A Shattered Glass, My Life Without Her

On A Rainbow

Digging into the second scoop of what Iev calls, 'Fabulous vegan chocolate ice cream banana walnut sandwich pie,' which is really a decadent banana split we were sharing, she looks at me closely. Her spoon is slowly being removed from between her lips. Can she be any more flirtatious right now?

'Wait, but I thought you said there were five pairs of shoes, not ten?' I questioned. I was so caught up in her back story, making sure to get the details right in my memory, though her current actions were making it a bit difficult.

We had fallen into conversation about the lot of kids Iev played with in the younger years of her life. How they would scheme to get free ice cream from the ice cream trucks that sung their tunes whilst parked against the sweltering concrete sidewalks in New York City. She explained how she remembers well the hot pavement under her feet, because so far as she could recall, Iev didn't have shoes at that age. The experience she claims has led her to this day, preferring to go barefoot as much as possible. I, as a dancer could relate, as it was often for me more comfortable moving without shoes as well.

She laughed happily at my bemusement. 'It was a bizarre childhood,' she reasoned, 'so I had gone baehfoot for maybe a few yeahs?' She clarified the details for me. 'I really much prefer not to weah shoes at all if I have a choice.'

I couldn't help but giggle, covering my mouth at the realization, 'Now I understand. It absolutely explains why you didn't have any shoes that day at Mel's party.' I pause remembering how cute her feet were, bare and covered in dirt.

She gives me a guilty smirk. 'I lost them under her couch I think,' she giggles. The sound warming my heart.

'I actually...maybe I shouldn't say this,' I scrunch up in regret of mentioning anything at all. 'It was a huge faux pas on my part.' I grimace, licking and biting my lower lip.

'Oh. Well now you have to tell me. Because when it comes to social blunders, I am the reigning champion...Kat can attest to that.' Iev attempted to console me admitting her quirk.

'Mmm,' I duck my head shyly. 'Okay...it waaas kind of cute.' I claim, dragging out the anticipation.

I was so glad the weekend had arrived. We only had two scheduled table reads on Saturday and the rest of our time was ours to spend. Varun had arrived with a beautiful vegan key lime pie he picked up from my favorite bakery. And Tim and I were in the kitchen where he is making a cosmo for me to go with it.

'Darlin' Dominique, could you grab me another lime from the fruit bowl out there? Seems this one is kaput.' Tim requested.

'Sure. Just one?'

'Yes, one would be perfect.'

I step into the living room and head for the dining table, slipping between cast and crew members chatting in clusters. I stop to greet Greg who has just arrived. I offered to bring him a drink as I was in the middle of getting one myself.

'Sure Dom. What are you having?'

'I'm having a Rozon Special,' I giggle at the made-up name , 'better known as a Cosmopolitan.'

'Oh, I haven't had one of those in a while. .. I think I'll have to take you up on that offer.'

'Okay, I've got to go grab a lime from the fruitbowl, but it'll be coming right up.' As I give him my smile.

Greg chuckles, shaking his head as a thought pops to mind, 'Y'know what they say...you can take the actress out of Shorty's but you can't take the barmaid out of the actress.' He shakes his head to his playful remark.

'Ha ha! Yes, Waverly would be so proud!'

I continue to the covered porch where a large fruit bowl decorates the long wooden table. The oranges, lemons and limes make a colorful display as the sun passes across them. I grab two bright green limes from the pile and notice a pitcher of ice water falling prey to the sunshine. I step around the table to rescue it and see someone, a child, kneeling on the ground outside a distance away.