I got out all the dishes and cutlery we needed and put it out on the dining room table, over the flowered tablecloth that Saoirse put down.
"I'll be right back," Saoirse said as she walked past me, "I have to go out to the grill and flip the steaks."
I smiled at her as I watched her leave. She was organized to the point that it was almost extreme, while Amanda was very much the opposite. I remembered that if it wasn't for me, her and Amanda wouldn't be friends now.
I was the one who'd introduced them to each other. At first their differences and perceived faults came between them like a gulf. It was only when I'd brought them together with their similarities, that their friendship began.
I put down the fork I was holding. It was memories like this that I would keep clutched tightly to my heart when I left this planet and returned home.
Lost in reminiscences of my past with my dear friends, I was unaware of Amanda's arrival, until I heard her footsteps in the doorway behind me.
"Ah! Sinead. You're joining us for dinner, right? I told Saoirse that I thought you would."
I took a deep breath, hiding any sadness, and turned to face Amanda.
"Yes!", I said with a light smile, "Of course! I was just helping to set the table and get things ready for when you get back."
"That's great! I'm starving. Aren't you? I am glad dinner will be ready soon."
She walked farther into the room and sat a large plastic bottle of iced tea on the table.
"Do you want me to pour you a glass of iced tea? Does Saoirse want some?"
She looked around the table, but there were no glasses in sight.
"I'd love a glass of iced tea.", I told her, "I'll go ask Saoirse on my way to go get us some glasses."
"Awesome.", she said to my back as I walked away.
I met Saoirse in the kitchen. She sat down a plate with the grilled eggplant, zucchini and bell peppers when I walked in.
"Hey," I said opening the cupboard that held the glasses, "Amanda wants to know if you want iced tea."
"Sure, that sounds nice. Can you carry this plate into the dining room, and I'll go get the steaks off the grill?"
"Yes."
I lifted the mushrooms and onions from the frying pan and into a serving dish, added a large spoon and carried them and the plate of veggies to the table.
"I thought you were getting glasses?", stated a confused Amanda, when I entered.
"I was but I got waylaid."
I sat both dishes down and said, "Be right back."
In the next five minutes, Saoirse had entered with the steaks, I'd brought the glasses, Amanda had poured the iced tea and we all sat down to a lovely meal. We chatted and ate at a leisurely pace. By 6:30pm, dinner was done, and we'd cleared the table, put the left-over food away and washed the dishes.
I said, "See you later.", to my friends and went back upstairs for a nap before my orientation.
Saoirse and Amanda both had to leave within the hour for their own jobs.
As I settled into my nap, I heard the creak of the door I hadn't fully pushed closed. I opened an eye and lifted my head slightly. In waltzed the cat, swooshing his tail in the air with a single flick. I grinned. Looks like I would have company.
He walked up to the edge of the bed and let out a single 'mrow'. It was a question.
I pat the bed beside me, and he jumped up in a way that was graceful and yet, incredibly lazy. I wondered how he'd managed to stay awake long enough to realize I was getting ready for a nap but decided it really didn't matter.
I rubbed his ears, pet the top of his head, and scratched under his chin. He settled in and purred. Soon we were both asleep.
I awoke to my alarm and a startled, puffy- haired cat. I sat up and turned off the alarm. Then I went to calm the cat, but displeased as he was, he'd jumped down off the bed and was rounding the slightly open door.
I sighed.
'Cats will be cats.', I thought to myself, as I swung my legs out of bed and stood up. I made my bed thinking about the outfit I decided to wear.
I knew Mr. Jackson planned to give me some sort of orientation, to meet everyone and get me accustomed to the place and how things were run. But he didn't tell me anything else.
'Did he want me there for a whole evening or just a few hours?', I wondered.
At first, I worried about how to dress, and what to do with my hair and makeup. But then I figured I would bring a bag with a change of outfit or two, extra hair accessories and makeup.
So, I fixed my hair and freshened up my face, using my makeup very sparingly, before packing up what I thought I'd need.
Next, I got dressed. I put on a pair of dark grey, brand name, long exercise leggings, ankle socks, a sports bra and black exercise tank that had criss-cross straps at the back. Over this I wore a silver and black threaded, knit cardigan. (I'd put all my fancy outfits in the bag).
To my large, carry-all bag I added the essentials of my purse, and double-checked I had my keys and cell phone before I left. At the front door, I put on my high-heeled, dark brown ankle boots.
'Alright.', I thought, 'Here I go.'
I locked the front door behind me and didn't look back.