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“It’s pretty dark in here,” he said as she led the way with her flashlight.
“There’s a stairwell on the other side, and it has skylights, which keeps the entire thing lit even though the lights aren’t on. I think this one actually has skylights too, but maybe they broke or something, and they put plywood over them. At least, that’s what it looks like from what I can tell. I haven’t actually gotten a ladder and gotten up on the roof.”
“And you’re not going to do that either. Correct?”
She ignored him. If she had to get a ladder to get out on the roof, she would.
“Pamela Corrigan. I expect an answer.”
“You didn’t use my middle name, so I don’t think you’re serious.”
“Pamela I’m-as-stubborn-as-this-stick Corrigan, tell me you’re not getting a ladder and going out on the third floor on the roof that is three stories above the ground. Especially by yourself, with no safety equipment.”
“I won’t do it with no safety equipment. How’s that?”
“Your idea of safety equipment is probably... I don’t even know. But I hardly doubt that it’s OSHA approved.”
“Yeah. Definitely OSHA would not approve of my methods.”
“Exactly. So, I need a promise. Right now.”
She smiled at his demand as they reached the top of the stairs and she pushed open the door. “I’ll let you know when I’m doing it, that way I won’t be alone.”
He didn’t say anything for a bit as she led him down the hall to the area where it opened up to the floor-to-ceiling windows that faced the lake.
“Whoever was building this really knew how to take advantage of a view,” he murmured.
“Right? This is just absolutely amazing. It’s such a shame for it to be going to waste like this.”
“Crumbling into ruins,” he agreed with her.
He brought plastic silverware, and they settled down, sitting on the floor side by side staring out at the lake with their food in front of them.
Mark prayed for it, without them really talking about it. They’d eaten plenty of times before, and he always said the blessing.
It was so nice to be with someone that she felt so comfortable with. Although, it hadn’t been like that to begin with. It had taken years for them to fall into a routine.
She supposed there were some people who met each other and felt like they’d known each other for years, but the friendship that she and Mark had had been built on years of chance encounters, being neighbors, and eventually becoming friends, then good friends, and now she would consider him her best friend.
It hadn’t been an overnight thing.
But that was how some friendships grew. Over time, as they shared experiences and went through life together.
“Have you heard from your sister again?” she asked as she opened up her Styrofoam container and paused with her fork above the saucy-looking pasta. It smelled amazing. She sat, just breathing in the scent while Mark let out a sigh.
“She’s offended that I won’t let her best friend come and stay with me.”
“But she’s still talking to you?”
“Yeah, she called just before I went to the diner to get comfort food and figured you’d join me in eating my troubles away.”
“You know I am always down for food.”
“Especially after a hard day in the classroom—” He cut off abruptly, almost as though he were afraid that it would upset her to be reminded that she was no longer a teacher.
“It’s okay. I guess I was a little depressed about that today. I... I knew when I quit that I was giving up the privilege of being with the kids and the joy that I get from that. But...” She blew out a breath, digging into her pasta absentmindedly. “How can I continue to stay there when I’m required to teach things that I completely disagree with, and I’m not allowed to talk about things that are important? Important for life and for eternity. It’s like the whole world has gone crazy. Where are the people with brains?”
“I think they probably feel like they have them. But the Bible does say ‘professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.’ I suppose that’s something we should be expecting, instead of being surprised when it happens.”
