Free Out of Time by April Sadowski Page B

Simon answered. The host
pulled out three menus from a carrier next to the greeter podium
and motioned for them to follow him. They were escorted to a very
accommodating and plush booth. The three scooted in. Sasha was
sandwiched between Simon and Mandy.
    “James will be your waiter today. Enjoy your
dinner.” the man said with a little bow.
    “So Mandy,” Simon started as the host left
their table. “Is your relationship with the guy in Oregon very
serious?”
    “I think it will be. He’s been amazing.”
Mandy said.
    Third time she’s called him amazing ,
Sasha thought as she held back a snicker. She was tempted to tell
Mandy to come up with another word to describe him, but she held
her tongue as any good friend would.
    Mandy continued, “He’s majoring in — would
you believe this — brain science! I didn’t really think many people
would be interested in neurology but he is. He’s interested in
memory functions and how the brain stores it.”
    “Sound like that would be a challenging
curriculum.” Simon said, not sure how to respond. He’d been offered
a contract with a semi-pro soccer team. While he did well enough in
college, he did garnish a full scholarship for athletics. Books
were never his thing. He liked a tangible application of
skills.
    “I suppose so. What are you doing now since
you graduated?” Mandy wondered. She hadn’t kept up with Simon as
much as she had with Sasha, as little as Sasha actually
remembered.
    “I have a job at the paper. Journalism is
something I really enjoy. It’s not like having a job at all. I did
get a contract with a soccer team and I’m considering going for it.
It does have a half-life though. You can’t play sports forever.
Writing is my back-up.” Simon explained.
    “What about you, Sasha?” Mandy asked, turning
to Sasha.
    “I’m not so sure I’m going to get a job in my
field. I’ve been working at the local library until I find one.
Seriously, the market for architects is so small and you have to be
stellar to get noticed.” Luckily, Sasha’s experience in the library
when she was a teenager enabled her to get a job there once
again.
    “Really?” Mandy asked, sounding surprised. “I
saw a few leads in the paper here. I want to obviously move back
and work here if I can and if Rob wants to — he’s my boyfriend.
He’s got family on the east coast so it’s closer here. It was just
easier to get into the residency in Oregon. Things you’ve got to do
to get a job I guess.”
    “They aren’t a good fit.” Sasha mentioned,
referencing the leads in the paper. The real reason she didn’t
apply for them was because she didn’t know a lick of anything
remotely close to architecture. She knew she went to college for
it, but that wasn’t her . She didn’t have the memories of the
other her.
    “You doubt yourself way too much.” Mandy
admitted.
    Before Sasha could say anything further in
defense of herself, a shorter man with curly hair, a broad nose and
strong features approached their table. “Hi, I’m James.” he said
professionally. “I’ll be serving you this evening. Can I start you
off with a drink or appetizer? We have a special running on our
spinach and artichoke dip.”
    “I’ll take a water.” Sasha said. She didn’t
know if she liked beer or wine yet and was too afraid to try them,
especially here when a glass was well over five dollars.
    The waiter took out a pad of paper. The
underside was encased in leather and monogrammed with the
restaurant’s initial. Mandy continued with her order, “I’ll have a
diet coke, please.”
    “I’ll have a Long Island iced tea.” Simon
responded, still looking over the drink menu.
    “Thank you. I’ll be back with your drinks in
a moment.” James said, heading off towards the bar and then
kitchen. Sasha turned back to Mandy.
    “It has nothing to do with me being hard on
myself.”
    “Then what’s the deal?” Mandy wondered,
puzzled.
    “Are you ever going to tell her?”