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24
Moni was kneelingon the floor, flipping through old sales receipts, when Nina got back to the gallery. “So?”
“So…” Nina dropped into the chair behind the desk in their shared office. “It wasn’t what Ithought.”
Moni looked up. “What wasit?”
“A trip toIndia.”
Moni shook her head. “I don’tunderstand.”
“Neither do I.” She’d replayed every minute of the meeting with Jason and Robin, wondering if she’d missed something, some sign that it was a joke or that she’d misunderstood, but she always came back to the same thing: she had been offered a job in India for four months, a job that would land her a credit in WFAI’s book, a book that already had apublisher.
Moni got to her feet with a sigh. “Jesus. Am I really so old that it hurts to get down on the floor?” She started for the kitchen. “I have a feeling this is going to requirecoffee.”
“It’s going to require a lot more than that,” Ninasaid.
Moni opened the cupboard where they kept the coffee grounds and sugar, reached onto the top shelf, and held up a bottle of Frangelico. “It’s not a martini, but it’s better thannothing.”
“Where did that come from?” Ninaasked.
“I think Tobin gave it to us for Christmas last year. He probably thinks it’s what old ladies like usdrink.”
“He would be right. I’ll take a double shot in the coffee if you’re pouring,” Ninasaid.
“I’mpouring.”
Nina’s thoughts turned to Liam as the coffee machine sputtered to life. She couldn’t help feeling guilty that she hadn’t told him about the meeting with Jason and Robin at WFAI. It wasn’t a lie exactly, but she knew he was waiting for an answer on South Africa, knew he suspected part of her delay had to do with the possible project atWFAI.
If she told him about the meeting, he’d want to know what had happened, and she wanted to give herself time to process whatever came out of it. The details of the offer had been unexpected, but even if they’d offered her the garden variety freelance work she’d been hoping for, the pressure would have been on to come up with an answer forLiam.
For once, she didn’t want her decision to be colored by someone else’s point of view, by their expectations or desires. It would be too hard to make the best decision for herself if she had to see the light of hope in Liam’s eyes before she madeit.
Moni set a cup of steaming coffee in front of Nina, sat down in one of the chairs opposite the desk, and put her feet up. “Starttalking.”
Nina told her everything — WFAI’s short film, their marketing vision, the book, the offer to go to India for the summer. Moni listened mostly without comment, breaking in only to congratulate Nina when she realized the magnitude of the offer on thetable.
When she was done, Moni sighed. “Well… damn.” She took a healthy slug of her doctored coffee. “That was not what Iexpected.”
Nina laughed. “Imagine how Ifelt.”
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Monisaid.
“Yeah, one I’m probably not ready for. I keep thinking there’s been some kind ofmistake.”
“It’s not a mistake, and you’re more ready than you know. I’ve been saying it for months,” Monisaid.
“I didn’t think I was ready for a private show — and I still don’t. How am I supposed to believe I can handle something like this?” Ninaasked.
“Like you’ve handled everything else that’s appeared unexpectedly in your life. From where I’m sitting, you’ve done pretty freaking awesome.” She hesitated. “Is this about SouthAfrica?”
Nina looked at her. “How do you know about South Africa?” She’d only told Karen, afraid that a chorus of voices about what she should do would drown out herown.
“Liam told me when he showed me his last set of prints,” Monisaid.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything,” Nina said. “I just needed to figure out how I felt aboutit.”
Moni smiled. “There’s no mandatory share rule here. You’re entitled to all the privacy you need, but I’m guessing Liam’s offer doesn’t make coming to a decision about this one anyeasier.”
