Read Everything We Keep: A Novel for Free Online

one, always veering off the plotted course to venture onto side roads. “You never know what surprises you’ll find,” he’d once told me.
    Nadia smiled. “I like his line of thinking.”
    I shook my head. “No traveling. Not yet.”
    “Then open a restaurant.”
    “Did my dad tell you to say that?”
    She laughed. “No, but I think it’s a great idea.”
    “So did James. He wanted me to open a café. Said I could brew a mean cup of coffee.”
    “It’s something to consider.”
    Starting a restaurant from scratch without James by my side was an overwhelming prospect. I glanced over my shoulder at Kristen. “What do you think?”
    She held up her hands. “Hey, I’m on Team Aimee. Whatever makes you happy.”
    James and The Goat made me happy.
    Nadia took her plate to the sink. Kristen peeked inside the fridge and opened cabinets. I watched them both, recalling today was Monday. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
    “I have a sub, so you have me all day.” Kristen was an elementary school teacher and taught year-round. She had only a few weeks left in the summer session before the new school year started. She and Nick had married last year. They wanted to start a family soon and we’d planned to raise our kids together.
    So much for that idea.
    Nadia put her plate in the dishwasher and dried her hands. “I’m free only until two.”
    Kristen looked around a cabinet door. “You said you had all day.”
    “I received a call on my way over about the retail space downtown. The new lessee accepted my proposal and wants to meet ASAP.”
    “The space on North Santa Cruz Avenue?” I asked. “The one between the dance studio and wine bar?” It was the only available spot I knew about. And I knew about it only because of James.
    “The very one. It’ll be an art gallery.”
    I balked. “Are you kidding me?”
    Nadia gave me an odd look. “Um, no. Is everything OK?”
    “You’re designing a gallery in the very spot James had planned to rent for his gallery.”
    She cringed. “I’m sorry.”
    I waved her off. “Not your fault.”
    Kristen poked her head into the fridge again. “Where did you put the wine, Nadia?”
    “There wasn’t a bottle with the groceries?” Kristen shook her head and Nadia shrugged. “It probably didn’t get bagged.”
    “There should be a few bottles chilling in the garage fridge,” I offered in a tone heavy with emotion. My thoughts were still on the gallery space downtown. Its lease was hard confirmation that dream would never transpire.
    Kristen gave me a wary look and went into the garage, the door slamming behind her. She returned a moment later with a bottle of chardonnay. “When did you clean your garage?”
    “Does it look like I’ve cleaned?” I waved an arm to encompass the open living space. Unanswered mail piled high on the countertop. Unread newspapers stacked on the floor. Dust bunnies mingled and multiplied in the corners.
    “Whatever.” She popped the wine cork and poured three glasses. “The garage looks good.”
    We drank the wine and talked about Nadia’s new design project. Soon her appointment alarm buzzed on her phone. She glanced at the screen. “I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.” She kissed my cheek and grabbed her hobo bag. The handle snagged on the chair back and everything dumped. Lipstick, pens, mints, and papers skidded across the tile floor.
    She swore and I bent to help her. “I’ve got it.” She waved my hands aside and scooped up her belongings. “Gotta run.” She rushed to the door.
    I waved good-bye and launched a playlist on the stereo, wondering how long Kristen would stay. She poured another round of wine. Good. She planned to stay for a while.
    We danced and talked, and watched a chick flick on pay-per-view. The doorbell rang around ten p.m. Nick had come to pick up his wife.
    “I’ll call you tomorrow.” Kristen pushed off the couch.
    I walked with her to the door. She bear-hugged me. “Night, night,