“Not really.”
“I don’t.”
“So,” she looks around at the messy kitchen. “You like cooking.”
“I probably spend more time in the kitchen than any guy you’ve ever met.”
“That’s kind of cool, actually,” she says. Theresa leans against the counter and looks over at me. “What’s your favorite thing to cook?”
“Any kind of meat.”
“Figures,” she laughs.
Just then, Spot comes into the room and rubs up against her legs.
“Aw, hey boy,” she says. “I wondered where you were.”
“He went out this morning to run around.”
Spot was totally riled up after having such an adventure yesterday. I love my dog, but I don’t want him running around inside the cabin. I was happy he made himself comfortable running around outside. It’s one of the best reasons for living out here in the mountains. He can run and be free. He can explore and roam and have fun. He can hunt or swim or do whatever he likes. He can lead a happy life, and that’s all I really want for my pup.
It’s all I really want for anyone.
“So tell me something,” she says. “What’s your favorite thing about living out here?”
“The freedom.”
“From what?”
“Everything.”
“Not a city guy, huh?”
“Not so much.”
“I understand,” she says wistfully. She reaches for her hair and twirls it a little. “I’ve been thinking about leaving the city.”
I’m a little surpri
sed.
“Why?”
Theresa looks at me like she’s trying to decide whether or not she’s going to trust me with her answer. It’s okay. It’s a hard decision: trusting someone. The reality is that we’ve only just met, but still, I’m curious as to why the little minx doesn’t want to be in the city anymore. She’s got kiddos, after all. Doesn’t she want to be close to family?
“It’s my job.”
“What about it?”
“There’s been a lot of pressure lately,” she says. “I’m ready for something new.” She lets out a deep sigh of relief, as though she’s been holding it in. Somehow, I get the idea that Miss Theresa has been carrying around the weight of the world with herself, and that makes me feel just terrible.
“What about your job?”
“My assistant is...well, she’s a bit intense.”
“How?”
“Remember how I said she’s always booking things for me? Well, it’s not just once in awhile. It’s constantly. She thinks that it’s important and it’s just part of her pushing me forward. In some ways, it’s nice. She takes care of everything. All I have to do is just show up, but sometimes...sometimes it just feels like I’ve been playing the role of who I’m supposed to be and not actually playing myself. Does that make sense?”