It's a Green Thing (10 page)

“She didn't know about it…not until shortly before she died.”

“Oh…”

So without telling everything, I mentioned how my mother has had some problems. “She ran away from home as a teen, so she was pretty much off the radar with her family. In fact, if Kim hadn't hunted down my mom online when Aunt Patricia got sick, we never would've connected. As it was, we got here too late for me to actually meet my aunt.”

Jackie smiled sadly. “Well, Patricia was a truly wonderful person, Maya. I'm sure you would've liked her.”

“I feel the same way.” Then I told Jackie about working in my aunt's garden and how it makes me feel close to her. “It feels like a real connection.”

“I'm not surprised. Your aunt loved to garden.”

Then a customer came in, and I was relieved to end the conversation. Not that I don't like Jackie—I really do. But talking about my aunt seemed to be making us both a little blue. Anyway, I did try to smile more and be more friendly and cheerful. I'd hate to think my presence in her shop was bringing people down. And for some reason, we had a lot of shoppers this afternoon, and they were actually buying, not just looking. I think Jackie was pleased, and I actually felt somewhat useful. Then at the end of my shift, Jackie took me aside again.

“Look,” she said quietly since a couple of customers were
browsing through the dress rack. “My husband is an attorney, and if you feel you need someone local for your case, I think he might be willing to help out.”

I thanked her, and to my surprise, she hugged me.

“I think your aunt would be proud of you, Maya.”

I thanked her again, then got my bag and left. And as I drove home in my new car, feeling rather good about my new job, I was almost happy. Except for the dark cloud that won't go away. Cloud Brooke.

When I got home from work this evening, I was surprised to find Dominic's car parked in front of my house. Okay, I call it “my” house, but it's really my uncle's house. And Kim's. Still, it feels more like home to me than anything I've experienced in years. And I suppose that worries me a little.

Anyway, Dominic was sitting on the porch talking to Kim and Natalie. I was still dressed for work and, if I do say so myself, looking pretty good. Okay, in that weird fashion way that's not really my thing, but I can do it if I have to. And Jackie really seems to appreciate it. “You bring such a flair to our shop,” she told me the other day. “Business seems to be picking up just because you're here.” As a result, I take care to look my best.

Of course, it was kind of embarrassing when Dominic let out a low whistle as I walked up to the house. “I'll bet you're whistling at my car,” I teased as I paused on the steps.

“No, that was strictly for you.” Dominic grinned.

“You clean up pretty good,” Natalie said with a slight frown.

I laughed. “Thanks, I guess.”

“So how's the new job going?” Natalie peered curiously at me, like she still couldn't believe I'd landed this great job.

“It's okay.” This time I was playing it down.

“Any chance you'll get fired anytime soon?” Natalie punched Kim in the arm as if it were all her fault. “I didn't even know they were looking for someone at Jacqueline's, or I might've tried for the job myself.”

Kim ignored Natalie's jab as she pointed toward the street, where the two Priuses were parked. “Your cars look like a matched set. Well, except for the colors.”

“I hope you don't mind.” I turned to Dominic. “But like I told you, I'd always wanted a Prius. And you can't beat the mileage.”

“Hey, I think it's cool.”

“So how's the lawsuit going?” Natalie asked. And maybe I was just ultrasensitive, but it seemed like she was trying to take another poke at me.

“I don't really know. But my boss's husband has offered to represent me.”

“Robert Bernard?” asked Nat in surprise.

I nodded.

“You should be in good hands,” Kim assured me. “He's about the best attorney in town.”

“That's what your dad said too.”

“The whole thing is so ridiculous,” Dominic said. “And I'm happy to be a witness. I saw Brooke walking around after she fell. She said she was fine.”

“Marissa offered to be a witness too,” I told him.

“And I know Eddie would testify for you. He couldn't believe Brooke was pulling a stunt like this. Unfortunately, in Eddie's mind it's just one more strike against Christians.”

I nodded sadly. “That's kind of how Marissa felt too.”

“Christians aren't perfect,” Natalie said, “just forgiven.”

“Is that a Bible verse?” I asked.

“No, I read it on a bumper sticker.”

We laughed, and I thought maybe I'd been too hard on Natalie. I mean, she's not perfect either. But I guess she's trying. And it felt somewhat encouraging to hang with these guys on the front porch. Kind of like I wasn't as much of an outcast as I thought.

“Anyway,” Dominic said, “I tried to call your cell phone today, but it seemed to be—”

“Turned off,” I finished. “I don't like to leave it on at work.”

“Not me,” Nat said. “I always keep mine on.”

“Well, I feel like I'm there to wait on customers. Besides, my battery doesn't hold a charge that well.”

“I wondered if you wanted to do something sometime,” Dominic said. “You know, go out or something?” He clearly looked uncomfortable, like maybe he wished he'd kept his mouth closed in front of our little audience.

Nat tossed Kim a catty sort of look, like Dominic and I were planning some big romance, or maybe she thought we were going to elope.

“Sure,” I said quickly, mostly because I didn't want to have this conversation in front of spectators. I mean, I may be sixteen, but it's not like I've really dated. This is still new territory for me.

“So how's your work schedule?” he asked hopefully.

“Well, so far I've been doing the noon-to-eight shift. But Jackie told me that I don't have to work late every evening.”

“We could catch a late movie tomorrow,” he suggested. “Maybe meet at the mall or something.”

“Sounds great.” I was trying to act like no big deal. Like I'd been dating for ages and wasn't suddenly feeling nervous or questioning my sensibilities for going out with him. I mean, we've had a good friendship, and that's cool. What if dating messes things up? And yet…I couldn't deny that Dominic is a great guy or that he looked especially hot in his black T-shirt and aviator shades.

I had hoped to ask Kim for advice about this once Dominic had gone, but she and Nat suddenly took off—like they thought we wanted to be alone. As a result, I got very nervous and told Dominic that I needed to go in the house and “take care of some stuff.” Take care of some stuff? How ridiculous was that? But he was really sweet about it and just said he needed to go too. Then I went inside, and still wearing my nice work clothes, I got the compost bucket from under the sink and took it outside and
dumped it into my compost maker by the garden. Like that was the important stuff I needed to take care of!

I
don't know why I felt so nervous about my “first date.” It was actually no big deal. Okay, that's easier to say after it's over with. Earlier today I was a bundle of nerves.

“Are you feeling okay?” Jackie asked after I absent-mindedly hung a dress on the jeans rack.

“Oh.” I noticed my mistake and moved the dress.

“Are you worrying about the lawsuit?”

I gave her a sheepish smile, then told her the truth. She laughed but not in a mean way. “Oh, I remember that feeling.”

“You do?”

“Yes, that nervous uncertainty, wondering where the relationship was headed and whether I liked the guy more than he liked me or vice versa.”

“Actually I've known Dominic for a while,” I admitted. “But we've just been friends.”

She smiled. “Well, that's the best way to begin any relationship.”

So that's what I told myself. Of course I took some time to make sure I looked good before I went out to meet Dominic in the parking lot. We decided to take my car since he wanted to
see how it compared to his. And I even let him drive. Not because I think a guy should do the driving but just because I wanted to show off my car. It's a year newer than his and has a few more accessories.

“I wouldn't have gone for all the bells and whistles,” I said. “But someone else ordered the car, and I was just lucky they had it.”

“Lucky or blessed?” he asked as he handed me back my keys.

“Huh?”

“Well, sometimes we say we're lucky. And maybe that's the case. But I think God sometimes blesses us, and we just pass it off as dumb luck. And that doesn't seem right.”

“You know, I don't usually think about God blessing me. I guess I focus more on the negative things that come my way.”

Dominic paused in front of the theater and looked into my eyes. “That surprises me, Maya. All I have to do is look at you, and I can see just how blessed you are.”

I frowned at him. “How's that?”

“For one thing you're smart. And you're artistic…and interesting. You even care about the environment. On top of all that, you're beautiful. Don't you think those things are blessings?”

I considered this but wasn't sure how to respond without sounding conceited. Although I have to admit it was nice to hear such sweet things.

“Wouldn't you say those are God-given gifts?” Dominic asked as we got into the ticket line.

“Maybe so…” Actually, the more I thought about it, the more I thought maybe he was right. Maybe I am blessed. And really, it seems the worst things in my life usually come from other people. Like my own mother. And more recently from Brooke Marshall. Anyway, I nodded. “I think you're right, Dominic. I am blessed.”

“See.” He laughed. “And you drive a great car too.”

The movie was only so-so, but we had a good time critiquing it over coffee afterward. We both thought that it ended abruptly and that the plot was slightly contrived. But while I thought the actress did a good job, he disagreed.

“I guess it's good we don't agree on everything,” I said.

“Yeah, you know what they say about that.”

“What?”

“When two people agree about everything, one of them is unnecessary.”

I smiled. “I guess. But sometimes I think I'd like to live in a world where people agreed on more things. I don't really like controversy.”

“Meaning this thing with Brooke?”

I was also thinking about my mother just then. But I nodded.

“It'll all blow over soon.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I was there that day, Maya. Remember? I saw her fall off the scaffolding, and then I saw her get up and walk around.”

“I know. But I was doing some research online, and I read that sometimes people do get up and walk around after a spinal injury, and sometimes that makes the prognosis worse.”

“Oh…”

“We really should've made her lie still and wait for the ambulance.”

“I guess we could've pinned her down.” He gave me a half smile.

“I mean, it's not like I think it was my fault. Not really.”

“Well, it wasn't.”

“But I still feel guilty.”

“You shouldn't.”

I sighed. “And I feel guilty for having had bad thoughts about her.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I've had bad thoughts too.”

“But we're supposed to be Christians,” I protested. “We're supposed to love everyone.”

“Fortunately, God doesn't expect us to become perfect all at once. I suspect it's going to take some time…maybe an entire lifetime.” He smiled. “Don't be so hard on yourself.”

As I drove Dominic back to the mall to get his car, he asked me about youth group tomorrow night, saying that he'd be playing guitar again. But then I wasn't sure I would be there.

“Because I'm playing guitar?” he teased.

“No, of course not.”

“Because of Brooke?”

“She gave me such a weird look that last time I saw her. And I felt so miserable. Just seeing her like that, well, it pretty much took the fun out of being at youth group.”

“Maybe it's not supposed to be fun.”