As I walked through the maze of palm trees, step stones, and crosswalks, my phone chimed.
Brody:
Did I do something? Haven’t heard from you at all.
How could it take him nearly five days to come to the conclusion that just maybe I’d up and left because of somethinghehad done?
My life would look so different if it took me days instead of seconds to consider that something could be my fault.
Ruby and Hollis were sipping gin and tonics on the couch/my bed when I got back. Marlon was curled into Hollis’s lap as she gave him the most delicate head massage and his eyes were little slits as he leaned into her touch. He didn’t even flinch when I walked in.
“Well, how’d it go?” Ruby asked.
“You are looking at an employed woman,” I told them.
Hollis hooted and Ruby lifted her glass before throwing back a sip.
“The good news is that there is staff housing,” I said.
Ruby slapped her thigh. “The good news? That sounds likethenews!”
“Well, the bad news is that they’re full up, so I’ll start looking for a place.” With money I definitely didn’t have. “And maybe employee housing will open up soon.”
Ruby’s smile twitched.
“Still great news,” Hollis chimed in. “We’re going out for happy hour. My treat!”
I eyed them both, wondering how many gin and tonics deep they were. “I’m driving.”
“Oh no, no,” Ruby said. “We’ll take the minibus.”
Chapter Eight
The minibus was just that. A miniature bus that residents could use as transportation. I had a feeling it was meant for those who were unable to drive, but it seemed that Ruby, Hollis, and many other residents used the minibus as a designated driver, because the thing was more like a party bus at happy hour.
We filed in and Ruby pointed to the bus driver. “Phil, this is my granddaughter, Vera. She’s the new activities coordinator, so I’m sure you’ll be seeing plenty more of her.”
The older man with curly black hair held his hand out for me. “My chariot is your chariot.”
“Did someone say a new activities coordinator?” a voice called.
“Gwen, turn your damn hearing aid down,” Hollis said. “Just because you can eavesdrop now with that little thing in your ear doesn’t mean you should.”
I turned and waved to the crowded bus of residents. “I guess this is my unofficial introduction,” I said. “I’m Vera, the new activities coordinator.”
“I’ve been requesting a nonfiction World War Two book club for the last year,” one man with tight round tortoiseshell glasses said. “Maybe this one’ll wise up and give the people what they want.”
“Could we get a second night of celebrity memoir book club?” asked a woman, her hair covered with a handkerchief to protect it from the desert wind. “That Eli is just cute enough to pinch.”
“His name is Dr. Buckley, you horndog,” Gwen snapped back.
And before I could say anything or receive one more request, Phil got on his intercom and said, “The wheels don’t roll until you’re in your seats, people.”
Ruby grabbed my hand and tugged me down beside her. “If we get seated before four o’clock, we can take advantage of happy hourandthe Tuesday night half-off appetizers special.”
The man behind us sitting next to Hollis leaned forward and said, “Honey, do you have any experience with Facebook Marketplace?”
Ruby shook her head without turning around, but the man seemed so kind and sweet and had called me honey and I was an easy target when it came to pet names. I also recognized him as the man on the bench outside of Ruby’s apartment.