Nearly ten years ago, when she first moved to New York. She wasn’t about to tell Melody that. The two of them had become goodfriends over the last two years since they became roommates. But there were things Riley didn’t want to share with her—oranyone else, for that matter. Like her reasons for staying away from Maple Falls.
Shifting the subject, she said, “You’re right. I need to focus on taking care of Mimi. That’s what matters. I’ll make sureshe’s following doctor’s orders.” She smirked as she set her phone on the coffee table. “She has a tendency to think she’sinvincible.”
“No way.” Melody chuckled. “Imagine that.”
“I can’t believe she slid into third base,” Riley said. “Or that she is even playing softball at her age. Then again, Mimihas been in sports all her life. She and Myrtle were on the first girls’ softball team in Maple Falls, and they were bothexcellent. She still plays tennis with Gwen too.” Riley looked at her slightly pudgy tummy, the result of cheap food, a fewtoo many glasses of wine alone in her apartment, and more than a little stress. She didn’t doubt her grandmother was in bettershape at seventy-two than Riley was right now.
“I had no idea Erma was so athletic,” Melody said.
“I shouldn’t be surprised she’s on the team. Well, maybe a little because of her age. Whoever is coaching ought to be smackedupside the head for letting her do something so ridiculous.”
“You think they could have stopped her?”
“They could have stalled her at second.” Riley shook her head and turned to her friend. “Anyway, what’s done is done. I’mheading back to Arkansas.” A sour lump formed in her stomach at the thought. She would have to quit her job and cancel herupcoming “show.” “Don’t worry about rent, Melody. I’ll still pay my share.” Somehow.
Melody nodded. “Any idea how long you’ll be gone?”
Riley shrugged. “Depends on how fast Mimi’s leg heals, I guess. I’ll be back as soon as I can, but it could be a while.”
Nodding, Melody adjusted her headband, seemingly deep in thought. After a pause, she said, “Would you mind subletting to Charlie?”
“The guy in your acting class?”
“Yeah. He’s been couch surfing for the past two months after a bad experience with his last roommate. He’s looking for a placeto land until he can find something more permanent.”
“Are you sure he’s . . . safe?”
“That boy’s practically got wholesome tattooed on his forehead. I kinda feel sorry for him. He’s character actor materialand not bad, but he’s rough around the edges. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well over the past year. Trust me, he’s safe.”Melody gripped Riley’s hand. “Thanks for caring, sis.”
“Always.” Riley held her hand tight, then let it go. She was so grateful for Melody’s friendship. She had answered Riley’sad for a new roommate at the local university where she took theater classes. Friendship had never come easy to Riley, butMelody’s easygoing and caring personality had eventually pulled her out of her shell.
She was also grateful to the unknown Charlie for taking over the rent for a little while. “Guess I better search online fora flight.”
“And I’ve got to get ready for the exciting world of waitressing. Double shift today. Yay me.” Melody got up from the couchand headed for the one bedroom in the apartment. When they first rented the place together, they agreed to change rooms everythree months. The arrangement had worked out well, especially since neither of them was big on entertaining visitors. Whenshe wasn’t delivering food, Riley was focused on her art, while Melody, a social butterfly who liked being out and about,often spent time with her actor friends at various places around the city. The few times she dragged Riley out of the cavehad been torture. Riley was used to being alone, and she liked it that way.
A few moments later, Melody emerged from the bedroom, dressed in the white T-shirt and black pants her job required. Her blue-and-orange-stripeddrawstring backpack was slung over her shoulders, and her lips glistened with plum lipstick that perfectly complemented herdark skin.
“See you tomorrow,” she said, opening the apartment door. “Don’t wait up.”
Riley waved goodbye as Melody closed the door. She rose from the couch and turned the double locks into place, then glancedat her ruined art. She wasn’t in the mood to try to fix it now. Instead, she walked over to the window and gazed at the viewof the brick apartment building next door. Not much of a vista, but like every struggling artist trying to make it in thebig city, she couldn’t afford to be picky. Still, New York was her home.
The window was cracked open, letting in the buzz of city life. When she’d first arrived, she had been awed by the place. Tooawed, to the point of culture shock. She wasn’t used to the mix of cultures, but she had quickly grown to appreciate the diversityof the people living here. She’d never gotten used to the nightlife, but that was fine. Her focus wasn’t on having fun. Shewas determined to break into the hip art scene that had eluded her for the past ten years.
She might be broke and in serious need of some vitamin D, not to mention shedding a few pounds, but at least she wasn’t inMaple Falls. The only way she’d planned to return was after she had proven to herself and everyone else that she was different.Successful. Responsible. And nothing like Tracey. Thanks to her grandmother not acting her age, Riley’s plan was now in shambles.
Riley turned and stared at the ruined peacock feather and the golden threads she had painstakingly glued over thick, liftedcurls of purple, blue, ochre, and green acrylic paint. Poking through the colorful swirls in what seemed like a random patternbut had taken hours to design were the glossy black-and-white magazine pictures of city life. The comfort of nature’s colorsclashing with the harshness of
