Page 239 of Finding Us

“Yeah, me, too.”

“I shouldn’t complain. You’re tiredandyou have to workandtake care of a baby. How’s Caleb doing?”

“He’s better. Another tooth came in. With his chubby face and his partial teeth he’s starting to look like a Jack-o-lantern.” She shows me a photo. We both laugh.

“So what happened with your job interview? Did they reschedule it?”

Sara’s interview was on Monday but she was too sick to go.

“No, they hired someone else.”

“Sara, I’m sorry. I know you were hoping to get that job.”

She shrugs. “It’s okay. I’ll find something else. You want something to drink?”

“I’d take one of your smoothies.”

“What kind?”

“Surprise me. Make it a different one this time.”

She takes off and an older man joins me at the long table. He sits across from me a few seats down and puts his glasses on to read his newspaper.

I see this guy a lot. He’s usually in here the same time I am. He always wears casual pants, button-up shirts, and a tie, which is how a lot of the professors dress so I assume he’s a professor.

“Have you had this flu that’s going around?” He points to the front page of the paper. The flu is the main story.

“Yeah, I just had it. I got it last weekend.”

“I haven’t had it yet.” His eyes roam the front page, then he opens the paper and scans page two. “But it seems to be spreading around campus.”

“Are you a professor?”

He glances at me. “No. I’m a consultant. I’m working on a project for the college. Since I don’t have an office on campus I come here to work. Are you a student?”

“Yes. I’m a sophomore.”

“What’s your major?”

“Chem—I mean, I’m not sure yet.”

“It’s an expensive school to go to if you’re unsure about your major.” He scans his newspaper again.

“What do you mean?”

“Once you decide on a major you’ll have to make up all those required classes you didn’t take your first and second years. So you’ll probably be in school for five or six years instead of four. That’s a lot more tuition money.”

“I guess.” I get my phone out and check for messages. There’s one from Garret asking how I’m feeling. He asks every hour. I text him that I’m at the coffee shop.

“What’s your name?” the guy asks.

“Jade.”

“No last name?” He chuckles. “Your generation never gives a last name. I’m Walter Payson. I go by Walt. And you are?”

He looks at me, waiting for my last name. Do I tell him? For some reason I feel like I shouldn’t, but then it just comes out. “Jade Kensington.”

He sets his paper down. “You’re not one of THE Kensingtons are you? I know it’s a common name but given the cost of tuition at Camsburg, it’s a possibility.”

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