River of Implications

Venita Lee Stein was neither bored nor busy. Nor was she happy nor sad. She was simply numb. Alone and numb. And she had been that way ever since losing her boyfriend Terrence to a tragic car accident two years ago. Her only peace of mind was in knowing that the drunken bastard who'd caused the accident had also been killed. She was just glad it hadn't been instant. She stepped out of the tiny room she rented in southern Oregon and headed downstairs and out into the chilly spring-like day. It was only April, so that meant the weather wouldn't be as warm as she'd like it to be until June. She entered the small café just around the corner from her building and sat at a table for two by the window after ordering a latte. A few minutes later, her friend Scarlett entered the store, waved to her, got her own drink, and then came to join her. "Hello. How are you today, Venita?" "Ok. And you?" "Great. Just great." She settled down in her seat. "Well, I talked to Jan." "Oh, that's her name?" Scarlett nodded. "She said, 'If she's got as much computer knowledge as you say she does, then I definitely want to meet her.'" "That's good to know." "I told her about your recent loss and that you've been renting a room, and well, the rest you can figure out." Yeah, Venita thought to herself with a note of sarcasm. I can figure the rest out, all right. "So," Scarlett continued after taking a sip from whatever brew she'd gotten herself, "she's ready to meet you anytime you feel up to it. She knows you're ready to start work right away." "But what exactly does she need?" Venita asked. "She said she'd rather discuss it in detail with you, but it's something to the effect of just general electronic store maintenance. Answering emails, keeping track of stock, that sort of thing. But of course, she'll always be there to guide you and answer any questions you may have along the way. When I told her how we lived just a few doors down and all the help you gave me when I got that nasty virus on my own computer, she was impressed with how fast and efficiently you managed to track and destroy it." "How do you two know each other again?" "I used to help out occasionally when she had her brick-and-mortar store. Now I'm working full-time at the department store in the mall, like I told you, so I never bothered to help Jan with her online endeavors. Especially since I'm computer illiterate for the most part. Besides, the department store offers insurance. Jan doesn't. That's something you'll have to think about, too." "I haven't had insurance in years, so it's nothing new. I'm healthy anyway." "She'd want you full-time, though she would only pay you minimum wage, and she's not always an easy one to work for. I'll admit that up front. She's a sweetheart most of the time, but sometimes she can be a bit of a bitch." Venita pondered the information for a minute, then said, "Well, I've got the whole day free. Where does she live, assuming she works her virtual store from home?" Scarlett nodded. "Yeah, she does. You'll love this: she lives on a houseboat." "On a houseboat?" Venita asked, a bit surprised. "That ought to be interesting. Where is it?" "On the Klamath River. I told her you didn't drive and that you'd be taking the bus to where she's docked if she hired you." Scarlett pulled her cell phone from her handbag. "Let me give her a buzz and see if she's up to meeting you right now. Would that be ok?" "Sure," said Venita. Venita stared out the window at nothing in particular as her neighbor/friend called her old employer. After a few minutes, Scarlett hung up, slipped her phone back in her handbag, and said, "Ok, she's ready to meet you." "Think I look presentable enough, or is she not picky about that since I'd be working behind the scenes if she decided to hire me?" "You look fine," Scarlett assured her. "Jan won't care how you dress or anything like that. She only cares about your computer skills. For whatever it's worth, though, you do look great. I still can't believe you're forty-four." "Forty-five." Scarlett laughed, and they quickly finished off their drinks before Venita followed her friend to her car. About fifteen minutes later, they pulled up to a dock where several houseboats of various sizes were scattered about the river's edge for many miles. The river curved at one point, but Venita assumed there were more boats in that direction as well. It was nice, but the area was also a bit industrialized with a huge shopping center that ran all the way up to the dock. "Wow, been here all this time and never knew this was here. What a unique place to live," Venita said. "Yeah, Jan loves it. I wish I could afford a houseboat of my own. Nothing like the gentle sway of the rushing water to lull you to sleep at night."