Sami’s Sammie
Sami’s Sammie
Two months later . . .
It’s the last week of August, and summer feels like its on borrowed time. For the first time in months, I make my way to the
street I used to know so well.
I never come here anymore. My new month-to-month rental is well north of the river, in a building with one broken elevator,
a screaming child, and a guy who owns a literal punching bag. But it’s in my budget and close to my new job, and all mine—for
now.
My mom did offer to let me stay and save some of that money to get ahead, but things are going so well with us now—other than
the constant stream of aunties she hosts who seem to compete for who can scream the loudest in Farsi—that I had to leave to
keep things healthy.
I’m holding a manila folder cupped against my chest like a small trophy.
As I make my way up the block, a weird sort of nostalgia tugs at me. Most things are the same, but a few more orange construction
fences have sprouted up. I shift my folder under my arm to give the latest addition the middle finger. (It’s what my favorite
diner guy would want, after all.)
“What the hell, lady!” Shit. I didn’t realize a construction worker was leaning against the fence drinking a can of Monster when he caught my stray finger.
“Sorry! Thought you were my ex!” I call back. The guy shakes his head and goes back to guzzling his drink.
Irene’s waiting for me in front of Valleyview Apartments—the entrance still covered in tape with a big sign declaring it illegal
to enter. As I approach, Ernest starts to go bananas, squealing and wagging his tail so fast I’m slightly worried he might
go airborne.
A jittery buzz builds in my chest as I make it closer to the building, closer to the diner. By the time I reach the park,
I’m practically vibrating.
“Mona,” Irene greets me. She’s wearing a floral top and sweatpants, and her hair is longer. She looks good, though. “I hope
the big envelope means good news.”
“Hey!” I say. “How’s it going at Sami’s?”
Irene ended up taking the spare bedroom above the diner, and from what she’s told me, the family has been more than gracious,
giving her both space and plenty of food (especially ice cream).
“Oh, they’ve been lovely landlords,” Irene says. “Though the noise has been getting worse lately, with the dinner crowd.”
Finally, after a bit of pain, we were able to get insurance to agree to a settlement that would cover the repairs (which hopefully
will start next week) and leave some breathing room for the months of lost income.
Finally, I look at the diner across the street. A new sign has been pasted above the entrance—light blue and white with a
cleaner font.
Corner Coffee I love helping older businesses that occupy
a part of history and making a true difference; most of all, I love meeting different people and hearing their stories and memories around a specific street
or location. I’d come across this kind of job posting way back when I graduated, but the pay and position weren’t something
I’d ever have considered then. But now, it’s perfect. My days involve sitting in on town halls, promoting local businesses,
and maintaining the heritage society’s newsletter and social media. I continue, “You might have heard, I’m all about the mom-and-pops
these days.”
His smile softens. “I’m happy for you.” Then his eyes cast toward the restaurant window.
“Do you need to get back?” I ask.
“Yeah, I probably should.” He points with his thumb over his shoulder. “I hired a server and someone to work the kitchen,
but Abu keeps leaving his chamber and bothering them.”
My heart pounds as he takes a step back, away from me. “Sami, I . . .” He angles his brow in my direction. I don’t know what to say. This is probably the last time I’ll see him, and I’m glad we’re parting on friendly terms. But I don’t want it to be the last time. I wish I could come home.
I inhale. “I know I’m not supposed to say it, so I won’t. I just wanted to let you know, what happened with us—I know I didn’t
tell you everything, but what happened between us was real.”
“I know.” His eyes move down, and I follow his gaze to the pavement, scattered with grey debris.
Autumn is coming soon. Sami will move on with his life. And if I don’t take this chance to tell him how I feel, I’ll regret
it.
Even if all I regret is not trying.
So I continue. “I was falling for you, Sami. I didn’t mean to, but I was. You and your family and this place, Valleyview,
it all was starting to mean so much to me. And I shouldn’t have done what I did, but it was still real.”
He inhales sharply, finally looking up at me, his dark eyes brimming with emotion. “Mona, I’ve thought about it a lot. I know
we weren’t friends yet when you decided to help Lana, so I get it. I do.” A gust of wind filters through my shirt as he continues.
“I just couldn’t understand why you got so close to the people you were screwing.” His eyes pierce me before widening into
a panicked glint. “Screwing over, I meant.”
“I never intended to,” I admit. “I didn’t want to get too close to anyone here. And when Lana told me the sale was inevitable,
I figured if I helped her, I’d get a softer landing.” I shrug. “But then I actually talked to people. I started to care about
all of you. And I couldn’t go through with it.”
He nods. “I get it. A lot changed those past few weeks.”