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Quarter. I shivered. Fall was coming; I could feel it in my bones. In fact, the whole city felt suddenly
as dark and unsettled as did I.
The next morning, I was barely out of the shower when the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey, lady,” the male voice said in a sweetly familiar Southern drawl.
It truly didn’t occur to me it would be Jesse. Not so soon. Not at 10 a.m. Surely Matilda would
have only just called him, would have only just offered him his options. Surely he’d need some time
to think.
But it was him. My nerves ricocheted through my body, making the receiver go instantly sweaty in
my hand. Now what?
“Who’s this?” I asked. When I’m afraid, I push things away with both hands. I don’t let go of them;
I hold them at arm’s length to gain the upper hand, hoping they’ll come to me. I did that with Will; I
was now doing that with Jesse.
“You know exactly who this is, Cassie Robichaud.”
The S.E.C.R.E.T. Steps quickly ran through my mind; yes! I had access to all these attributes, I’d
felt them, I’d experienced them. I could do this.
Surrender.
“I’m kidding. I know it’s you.”
“Yeah. So … Matilda says you wanted to see me?”
Courage.
“I do.”
“Where are you?”
Trust.
“I’m at home.”
Generosity.
“I was wondering … are you free for dinner next Saturday? I could cook.”
“I have to wait a week? Where do you live?”
Fearlessness.
“In the Marigny, not far from where I work.”
Confidence.
“I mean, if you’re not available next Saturday, the Saturday after is fine,” I added.
“I usually take care of my son on Saturdays,” he said. “But I think I can figure something out.”
Curiosity.
“Right. You have a son. How old is he now?”
“He’s six, actually. I have him every Wednesday, and every other Friday and Saturday until six.
Then I drop him at his ma’s. His birthday was four days ago.”
Bravery.
“Aw. Sweet. Well, why don’t you come over after you drop him off next Saturday? I’ll make us
something to eat. Bring a bottle of wine or whatever you want to drink.”
“I will do that, Miss Robichaud.”
Exuberance.
“Great! I’m looking forward to it. I’m in the green house on the corner of Chartres and Mandeville.
Second floor. See you then.”