Chasing Chaos: A Novel by Katie Rose Guest Pryal

pleased that Greta knew his name. “We’d like a
pitcher of margaritas on the rocks please. Two glasses. No salt.”
    “Yes,
ma’am. Um. Miss. Ah.” Henry’s face turned red as he stumbled over his words.
    Greta
cracked up laughing, but it wasn’t mean laughter. She seemed as uncomfortable
as he was. “Most people call me Miss Donovan, since I seem a little young to be
called ma’am.”
    Indeed.
By Daphne’s estimation, Henry was likely older than Greta by a year or two, and
Greta had just turned twenty-three in June.
    “What
are we doing here?” Daphne asked. “And if you say ‘having dinner’ I’ll do
something embarrassing.”
    “Sandy,
Timmy and I all own Rivet now.”
    “What?”
Daphne shrieked.
    “Hush,
Daphne. You said you weren’t going to do anything embarrassing.”
    Daphne
clapped her hand over her mouth and nodded.
    “It’s
a little complicated, but Sandy and Timmy bought Marco out, and then they split
the place between them, and then Timmy, against all reason, insisted on
splitting his portion with me. It’s not like we’re married or anything. And
when Sandy heard about that, he insisted we split three ways equally, which was
even less reasonable, because why would he just give up more of his portion to
me? So here we are. I’m one-third owner of Rivet for no apparent reason.”
    “You
own Rivet?” Daphne nearly shrieked again.
    “I
own one-third of Rivet. Weren’t you listening?”
    “I’m
so happy! We can come here all the time!”
    And
then it came crashing back. She and Greta weren’t friends. This was the first
conversation they’d had in six months. Daphne wouldn’t be coming to Rivet all
the time.
    Greta
would be.
    But
Greta grabbed Daphne’s hand. “Daphne. That’s right. That’s exactly right.”
    Daphne
met Greta’s eyes as tears filled her own.
    “If
I have to hang out here all the time to keep up appearances then you have to
come with me. It’s only fair,” Greta said.
    Daphne
nodded.
    “I
didn’t ask for this responsibility,” Greta continued. “Those two idiots just
gave it to me.”
    Daphne
nodded again.
    “Stupid
men,” Greta said. “Acting completely against their financial self-interest.”
    Daphne
started to giggle.
    “What?”
Greta demanded.
    “Love
makes us all do stupid things,” Daphne said. “Someday you’ll understand that.”
     
    ~~~~
     
    After
that first dinner together, she and Greta decided to meet at Rivet every Sunday
morning, no matter what. Soon, the Sunday brunches were sacred. Daphne didn’t
think Greta getting married would change their Sunday plans. Indeed, if Daphne
suggested such a thing to Greta, Greta would only get annoyed.
    Daphne
was almost home from Uptown, the sidewalks dimly lit by the streetlights, the
night air cool. She breathed deeply, enjoying the fresh smell of a sage plant
nearby. She was grateful for the second chance Greta had given her. She hadn’t
deserved it. But she had taken it because Greta was the only thing resembling
family she had. Without Greta, she had no one.
     

Five
    On
Monday morning, Daphne woke early like she always did, before the sound of her
alarm. When she’d worked for others, she’d enjoyed the times she could sleep
in, treasuring the luxury. Now that she worked for herself, each hour belonged
to her. Each hour was a luxury.
    She
slept on the mattress that had been an uncomfortable gift many years ago. But
the gift was nearly unrecognizable now. She’d acquired a low, wooden midcentury
bed frame to hold her mattress and box spring. The headboard was a smooth,
solid plane of wood, the grain telling a story with its curves and lines. The
entire thing weighed a ton. Timmy and Greta had helped her move it after she’d
found it at an estate sale, and even with all three of them, getting it inside
her home had been a struggle. It was a good thing she didn’t want to move
again.
    Her
comforter was made of a pale blue cotton, a soothing color. Grasping it with
both hands, she