Page 43 of Time To Live Again

Leo’s eyebrows furrow. “Olive and I wanted to do something together.”

I nudge him with my elbow. “Don’t worry, Leo. I can wander around by myself. I’d like to go in to town and visit the shops I saw this morning while getting my hiking shoes. Maybe buy some new clothes.”

“I’m going in to town tomorrow to check out the sales and to run a couple of errands. Want to come along? I can show you all the good stores,” Tonya offers. “It’ll be fun to have some company.”

When was the last time I went shopping with a friend? Years! “I’d love to. Are you sure?” I mentally pat myself on the shoulder with pride. One more step out of my comfort zone.

“Positive,” she responds, polishing her fork and knife. I grin as she places them perfectly next to her plate like we’re at a formal affair.

To my surprise, Sully sits next to me at the table. The kitty is on the shoulder next to me. “Can I pet her?” I ask. “Is she a he?”

“Sure. She.” Okay, one-word answers. At least I didn’t get a grunt or a growl.

I lift my arm and gently stroke her soft fur. Light purring vibrates my fingers. I gush at the cuteness. I’d love to get a cat, but it’s not allowed in my apartment complex.

“What’s her name?”

“Smokey,” he responds.

“That’s cute. It fits her.” I push my luck. “Can I hold her?”

Grunt.Okay, I guess not.

“Come on, Sully. Be nice,” Leo urges.

“Don’t worry. I understand.” If he’s going through a hard time and that little kitten is the one thing that’s keeping him together, he doesn’t have to share. I’d be the same way.

Like Leo’s helping me. If another woman, like Bethany, tried to get his attention right now, I’d probably do more than grunt. Hell, I didn’t think I was the jealous type. But Leo’s unique. He’s a keeper.

Marla places steaming dishes of meat, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy on the table, and we pass them around. As we devour the food, conversation ranges from the hotel’s reservation system to hiking and even stories from when they were kids. I thought Tonya might bring up Leo’s dancing, but she remained quiet. Marla asked about the whole fake girlfriend business, and Leo took charge of that discussion. Overall, it’s been easier than I thought because the focus hasn’t been directly on me.

“Mmm,delicious,” I praise. “This pot roast tastes similar to my mom’s. And I love that I’m not the only one who eats it with mustard.” I raise my chin to Marla because she has a large dollop of mustard on her plate.

“Thank you,” Marla says. “I picked up the habit a long time ago. So, Olive, tell us a little about yourself. Have you ever been to Orcas Island before?”

“No. My family’s always vacationed in places like Southern California, Mexico, or Hawaii. My parents preferred more tropical destinations. Because of them, I never really considered coming here. Habit, I guess. Before I was born, they came here, but said it’s too touristy and didn’t like the weather.”

I cross my legs and accidentally kick Leo. “Sorry,” I whisper. Before I can move away, he presses his leg against mine and leaves it there. Adorable.

Tonya passes the platter of pot roast to Sully and he stabs two large slices, then drops them on his plate. He offers me some, but I decline before he puts the platter back on the table and I decline. I’m only halfway through my plate, and he’s on his second serving. Then again, I’m talking a lot more than he is.

“Do you agree with them now that you’ve seen the island?” Tonya asks.

“Not at all, but it’s not tourist season. Hiking was spectacular today, and the view from Mount Constitution was breathtaking. I’d love to come back in the summer and do it again.”

Marla adds more green beans to her dish, then asks, “Are you from Washington?”

I wipe my mouth with a napkin and place it next to my plate. “I live in a small town north of Seattle called Aston Springs.”

Marla drops her fork. It hits her plate with a clang and topples to the floor. Smokey wigs out and hangs by her claws off Sully’s shirt. “Boy, do I have butterfingers today. I also dropped two glasses this morning, and they shattered all over the kitchen floor.”

Tonya gets up and fetches a new fork for her and throws the dirty one in the sink. Smokey climbs Sully’s shirt again and cuddles up where his shoulder meets his neck. My heart melts.

“Do you live alone or with your parents?” Marla asks with a strange twang in her voice. I can’t tell if this is her personality or something else. All I know is that I’m catching a vibe. I hate that I’m paranoid.

“I live alone. My mom lives nearby in the house where she grew up. When my grandma died, my parents moved in right before my brother was born and never left.”

“No father? How many siblings do you have?” she questions further, cutting up her second slice of pot roast into equal-sized pieces. She focuses on her plate, not me.

---