that I could ease up on work hours and spend more time on school and with Zach.
“Good, how about you?”
“I was planning out my thesis. This is going to be a long year.”
“But then you graduate and off you go to greener pastures.”
“You mean the unemployment line?”
“You’re smart and amazing. I’m sure you’ll find a job in no time.”
Jessica shrugged. “I hope so. I have a shitload of school loans to pay off.”
I put on my apron and got to work. Coffee needed to be made, tables cleared and the pastry showcase to be filled. With my reduced workweek, Billie had hired another barista who liked to bake too. The problem was that she didn’t follow my recipes and customers complained. Roxanne, the newbie, was the type of person who had to prove herself—to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. This led to dry muffins, rock-hard cookies and pastries destined for the garbage bin. The volume of waste became so high that Billie called us both into her office before classes resumed for a baked goods intervention.
On her desk she had samples of my chocolate chip cookie, banana nut muffin and chocolate cake. She also had samples of Roxanne’s modified crap. She made us try both.
“What is the difference here?” Billie asked, her round face watching both of us carefully.
Before I could open my mouth, Roxanne was defending herself. “I’m trying to make the food here healthier. I’m using stevia and agave nectar as sweeteners and brown rice flour and garfava as a gluten-free flour substitute. People will appreciate it.”
Did I mention Roxanne was a loud talker? All of Julian’s and probably a half-mile radius around it could hear her.
“First of all, I don’t know what half that crap is,” Billie said. “Second, all that healthy stuff is a lot more expensive than plain old sugar and white flour. And lastly, kids around here don’t care about their health. From now on you’re going to follow Emma’s recipes and if you don’t, you will pay for all the spoilage.”
That had been easy. I didn’t even have to speak.
“Happy to be back in school next week?” Jessica asked, jarring me from that memory.
“I am. I miss it. It’s also a good routine for me.”
“And how’s that hot boyfriend of yours?”
“He’s good.”
“Doesn’t he graduate this year?”
“Yes. His dad has handpicked the universities that he’ll be applying to this fall.”
Jessica watched me wipe down the counters then do it again less than a minute later. “So you’ll be doing the long distance thing next year?”
“Probably,” I said. I washed my rag then poured myself a cup of coffee.
“Probably?”
I looked at Jessica and her face was marred with confusion. “He wants me to go along with him. I think it’s a crazy idea. I’d have to transfer to another university to finish off my degree, then what? Leave everything behind?”
“People do that all the time. Why would you want to stay here? There’s nothing exciting going on. Ever.”
“But he’ll be busy with school and won’t have time for me.”
“You’ll be busy with school too. And I’m sure he’ll find time for you,” Jessica said, playfully rolling her eyes. “That guy adores you like a Greek goddess.”
“I told him I’d think about it.”
Jessica didn’t pursue it further and the subject was dropped.
#
ZACH HAD HOCKEY WITH the guys so I made dinner for Genie and me. I looked forward to spending time with Zach’s sister. Summer had been such a busy time with coaching, Julian’s and Zach. I saw her at all the Walker functions, and the odd time around the apartment, but she seemingly disappeared. Zach was convinced she was back with Steve, her old and very rude boyfriend, but I didn’t think that. Genie didn’t care what people thought about her and if she wanted to get back with Steve, she would, and she wouldn’t keep it a secret.
“Can you believe school starts Thursday?” she said, scooping out a heaping serving of meatless lasagna. “Where did summer go?”
“I know. It flew by.”
“Did you have a good time at Brett’s?”
“It was nice. A million times better than last year.”
Genie laughed, brushing her thick brown hair over her shoulders. I envied everything about her. Her ease at making friends, how she didn’t care about conforming and that she always spoke her mind. And it didn’t hurt that every guy lost their mind when she walked into a room. Genie was confident, smart and the best friend a girl could have. “I bet. Meet any of those uppity friends of theirs?”
“I did. No lasting friendships, though.”
Genie rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I ever spent time with girls like that. Once I got to Western, I left all those losers behind.”
“They aren’t my cup of tea either.”
I took a bite of lasagna and thought of Julia. Did I ask Genie about her and what she’d said? Asking her might put her in a difficult position. I decided against it. “So this crazy thing happened before we went to the lake.”
Genie’s warm chocolate-colored eyes grew wide, the same color eyes Zach had. “Oh? What?”
“My mother called my dad. Said she wanted to reach out to me.”
“The mom you haven’t seen in forever?”
“Yup. I thought her timing was a bit suspicious. This is a woman who hasn’t wanted anything to do with me for twenty years and suddenly she’s interested in what I’m up to?”
“Let me guess: she found out about you and Zach?”
“I’m assuming.”
“So your mom is one of those types.”
“Honestly, I have no idea what type she is. The last time I saw her was her wedding eight years ago and she didn’t say much to me. Did I tell you that I had to pretend I was a cousin so no one would know who I really was?”
Genie’s jaw fell open in shock. “For real?”
“Yup. That’s my most recent memory of her.”
“A pretty shitty one,” Genie added. “Are you going to call her?”
“No, but Dad thinks I should.”
Genie’s eyebrows raised. “He does?”
“He has a soft spot for her. A part of me thinks that if she told Dad she loved and wanted to be with him, he’d drop everything and take her back. I’m convinced that’s why he doesn’t date. He has some crazy notion of the two of them getting back together. That’s why I don’t want to call her. I don’t want to invite her into our lives.”
“Does your dad talk about her?”
“No. He never brings her up because he knows it upsets me.”
“But do you honestly think they’d get back together? It sounds kind of crazy,” Genie said, grabbing another helping of lasagna.
I pushed away my nearly finished plate. “No, probably not. I’m sure she’s very happy with her husband. They have their two kids and she no doubt lives a happy life. The funny thing is that she’s been here in Minneapolis for years and not once called to connect.” I looked over at Genie. “If you were me, would you call her?”
She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I don’t know what it’s like to have a mom disappear like that. I do think she’s being opportunistic, but to what end? What is she going to gain by rekindling a relationship with you now? Unless she wants something. Or she thinks my dad can help her with something. Or her husband.”
“I don’t remember what he does.”
“Does he even know about you? Did your mom tell him?”
“Yes, I think so. Eventually.”
Genie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to sway you because ultimately it’s your decision, but I think it’s very odd that she’s calling you out of nowhere. Maybe she’s sick and wants you to know? Or something has happened within her family? Or the most cynical of all scenarios is that she needs or wants something. Are you curious?”
I fidgeted because I hated to admit what I was feeling. “A little.”
“Why not email her? No one says you need to call her.”
“I could do that.”
“Whatever you decide, keep me posted. I’m curious too.”