Joy Argento - Carrie and Hope by Joy Argento Page B

your stuff if you’d let me. I think it’s time they came out of that closet.” She picked up her cake and licked some frosting from her fork.
    “I’m not sure how good they are. I would hate to have them bore you.”
    “I doubt they would bore me. But I understand if you don’t want to show me. I won’t push.”
    “I’ll think about it. How about that?” Hope asked.
    Carrie tilted her head. “Okay. I can live with that.” She took a bite of her cake.  
    “Is Derrick your only child?”
    “Yes, one and only. He always wanted a little brother, but I thought one child was enough for me. So I got him a puppy instead.”
    Carrie laughed. “And did that satisfy him?”
    “No. But it helped. You know how you hear about parents getting their kids a puppy and the parents end up doing all the work?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, we got this puppy…the cutest little mutt…and Derrick actually took care of it. Derrick was seven at the time. He named him Mork and Derrick really did all the work. He fed him and took him for walks and just loved that dog to pieces.”
    Carrie finished up her cake and reached for her coffee again. “That’s great. Is he still with you?”
    “No, when Tom got sick and Derrick went to college in Buffalo, it just got too much for me to take care of him. My sister and her husband took him. So, at least he stayed in the family. I didn’t have the heart to ask for him back after Tom died. They really love that dog. Derrick and I have visitation rights. It has worked out fine, and my sister has twin boys so Mork gets lots of attention.”
    “That’s good. Can I get you more coffee or another piece of cake?”
    “No, thank you. It was great, but I couldn’t eat another bite. I won’t have to eat for a week now.” Hope stole a quick glance at her watch. “I hate to do this but I need to get going. I have to work in the morning. I imagine you do, too.” She rose from her chair and picked up her empty cup and plate.
    “You don’t have to do that,” Carrie said indicating the dishes Hope was carrying to the kitchen.
    “That’s all right,” Hope said, setting the dishes down on the counter. Carrie retrieved the leftovers that she had packaged for Hope and walked with her to the door. She plucked Hope’s coat from the coat rack and handed it to her.
    “I had a really nice time, Carrie. Thank you.”
    “Me, too.” Hope gave Carrie a quick hug and took the bag of leftovers that Carrie held out.
    “Thank you so much for coming over.”
    Carrie closed the door after Hope left and headed back to the art room.

Chapter 7

     
    Hope fingered the piece of paper in her hand. She felt like a stupid teenager. It had been several days since she had had dinner at Carrie’s house. She wanted to call Carrie but didn’t really have a reason. She just felt like talking. Hope had friends throughout the years, but they were all friends with a reason . They were the mothers of her son’s friends, so they talked about the kids. They were the wives of her husband’s business partners, so they talked about their husbands. They were friends from her job, so they talked about work.
    Carrie was different. She was a friend just because Hope liked her and enjoyed her company. She hadn’t had that since college. She hadn’t had that since…well, in a really long time.
    Hope looked at the seven numbers written on the slip of paper, and punched the numbers into her cell phone. Carrie picked up on the second ring.
    “Hi, Hope,” Carrie said cheerfully. “How are you doing?” Hope realized that either Carrie memorized her number or had it programmed into her phone. It took her by surprise.
    “Hi Carrie. I am doing just fine. How are you doing?”
    “Great. I’m glad to hear from you. I was thinking about you.”
    Hope smiled to herself at Carrie’s reaction to her call. “You were, huh? Something good, I hope.”
    “Very good. I was thinking about how much I enjoyed your company when you were here the