Throw Away the Key

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

“Hi, would you like to sample our cheese?”

The Saturday morning farmer’s market on H Street was bustling well before 9am. It was Emma’s first weekend since moving into her apartment, and she’d been acquainting herself with the different shops and restaurants near her in Union Market and along H Street.

Emma wandered around, hoping to grab some fresh items before heading to work to open the store. Tented table booths carried everything from dairy products and produce to fresh fish and handmade pasta. She’d noticed a long line forming at the artisanal cheese booth and joined before the crowds grew even thicker.

“Ooh, what kind do you have today?” Emma asked brightly, surveying the table filled with miniature signs and samples.

The woman behind the table gestured to one end of it. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore a black and white striped apron over her cothes. “We have our special chevre goat cheese and a sharp cheddar left–some of the others went quickly about an hour ago. Later today, we’ll have a triple cream brought over from our store–we’re located on 14th Street. All of our cheeses are made with fresh products from local, sustainable farms.”

“I'd love to try the cheddar!”

The woman nodded and removed a clear plastic cloche to let Emma select a piece with a toothpick. “This one is smoked with applewood and it has a little bit of jalapeno added to it.”

Emma popped a cube of cheese into her mouth, the sharp and creamy cheese had a slight hint of smoke and a tang from the pepper. “Oh, this is so good,” she nodded as she chewed. “Could I have maybe that size right there?” She pointed to a small block of the cheddar.

“You sure you don't need more?”

“Oh, I'm sure. It's just me at home. I’m trying to make sure that I don't have a lot of food waste.”

The woman nodded. “I can appreciate that goal! We try the same in our house,” she gestured to her daughter who sat in a foldable chair, her knees to her chest with her cell phone inches away from her nose. The girl gave a little wave without looking up.

“Well, thank you. I'm still getting it all figured out–I’ve just gotten a new apartment, and it’s my first time living alone.” Emma smiled bashfully.

The woman’s expression brightened. “Oh, well, I'm gonna drop a little sample in here of our chevre as well as a housewarming gift. I hope you enjoy it and maybe we'll see you back here next week!”

“I’m sure you will, thank you so much.” Emma paid for her cheddar and turned toward the produce tents, bumping into someone as she moved. “Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!”

As the person turned around, Emma saw that it was Sadie in a monochromatic jogger set. Iced coffee dribbled down the front of her hoodie. Emma immediately reached to dab at the damp material with a napkin, but Sadie grabbed her wrist to stop her. “It’s okay, I got it.” She accepted the napkin from Emma and pressed it into the material.

“My fault, Sadie. I should have been watching where I was going. I didn't know you came here–we could have walked over here together!” She tried to make light of what had just happened, though nothing about Sadie’s expression hinted that she was looking for someone to walk with her.

“Yeah, I was here to meet friends, so that probably wouldn't have worked out.”

“Right,” Emma frowned slightly, feeling like the shadow of a rain cloud had rolled in. I wonder if her friends have the same temperament. She had never cared much for confrontation, so she held back, though everything in her body screamed for her to ask Sadie to identify the chip on her shoulder. “I hope you find them. It seems really busy here today. Any particular booths that you recommend?”

“Uh, well, I see you've already found the cheese table,” Sadie looked behind Emma.

“There's a great place that has local honey, if you go further down that way,” she pointed in the opposite direction of the produce booths. “But if you go back that way, they just got in some white nectarines, if you like those.” She fidgeted as if she were itching to leave.

“Ooh, those would be perfect. Thank you. And I feel like all of those things go together, right?” Emma rambled nervously. “Nectarines, honey, and cheese makes for a great party. You know, kind of a girl-dinner vibe.” Ugh, shut up, Emma! This chick does not care.

“Sure. Well, anyway, I see my friends so I should go.” Sadie was in motion before she’d finished her sentence.

“Okay, bye.” Emma’s voice trailed off as she turned around and headed toward the produce. Maybe next time I run into her, I should just walk the other way. She picked up nectarines, red potatoes and a bunch of young carrots.

“Do you have a recipe in mind that you're gonna be cooking?” An older woman asked, her white hair pulled into a long braid she’d slung over her shoulder.

“I really don't. I'm actually not a very good cook. Honestly, looking at these now, I don't even know what I would do with them–I just know I like these ingredients. Your produce looks so fresh, it’s hard to resist,” she admitted. “I’m Emma, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, Emma-I’m Tonya. Hmm. Well, with potatoes and carrots, I can give you a good recipe for roasted chicken, which you could put the potatoes and carrots with. I'd say you probably just want to also get it, maybe an onion and a couple of lemons? Perhaps some fresh thyme or rosemary. I usually carry some recipe cards with me for folks looking to attempt something new.” She flipped through a container with receipts and other papers until she found a bundle of cards rubberbanded together. “Yes! Here you go.”

“Okay, I could try that,” Emma nodded tentatively as she read the instructions. “I’m having some friends over for dinner after work, and I bet this could really impress them. At worst, I’ll have takeout on standby!”

“Great. It's one of those easy dishes where you just put it all in the same pan with some seasonings and–”

“Wait, is there a booth that has seasonings? I don't think I have those at home yet,” Emma winced, wondering if she should just order a pizza instead. This whole cooking thing requires so much more preparation than making an order from DoorDash.

“Yes, it's actually right next to the honey booth.”

“Oh, perfect. I was headed there anyway!” Emma thanked Tonya after paying and carried her parcels toward the honey booth. As she walked up, she found Sadie with two of her friends. “We meet again!” she smiled brightly, nodding at the others.

“Uh,” Sadie sputtered.

“Hi, I'm Joy.” A tall woman with boho braids and gold earrings in the shape of Africa reached out a hand. Her peach-colored sweater hung off one shoulder, exposing her glowing brown skin. She wore wide-legged jeans and combat boots.

“Hi, I'm Emma. I just moved into Sadie's building.” Sadie had yet to move or form a coherent sentence. She appeared frozen. I wonder if she’s embarrassed. Maybe she was talking trash… I don’t want them to get the wrong idea about me. “She told me to check out this booth along with some others,” Emma smiled easily. “I love your braids!”

Joy flipped them over her shoulder and toyed with the curling ends. “I love yours! You’ll have to tell me who your technician is, because mine doesn’t do color like yours. I love the ombre effect.”

Emma beamed and immediately began to rummage in her purse. “Of course! I carry around a few of her cards–she’s so talented and sweet too. As the weather gets warmer, I try to go lighter with my color–sort of a 1B/30/27 vibe.”

“Wait, yes! So you're the new neighbor,” Joy glanced at Sadie as she accepted the card from Emma. “Thanks for this–I bet your tech loves you for promoting her business. This is my partner, Sheena.”

“So nice to meet you both. Do y'all come here all the time too? Um, I understand that Sadie's been here before,” Emma kept her eyes on Joy. She could feel a look from Sadie burning into the side of her face and didn’t want to trip over her words.

“Yeah, pretty much every weekend. Are you new to the area?”

“Yes, but just to this neighborhood. I used to live with my friend over in Mount Rainier, and so there's a closer farmer's market, but I was really excited to come and see this one since it's so much bigger. I’m trying to make a new routine.”

Joy leaned in like she had a secret. “Well, let me tell you, you definitely gotta get some of this honey. It’s locally sourced and great for anyone with allergies. She even sells bee pollen if you don’t mind the potency of it.”

“Sadie mentioned this booth specifically, so I had to come check it out. And Tonya over in the produce section told me to stop at this place for spices,” Emma pointed to the next booth.

“Oh, do you cook?” Sheena asked, her thick hair framed her face in chunky twists. “I’d like to think I’m the chef in our household.” Joy nodded proudly at Sheena and rested an arm on her shoulder. The chemistry between them was so undeniable that it made Emma’s heart flutter.

“I really don't know how, to be honest, but Tonya gave me a recipe for roasted chicken that I want to try out. My best friend and her grandmother are the cooks–I’m usually just along for the ride,” Emma laughed. “But now that I'm living on my own, I'm going to be learning the ropes.”

The first few days in her new apartment had been quiet–almost too quiet, but she’d busied herself getting the place furnished. Her new sofa had been delivered, and she had put together some stools to sit at the kitchen counter. She planned to buy more bookcases and a few more pieces once she figured out exactly what she wanted, but she felt no rush.

“This is your first time living alone?” Sadie asked, puzzled, as Joy and Sheena’s gazes swept from Sadie to Emma.

“Yeah, I went from the dorms straight into my best friend's house. She inherited this big ole house from her parents, but she didn't want to be there alone and it made life easy for me too since I work at her bookstore. Sadie was kind enough to approve my application and let me move in.”

Joy and Sheena exchanged a glance before eyeing their friend.

I wonder what that means…

“Oh, Zora,” Sadie nodded, staring off at something on the ground.

“Yep, but now that Zora and Reid are getting more serious, I just wanted to give them a little bit more space. So, I decided to move out and try solo living.”

Sadie’s eyes had glazed over as if she was lost in her own world. Joy placed a hand on her shoulder. “I think everyone should have that solo living experience at least once. You learn so much about yourself! And it's dope that you had the ability to live with your best friend–I lived with this one way back when.” She gave Sadie a squeeze.

“Yeah, it made life easy. My family’s on the other side of the country, so Z and her granny are my family here.” Emma picked up a jar of raw honey. “Anyway, I’m sure y’all have stuff to do. I, um, better get this honey and some seasonings, because I still need to go and buy a chicken for this dinner. But it was great to meet you both and, Sadie, I'm sure I'll see you around.”

Joy and Sheena nodded and waved.

“Yep, uh huh,” Sadie winced as Joy elbowed her. “See ya.”

Emma stopped by a local market before heading home for the last of her ingredients. As she reached the building, she felt around in her pockets. “Shit, I don't have my keys.”

She knocked and tried buzzing Sadie, but nobody answered. “Crap.” She set her bags down on one of the patio tables, plopping down on a chair in a huff, almost falling out of it when she heard a noise behind her.

“You good?” Sadie asked, carrying a reusable grocery bag on her arm, her expression unreadable.

“I sorta locked myself out… I must have forgotten my keys in my apartment.”

Sadie sighed and waved for Emma to follow her inside. “Is this a normal occurrence for you?”

“I never mean to, but sometimes I’m a little scatterbrained. I’m working on it,” Emma assured her.

“I guess that’s really all anyone can ask of you.”

That may be the nicest thing she’s ever said to me…

They walked up the stairs in silence, Sadie moving keys on her ring around until she had the right one for Emma’s door. “Do you always carry all of our keys on you?”

“Honestly, I do it for reasons like this. It just makes things easier for me.”

Emma nodded.

Sadie twisted the door knob and pushed the door open before stepping aside.

“Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

Sadie threw up a peace sign and made her way down the stairs. “Later!”

Emma watched her descend before closing the door, her mind running over the events of the day and meeting Sadie’s friends. The warmth Joy and Sheena both exuded had been a vibe, and she hoped to run into them again. Now how did those two become friends with Sadie?