Page 4 of A Roommate for Ronny

Karma asked me not to turn down the role right away. “Give it a little time and consideration.”

Only because I promised my boss did I wait to reply. In my heart, I knew what the answer had to be. Bosco was waiting on my bed when I got off shift every night. He welcomed me with loud purrs and snuggled up next to me when I went to sleep. He looked to me for food, water, fresh litter, and companionship. Would I like to become an actor and take the role that might lead to a real career?

Yes.

But being on set for three months or longer, staying in trailers and motel rooms and traveling on buses from one site to another?

Not a life for a cat.

But I kept finding myself glancing at the text saved to my phone. Wishing I could come up with an alternative that would be good for me and Bosco. I liked my job just fine. Loved the customers and my coworkers. Along with my kitty friend, it would have to be enough.

But that text…as long as it was there, the possibility hung over me. Karma asked me to wait. What for? To soften the blow, maybe. She was kind like that. I poured a martini from the shaker and set it on the tray for a server to carry off then whipped out my phone and deleted the offer. Deleted the whole call so I didn’t even have the number it came from. Waited for a wave of grief at the loss.

But it didn’t come. I’d done the right thing. Closed the door. Chosen a helpless creature who loved me over a job that I’d always thought was the real dream. It would be fine. Was fine.

“Two mojitos, three rhubarb-strawberry margaritas, and a blue gin and tonic.” The server, Sarah, had been one of those who greeted me on my first day. She flashed a smile. “You okay?”

“I will be.” Reaching for the blender, I tried to smile back. “How is your evening going?”

“Good, thanks. When you get a slow moment, Karma would like you to stop by her office. I just ran into her over by the bandstand.”

“Oh, all right.” Shoot, would she ask about the test? Whether I had replied? Would she be disappointed in me? “Thanks, Sarah. I’ll get the drinks.”

It was several hours before I had that slow moment. After last call, in fact. Assuming it was too late, I walked over to the office hallway anyway and found Karma at her desk, laptop open in front of her.

“You’re still here.”

She looked up. “Yes, indeed I am. Come in and have a seat.” She closed the lid of her computer. “How was your evening?”

“Busy.” I sat in the indicated chair and sighed. “That feels good. I’m sorry I kept you waiting all this time.”

“Think nothing of it.” Karma lifted her arms over her head and stretched. “I’ve had my own tasks to deal with. It’s not all glamour, you know. A lot of it is bookkeeping.”

“Don’t you have someone who does that?”

“More than one, but in the end, it’s my job to review the numbers.” She pushed the computer away. “Done with that for this month, anyway.”

“You asked me to stop by?”

“Yes, if you haven’t made a decision yet about that part you auditioned for, I may have an option for you.”

Oh no.

“I…”

“You didn’t decline?”

“No, not exactly.”

“That’s good.” She let out a breath. “I was afraid I took too long to find a solution. I have someone in mind who could sit with Bosco while you’re away. Since your kitten is so comfortable in his home, this would involve someone staying in your second bedroom.”

“Really? Who is it?”

“Not someone you know. In fact, I haven’t met them yet, myself, but I am sure they will be perfect for the job.”

If I’d learned anything since coming to work here, it was that Karma had an impeccable sense of who to trust. “That sounds like a perfect answer.” Then I squeezed my eyes closed. “Except I don’t know how to reach them.”

“The text?”