Page 52 of The Side Road
‘What?’
‘Lunch. Dinner is tricky with Tash.’
A long pause. ‘Lunch tomorrow,’ she whispered. ‘Okay, why don’t you come to my place? Gossip spreads faster than a cool breeze around here. I could cook. I like to cook.’
‘I’ll bring wine.’
They ended the call.
16
NEW PEOPLE
Standing in her kitchen,Mia turned to Snood. ‘We need to find new people.’
Snood smiled and wagged his tail; new people were always welcome. But only small groups were tolerable; crowds were overwhelming. The dog also liked it when the new people brought a plate.
‘Did you hear the things they were saying?’ Mia continued.
Snood barked. His water bowl was almost empty. Mia filled the bowl, placed it by the back door, and Snood took a large drink. He smiled again and looked her in the eye.
‘Really? What exactly did you hear? Tell me everything.’ When he didn’t answer, she said, ‘What do you mean you can’t talk?’ She crouched down and patted the dog. ‘If you had a job, you’d be a bartender because you’re such a good listener. Yes, you are.’
The dog nuzzled her neck.
‘Lunch with Oliver is not just lunch, I know that. Do you think it will be the start of something?’ She paused. ‘Whathave we got ourselves into? You know how much I hate new beginnings.’
Snood licked her cheek.
Mia frowned. ‘Yuck.’
The problem with new beginnings was that they infringed on other important things, like creating patterns, making yarn samples, and improving her distribution system. Life and the universe set the stage for people to find love, because it had to begin somewhere, but infatuation consumed a lot of valuable headspace. She wasn’t infatuated with Oliver, despite his impossibly long eyelashes, flowing dark curls, charming smile, and friendly disposition. But she admitted to thinking about him most days.
Mia’s phone rang. It was Holly, and she answered the call.
‘Sorry, but I just have to whine,’ Holly said. ‘I’ve had the worst day.’
Mia sat down in the little sitting area next to her kitchen. Snood ambled up to her, and she ruffled his neck. ‘I’m listening,’ she said. ‘Go for it.’
‘He leaves the wet sponge in the sinkwithout rinsing it out.That drives me insane. He checks his phone at dinner, and he sends emails from bed. His clothes are all over the house. Wet towels. Underwear. Socks.’
‘Socks?’ Mia asked.
‘Yes. And he only writes in uppercase. I have a marketing degree and I’ve sat through hundreds of presentations – everyone knows you’re not supposed to use all caps. It’s like being shouted at.’ Holly felt strongly about this because she was now shouting. ‘I don’t want to pick up after someone else.’
‘I get it, I really do, but you’re having a baby…together.’
‘Miles is so ambivalent about this baby. He doesn’t care one way or the other if we have a child.’
‘Not true.’ Mia looked out the window at the night sky. A sliver of moon peeked through the parting clouds. The storm had missed them.
‘It is true,’ Holly continued. ‘Every night I go to bed thinking what the fuck have I done. In the morning, I wake up and say to myself, ‘Today will be better. It’s going to be okay.’ To be fair, coffee helps. Then, as the day progresses, I feel overwhelmed again. By the evening, I’m sad.’
‘Are you anxious about the birth?’ Mia asked.
‘Maybe.’ Holly let out a deep, emotional sigh. Mia pictured her sitting in the semi-darkness of her cold kitchen, her little house surrounded by olive trees and grapevines, all alone.
‘I thought getting married and having a baby would be enough, but it’s not. Mia, you have the perfect life.’
