The Mermaid Mahjong Circle by Claudia Grossman

Author:Claudia Grossman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
Published: 2020-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

chapter 30

After meeting Emma and Charlie for a post-honeymoon breakfast on a Sunday afternoon, Evie and Hannah headed for their favorite nail salon. Over pancakes, Emma had told them about how much she had loved all of the art that they had seen in Florence, while Charlie could not stop raving about the cuisine.

“It’s so nice to see them so happy,” Evie commented after she and Hannah had chosen their manicure shades. She opted for a low-maintenance pinky-nude while Hannah decided on a shimmery lilac.

“You’re right,” Hannah agreed. “Emma is absolutely glowing and Charlie looks like he just won the lottery every time he looks at her.” She smiled at Evie. “Remember what it was like to be in love like that?” she said dreamily. “You and Danny looked a lot like them 30 years ago.”

“I guess it wasn’t meant to last,” Evie said quietly, thinking about her husband who had died much too young. “But of course I remember.” She smiled. “It was lovely.” She poked Hannah in the side. “And how many times have you been in love, Hannah?”

“Ever? Or just this year?” Hannah grinned at her friend. “I love men, I really do. Only not enough to share my life with one.” She paused. “I guess what I really love is falling in love!”

“Of course you do,” Evie said fondly.

Their attention was caught by the salon customer next to them.

“Have you ever been to the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps?” the customer was asking her manicurist. “They’re amazing.”

“I haven’t,” the manicurist answered, “but I’ve heard that they’re beautiful.”

The woman nodded. “163 steps to the top. But even if you don’t climb, if you just look at the stairs from the bottom up, they form the most breathtaking mosaic. And the view from the top is worth every step,” she went on. “You can see out to the Golden Gate and beyond.”

Evie and Hannah shared a look.

“Think we’re up to it?” Hannah asked after the woman had left, her nails painted a bright fire-engine red.

“Let’s go,” Evie answered. “It sounds like fun.”

A half-hour later, Maisie now in tow, they stood at the foot of the steps, in the Sunset District of the city.

“That woman was right,” Hannah said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” The stairs formed a beautiful, vertical mosaic, starting with scenes from the ocean and leading up to mosaics of the heavens.

Evie nodded. “I’d love to paint it one day,” she said.

Hannah said nothing for a moment. “You know, it’s inspiring me to do some mosaic pieces, maybe using a mix of sea glass.”

“Nice.” Evie looked at her friend approvingly, continually awed by her creativity. “Ready to take on the climb?” Evie took the lid off of the latté cup that she had been carrying so that she could better get at the last few drops. She was just about to toss it into the recycling bin when she stopped cold. “Hannah.” Her voice was strained.

Hannah was in the midst of doing hamstring stretches. “Hmm?” she said absently, her mind already creating mosaic pendants.

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