Page 55 of February

“My parents. I don’t care about me. I’ll find something else. I have some savings, and if I have to, I can give tours with Mel and Jill until I find something more permanent. They make decent money, and if tourists like you show up once a month, they make really good tips, too. I’ll be fine. I’m young. I can always go back to school if I want. I have options. They really don’t. I just want to make sure they can retire young if they want or that they can at least pay the mortgage while they figure out their next step.”

Monica stared at the sincerity in Bridgette’s eyes and nodded. It was all she could do because if she said something out loud, she might tell Bridgette how funny and amazing and caring she was, and she didn’t think that would be appropriate.

“So, another coffee?” Bridgette asked, changing the subject.

“We have to get to the office.”

“Things move slower down here, and nine really means nine-fifteen or nine-thirty, depending on who you talk to.”

“If it depends, how will I ever know when to show up?”

“Just show up whenever you show up. That’s kind of the point.”

“That’s going to take some adjusting to,” Monica said.

“Then, let’s practice right now. Another coffee.”

Monica just smiled at her and took another bite of her French toast.

CHAPTER 13

Bridgette watched Monica through the small window in the break room, which gave her a view of the conference room without Monica being able to see her staring. She’d been doing that a lot lately, including that morning at breakfast when Monica had surprised her by showing up at the café. Of course, she’d surprised her again when she told Bridgette that her ex was a woman and that she was gay. Bridgette took a sip of the coffee she’d gotten in the kitchen and thought about how beautiful Monica looked. It had always been obvious that she was attractive, but the past couple of days, Monica had been wearing more casual clothes, and they made her look more at ease, more comfortable somehow, and more like someone who was here to help, not to take something away from Bridgette.

“Hi, honey,” her mom greeted.

“Oh. Hey, Mom,” she replied as she turned around to see her mother there.

“Just getting coffee?”

“Yup. Just coffee.” Bridgette held up her cup. “Getting back to work now.”

“So, you weren’t just staring at Monica in the conference room?”

“What? No,” she lied.

“Honey, she’s here to help. Don’t give her those dagger eyes of yours.”

“I don’t have dagger eyes,” she replied.

“You do, actually.”

Bridgette turned around at that, seeing Monica standing there in the open doorway.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Just long enough to hear your mother speak the truth about those dagger eyes of yours,” Monica said.

“See?” Her mother laughed and poured herself a cup of coffee.

Bridgette hoped that that wasallMonica had heard.

“I don’t have dagger eyes.”

“You do. And when they’re aimed at me, it’s scary,” Monica said.

“Well, I’m trying not to aim them at you anymore.”

“I know. I appreciate it,” Monica replied with a smile.

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