“Zon, I’m not sure there’s anything you can do,” Gracie said gently. “Where are you now?”
“Vons.”
“Drop off your groceries and meet me at the Metro. I’ll buy you a drink and give you my unsolicited advice.”
“The drink sounds good,” Zona said. “Is it okay if I cry?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Well, because I just scared a woman half to death in the frozen foods aisle.”
“You won’t scare anyone. The staff will probably all give you a hug.”
“I just wish they could give me my life back,” said Zona.
“Which part of it?”
Good question. She’d had plenty of sucky years. “The part where I had hope,” Zona said. “Take me back in time to when I was eighteen.” No, not that far. Just to when she was happy with Alec.
“Can’t do that. But I’ll take you to Metro,” said Gracie.
An hour later they were seated at an outside table at the Metro Restobar with an order of truffle fries between them. Mojitos and moaning.
“I hate my life. Again,” said Zona and glared at her glass.
Gracie pointed to it. “Half empty or half full?”
Zona downed the last of her drink. “Totally empty, thank you.” She scowled. “I’m a cliché. Drowning my sorrows.”
“You’re only half a cliché. You’re not eating a quart of ice cream.”
“Give me time. I’ll get there. Why did he have to move in next door?” Gracie had no answer and Zona continued. “Why did he have to turn out to be nice?”
“Because you needed nice?” Gracie suggested. “Maybe you still do.”
Zona picked up a fry and bit down on it. “It would never work. His stepsister won’t be behind bars forever. She’s supposed to end up in Montana but who knows.”
“Who knows if we won’t have the big quake next week and all our houses fall down on us,” said Gracie. “Who knows if the Second Coming won’t happen tomorrow? Who knows if you will even live to see tomorrow?”
“Gee, thanks,” Zona said with a frown.
“Nobody knows the future, Zona. You can’t spend the rest of your life being afraid of it. What if you’ve already had your share of bad things happen and it’s all good things waiting for you now? Do you want to miss out on that?”
Did she?
“Life’s a gamble.”
“Aack. No gambling metaphors!”
“It’s true though. There are long shots and there are sure things. Even though I didn’t get to meet him, from everything that’s been happening, from everything you’ve told me, Alec looks more like a sure thing.”
“I can’t,” Zona said. “Bree will have a fit.”
“Bree isn’t the one who’s going to end up alone and unhappy. It’s your life.”
“But she’s a big part of it, and I’ve messed her up big-time with all my love fails.”
“Then maybe it’s time she saw you having a love win. If Alec is as solid as he sounds.”
