Jane swept the diner floor with uncharacteristic cheeriness. It was almost midnight, and she was closing up. Tomorrow she would hit the road early with Rosalind. They would be home in Cameron by lunchtime.
"I'll take the trash out too!" Jane called to Liz.
"You're a saint today," Liz said.
"I'm always a saint," Jane said.
Liz snorted and reminded Jane about the time last week when a customer asked Jane why his omelette was taking so long and Jane had told him that he was welcome to duck into the kitchen and help cook.
"I was frustrated that day," Jane said. "None of my characters were cooperating. But going home will be good for me. I'm always inspired when I go home."
Jane walked fast on the way back to her apartment. She always made sure to keep her pepper spray in her pocket in easy reach when she had to work the late shift. Her dad always worried, but nothing bad had happened yet.
Sometimes Jane wanted something bad to happen, just so she could get some experience. It might be rather thrilling to pepper spray someone. Maybe Skye would pretend to be an attacker when she was back. Jane doubted it, but perhaps Skye missed her so much she would be willing to help Jane out with life experiences in her spare time.
Jane was terrible at keeping secrets. She had already told Rosalind that Skye was considering moving back, and that she had broken up with Dusek, the love of her life. Jane was positive it was Skye who had dumped him. Dusek was too sweet to break up with Skye.
"Plus, Skye is kinda out of his league," Rosalind said.
"Huh?" Jane said. They had been having brunch at their favorite restaurant. Rosalind was eating the spinach and mushroom omelette. Jane was sawing through a stack of waffles with extra whipped cream.
"I hate to say it, it feels mean," Rosalind said. "But Dusek was just a little...plain."
"It is very unlike you to critique other people's appearance," Jane said. She shook her fork at Rosalind, splattering cream over the table.
"I didn't mean just his appearance," Rosalind said. "He was boring. Skim milk. Vanilla ice cream."
"He was a scientist," Jane said.
"So? There's no rule that scientists have to be bland," Rosalind said. "Skye's certainly not."
Jane contemplated all this. She had to admit Skye had always looked like she was floating a few inches above Dusek. He had been so quiet and polite. Jane had figured it was a European thing, since he was from the Czech Republic.
"Good for Skye for not settling," Rosalind said. "Penderwick women should never settle."
Jane had liked that line. She was still contemplating how she could stick it into her writing. Obviously, she would have to change the "Penderwick" part. And who would say it? Her protagonist's best friend? When?
Jane was a bit jealous to be honest. She wished Rosalind had been that inspiring back in December, when Jane and Leon had their explosive fight, during which Jane threw a Christmas wreath across a room.
When Jane had met Rosalind at a wine bar to discuss, Jane had been furious. How dare Leon question her life choices and judge her? How dare he suggest she think about law school. Just because he was Mr. Responsible with his job in finance. Jane had thought he was different. She had thought he had a heart.
All Rosalind had said then was: "Don't you think you sometimes pick fights though? Like, you're expecting him to criticize you, so you leap down his throat if he says just one thing that you think is a little bit critical."
Jane had been speechless.
"Face it," Rosalind had said. "You like to fight."
Then Jane had tried to get Rosalind to take tequila shots. Rosalind had declined (it was a Tuesday evening), so Jane had taken two. Rosalind had gone home to Tommy at one point, but Jane had stayed on and made some friends at the bar.
The next morning, Jane had a hangover of absolutely devastating proportions. And that's when she swore off love.
That night in the wine bar, Jane would have killed for inspiring "We Don't Settle" Rosalind. She wondered if Rosalind had called Skye and told her that she approved of the break-up.
Skye would have no right to be mad that Jane had told Rosalind. If Skye wanted it to be a secret, she wouldn't have told Jane. Besides, now that Jane thought about it, it was very likely that Skye had intentionally told Jane, because Skye knew Jane would spread it to the rest of the family, thus removing the need for Skye to drop the news. Typical Skye.
Back at her apartment, Jane began to pack. Not even memories of Leon and Rosalind's useless relationship advice could interfere with her mood.
March was not her favorite month. Jane had to pack layers. When she got to Gardam Street, it might rain or the weather might drop. Or they could get a warm spell. Jane didn't look up the weather forecast. She had decided that not knowing made life a little more interesting. In old books, people were always getting caught in the rain unawares, and it usually moved the plot along. Jane wanted her plot to be given a nice push, and who knew, maybe a shocking rain shower on Gardam Street would be just the thing.