Chapter 16
Although Marcus offered to drive her home, Riva wanted to walk.
She told him she needed some time to clear her head, but mostly she didn’t want Laurel to witness Marcus dropping her off.
Oh, she knew it was juvenile to worry about something so small, but she just didn’t want to create any more stress within her precarious household.
As she walked up to the house, she was glad to be alone because Laurel was in the front yard with a hoe.
And to Riva’s surprise, Laurel had a half full bucket of weeds and crabgrass, and the bed alongside the front porch looked much better.
“Laurel,” Riva exclaimed, “I’m surprised to see you out here. You told me you hate yard work. This looks great.”
“I thought I did. But that day in the backyard helped me see that it’s not so bad.
And it’s good exercise. Plus, Windy asked me to help.
Since she’s probably doing more than her fair share of cooking, it only seemed fair.
” She stood up straight, using a foot to scoot the bucket of debris.
“This time of day, with the shade, it’s not too hot. But progress is kinda slow going.”
“Well, I appreciate the effort. I’m going to put on some shorts then come back out to help you. Can I bring you out something to drink? Water? Soda? Tea?”
“I’d love water. Thanks.”
After changing, Riva went to get some water to take outside and found Windy in the kitchen, chopping veggies. “Whatcha making?” she asked. “It’s very colorful.”
“Mexican chopped salad.” Windy cut an avocado in half.
“Looks yummy.” Riva filled two tumblers with ice.
“It’s really cool and refreshing on a hot day. You can eat it like salsa with tortilla chips or like a salad. I’m serving it with grilled halibut tonight.”
“Oh, Windy, it sounds delicious, but you’re spoiling us.” Riva filled the glasses. “We really should be taking turns cooking.”
“That’s what Laurel was just telling me so I sent her out front to weed.” Windy grinned as she peeled the avocado. “Seems like a fair trade to me.”
Riva held up the glasses. “That’s where I’m headed, to help her.”
“See, we’re all pulling our weight.” She wrinkled her nose. “Well, for the most part.”
Riva paused before saying, “Meaning Fiona and Kitty aren’t doing their share?”
“Well, I get that they both work. Fiona’s music takes some time too. And to be fair, Fiona is stepping up. She’s brought home groceries and helped me in the kitchen.”
“But Kitty?”
Windy shrugged. “Well, I hate to sound like a tattletale, but Fiona hinted that Kitty is not too tidy.”
“Not too tidy in what way?” Riva took a sip of ice water.
“Well, for example, the bathroom Kitty, Fiona, and I share. I didn’t realize that Fiona has been cleaning up after Kitty every morning.
But she decided to skip it yesterday and today, so I have seen what a mess it’s been.
Since Laurel is in charge of the chore roster, I thought about mentioning it to her, but there’s already bad blood between those two. ”
Riva nodded, biting her lip. “Right. Let’s not rock that boat if we don’t need to.”
“So I have a suggestion, if you agree.”
“What?”
“How about if Fiona uses the bathroom down here to get ready for work. I know she’ll keep it clean in case you need it for company or whatever.
But since she goes to work early and doesn’t always have time to clean up after Kitty, well, it might simplify her life.
And then she can shower upstairs in the evening.
Fortunately, she likes to shower before bed. ”
“I love that idea, but that doesn’t solve the problem of Kitty’s untidiness.”
“That’s true,” Windy said. “But I don’t mind calling Kitty on it. And if it’s mostly just her and me using that bathroom, it’ll be easier to make her toe the line.”
“And if she doesn’t comply?”
Windy sighed. “Then I suppose the house mother will have to chime in.”
Riva cringed inwardly. Confrontation had never been her strong suit.
“But let’s just hope things get better.” Windy squeezed some lime juice onto her chopped veggies.
“Thank you for all you do here.” Riva put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re a natural peacemaker.”
Windy sighed again. “Well, I’m not sure you realize what a godsend you’ve been to me by letting me live here.”
“That’s what you keep telling me. You know, that godsend thing works both ways. I love having you here, Windy.” Of course, Riva wasn’t sure she loved having all her other housemates.
Windy rinsed a knife. “I never told you about my dark night of the soul.”
“What do you mean?” Riva took another sip of her water.
“Well, it was just a couple days before I met you at the grief group. I’d given notice for my apartment but knew I had no place to go. Anyway, I’ve been volunteering at the houseless shelter for a couple of years now, cooking dinner for them once every other week.”
“Even this time of year?”
“Yeah, they don’t have people overnight but still offer meals and clothing and a few other things. Anyway, that’s why I’m usually busy on Tuesdays.”
“That’s so cool. I would love to help you sometime.”
“I will definitely take you up on that offer. So anyway, I had spent the evening there and was getting ready to go home, but I stopped to help this woman who’d been staying there for a couple of weeks.
The first time I met Mrs. Marshall, I assumed she’d come to volunteer, but it turned out she was houseless.
As I was leaving, I saw her outside the facility.
We talked a bit, and she seemed lost and confused and didn’t think she belonged in the shelter.
By then I knew she had no family and had lost her husband’s pension and later her house.
Other than her monthly social security stipend, she was broke. ”
“That’s sad.”
Windy nodded. “So I helped her back inside and got her into the sleeping area where someone else helped her get ready for bed, but as I walked home, I got to feeling like that woman was me. You know, in about ten, maybe twenty years. And I kept obsessing about this all night. Really, other than a few years, what made me any different from Mrs. Marshall?”
“What makes any of us any different?”
“Friends? Family?” Windy shrugged. “But that night, I felt so alone . . . I just couldn’t imagine what the rest of my life was going to be like. It seemed so bleak and dark and hopeless.”
Riva sighed. “That’s so sad.”
“The next morning, I was pretty down, but as I did my morning devotions, I remembered it was grief group day, so despite my gloomy perspective, I forced myself to go. And that’s the same day I met you.”
“You were feeling gloomy that day?” Riva blinked. “I thought you looked so bright and cheerful. You were dressed so colorfully, and your smile was so warm.”
“Because I’ve learned that helping others always makes me feel better.” Windy’s eyes looked misty. “The hardest part of this story is that I learned Mrs. Marshall died that night.”
Riva let out a gasp. “I’m so sorry.”
“I never told anyone about that whole thing, not even my brother. But it made me determined to move in here, determined to make the most of the years I have left. So even dealing with someone like Kitty, and I’ll admit she gets on my nerves, doesn’t feel as daunting as it might’ve.”
Riva set down the water glasses and hugged Windy. “Thanks for sharing that with me. It makes me even more glad I went to the grief group that day.”
“Speaking of grief group, how did that go today?”
“Oh, my . . . that’s a story for a different time.” Riva picked up the water glasses. “I should probably get this out to Laurel. Don’t want her to faint from thirst.”
“Dehydration can be dangerous.” Windy nodded. “But I’ll hold you to telling me your story later.”
Riva agreed, then went outside. She found Laurel sitting on the porch, fanning herself with a garden glove. “What took you so long?”
Riva handed her a water. “Sorry. I was talking to Windy.”
“Thanks.” Laurel took a long sip, then ran the cool glass across a flushed cheek. “Despite the shade, it’s getting awfully warm out here. I needed a break.”
“Maybe it’s quitting time.” Riva sat down next to her.
“Perhaps. What were you and Windy talking about?” Laurel asked.
“Nothing much.”
“Or maybe it’s none of my business.” Laurel looked down with a sad expression. “It’s hard to know boundaries, you know, with five women sharing a home. I’m still getting my bearings. I don’t want to push my nose in where it doesn’t belong. From what I’ve heard, I have a knack for that.”
“Who said that?”
“Well, Kitty for starters. But I think I’ve offended Windy and Fiona with my charts. Just last night, before going to bed, I overheard Kitty telling Fiona that I was a dictator.”
Riva shook her head. “Helping us be organized is not dictatorship.”
“I don’t know. I think I need to back off some.
I know I’ve always been a bossy, outspoken, independent woman, but I think it was easier to wear that cloak when I was younger.
Lately, I’ve been questioning myself. I don’t want to become a grumpy old curmudgeon.
Besides being miserable, it’s not terribly feminine. ”
Riva frowned. “Feminine?”
“I know that sounds strange coming from me. But lately I’ve wondered . . . do I really want to spend the last part of my life alone?”
“You’re not alone.” Riva touched her arm. “You have friends.”
“Thank God. But you know, Riva, some women our age get married . . .”
“Yes, of course.” Riva didn’t know what to say. Laurel was obviously thinking about Marcus, dreaming of something more than just female friends.
“But I suspect that most men our age are not seeking out women who are overly assertive and pushy.” She sighed. “Bossy old women are probably not a hot commodity in the dating world.”
“Oh, I don’t know. It takes all kinds.” Riva studied her discouraged friend carefully.
Laurel was the oldest woman in the house, which seemed worthy of respect, and she’d always been the “strong” friend in Riva’s life.
Despite the rough road Laurel had been down, she always seemed to rise above it all, helping others along the way.
“Really, Laurel, I think your assertiveness has served you well. I would hope you wouldn’t try to reinvent yourself to attract a man.
Think about it, would you really want someone like that anyway? ”
Laurel finished her water, then just sat with a thoughtful expression. “No, I suppose I wouldn’t want that.” She turned to Riva. “But at the same time, I don’t want to be alone.”
“Like I just said, you’re not alone. You have friends.”
“Friends like Kitty?” Laurel rolled her eyes.
“Friends like me.” Riva hugged Laurel. “And I hope you don’t change yourself just to catch a man. But if you decide to make changes because you want to, because it’s good for you, then I will cheer you on.”
“Thanks, Riva.” Laurel tipped her head toward the street before standing. “Trouble this way comes.”
Riva looked out to see Kitty, on foot, coming up the hill toward the house.
“Excuse me,” Laurel said. She already had the front door open. “But I’m trying not to engage with that one.”
As Laurel disappeared into the house, Riva wanted to follow, but Kitty was eagerly waving to her, calling out “hello,” and Riva knew it would be rude to walk away.
She waved back as she went down the steps, heading toward the spade and bucket Laurel had left next to the path.
She bent down to continue the weeding. If Kitty wanted to chat with her, she would have to do it while helping.
But when Kitty got there, in her heels and snug skirt, she only remained there long enough to complain about her aching feet.
After Kitty went inside, Riva considered the assortment of women now inhabiting her house.
Their commonality was being unmarried, home-challenged, and “of a certain age,” but could they possibly be more different from each other?
How long would it take for this friendly faction of females to turn into a combative cast of contemptible characters?
And if and when they did, where would Riva go to hide?