Maggie
“Remindme again why we couldn’t just pay someone to do this?”
Roe and I take a break to lean against a stack of boxes and drink water. Roe wipes the sweat from his brow with his forearm and grins at me.
“And deprive you an opportunity to show off your sweet truck packing skills?”
“I regret ever sharing that talent with you.”
It’s a perfect spring day in LA. I’m only a little sad about leaving the city and the moderate year-round temperatures. Just a little.
“Why pay someone to do something we are perfectly capable of doing ourselves. Plus, we have all this help…” He gestures to the yard.
Out the open door, the guys and Mrs. J. sip drinks with umbrellas and sprawl in lounge chairs on the lawn. Pepper is on the lawn, paws up and tongue flopping out of his mouth. I’m pretty sure that’s normal.
“I’m exhausted,” Mrs. J. says.
“Moving is hard work,” Russell agrees and pats Danny’s knee.
“You guys are fired!” I call out.
“Good. I couldn’t lift another finger.” Mrs. J. uses a paper fan to cool herself off from their strenuous activity of gossiping about the rest of the neighbors. I’d worry about her with me leaving but she has the guys and has decided to hire a full-time nurse. After a patience-testing tutorial, she’s even keen to video chat me from time to time. Though I still don’t understand how to get the camera to switch around, she assures me I’ll get used to it.
Rachel and her fiancé Gordon come back from the truck with their own bottles of water, arms around each other’s waists.
“I think that’s about all of it,” Rachel says with a sort of half smile. “I can’t believe moving day is already here.”
The four of us had hung out as often as our complicated schedules allowed these past six months. I never thought I would have so many people in my life that cared about me and that I cared about in return. My therapist often reminds me there is no limit on love. Instead of feeling panicked, I feel full. Who knew?
“It’s sort of sad,” I say, and Roe tugs me close to his side. “But mostly happy.”
“Plus, we will be back for your wedding,” he adds. “That’s only three months from now.”
“It’ll fly,” Rachel agrees. “What are you going to do now?” She addresses the question to both of us since she knows Roe’s next film isn’t scheduled until September.
“We’re both looking forward to a break,” I say. “Maybe I’ll see if the local paper is in need of a reporter.” I look up at Roe. “How bad is the crime in Pennsyltucky?”
He raises an eyebrow, one deep dimple showing. “You should really know where we’re going to live. The locals have high expectations for the girl I’m bringing home.”
“I kid. I kid. You know me. I researched all about it. I probably know more than you. For example, did you know that your very own hometown is the largest distributor of canned chickpeas?”
“I did not know that.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Because it is not true.”
“It could be true.”
“My life would be so boring without you, Maggie May.”
“Obviously.” We hold each other’s gaze so long seasons may pass.
Gordon clears his throat. “That reminds me, I need to see the guys. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll come with. I want to know the final score of the Dodgers game,” Rachel says and tugs Gordon after her as she walks away.
“I was thinking about that,” Roe says.
