Shadow Play

3

“Does that mean you want me to come for an interview?” I bit my lip. “Lass, I’ve been around enough years to know when I like a person. Email over your resume and references and as long as all that lines up, you've got the job.” “Are you serious?” “I’m certain as Sunday. You get those documents to me and if all looks good, how quickly could you get over here?” Like Cinderella twirling in a luxurious gown gifted by her fairy godmother, I could hardly believe my luck. Stuttering, I tried to think of how much time I would need. “Would two weeks be too much? I think I could get my affairs in order here and get myself packed in that time.” “Perfect, send over your information and I'll be in touch. Lass, it’s been a pleasure talking to you.” “You too, Fergus, thank you so much and I’ll get those documents to you right away.” As soon as we hung up, I emailed everything to Fergus including an updated cover letter —it was important that he knew I could perform the academic requirements of the job as well as the public relations. By the end of the day, he had emailed back informing me that I had the job. Sometimes you just know that things were meant to be, and that’s exactly how this felt. I had found the genie in the lamp and was getting my wish granted. I wouldn’t find out until sometime later that the genie himself had put his lamp on my doorstep and my wish was not without strings. A dozen different tasks filled my mind, but before I could get bogged down in all the things I would need to do before I left, I called my parents. They happened to be on one of their rare stints at home. My mom was thrilled not only for me but also to have a reason to take a trip to Ireland. She went on and on about the magical two weeks we spent there when I was about three years old. While I didn’t remember the trip per se, the notion was vaguely familiar, like a niggling in my mind. It was hard to say if I remembered it because it had been talked about later or from pictures in one of my mom’s albums, but I could definitely sense a recollection at her mention of the trip. I assured her that I would love for them to visit but only after I had a chance to settle in. When Ash and I moved to New York, my parents met us in the city and helped outfit our apartment. Whether they were helping me unpack, meeting a new boyfriend for the first time, or helping me choose my degree path, I always had my parents' support. Telling Ashley was going to be a lot harder. We were partners in our New York adventure and had an excruciatingly tiny efficiency apartment together where we were cramped but happy. She was loving her job and while she had started as an assistant editor who worked in the shadow of a senior editor, since then she had been promoted twice in the last two years and was now on the cusp of being named a senior editor herself. That day I worked the dinner shift and wasn't home until late in the evening. While I loved to cook, my evening shifts left little time to prepare a meal so I would bring home food from the diner. After my shift I grabbed Ashley's favorite, lasagna with garlic bread, before heading home in the cool November air. Each step closer to our building and closer to Ash, my stomach clenched achingly tighter. As soon as I opened the door Ash was there to scoop the sack of food into her arms. “Oh, Becca," she moaned as she walked to the couch, which was actually more of a loveseat. She took a long sniff of the air. “Lasagna, you know how I feel about lasagna.” “Indeed, I do, it's a good thing you have your stretchy pants on.” “You are an evil, evil woman.” “You love me.” “Yeah, yeah, but will you love me when my ass doesn't fit through that door?” I laughed as I put away my bags and hung my coat up behind the door. “How was your day?” After opening the food containers, she fell back onto the creamcolored sofa cushions with a loud sigh. “Just super, I worked all day proofing this God-awful historical drama about the Titanic. I’m pretty sure my eyes are going to start bleeding if I have to read any more of it tomorrow. I mean, who writes a book and doesn’t even have a foundational knowledge of English grammar? And who wants to read a horrible tragedy where you know from the start that everyone is going to die? Not me, that’s who.” “I know honey, but you are paying your dues, and one day you’ll be the muckity-muck at the top of the ladder deciding what books to publish. Just hang in there.” Her pitiful eyes rolled in my direction like a child whose ice cream had just fallen on the floor and we both burst out laughing. This was what I was going to miss most, sharing my day with my dearest friend in the world. I knew there were cell phones and we could Facetime or Skype, but it wasn’t the same as giving each other pedicures and scouring thrift shops on our days off. I was going to miss this girl and that thought had my eyes watering. Before I could stop it, my laugh turned to sobs. “Oh my God! What’s going on here? Are you crying? What happened?” she rushed to wrap her arms around me. “Did somebody hurt you? Tell me who it was, I’ve read plenty of mafia books—I could totally kill a man and no one would ever find the body.” I wavered between sobbing and laughing as I looked up into her eyes. “Ash, I have some good news but I’m not sure you’re going to be happy about it.” “Holy s**t you got knocked up.” Her eyes grew huge. “It was that hottie in 5B, wasn’t it! You said you guys didn’t hook up! Don’t worry—” “Ash—” I tried to cut in. “—we will do this together and it will all work out, I promise.” “Ash! I’m not pregnant. I got a job … in Ireland.” Ash's stunned eyes met mine, tears still wet on my flushed cheeks. After what felt like ages, she breathed out a huge sigh and sank back into the couch. “Oh, thank God, because no matter what I said, I’m not ready for a kid yet.” We both contemplated that image before she peered at me curiously. “Then why are you crying? This is a good thing, right? A museum job?” I reached for Ashley's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s an amazing opportunity, I’ll have my foot in the door at a world-class museum. But Ash, you’re my soul sister, and it’s so far away. I’m going to miss you so much and I don’t want you to be upset at me for leaving.” Her eyes got glassy as she sat forward.