Page 45 of Keeping Our Secrets

Meet me in the café just inside the west door.

Me:

Sure. I gotta get dressed, then get a ride there.

Miranda:

Meet you there at 2.

I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. Phew. I still had a couple hours before we met up.

Me:

Sounds good.

Since I had some extra time, I went and had a shower, then got ready to meet her.

* * *

I left my mom a note on the fridge so she knew I had gone out, and then called a taxi. When I walked into the mall a couple hours later, Miranda was already there waiting for me. She waved at me from a table next to the pathway by the café.

“Hi,” I greeted her.

“Hi. I wasn’t sure what to get you, so I just got mine.”

“No problem.” I didn’t expect her to get me anything, but it was probably just as well. She probably didn’t know that I was only drinking tea these days. “I’ll just go get something and be right back.”

“Sure thing,” she responded. “I’ll be right here waiting.”

I went up to the barista and ordered my drink. It wasn’t very busy, so it didn’t take them very long to call my name, and then I was making my way back to the table where Miranda sat sipping her beverage.

“I hope this is okay?”

“Of course.”

She smiled. “I’m so happy you could come meet me on such short notice.”

“It’s not like I’m up to anything much.”

She took a sip of her coffee, then asked, “How have you been feeling?”

“Pretty good. It’s an adjustment, but Liam’s been a big help.”

“That’s good.”

“Mairi, since you don’t know anyone besides Liam I think we need to stick together.”

“You want us to be friends?” I felt like the new kid at school asking the other students if they wanted to be friends.

“Of course I do!” she responded.

I hesitated before responding. “Okay.”

“Great!” She sat up straight and then continued, “And as your friend I need to be honest with you.”

I furrowed my brows.

“Okay.”

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