Chapter 19
T HE THREE DOTS ON MY CELL ARE DISQUIETING. T HIS IS GOING to be one monster of a text when Meri’s done writing it. While the dots have been rotating, I’ve brushed my teeth, crawled into bed, and tucked the mosquito netting as best I could into the mattress. The dots suddenly disappear and after a moment start up again. Something’s wrong. Why would it possibly take Meri this long to respond to a simple “How was your day?” text?
Maybe Meri’s done something she’s afraid to tell me about. Something that’s bad for her, like getting back with her ex. I pick up the phone to call her when it double-pings with two texts.
It was okay
just waiting for you to break the rules and send me a photo of René
There’s no way this is what she’s been typing all this time. She must have composed a text and then decided against it. I need to find out what she’s holding back, but I want to tread lightly.
Me: I’m waiting too. For René to inspire my photographic skillz.
Meri : Your skillz? Ha! There’s no inspiration needed when there are no wrong angles .
I picture René in the recording booth, and the way he looks in close-ups on my monitor. His shoulders, his strong jaw, and those full lips. She’s right about the angles.
Me: When’s the next tutoring session?
Meri : Tomorrow but
Again with the three dots. I brace myself for what she’ll write next.
Meri: I’m going to wear my new tortoiseshell reading glasses. They make me feel smarter AND bring out the green in my eyes.
Me: Excellent plan.
We say good night and I lie in bed rereading the conversation for a clue as to what’s really going on. She seems fine, I guess. But before I fall asleep, I find an accredited online program that helps RNs become RSNs. It would take longer and add a whole extra step, but the end result would be the same. I drift to sleep, comforted by the knowledge that if she does fail the test again, I can help her get what she wants without it. I can fix it.
It’s enormous. The bright green iguana that’s half on the balcony, half inside my room. I noticed it just as I was dialing into the weekly meeting with my boss.
“There isn’t much in what you sent, but I know they’re just getting started.” Maureen sounds restrained.
“Yeah, that’s right.” It was hard to string together something worthwhile from the past few days. “The frog footage is really fun.” I slowly push the sliding glass door, hoping the iguana will get the point, but the creature doesn’t budge. It looks around the room like it’s considering moving in. “I was thinking that could be a big theme for us. James and I could go out and capture more of the beautiful nature.” I hold the phone away, and hiss at the lizard.
“Sure.” Mo doesn’t sound convinced. “But Dani?”
“Yes?” The iguana backs up some, so I hold the phone between my shoulder and my ear and place both hands on the door, ready to slam it the second the lizard is clear.
“How are things going with you and René?”
“Um, great.” I push the door until it’s an inch away from the iguana’s body. Nothing.
“Remember, it’s all about mutual respect.”
The creature scurries up the doorframe, but it’s too big to get a grip. It slides down a few inches, then scrambles back up, its claws scratching at the metal trim. “Oh my god!” I step back. “Yes, I mean. Oh my god, yes. I agree.”
“I’ll be there this weekend for the showcase concert so we can catch up in person.” I hadn’t forgotten about the concert the label’s hosting to introduce some of the new artists on our slate, but I can’t believe it’s only three days away. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?” Mo asks.
There is no agenda. None that I’ve seen anyway. I can’t tell her James and I just get to the studio early each morning and loiter around until Camila lets us in. “You know, just a regular day.”
A lawn mower kicks on outside, and the iguana slips all the way down and ends up outside, so I slam the glass door shut.
“While I’m there, we can screen some footage together. Can’t wait to see what you have by then.”
“Mm-hmm.” Me too.