Chapter 5 Sam

S he wasn't kidding when she said the guest house had changed, but the feeling that I could do anything, be anything in that space hadn't changed at all. I couldn't remember its exact origin story, but I thought my Great-Uncle Linden built it for her to use as an apothecary slash library. Years later, she'd have herbs harvested from her garden all somewhere in the drying process, tons of books and journals, art supplies, easels, whatever. It was magical to be allowed in there as a kid. Once she had the shop, it became more of just an art studio. Zin was not an artist the way my mother was—Zin's art was whimsical and fun and maybe not technically great, but that's what made the energy of her space more fun.

But now... it was light and airy with soft white bedding and a beautiful rug full of pinks and golden yellows. She'd put in a chandelier where each bulb sat in a different vintage teacup and saucer. The bookshelves were mostly empty for my own things, though there was a brand-new set of notebooks and fancy pens waiting for me on the nightstand. The small bathroom smelled like handmade soap, and I couldn't wait to shower off the road trip later. There was never a reason for a kitchenette before, but Zinnia had put in a mini-fridge, a toaster oven, and an electric kettle on a little cart along the back wall.

How has she made this space feel more like me than my own apartment?

I put my suitcase next to the little wardrobe cabinet and started hanging up my clothes. I'd changed into a soft, oversized pink t-shirt and a pair of wide-leg pants when I saw two high-school-aged kids carrying boxes toward the room.

"Go on up to the house, Samantha. I'll make sure they get everything settled," Zinnia assured me.

I nodded, thanked the two kids, and made my way back toward the main house.

Tacos .

A giant platter of tacos and rice and beans and chips and salsa sat in the middle of the butcher block island, and my mouth watered. There was almost nothing in this world that couldn't be improved by adding tacos. I hesitated an entire three seconds before deciding that my loving aunt would not want me to wait when all I'd eaten was a piece of gas station pizza.

I took one bite of delicious fried tortilla when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I tried to take it out without getting grease everywhere, but sometimes sacrifices were necessary. I pressed the answer-call button with my pinky and put it on speaker.

"Hey, Laur!" I said, trying to sound like I did not have a mouth full of food.

She squealed in response at a decibel usually reserved for dolphins, but it made me laugh anyway.

"I was originally calling to ask if you'd made it to town and politely see when you wanted to hang out, but in fact, I've already driven by your aunt's house once and saw that your car is there, and I'm now circling back around because I think we should hang out now unless you have a convincing reason we should not."

Lauren spit out this information without taking a breath, and I was walking to unlock the front door before she finished.

"Come in, you crazy stalker. Aunt Zin ordered six thousand tacos."

"I get to see you, AND there are TACOS? I'll be there momentarily. Love you byeeee!"

I shook my head at how she hadn't changed at all. Lauren and I were "summer best friends" the whole time we were kids, and that evolved into just normal best friends as we grew up. She was one of my favorite people on the planet, and I had to admit that living near her was a check in the "pro" column for moving. No one ever quite gets you the way your childhood best friend does.

A minute later, I heard the creak of the front door and freakishly fast footsteps coming toward the kitchen. Her strawberry blond ponytail trailed behind her as she ran, and she looked as cute as ever in a cropped Care Bears t-shirt and bright green shorts.

"I can't believe you're actually here!" Lauren yelled, practically knocking me over with a hug.

"I can't either, though I don't think our disbelief comes from quite the same place," I said, laughing.

"Don't even get me started on your slug-slime ex-boss. I'm here for celebratory tacos. Where's Zin?"

"Overseeing the neighbor kids as they unpack the U-Haul. Don't ask why the neighbor owed her a favor."

"Oh, I don't need to ask. That lady's husband came into The Bar all the time when I used to bartend. Total dick. His quick exit had Zin's name written all over it." She grinned widely, making me huff out a laugh.

"I need to go there now that I'm well over 21."

"You'll be disappointed if you're expecting something charming. But I'll come with. They still give me free drinks sometimes."

More than anything, I loved that whenever I saw Lauren, it was like no time had passed since we last hung out. She was a low-maintenance friend. When I called her, hysterical, after losing my job, she drove up to do absolutely nothing but hang out and eat trash food. She was the best.

"Well, in that case, I'm buying," I joked. "But really, I owe you for coming up to Rockford. I'll take you to dinner, anywhere you want, once I get my first check from the shop."

"Sorry, offer declined."

"You would decline free dinner with me?!"

"One, I'm currently eating a free dinner with you. And two, you're not ‘paying me back' for coming to see you. You're dumb." She raised her eyebrows, daring me to fight her, and once she determined I wouldn't, chomped down on a taco.

The back door swung open, and Zinnia glided in, satisfied that my things had all been moved.

"Lauren, dear, so happy you're here. Margarita?"

"As if you have to ask," Lauren answered, happily accepting a glass.

The sun sank down, and the full moon rose high in the sky as we ate and drank and chatted. I caught myself forgetting that I was there to repair the life I'd burnt to the ground, and that slap back to reality was less than pleasant. At least Aunt Zin kept us entertained by giving us our horoscopes for the next month—my life would be looking up if I could get over myself. As a Scorpio sun, it was unlikely. I had the feeling that was her opinion and had nothing to do with my actual chart, though. Before the day caught up with me, my aunt also made me put the name of my ex-boss and a few others on pieces of paper so we could stick them in a bag of water in the freezer. It wasn't a hex, but it felt good to put them on ice.

Both Lauren and I also set out jars of moon water in the back garden. Zin made us promise to let go of all the things that were holding us back and send them to the lovely moon. I didn't quite know how to let go of "everything" because it felt like it was my entire life that was holding me back, but I tried anyway. Maybe I'd take shots of the moon water tomorrow and all would be fixed. A girl could hope.