Silvia laughed. “That would indeed ruin much of their appeal.”
“So we’ll keep the animals on a sacred pedestal. What else? Can you think of any lightning bolt moments in your life?”
“Yes,” Silvia said almost instantly, surprising even herself. “Volunteering here on Christmas Day. Nothing has made me feel that good since.”
Keisha feigned shock. “Not even Omar’s wiener?
“Shut up,” Silvia said, shoving her playfully.
“Never,” Keisha replied before growing serious again. “So helping other people made you feel fulfilled.”
“Yes,” Silvia said, emotion joining her conviction. “I only need your parents to start paying me for it.”
“That’s never going to happen,” Keisha said in exasperation. “Believe me, my siblings and I have tried, because you saw how many chores it creates. But you liked it anyway, huh? How about a social worker? Or a therapist?”
“I hope this doesn’t sound terrible, but I’m not sure I’d like getting that involved in people’s personal problems.”
“Fair enough. Some sort of charity work instead?”
“Maybe. I like that direction.”
“Start your own charity then. Who does the Saint Silvia Foundation benefit the most?”
“Families,” she said without really thinking about it. Maybe because she had faced the threat of losing her own for so long. “I’d like to help them stay together. I’m not sure how yet. But I’ll keep thinking about it.”
Keisha was looking at her funny. “I’m crushing on you so hard right now!”
Silvia laughed. “Would you stop?”
“I can’t,” Keisha said, her tone dead serious. “You need to start a charity for wayward lesbians, because I’m losing control.”
“Thank you,” Silvia said demurely. “You’re very sweet.”
“Can I ask you something about that? Since you brought it up all on your own?”
“Of course,” Silvia said while wiping at her eyes.
“You told me before that you’re used to keeping a low profile. Now that I know why, I can’t help but wonder how much of that factored into your decision. Are you with Omar because nobody will question that relationship? Would I have had a better chance if I was a boy?”
Silvia shook her head. “It really was just bad timing. You showed up in my life at the same time my feelings for him did.”
“What if Omar had never been in the picture? Or isn’t someday in the future. Would you ever let yourself be with a woman, knowing that it might attract unwanted attention?”
“I don’t know,” Silvia admitted.
“Because you’re unsure?”
“Because I’ve never thought about it.”
Keisha groaned in frustration. “You know what? You’re repressed.”
“Repressed?” Silvia repeated indignantly.
“I know it sounds like an insult. I don’t mean it that way. You have a very good reason for being repressed. But you definitely are. How else would you describe someone who hasn’t thought of their future, or who is so out of touch with their own feelings?” Keisha raised her hands to ward her off. “Again, not trying to be a bitch here. Just telling it like it is.”
Silvia glared at her a moment before exhaling. “Maybe I am.”
“As someone who can be very high strung, may I make a suggestion?”
Silvia shrugged. “Sure.”
Keisha reached into the pocket of the flannel shirt she wore and pulled out a joint. “Get stoned with me.”
Silvia’s eyes went wide in shock. “Is that real?”
“Of course,” Keisha said, running the joint beneath her nose to take in its scent. “I rolled it myself. You don’t have to, of course. This isn’t a dumb anti-drug commercial full of unrealistic peer pressure. I’m perfectly happy to keep it all to myself. But it does help take the edge off. For me anyway.”
Mindy often teased that Silvia had gone from being a kid to an adult, skipping over her teen years. But at the moment, she was far away from authority figures and had no pending responsibilities. And yet, she couldn’t change who she was. “What are the risks?”
“Does your boss do drug tests?”
“No.”
“Then it’s probably up there with sneaking a couple beers while your parents are out of town. But I can make sure it’s more like a single beer.”
“I thought you didn’t drink?”
“I don’t” Keisha wiggled the joint with a smirk. “Why would I when I’ve got this?”
Silvia shook her head ruefully, considered their tranquil surroundings once more, and nodded. “Okay. Let’s get high!”
— — —
Cameron was filled with pride as he hauled the freshly restored table inside, Charles leading the way into his home.
“I didn’t expect you to be done so soon,” the older man was saying, “but this is wonderful! Set it down here. Let me take a look.”
Cameron did so, noticing that the living room—normally filled with antiques—was looking sparser. “I really pushed myself to see how quickly I could get it done,” he explained while watching Charles examine the table.
“Considering how busy you must be with school and that adorable boyfriend of yours,” Charles replied, “I’m surprised it got done at all. The work is top notch, as always. You really could make a career of this.”
“A professional would have to be a lot faster.”
“Perhaps, but had I brought this table to one, I likely would have waited a month if not more before he had time to begin. Luckily, I have an ace up my sleeve. And some money in my pocketbook. I’ll be right back.”
Cameron happily surveyed the antiques on display, his gaze lingering on a jadeite candy dish that he had admired previously. “I also wanted to show you this,” he said when Charles returned. Cameron pulled out a small ornate box covered in sculpted flowers. “What do you think?”
“Let me see,” Charles said, handing him a check in exchange. “Isn’t this darling? Art Nouveau. Brass, most likely. Not particularly valuable, but wouldn’t it make a lovely decoration?”
Cameron smiled as it was handed back. “It’s for my friend’s birthday. She’s turning sixteen. I found it at a garage sale. I figure she can keep trinkets in it or whatever.”
“She’ll be delighted, I have no doubt. Would you like some tea?”
Cameron shook his head. “I can’t stay. I have to get to her party.”
“Oh, it’s today? Well you at least have to put a bow on that box. I have satin ribbon that would work a treat!” Charles went to an oak secretary with a drop front and opened one of the desk’s drawers.
“Can you do it for me?” Cameron asked. “I can barely tie my own shoes.”
“Certainly,” Charles said before setting to work.
Cameron looked around again. “You’ve cleared out a lot.”
“Yes! Oh my goodness, you simply must stop by the new store. You’ll be in heaven. I’m surprised how much I like it myself. There’s so much more room to see the pieces on display. Although I might change my tune when someone actually wants to purchase something. I’m bracing myself for that, but I did promise Lover Boy to make some room. Which between you and me, I’ll likely fill up again with new old things. Here you go.”