Chapter 10
“GOOD MORNING CHICAGOANS! What a great start to this beautiful fall day with ‘Little Lion Man’ by Mumford and Sons. Today’s high will be 64 degrees and sunny, and tonight we’ll have lows of 35. . .”
The morning radio woke me to a pounding headache. I rubbed my temples and realized I was still lying on top of my comforter. I slapped the radio, causing it to fall off my nightstand onto the floor. I left it. Lethargically walking to the bathroom, I heard Ella and Ivy awake already, primping in the bathroom together.
“She’s a lightweight, that’s for sure,” I heard Ivy’s voice. Were they talking about me? I stepped behind my door, trying to listen in.
“I think she’s just a little insecure,” Ella said. I couldn’t believe they were talking about me. Were they talking about me?
“But I mean, who wouldn’t be?” Ella continued, “working in a modeling agency with all that competition, I don’t know how she does it. On top of dating model boy!”
Yep. They were talking about me.
“I heard models are really bad in bed,” Ivy said.
In my experience? True. I smiled sadly.
“Well, give her a chance. It’s obvious she hasn’t been single in a while and she’s definitely a guy’s girl. Try to be nice, would you?”
I felt sort of touched, that Ella would defend me.
“I’m nice, super nice, look at this face, nice written all over it,” Ivy laughed. “I actually like her a lot.”
I quietly shut my door, and then reopened loudly. “Good morning,” I called.
“Morning!” they both shouted in unison. As I walked by on my way to the kitchen, I saw them shooting each other looks, like some kind of private signal. I think they knew I’d been listening. Great, I was back in high school. I poured a cup of coffee. Suddenly, feeling suffocated in the apartment, I decided to go up to the roof to see what it looked like by early morning light.
The rush of cool air as I opened the door was refreshing. I breathed deep, walking over to the railing to look out over the city. There was nothing better than autumn in Chicago. Even this early in the morning, the city was alive. There were always traffic sounds in the background, and Lake Michigan was just starting to glow with the first rays of the sun. The garden was just preparing to go to sleep for the winter. The flowers were done blooming, and hibernation was setting in there.
The hot cup of vanilla roasted coffee felt comforting in contrast with the cool brisk air. I looked at the fire pit and the chairs, recalling events from the night before, when I sat and talked with Ivy and Ella. On the ground were two empty bottles of wine and a pack of cigarettes. I smiled, picturing Ivy puffing away. They may not know the real me yet, I thought, but that wasn’t their fault. Ella was right. I had some insecurities to deal with.
I tossed the wine bottles in the trash and noticed that tucked inside the pack of cigarettes was a lighter. Oh, what the hell, I thought. I hadn’t smoked a cigarette since I was last in Italy. I lit one up and sucked the smoke deep into my lungs. On exhaling I coughed so hard I thought I was going to pop a vessel. The idea of cigarettes was always more appealing than the reality. I crushed the cigarette out in the fire pit.
I heard the rusty door behind me slam. Startled, I turned back, grabbing the railing behind me.
“Meryl,” I sighed.
“Jeez, someone’s jumpy. Too much caffeine already?”
I grinned nervously. “Something like that.”
“So, you like our little piece of heaven?”
I nodded. “Or ‘cup of vino,’ as Ivy calls it.”
“I had the fire pit installed last year because Barbara was complaining about how chilly it was with the wind blowing, even in the summertime. But she rarely comes up here. I wish she would though.” She smiled and rolling her eyes, added, “I just create the attractions. I can’t make the audience come to the see the show!”
“Well, Ivy and Ella enjoy it,” I said. “We got some use out of that fire pit last night.”
Meryl saw the cigarette on the ground and looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “Seriously, are you okay? You seem. . .” She was trying to find the word, tip-toeing around my delicate feelings as usual. “nervous,” she finished.
“No, really, I’m good. The girls and I had a great time up here last night. I drank too much and passed out on top of my comforter.” I laughed at my pathetic inability to hold my liquor.
“Well, look at you...” Meryl smirked.
I shook my head.
“I’m proud of you, Bobbie. You’re going to be just fine,” she said and squeezed my arm. “I’m off to work. We’re getting ready for the Chicago Arts and Artists Convention.”
“Oh, I think Ivy was saying something about that last night. Her company is putting on the event, right?”
“Right. And I’ll be there, supporting my writers. I was thinking of asking this guy Ryan Johnson as my date. I hate to go alone you know. What do you think?”
“Ryan? Ryan?”
“He’s my assistant’s brother. He’s a tech entrepreneur, but he also is thinking about writing a book.”
“Of course he is! Just like anyone who gets connected to you!” I laughed. “You should absolutely ask him.”
“Okay, but if he turns me down, I’m going to ask you instead. You don’t mind being second choice, do you?”
“Not in this case,” I smiled.
“Oh, Barbara wanted me to tell you to stop by her place this morning before work.”
“Okay,” I agreed, wondering what Barbara had up her sleeve today.
On my way down, I knocked on Barbara’s door. I heard barking, yelping, and Due’s nails clattering towards the door. “Come in!” Barbara called. “Is that you, Bobbie?”
“Good morning, Barbara,” I said. “Mmm. Smells good in here.” The mingling smells of fresh baked bread and spices were tantalizing.
“Sit, sit. Mangia, mangia. I just made croissants!” She put two down in front of me, with a little dish of pumpkin butter.
“Wow, this looks incredible.”
“I know you need to get off to work, but I just wanted to give you something.”
“Something else?”
“Man does not live by bread alone—and neither does woman!” She handed me a small leather-bound book. On top of it was a post-it note reading obscuris vera involvens.
“This helped me in my darkest of times. Happy reading, dolly!” She laid a big kiss on my cheek.