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“There’s nothing out there, right?” Another slurp of soup. “Nobody’s hiring. Every restaurant is running on reduced staff. It’s kind of a good thing I’m stuck in Rome, because if I was back in Boston I wouldn’t have a job. At least here, the room and food are free.”
The hot soup must have been invigorating him, because he sounded a little more energetic now. That made me smile.
“Things will open up eventually,” I said. “I have a friend back home named Sara.”
“The one whose number you were going to give me?”
“You’re lucky I can’t smack you right now. As I was saying, Sara knowseveryonein town. She can definitely help you find a job when we get back.”
Donovan’s spoon clinked on the side of the bowl. “Molly? Are you asking me to go back to Elkhart with you?”
I cringed. I had been speaking in a rush because I was worried, babbling on since talking was literally the only thing I could do with Donovan. I hadn’t realized what I suggested.
What do I do? Take it back? Make a joke about Sara?
“I was just babbling,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I wasn’t trying to… That is to say, I wasn’t necessarily… You know what I mean.”
A long silence stretched.
“How’s the soup?” I asked.
“It’s… fine.”
“Ouch,” I said with a chuckle. “I know I’m not a very good cook. Tell me what I should have done differently.”
“I don’t really know,” he replied in a strange tone.
“Come on. You know that the best way to improve is to get constructive feedback. I’m sure they gave you plenty of criticism at your cooking school. Does the soup need more salt? Is the broth too thin?”
“No, Molly, that’s what I’m trying to tell you,” he insisted. “I can’t taste the soup at all. I just realized I can’t tasteanything.”
42
Molly
The Day I Committed Theft
I jumped up from the floor. “No.”
“Molly…”
“You’re just congested,” I insisted. “That’s why you can’t taste anything.”
“That’s not it,” he said. He sounded resigned. “My taste is definitely gone.”
There was no denying it now. All of my bargaining and excuses felt useless on my tongue.
Donovan has the virus.
And then, a moment later, another thought slashed across my consciousness:I’ve been around him constantly before today. If he had it…
I shook my head. There was no time to worry about that now. I felt fine, and Donovan was my primary concern. Heneededme.
“You need to get tested,” I said. “To confirm it.”
“What’s the point, Molly? They can’tdoanything about it.”
“You don’t know that!” I argued. “They might have some treatment or medication they’re not telling people about. Or put you on a monitoring list. They can dosomething.”
