Chapter 14
To Riva’s relief the next two days passed quietly.
Laurel’s nose was definitely out of joint over Kitty, but with Kitty being gone at work during the day, Laurel seemed to get over it.
Or else she focused her angst on creating order.
Concerned about housemates using their own foods, she decided to organize the fridge, labeling spaces to keep things separated.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she told Riva as they were fixing breakfast Thursday morning.
“But after some of my yogurts went missing, I thought it was necessary.” She frowned.
“And I’m pretty sure I know who took them. ”
“I think this is a great idea.” Riva removed her own carton of orange juice and filled a glass. “Thanks for doing it. You’re so good at organization.”
“Hard to forget all those years of keeping the middle school office and most of the faculty on the same page.”
“Well, I appreciate it.” Riva closed the fridge. “Five women living together might be a bigger challenge than we expected.”
“How are you feeling about it all?” Laurel refilled her coffee mug. “Having second thoughts?”
“Honestly?” Riva sat down on an island stool and sipped her juice.
“Yeah, honestly. Do you wish you hadn’t opened your home up like this?”
“I’m torn. Of course, I’m relieved to be able to keep my house, but I’m also concerned about the, uh, mix of personalities.”
“Specifically Kitty and me?”
“Oh, Laurel. I love you. I’ve known you for so long. I’m glad you’re living here.” She took another swig of juice.
Laurel’s brows arched. “But you’d like to kick Kitty to the curb?”
Riva chuckled. “Not exactly.”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind . . .”
“Let’s just be thankful she has the salon to keep her busy during the day.”
Laurel winked. “Believe me, I am.”
“Having Fiona and Kitty working does make the house quieter during the day . . . I do appreciate that.” Riva finished her juice and rinsed her glass.
“I can’t imagine how it would be if all five of us were all in the house day in and day out.
That’s probably the only reason I’m not having serious second thoughts about this. ”
“I’m curious. If you needed to kick someone out, would you be tough enough to do that?”
“Kick someone out?”
“You know, for breaking rules, not abiding by the contract.”
Riva considered this. “Well, it would be tricky. I mean, it’s a legal contract, but I know that landlord-tenant disputes can get messy.”
“So, what would you do?”
Riva thought about it for a moment. “I suppose I’d try to reason with the tenant. If necessary, I’d consult an attorney.” She grimaced. “But I sure hope it never comes to that.” She put her glass in the dishwasher, then turned to Laurel. “Are you thinking about Kitty?”
“Well, she does seem like a misfit here.” Laurel frowned. “I really blame myself for recommending her. I realize now that Kitty the salon owner is a whole different person than Kitty the roommate. Not only that, but I’m also sure she’s scared off Marcus.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Have you seen him since our last dinner party?”
“No . . . but it’s only been a couple days. I’m sure he’s got better things to do with his time than hang out here.”
Laurel crossed her arms over her chest. “Windy told me he’s laying low on purpose. Doesn’t want to rock our boat.”
“I can appreciate that. Our boat’s already rocky enough.” Riva studied Laurel. “So how are you doing? I know you and Kitty are at odds. But are you okay?”
Laurel leaned against the counter. “I guess so. I’ve been thinking a lot about how Kitty and I have had similar luck with men and how we are both attracted to the same guy. To be honest, it’s hard to admit I have anything in common with that woman. But we’re not the same.”
“No, of course not.”
“After my divorce, I learned to push men aside, decided I didn’t need one.
Kitty’s not like that. She needs male attention and seems willing to get it at any cost. I just don’t like her setting her sights on Marcus.
He’s too good for her.” Laurel pounded a fist into her palm.
“But he’s too nice to tell her to take a hike. ”
“But you’re not,” Riva teased.
“That’s true. But I am determined not to engage with that woman. It’ll take some real self-control, but I plan to keep my mouth shut.”
“Good for you.” Riva patted her on the back. “I don’t like to judge anyone, but it’s my observation that, whether it’s intentional or just habit, Kitty is very good at pushing buttons.”
“Narcissists usually are.”
“Narcissists?”
Laurel nodded. “I noticed some books in your library about narcissism.”
“Oh, yes, I remember Paul researched that for a client a few years before he passed. I read some on the subject too.”
“Well, I started to read one book and you know what I think?”
“What?” Riva asked nervously.
“Kitty sounds like a classic narcissist.”
Riva considered this. “That’s a pretty difficult personality type . . . hard to live with.”
“I’ll say.”
“But I can’t kick out a tenant for having a difficult personality type.”
“Obviously.”
“Is reading the book helping you? I mean, to deal with Kitty?”
Laurel shrugged. “My plan is to avoid Kitty, not deal with her. But I suppose the book is helping me to understand her a little better. And there are some tools we can use.”
“Such as?”
“Right now, I’m focused on distancing and diversion.”
“I get distancing. How does diversion work?”
“For one thing a narcissist loves attention and compliments. So next time Kitty goes after me, I’ll try to divert her by feeding her ego.”
“Interesting.” Riva wasn’t so sure. Kitty might be shallow, but she wasn’t stupid.
“Also, we need to put up boundaries for her.”
Riva was confused. “What kind of boundaries?”
“Personal boundaries. According to the book I’m reading, you have to step away from them, not let them get to you.” Laurel looked determined.
“Do you think that really works?” Riva studied her friend. “When emotions run high, some people have difficulty stepping away.”
“That’s probably true, but we need some tools.
And from what I’ve learned from that book, and from this experience, narcissists are not easy to live with.
” She reached across the counter for her mug.
“And since we can’t kick her out, I guess I’ll need to learn how to survive, preferably with my sanity still intact. ”
“Sounds like a good plan.” Riva smiled. “I admire how you’re taking the high road on this.”
“Better than running.” Laurel grimaced as she put her mug in the dishwasher. “I’ve decided I won’t let her drive me out, Riva.” She removed a can of cat food from her shelf in the pantry. “If you’ll excuse me, Fred is waiting for his breakfast.”
“Give Fred my regards.” Riva filled her coffee mug, then went outside where she spotted Windy working in the backyard. “You’re at it early.” She went over to see what Windy was doing with the raised bed.
“I’m transplanting these seedlings.” Windy pointed out the tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and squash. “I’d been babying them inside, but all threat of frost is gone, and it was time to get them into the ground.”
“Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
Windy nodded, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her arm. “I saw you talking to Laurel. How’s she doing?”
Riva told her about Laurel’s research into narcissism and Windy just laughed. “Leave it to Laurel to want to figure this all out. I doubt it’ll be that simple.”
“I know.” Riva sat on the edge of the raised bed. “Laurel thinks Kitty has scared Marcus off from visiting here. Do you think that’s true?”
“He did mention something like that to me. But he’s not scared. Just being cautious. I suggested he bring a friend or two next time he comes to dinner. I mean a male friend. And mostly for Kitty’s sake. Give her someone besides Marcus to zero in on.”
“Do you think he’d do that? Bring friends?” Riva tugged a stray weed out.
Windy held out the bucket of yard waste toward her. “He said he’d think about it.”
“Not that we need to have lots of dinner parties.”
“I enjoy having a table full of guests. It makes cooking even more fun, but if you’re not comfortable with—”
“No, no . . . I’m okay. I just don’t want it to be too much work for you . . .”
“Or for a fun evening to evolve into a knockdown drag-out brawl between Kitty and Laurel.” Windy reached for a spade. “We could become the local WWE.”
“Sounds entertaining.”
“We could sell tickets.” Windy chuckled as she dug a hole.
“I guess another dinner party might be a good test for Laurel’s new theories about living peacefully with a narcissist.”
“Good point. So do you mind if I plan another get together for Saturday night? I’ve been thinking about seafood.”
“Sounds good.”
“Maybe Marcus will dig up some available bachelors by then. We could tell Fiona to invite her guy friend from her band if she likes as well. The more, the merrier.”
“I hope you’re right.” Riva made a stiff smile.
She didn’t think it sounded that good, especially after her awkward exodus at their last gathering, but if Laurel could face another social evening, Riva figured she should at least try.
“Let me know if I can get anything or do anything to help,” she told Windy. “We shouldn’t leave it all on you.”
“Laurel already offered to help delegate tasks, including the shopping. You know how she loves charts and assignments. If you’re not careful, she’ll take over the whole house.”
“I’m not sure I mind.” Riva felt somewhat relieved. “Despite what Kitty said, I don’t plan on playing the house mother.” She wrinkled her nose.
“And you shouldn’t have to.”
“Right.” Riva stood. “Happy gardening.”
Windy set down the spade and reached for a seedling packet. “Hey, are you going to the grief group today?”
Riva considered this. “I, uh, I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it.” The truth was she had never planned to return to the group, had felt she didn’t need it.