Page 41 of August
“Hey, I liked it there,” Elisa noted.
Myra laughed and said, “I’ll put it back there later. Now, I need to get to your house and start working. I left the wood outside, so not only I don’t want it to get stolen, but the rain that’s been threatening all day could start soon, so I need to at least get it inside.”
“Can I help again tonight, or will I be in the way?”
“It’s a lot of cleanup tonight before I can put the woodup, so I’ll be wearing a mask and goggles, and I think it’s best if you aren’t around. I’ll be hanging a tarp up around me. I don’t want to risk it if the mold is still around anywhere.”
“Well, you really know how to woo a girl.” Elisa smiled. “Masks. Goggles. Mold. Those are my three favorite things.”
Myra laughed and said, “I will work. You will relax. Then, tomorrow, we’ll go out instead of me working. How does that sound?”
“Tomorrow night?” Elisa asked.
“Is that okay? Will the kids be–”
“Still gone. And yes, that’s fine.”
“Do they know?” Myra asked. “I know your ex does, and Gwen, but do your kids know you’re gay?”
“I think that’s a really good topic for our first date, don’t you?” Elisa said with a soft smile.
CHAPTER 14
Myra had mostly worked by herself the previous night, which had been strange to Elisa because it was out there now: they liked each other. They were going on a date. But they’d been hanging out first, sort of, before that because Myra had been working on the house. The tarp around the space had helped prevent Elisa from staying in the room to talk to her, and the loud power tools had also kept them from doing much talking, but when Myra had packed up her tools and had been ready to leave, it had become awkward between them again. This time, it had just been a different kind of awkwardness: of two people who liked one another enough to try going out on a date and who had said as much but then had needed to say goodbye at the door before that date would happen. Myra had been smiling at her while Elisa had moved anxiously from side to side, even though she had known they wouldn’t kiss goodnight just yet. Myra had mentioned that they’d probably kiss after their first date, but Elisa had wanted her to kiss her already. She had wanted Myra to lean in, press her full lips to Elisa’s own, and give her the first real kiss of her life. She had also wanted Myra to come back inside, push her against the door, and do even more than just kiss her, but neither of them had been ready for that yet. She hoped it was ayet, too. She hoped that Myra might be her first.
Elisa didn’t really know what to do with her day when she woke up. She hadn’t heard back about the receptionist job, so she assumed she hadn’t gotten it. They had been insistent that she interview that day because they needed to fill the role so quickly, but they had yet to contact her about another interview or with a job offer, so as she sat at the coffee table, sipping her coffee, she looked up more jobs to apply for. She had gone for a run before that and had noticed Myra’s truckalready gone, which meant she’d left for work before seven, and she hoped Myra wouldn’t be too tired for their date later. Elisa checked out a few job descriptions that were listed as remote opportunities, which would allow her to work from home, and found that all of them required a college degree. One even required a master’s degree for what was essentially an entry-level position, and their listed starting salary range was a pittance compared to how much that degree would cost someone to earn.
She thought about what Archie Junior had said about her maybe going back to school. The truth was that she couldn’t really afford it. Well, shecould. The money was there. It was just meant for the kids. Archie Senior hadn’t ever been a great father – not that she would ever say that to the kids – so she worried that he would somehow find a way to wiggle out of paying for their school expenses. She also wanted to have a little left for their first houses or their weddings. That would be their choice, of course, but she didn’t want to touch that money unless she absolutely had to.
She thought about that as she finished her second cup of coffee and heard her phone buzz with a text message.
Gwen Benedetti: Hey. What are you up to? I’ve got five dogs that could use a walk, but I have another job, so if you want to take this one, it’s yours.
They’d talked the day before about how Elisa was bored and needed work. Gwen worked for two dog walking and pet sitting apps and often had more than enough work for herself, so she’d been trying to convince Elisa to join and take some jobs because, even if it wasn’t a long-term career plan for her, it was something to do, there was money in it, and she would get to hang out with dogs and other animals. Elisa texted her back that she still hadn’t joined the app like she’d said she would but that she would join over the weekend.
Then, she got an idea, so she looked up local shelters and checked out the rescues they had listed as available for adoption. Falling in love with every single dog, Elisa had no clue how she could decide on a pet for herself and the kids.Well, mostly for her because, for the first time in her life, she was going to do something for herself. Leaving her husbandhadbeen that to a degree, but she’d still been convinced to stay and live in the guest house, which she had done for the kids. Now, she was about to be without them, and she wanted a companion. Sure, in the future, that could be another person, and maybe that person would be Myra, or it might not work with them, and it could be someone else, but she was at a point where she wanted someone who would love her unconditionally, so she was getting a pet. Shediddecide that she should check something first.
Elisa Benedetti: Fan of dogs, or no? Allergies?
She expected Myra’s reply to take a while, but instead, she got those three typing bubbles within a minute.
Myra Davies: I love dogs. Why?
Elisa smiled and messaged her back.
Elisa Benedetti: I’m thinking about getting one, so I’m just making sure you aren’t horribly allergic if you’re going to be here, working on the house.
Myra Davies: So, this only has to do with the fact thattemporarilyI will be working on your house? No other reason you’d need to check to make sure I don’t have some horrible dog allergy or traumatic dog-related event that might prevent me from coming to your house or us spending time together?
Elisa laughed to herself and replied.
Elisa Benedetti: No other reasonIcan think of. You?
Myra Davies: I love dogs. I don’t have one now because I work too hard and I’m usually not home for ten hours at least six days a week, but if you want one, you should get one. Even if I had an allergy, you should still do it. We’d have to sit outside or be at my place all the time, but you should do whatyouwant, Elisa.
Elisa Benedetti: Can dates be at animal shelters? Not the one tonight, but maybe another one? If this one goes well, we could go meet some dogs in person.
Myra Davies: I’d love to go play with dogs with you and help you pick out your new family member.
