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birds and
     seals. I glance around and am reminded of the atmosphere on this rooftop; everyone
     is engaged in lively conversation or enjoying the spectacular view. When you’re on
     the terrace, nothing else seems to matter—as if the ocean breeze carries a magical
     calm that blankets everyone below.
    Jax and I order and then talk about old times, work, she fills me in on some of our
     high school and college friends. Both Emily and I went to UC San Diego and even though
     Jax didn’t attend, she was right there with us. She went to all the parties, made
     friends with all the same people we did. I ended up spending more time with her after
     Emily dropped out to get married.
    We are just finishing our meals when Jax brings up the subject I’ve been dreading.
    “Are you going to visit Rose?” she asks.
    I’m on the immediate defensive. “Jax, you know I don’t have time. I told you that.”
    “Uh-huh.” She nods.
    I try to convince us both. “My meeting is at three. Even if I get lucky and we’re
     out by four, I’ll be battling traffic the whole way back.”
    “Don’t go back. It’s Friday. Stay the weekend. Or just the night.”
    I had anticipated Jax would try this, so I’m ready with my story. “I can’t. I told
     Christine we’d go over stuff for this new client right when we get back.”
    Jax doesn’t let up. “Why can’t you do it on the phone? Or that video chatting I’ve
     seen you do with her? I know you’ve got your laptop. You never go anywhere without
     it. And I also know you always bring extra clothes with you in case you decide to
     stay. C’mon, it’s bad karma. You said you had to visit your grandma, so now you damn
     well better do it.”
    “She doesn’t even like me.” I half believe this excuse. It’s not that I don’t want
     to have some extra time with Jax, and it has been a while since I’ve visited my grandmother.
     But, she never seems glad to see me, and she always finds a way to make me shrink
     with inadequacy.
    “She loves you.” Jax leans over and touches my hand.
    She saw how hard my grandmother was on me growing up. “She likes you better,” I say.
     And that I could never figure out. I always did everything she expected. School, job,
     saving money. I wish I could say it was because Jax volunteers at Oak Grove and so
     now they are close. But, grandmother always connected with her even though she was
     the opposite of everything she preached.
    The waitress stops by to see if we want dessert. I ask for the check before Jax can
     answer.
    “She’s changed,” Jax says.
    “Even if I wanted to, you know I don’t like to show up at my house unannounced. My
     mom’s out of town, and I really don’t want to surprise dad while he’s enjoying some
     ‘free’ time.”
    Jax holds a glass of water and looks as though she’s going to say something.
    “And before you say it, I’m not staying with you and that surfer kid. And while we’re
     on that subject, is your mother aware you’ve turned her family home into a halfway
     house?”
    “She doesn’t care as long as I help with the mortgage. I’m renting a room to a college
     student. Brady’s a good kid.”
    I bite my tongue because I don’t want to get into it with her about her myriad of
     ever-changing part-time jobs. Instead, I decide her safety is more important. “Yeah,
     what about the guy on the couch?”
    “That’s his brother, Travis. He just needs a place to stay for a while. Did you meet
     him?”
    I shake my head.
    “Good. That’s a whole other story I don’t want to get into now. Anyway, I have another
     place for you to stay. For all of us to stay.” The corners of her mouth turn up into
     a devilish grin.
    All of us? I’ve seen that look so many times before I can’t even count. “What’s up?” I ask,
     somewhat skeptical.
    “I’m house-sitting for a friend. It’s a great place, on Rivera drive.”
    “The bayside.” A serene image of me watching boats drift across