***
It wasn't too long after David and Miss Donna talked that Miss Donna found herself sharing the laundry room with the newest tenant to The Villa, Jennifer Holmes. In fact Jennifer was already there as Miss Donna descended the steep steps into the humid room.
Jennifer was sitting on the lone bench with her nose deep into a book. Miss Donna wondered what it was but couldn't read it from this far away; not with her tired old eyes. That's what she calls them.
"What ya readin' hun?" Miss Donna asked as she made her way across the small room to begin cleaning her clothes.
Jennifer looked just a tad bit startled but quickly composed herself saying, "Umm, it's ? its "The Sun Also Rises" ? by Hemingway." She said this while looking at the book's cover, as if she didn't know what she was reading. Jennifer thought as she did this: it seems a lot of people do that.
"Any good?" asked Miss Donna with a polite smile.
"Yah, yah it really is ? has some good dialogue and pretty intense bull fighting scenes. He's a very good writer. Well that's my opinion anyway." Jennifer smiled back.
"Seems your opinion is agreed with by a lot of folks; he's quite the rave."
"Yep, so how have you been Miss Donna?" Jennifer placed the book upside down, and open, on her lap to show Miss Donna she now had her full attention. Polite etiquette at its best. While Jennifer was showing politeness she wasn't doing a very good job at disguising her downtrodden mindset. She seemed fairly sad both in tone and expression.
"I'm fine Jennifer ? how are you doing? If you don't mind me saying; you seem a little down today." Miss Donna figured it was due to the same feelings David had but thought it best to let Jennifer explain it to her, you know get it off her chest so to speak. Oh young love, she thought.
Jennifer was genuinely feeling down. Perhaps the dank laundry room had made her feel even worse about her situation, but whatever it was she felt on the verge of tears. She was so ready to talk to Miss Donna about her problem that she didn't even answer her how are you doing question. She just moved right into her "issue".
"Well Miss Donna I've got this issue I'm struggling to deal with." Jennifer closed the book and set it aside sighing as she did so. Miss Donna continued to slowly work her laundry and just waited as Jennifer paused to compose herself a little.
"Miss Donna ? I ? I don't really know where to start. I guess I should ? well. Umm, do you know David Kerr? Well of course you do you know everybody at The Villa huh?" Jennifer had a jittery tone to her voice and her hands were fidgeting with each other just a little.
"Yes hun, I know David, he's a real nice young man." Miss Donna always liked to say something nice about people she knew when others asked about them. She thought there was enough negativity in the world that she needed to balance that out by being extra positive when she could. With David it's not hard, she thought.
"Well we met a little while back and really seemed to hit it off, but ?" Jennifer didn't normally share her problems with people, especially one's she's only knew for a short time. But, Miss Donna just has a way about her, she thought. She seems open and understanding, perhaps she can provide some wise advice. Jennifer more than thought this, she was darn sure of it.
Jennifer shared the reasons why she was down. She shared what had been going on between her and David and the Amy situation as well. Miss Donna listened attentively as Jennifer bent her ear. Once Jennifer's full opinion of the situation had been shared Miss Donna let a little quiet moment pass before jumping in with her two cents worth.
"Yes that is quite an issue, Jennifer." Miss Donna had a caring tone.
"Well Miss Donna ? now I hate to impose, but you seem like you could help me here."
"What's that hun?" Miss Donna walked over and slowly sat next to Jennifer on the bench.
"I was hoping you could give me some advice ? you know how to handle this issue? ? umm ? what would you do? Jennifer felt quite silly about her question. Vulnerable really, but she figured it had to be asked.
"Well hun, I'd be glad to help. Can I ask you a couple of questions to get my bearings?" Miss Donna reached out and rested her hand on the back of Jennifer's.
"Sure," Jennifer had the sound of relief. She was feeling Miss Donna had taken an interest in her well being.
"Well Jennifer, do you really like David? That is do you think there could be a lasting bond there?
"I really do," Jennifer was a little surprised at how quickly and forcefully she answered the question.
"Do believe you can trust David?" Miss Donna patted the back of Jennifer's hand.
"Well, that's a tougher question ? I want to." Jennifer's cadence sounded more like a question than a statement.
"I guess what I'm saying is, do you believe the issue's at hand with David, and even possibly Amy, have impacted your feelings for David so much that you won't be able to keep an open mind. That is an open mind to trust?" Miss Donna thought she could have made her point better than this, but hoped Jennifer would understand anyway.
"Well ? no ? no, I'm willing to stay open minded, I guess I just am afraid of finding out I can't trust David. Kind of childish I suppose. I should just face the trouble head on and deal with the consequences, but I've not been able to bring myself to that thus far." Jennifer kind of squirmed on the bench, unsure of herself.
"You haven't talked with David about this yet have you?" Miss Donna already knew the answer.
"Nope ? I haven't," Jennifer sounded a bit ashamed.
"Well hun, my advice would be to take that risk and go talk with him. I know it sounds over simplified, but if it's meant to be then it will work out, and if it's not ? well you know the rest. And honey ?" Miss Donna squeezed Jennifer's had gently ? "if it's not meant to be then you have to be good to yourself and leave your loss behind. Just don't dwell on it sweetheart, life's simply too short. Jennifer you're a good person and I'm sure things will work out just fine." Miss Donna had an air of confidence in her words. Of course she should. She knows how David feels about Jennifer and now with the knowledge of how Jennifer feels about David she was certain things would work out well. The Amy situation was just a hiccup on the road to happiness for Jennifer and David.
As they continued to talk for a bit, and finish up the laundry, Miss Donna got the feeling that Jennifer would be taking her advice. She would be talking to David. But ? not just yet, Miss Donna could tell Jennifer needed a little more time to catch her wind. She was still stunned. That's Ok, thought Miss Donna, Jennifer should take the time she needs to calm down and open her mind to good things. This will allow her to have a better conversation with David when she does decide to speak with him.
A Modern Love Page 40
