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What I remember about Hana Chen is that she’s incredibly smart. In our few shared classes, which includedRhetoric: The Art of Persuasive SpeakingandDebate 101, she was the one to excel at class presentations. Like she was born for the stage or something.
“You didn’t make it to the ten-year reunion,” she adds.
I slouch to put my canvas handbag down at my feet. “Yeah, I’ve been… busy, I guess. Got sort of wrapped up with things out in California.”
“LA, is that right?”
“Exactly. The land of Hollywood Stars, overcrowded beaches, and road rage.”
“Are you in town for a visit?”
“More or less. How have you been?”
“Oh, you know.” She waves a slender, pale hand around the office. “Getting this up and running. Not as glamorous as your thing, I’m sure, but it’s my own version of success. I always wanted to start my own practice.”
“Well, congrats. Roxie says people are really happy with the help you give. And I saw all those awards out in your lobby. Stillwell Business of the Year. That’s pretty cool.”
“Four years in a row, before the streak ended. But who’s counting?”
“Nice job. Who rained on your parade?”
“Knit Things and Strings. Joyce and her freaking free craft classes. I wanted to kill her.”
I wait for a laugh to show she’s kidding around, but she remains serious.
Okay, then.
Note to self: do not bring up rival businesses again. It’s a topic that apparently evokes a murderous response from my conversation partner.
“Bummer. Well, there’s always this year.” I twist to eye the office, which is so chillingly bare that it’s a struggle to find anything to compliment. Finally I wave toward the blinds. “I bet this space lets in some nice sunlight if you open those up.”
“I don’t like sunlight.”
“Oh. Er… yeah. I guess it can be a drag if you’re trying to work.”
“Exactly. It gets in my eyes. So, have you been to campus since returning home?”
“Not yet, but I’m taking care of a dog that loves walks, so we’ll definitely go toodle around there someday soon. How’s the place looking?”
“Orderly, but overrun. They keep the lawns trimmed nicely and if it wasn’t for the fact that class sizes have doubled, you might even be able to appreciate the neat and tidy green grass.”
“I heard that about this year’s freshman class.”
“It’s atrocious, how many people they accept. They’ve expanded the dormitories all the way down into that meadow behind the Lavern and Wilson dorms. The construction project dragged on for years and years.”
I know the meadow she’s talking about. It used to be pristine. “Really? Dang, I didn’t realize the growth was that significant.I’ll have to check it out. I’m staying on State Street, so that’s right around the corner.”
“State Street? I thought your family was on the other end of town.”
“They are. But I’m house-sitting. Remember Nick Landry?”
She shifts in her seat. “Of course…”
“Well, I bumped into him and he ended up finding this gig for me. We’re neighbors for the next couple months. That’s been interesting.”
Interesting is a serious understatement, given the fact that I’ve been thinking about Nick all morning.
Scrubs.
