Page 43 of It Started With a Scarf

She was staring at my chest, and I realized she was seeing the scarf for the first time. She stood and came closer to me so she could look at it.

"Whoa, Marley, this one looks so much like your old one."

"Yes, ma'am," I said, looking down and trying to smile.

I wanted to tell Joan it was my real scarf, but I wasn't going to stand there and explain that in front of Deb who was so awkward and mean.

"So, I'll go ahead and take Mitzy," I said.

But I didn't wait for their approval. I was already heading to the door with Mitzy. I did my best to not ask anything from Joan, and it was irritating to be blamed for something that I tried to specifically avoid. I had turned with the dog in my hands before Deb could see any sort of emotion. I talked to the dog in a light cooing tone, trying to sound like myself so that Deb didn’t think she had gotten to me. It was hurtful that she was this protective of her mother's money when I wasn't after it. She had looked at me like a beggar. I tightened my scarf and put on some gloves and a hat before attaching Mitzy's collar and taking off with her.

The steps had not been shoveled, and there was a little snow on them, so I set her down once I was on the sidewalk. It felt good to walk. It was cold out, and I needed the physical exertion as an outlet for the anger and embarrassment I felt. Deb had looked at me like I was the scum of the earth. I liked Joan and I got along fine with her, but I wondered how she let her daughter act like that to me.

I started having thoughts about new living situations. I always got scared when I thought of moving out of Joan's. I thought Chicago would be difficult with a new place to rent, and I didn't want to think of moving back to Texas. I felt sad and helpless at first, but I only let myself feel that way for a moment or two. I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and feeling grateful for the things I had. I told myself to remember how perfect my day had been up until Deb.

I took a long, brisk walk.

By the time I was getting close to the house, I felt better. I could depend on myself and God. If it didn't work out for me to live at Joan's, then I would think of something else. I was a grown woman who didn't need connections to make it in a city. I prayed and thought while I walked the dog for thirty minutes or so, and by the time I got back, I felt so much better.

Joan was in the living room, but Deb had already gone home. "Thank you, honey, for texting me from your walk. I didn't mind for you to take your time. I'm sorry about Deb."

I smiled at Joan. "It's okay," I said. "Thanks for the offer about the rent."

"The offer still stands. And again, I'm sorry about my daughter. She was in a mood, and she didn't take it well when I had mentioned getting less rent from you this month. I think it was my fault with how I brought it up."

"It's fine. I can pay the regular amount. The car was less than I thought."

"Like, it needed fewer things done to it?" she asked, looking concerned.

"No, it… I had a friend who helped me out." I was going to lie and say that it was covered by the warranty, but I thought she would ask too many questions, and lying was more trouble than it was worth, anyway.

"What's that mean?"

"I have a friend who helped me—it's the same person who found my scarf. It's my real scarf, by the way…"

"What? You're kidding me!"

"It is."

I went over to her as I took the scarf off of my neck. I handed it to her, and she began to inspect it.

She turned and held it under a nearby lamp, letting out a gasp. "Where did you get this? It smells good. Where's it been? How'd you get it?"

"A friend. That's what I was saying. He saw me lose it, but he didn't know my last name back then, or how to get it back to me, so he kept it, and then I…" I trailed off, trying to decide whether or not I wanted to say the whole thing about seeing the football in the dentist's office. "I got in touch with him the other day because I saw a post on his… Joan… hang on… I'm just remembering to tell you about my scarf. You're going to love this… Mitzy knew! Mitzy went crazy on Dominic Decker that day in your store, and it was because of the scarf. She knew it! She smelled it. He had it hanging on his coat at his apartment!"

"What?" Joan asked, looking completely lost. "Dominic Decker had my scarf the whole time! Eddie Decker's son. He had it hanging on the same hanger as his coat, and then when he came into the store, Mitzy smelled me."

She was still wearing an unreadable expression.

"Do you get it?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think so. This Dominic is the person who had your scarf?"

"Yes ma'am. He had it that whole time, and I just got it back today. And he helped me out with the car too. He's my friend."

"Well, for goodness sake," she said, looking at me with wide eyes like it must be love.

I just smiled and gave her a little vague shrug because, honestly, it felt like it was.

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