We’ll Meet Again Someday

May turned to June, and the weather got even hotter. Riana only saw Audra over the next couple of weeks when she was either cleaning or getting her mail. Despite the disappointing lack of contact with her, Riana thought a lot about their chat in the restaurant. She wished Audra would invite her out again and even contemplated inviting her somewhere on her own. She’d recently won $500, so she had some extra money. She wished even more that Audra would knock on her door one day when the others happened to be out somewhere and confess that she’d like to take that walk on the wild side after all. But neither of these things happened, of course. Splash! Riana rose from her chair and looked out at the pool through the window. All she could see was the shallow end from there, but the choppy water confirmed that someone was definitely in the pool. When Audra came into view a moment later, Riana threw on her rainbow-colored bikini, grabbed a towel, and headed out to the pool to join her. Audra didn’t see her right away. She was swimming laps and heading away from her toward the deep end. When she did spot her, she didn’t stop until she’d swum back to the shallow end. “What’s up?” she asked. “Want some company? Or would you prefer I leave you alone to do your laps?” Audra brushed her damp golden strands away from her face. “It’s okay. You can stay.” Riana threw her towel onto the chaise as Audra eyed her from head to toe and back again. Once Riana was in the water next to Audra, she said, “Or maybe you can do some laps while you contemplate my offer.” Audra half-smiled. “Yeah? What offer is that?” “Well, I don’t have the guts to invite you over to the wild side, so how about I just invite you out to lunch or dinner as you did with me? My treat this time, of course.” “Your treat, huh?” Audra began doing more laps. She was in great shape. She cut through the water swiftly, never losing pace. After the second lap, she stopped and stood next to Riana, looking indecisive. “What did you have in mind?” she finally asked. The question caught Riana off guard. She hadn’t actually thought about where they might go. “I don’t have anything in particular in mind. Do you?” Audra shook her head. “You went where I wanted to go, so I’ll go where you want to go, okay?” Riana nodded. “As long as you’ll let me know if you hate my suggestion.” “Of course. You know I’m outspoken enough for that much.” Riana laughed and swam alongside Audra. She could barely keep up. “My God!” she sputtered once they came to rest on the stairs after a few runs back and forth. “I really thought I was in better shape than this.” “You’re in good enough shape. You’re just used to exercising different muscles.” “That’s true. Riding a bike and jogging mostly work your lower body. It’s no wonder they say swimming is such a great form of exercise. It works everything.” “When did you want to go out?” Audra asked. “Anytime. You’re the one with the schedule, so I’ll accommodate you. Do you like Chinese food?” Audra nodded. “Sure do. I go to a place right up the street from here now and then. Sometimes I go with James and Emma, sometimes with Judith, sometimes by myself.” “Your circle is smaller than I thought. For some reason, I pictured you having lots of friends and constantly socializing.” Audra shook her head. “Don’t have time for that.” “Good for you. Tight circles are safer. Less trouble that way.” Audra glanced at Riana, and she was afraid she would change her mind. “Where’s James and Emma?” she asked before she could get the chance. “James took Emma to his parents’ house.” “Do your parents live here, too?” Audra nodded. “Yup. Been here for many years.” “Any siblings?” “Not for James, but I have a younger sister.” “Oh, that’s right. Emma said she moved to Cali.” Audra nodded. “To Death Valley.” “Nice place.” They dunked under the water to keep cool. “So, what’s this about you living in California as well as in Oregon?” Audra asked. Riana’s expression turned melancholy. “That didn’t work out. After we lost our house in Maricopa ten years ago, we bought a small parcel of land on a mountain in southern Oregon but found we couldn’t afford the long commute once the price of gas skyrocketed. I hated the cold and the snow up there anyway. Too much like Massachusetts. A few years later, we dropped down into the Sacramento area, got rich a couple of years later, shot on over to Nevada to save on taxes, adopted Nicolas, and then I lost them both just over two years ago. Yolanda didn’t want me to be alone, so that’s when I returned to Arizona.” “How’d you get rich?” “A computer program Amberlyn wrote to predict winning racehorses.” “Why couldn’t you carry on with that yourself?” “Because I never knew how. I’m lousy with numbers. I was the one good with words. That’s why I know five languages.” “Five?” Audra asked, with a hint of surprise. Riana nodded. “English, sign language, Spanish, Italian, and Hawaiian.” Audra was at a loss for words of her own in the one language she knew. “Anyway, money doesn’t mean all that much to you when you lose someone you love and you no longer have them to share it with. I don’t want to struggle, but I don’t care if I ever get rich again or not. The security of owning a house would be nice, but life has pretty much lost its meaning for me. I simply exist, you know? I don’t live.” The two stood silently, gazing at the waning sun. Finally, Audra said, “Emma’s going to spend a couple of months this summer with my sister and her two kids.” “Yeah?” “Yeah. Hayden’s got a boy and a girl. Darren’s ten and Jenna’s just a year younger than Emma.” “Any husband or boyfriend? Or a girlfriend for that matter?” Audra snorted. “The husband ran off. Didn’t exactly like the idea of daddyhood. She’s been with the guy she’s with now, though, for many years. Maybe someday they’ll get hitched.” “When is Emma taking off?” “In a few days. After that, I’ll have more time to go to the restaurant with you, Riana, but only under one condition.” “What’s that?” “Don’t get the wrong idea about me.” “No problem. I don’t want to bother with anyone who doesn’t want to bother with me.” Well, she did, but only in her mind at that point. Riana followed Audra out of the pool. “Hey, Audra?” “Yeah.” “How do you think James will react when you finally tell him you’re ready to walk that wild side?” Audra glanced at her quickly, and for a minute, Riana thought she was going to kill her, but instead she said, “That’s none of your business, Riana, and there is no wild side to walk, understand?” “Yo comprendo. Going in to enjoy some quiet time before they get back?” “I’m going in to do what I’ve been doing for nearly fifteen years now, and that’s to make dinner for my family.” “Ah, routine. Predictability. Schedules. Tradition,” Riana said, shaking her head. “It gets too damn comfortable, doesn’t it?” “Good night, Riana.” “Sweet dreams,” Riana called back over her shoulder as they stepped inside their domains and closed the doors.