and a blouse – and a single strand of pearls around her neck. She’s closer to a hundred than she is to fifty, so the skin around her chest and neck is loose, but she’s not thin, not frail. Her hair is worn back in a nice low ponytail, and her eyes are framed with a better mascara job than anything I’ll ever manage.
“You look so beautiful,” I tell her.
Long ago, we shed the awkward client and therapist exteriors, and in its place, we became friends. I suspect this is her superpower; to become more than a therapist. So I accept her embrace when she stands and pulls me in, then I hold her hands while she lowers back down and crosses her ankles like a true lady.
I don’t seem to have gotten that gene, because I flop down in my jeans and grunt, then I laugh, because I know she’ll make mention of my posture if I don’t fix it. “How do you stay so young, Sonia?”
“The souls of all the children that come to see me,” she answers without pause. “The younger, the better. Now sit up straighter and talk to me.”
Scoffing, I lean forward and snatch her delicate blue and white teapot before she can do it. I pour a cup for her, and only half for me, since I can’t stand the taste of whatever leaves she habitually brews with. It would be rude of me to not have any, which means pouring is a double win; I take the job from her for a moment, and I control how much I have to choke down and pretend to love.
“I went out on a date last night.” Sliding her tea across the small table that separates us, I take mine and sit back. “Joshua Jackson is a fighter, a gentleman, he thinks he’s kind of pretty, and he’s definitely not the actor, nor is he related.”
Sniggering, Sonia’s eyes roam over my face. “What a lovely recap on your life. You can probably go now, huh? Be sure to tip on the way out.”
“You’ve got sass today.” I relax into the room and look around. It hasn’t changed in the ten years I’ve been coming here. Same wallpaper, same carpet, same couch, and teapot. But despite the time that passes, none of it seems outdated. “I didn’t stay beyond appetizers.”
“Why not?” She sips her tea, and extends her pinky finger the way I think young ladies are taught in finishing school. “What about him bothered you?”
I shrug. “Nothing in particular.” Then I add, “I didn’t like his tweed jacket.”
“Incorrigible,” she huffs. “You’re nitpicking his outfit choices? Evie was right; you’re not even trying.”
My shoulders bounce with muted laughter. This is what she does, I guess. It’s what we do. Small talk, light teasing, surface stuff, but soon, she’ll smack me in the face with the heavy. “The jacket wasn’t a deal-breaker or anything,” I reply. “It was just something I noticed once I’d already decided I didn’t like him.”
“So, early night then?”
I shrug. “Sort of.”
A single, sharp brow wings up. “Intrigued.”
“My new neighbor? I told you about him last time.”
“The one that was noisy the night he moved in? Is he still giving you trouble?” From joking, to protective mother figure. “You could probably speak to Angelo about it. You know they’re acquainted.”
“Yes. No.” I shake my head. “He’s not a problem anymore. Not really. I got home last night, and he was sitting in the hallway. He was eating his pizza and chilling out, I guess.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t know. He was just there. I think, maybe… possibly…” Stop it. “He was waiting for me. I think he’s as observative as I am, he’s noticed my Friday night dates, and last night, he just happened to be eating a Pinocchios pizza when I got home.”
“Pinocchios?” She asks with surprise. “That’s interesting.”
“Same restaurant Joshua took me to. Could be coincidence, maybe not. I don’t know. But it was interesting. He was sitting there, he cleared his throat to announce he was nearby so I wouldn’t be scared, then he smiled and said hey.”
Her lips quirk up. “This smile… is it nice?”
“You are worse than Evie! I swear.”
She bursts out in laughter that helps wipe away some of the anxiety in my stomach. “I was only asking! Why are you so defensive?”
“Because his smile is cute,” I admit, “and I knew you were going to get me to say that eventually. He’s charming, even when he’s just… silent, ya know?”