Molly took my hand. “It’s good to see young people who aren’t afraid to work.”
“Jay-jay is a great boss, and I’ve learned so much this summer.”
“How old are you, dear?”
“18. I start college this fall.”
And that was when the receptionist said they were ready for us.
During the walk to the conference room, I rubbernecked like crazy. The architect’s office was amazing. I didn’t know the term, but later Jay-jay said it was classic industrial. I just thought it was an amazing place.
No one was in the conference room when we arrived. Jay-jay talked to her friends. I listened, but I roamed the space, too. There were photos on one wall, and I studied them for a while. Another wall had plans – house blueprints. I wasn’t really sure what to make of them.
Then, on a set of tables near the windows, there were model houses, and they were beautiful. And so, I didn’t hear when the other people walked in, and I didn’t hear when Jay-jay tried to introduce me until finally she said my name somewhat loudly.
I jumped and turned around. She hadn’t yelled, but I suddenly felt guilty. “Sorry,” I said sheepishly.
“Quite all right, young lady,” said a tall, slender woman. She stepped over. “Regina Jackson.” She held out her hand and shook, then gestured. “That one was my first.”
I turned to look at it. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she said. “We don’t do it this way anymore. Everything is on the computer. No one takes the time to build models like these.”
“I bet a lot of people struggle to visualize otherwise,” I said. I gestured to the blueprints. “Those are kind of…”
“I know,” she said. “But we have a little virtual reality setup, and these take a lot of time to make.”
“Well, they’re beautiful,” I said.
After that, we got seated. I sat beside Jay-jay and kept my mouth shut. But I listened to Regina, and I found I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
Oh, not like that. It’s just… She was brilliant. I didn’t understand half of what she said, but clearly, everyone else did. And beside me, the longer Regina talked, the calmer Jay-jay got. I didn’t understand that, but I would, later.
But I listened to everything Regina said, and when I had a chance, I looked carefully at the drawings she did. And they even let me play with the virtual reality system for a minute, but it was really for the clients, so I was brief.
And then the clients said, “Regina, this looks good. Jay-jay, we want you to do the work. We know you’re worried about scope creep. How about we figure it out as we go?”
“That would be great,” Jay-jay said.
There was a pause, and then Regina said, “Are there any other questions?” No one spoke until I slowly raised my hand. “Go ahead, Lydia.”
“Did you go to school for a long time?”
She began a slow smile. “Where are you attending?”
“Just the U.”
“They have an excellent Bachelors of Architecture,” she said. “It’s a 5-year program. You can get an entry-level job with that. You may want a masters, which takes another one or two years, and some people take advanced classes in various specialties.”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it, but it’s long hours and hard work. You can make good money, but entry level jobs pay poorly, especially when you consider the amount of education and long working hours.”
I suddenly wanted to ask no end of questions, but this meeting wasn’t the time, and so I said, “Thank you,” and left it at that.
Regina looked into my eyes for a moment, then she very pointedly pulled out a business card and slid it across the table to me. “If you want to talk further,” she offered. Then she smiled and looked around. “Thank you for coming in today.”
* * * *
In the car, I said, “Jay-jay?” She glanced over at me. “You seemed to feel better about it by the time we were done.”
“A lot better,” she agreed. “Were you able to follow everything we discussed?”
“Not hardly,” I admitted. “But that’s okay. Thank you for bringing me with you. Jay-jay, how old was I when you and Karla began borrowing me?”
She laughed. “Oh, I think 7 or 8. I’m not sure. Do you remember the first time?”
“I’m not sure what was first. You’ve taken me to a lot of movies, and a few sleigh rides. You took me boating that time.”
“You were older by then.”
“12, I think. Ruby taught me to fish. I nearly hooked you. I’m sorry about that. I bet the first time was a movie.”
“It was.”
“Ice Age?”
“Yes.”
“How do you remember that?”
“Well, that one was notable. Karla wanted to see it. Secretly, so did I, but I didn’t want to be a couple of old broads sitting through a movie for kids. We argued about it in front of Jackie. And, while we were still arguing, Jackie called Merry and said the two of us wanted to borrow you.”
I laughed. “Really?”
“Yep. It wasn’t at all our idea, but it shut both of us up, right then.”
“In fear?”
“Cute,” she replied. “And your mother said ‘Yes’. And Karla started to cry. And I would have, too.”
“Except you had to be strong for her.”
“Pretty much,” she agreed. “And then we were terrified Merry would change her mind.”
“She would turn down free babysitting?”
“I used to babysit until I was 16,” she explained.
“Is that a non sequitur?”
“And then one of the mothers realized I was a lesbian. It took about ten seconds before they all knew, and about another second and a half before I didn’t have any more babysitting jobs.”
“Fuck,” I said. “Seriously?”
“Seriously, and don’t let your mother find out I don’t yell at you for saying that word around me.”
“It seems like you’ve been in my life as long as I can remember. How old was I the first time we met?”
“Oh, I don’t know exactly. I don’t know if it was five and a half hours or a full six.”
“Wait. What?” She glanced over, grinning. “You came to the hospital?”
“Sure did. Karla was so angry at me afterwards.”
“You didn’t bring her?”
“No. I got to hold you first, and then she didn’t get her turn because the nurses chased us out. But it was her fault we arrived near the end of visiting hours, and she would have felt terribly guilty if she’d held you first, and I didn’t get to. You were so small.”
“As 6-hour-old infants tend to be. I bet I just disappeared when you held me.”
“Lydia, there are certain events that stand out in my life far more than others. While that wasn’t necessarily the top, it’s top ten, maybe top five.”
“What’s first?”
“First kiss.”
“Karla?”
“Don’t you dare repeat this conversation, Lydia.”
I laughed. “Not Karla?”
“No. She knows she wasn’t first. I wasn’t her first, either. But I thought no one would want me. But then a really cute girl kissed me.”
“When?”
“Church camp. I found out later she did it on a dare.”
“Ouch.”
“No, it was fine. She told me it was nice and said, ‘You’re going to be a lady killer, Janice.’ And while it didn’t all happen at once, that was a turning point in my self-image.”
“It’s hard to envision you as anything but extremely confident.”
“We all go through our own growing pains.”
* * * *
It took a few days, but I found time to do some research, what I could do online. And then I used Regina’s card and asked if I could call her some evening. We talked for an hour.
The next morning, I told Mom, “I’d like to talk to you and Aunt Jackie
.”
“I’ll set something up.”
Two evenings later, the three of us headed downstairs for a little conference. I turned to them and said, “I think I know what I want to study in school, but it might be a really bad idea.”
“What, honey?”
“Architecture.”
“It’s a respected field.”
I relayed to them what I’d learned, and that was when I looked at Aunt Jackie. “I have responsibilities. Will I be able to keep up with them while pursuing something like this?”
“You’ll be busy,” she said. “If the age gap between you and Serephine was smaller, everything would be different.”
“I don’t imagine I’d be the one making her first grimoire.”
“Probably not.”
“That means I’m also going to be her teacher, like you’re mine.”
“With my help,” she confirmed. “Yes. Honey, if you think architecture is your passion, you should pursue it.”
“It’s a 5-year degree.”
“Then it’s a 5-year degree,” Mom said.
“Then… I think I want to be an architect.”
They both smiled broadly. “Then you have a plan.”
Long Distance
I worked for Jay-jay through the end of August. Mom, Dad, and Aunt Jackie surprised Janie and me. They rented a cabin on a lake for us for the long weekend. It was awfully nice of them.
We alternated drivers. I spent my time as a passenger staring at my girlfriend.
I’m not going to talk too much about it. Frankly, we spent a ton of it in bed. We were still awkwardly learning, and we used the opportunity to hide from the reality of our situation.
And so, we gained practice, shall we say, and I was entirely in love and, for the moment, deeply happy.
Our car ride home was subdued. Neither of us talked much. A week and a half later, Janie left. She and Summer were driving to California, and I wouldn’t see her until she came home for winter break.
I didn’t start sobbing until they were out of sight.
* * * *
My story isn’t over, not by a long shot. Janie and I are going to try to do the long-distance thing. It’s going to be hard.
But over the last year, I learned so much. I’ve learned more magic. I’ve grown up. I think I now have a plan for my life.
For now, I’ll keep learning magic. I owe it to myself, and to Aunt Jackie, and to Great Aunt Mabel, and especially to my little sister, Serephine. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’ll be counting on me.
I don’t intend to let anyone down.
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A lover of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as robin.roseau@gmail.com. Robin's web site is http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Fox Play
Fox Mate
Fox Afield
Fox Revenge
Fox Dish
Fox Lost
Wolf Watch
Wolf Ways
Wolf Women
Fox Fate
Jaguar
Omega Born
Omega Life
Omega Choice (coming soon)
Fox Short Stories
Hunting Pups
Fox in the Water
Fox Rematch (set after Fox Mate and Fox Afield)
Fox Opponent
A Foxy Valentine
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Kitty Cat
Poor Little Witch Girl
Seer
Seer: Thrall
Seer: Guardian
The Selected Series
Collected
Taken
Volunteer
Candidate
Recruited
Galatea
Beginnings
Lottery
Selected Roommate
Selected Assistant
The Games People Play Series
Stories that ask a simple question: do you want to play a game?
Do You Want to Play a Game?
My Soul to Play
My Soul to Lose
My Soul to Win
The Five Kingdoms
Privateer
Searching the High Seas
The Pawn Series
Pawn
Bishop
Rook
Queen (Coming Soon)
Ressaline
Encircled (Claary)
Delegation (Allium)
Ambassador
Princess
Heir (Ahlianna)
Tiara Parts One and Two (Darfelsa)
Other Novels and Novellas
Anonymous Bidder
Blood Slave
A Charming Brew
A Brew in Time
Emergency Claus
Encircled
Fitting In
Fluid
Free to Love
Galatzi Trade
Galatzi World
Galatzi Joy
Galatzi Life
In Custody
Lace
Lost in the Words
Metabrain
Mind Wipe
Outside The Box
Red Paws Inn
Stark's Dell
Submission
Sugar Baby
Surprise
Team Building
More Team Building
The Interrogation
Tresjolie
Trust
White
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short stories of love and lust amongst the slopes.
Snow Fox
Short Stories
Cooking for Love
Southern Night
Captured by the Raptor (writing as Rosetta Robins)
A Brew in Time
Copyright 2020 by Robin Roseau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
* * *
License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Credits
Eighteen
Falling
The Talk
Party
First Date
Lunch
Friends
Brewing
Enjoying
Aunt Mabel
Love
Applications
Relationship
Intervention
Graduation
Summer Job
Summer’s End
Long Distance
About the Author
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Short Stories
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
The Selected Series
The Games People Play Series
The Five Kingdoms
The Pawn Series
Ressaline
Other Novels and Novellas
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short Stories