Page 62 of Ten Years and Then…
“A little Italian place in the Bronx.” She looked down. “It’s our first date.”
Nora smiled. “How do you feel about dresses?”
The woman hesitated. “That’s not my usual style. I work in a restaurant, so it’s a chef’s jacket and slacks every night. But—maybe? He’d probably like it.”
“He’ll love it,” Nora took her by the arm and led her over to a rack of dresses. “I say go with black. It’s classic. And it’ll set your hair off, too.”
Fifteen minutes—and a lot of hemming and hawing—later, Nora convinced her to try one on. When she emerged from the fitting room, she looked very uncertain.
“That’s fantastic,” Nora said firmly. “It’s totally you. Just, you know, hold your head up and smile. Wear it like you own the place, right?”
The woman tried. And for a second, she almost pulled it off, just as a real sales clerk came over. “That’s lovely, ma’am,” the clerk said. “I can help you when you’re ready to check out. And you too, Miss,” she said to Nora, “That suit fits you perfectly.”
The redhead blinked. “Wait, I thought you …”
“I don’t work here.” Nora laughed.” You just looked like you could use a hand.”
Five minutes later, they both stood at the counter, bags in hand.
“Thank you,” the woman said. “I was really freaking out, you’re a lifesaver.” She laughed nervously. “Still freaking out, I guess. I never even told you my name. I’m Cassie.”
“Nora. Nice to officially meet you,” she said with a laugh. “And good luck tonight.”
“You too. That suit is fantastic, do you have a job interview coming up?”
“Not yet,” Nora said. “But I’ll be ready when I do.”
Cassie hugged her. “Well, good luck whenever that is.”
As she watched Cassie walk away, armed with a killer dress and—hopefully—a little confidence, Nora wondered when she’d have a first date of her own again.
Daniel, November 21
Daniel sat on his bed, wondering how long he could stay up here in his bedroom before he’d be missed.
Dinner last night had been stressful. It shouldn’t have been—nothing Dad or his sister asked him was unreasonable, really. Did he have any prospects yet for a job after graduation? Was he enjoying his senior year? Was he dating anyone?
All totally normal questions. But he hadn’t answered any of them. He’d deflected and dodged and—well, flat-out lied. And he wasn’t even sure why.
As childish as it was, he wished he had Mr. Fuzzles right now. Stuffed animals didn’t make you feel like you were betraying them because you were hoping to get a job in another city. And they didn’t judge you for not being able to get over the girl you loved, even eighteen months after you broke up. He hoped Nora had kept the bear, and that it was comforting her whenever she needed it.
There was a knock at the door. “Daniel, can I come in?” It was Mom.
“Sure,” he said, although he wasn’t at all.
His mother came in, closed the door behind her, and sat down next to him.
“I know it’s hard, Daniel,” she said. “You’re trying to figure out your whole life, and you’re scared we’re all judging you for not having it all figured out already. Right?”
Of course she knew.
“I know it’s stupid. You weren’t judging me. You were just talking, you and Dad. And Lisa, too. But that’s how I felt anyway, like I couldn’t say …”
She put an arm around him. “You didn’t want to say that you’re thinking about moving away when you graduate. Or maybe you already have a job lined up.”
He didn’t quite laugh. “Almost. They want to fly me out to Chicago in January for an interview. Nothing’s final—I can still say no.”
Mom grabbed his shoulders, turned him to face her. “Daniel, look at me. I—both of us, me and your father—the only thing we want for you is to have a good life.” There was sadness in her voice, but also steel. “That’s all. Whether it’s here, or Chicago, or anywhere. Of course we’ll miss you if you get that job. But we’d miss you just as much if you moved across the street. That’s how life works. You raise your kids the best you know how, and then you let them go. That’s why they call it leaving the nest.”
