She had a needlepoint pillow that read: MAKING LOVE IN 2002. On the other side of the couch there was MAKING LOVE IN 1997, on blue, with a ruffle around the edge. I guessed there were more, but I tried not to look for them. I didn’t want to see the one with the current year on it. Or if there wasn’t one, I didn’t want to know why. She asked me polite questions and we waited for her husband.

He says you’re very talented, are you self-taught?

Yes, I’m really just starting out though. I have so much to learn.

Well, it sounds like you’re off to a good start.

Thank you.

After a while it seemed she was growing a little angry, with him for not being there and with me for being there. It occurred to me that if he didn’t appear soon, I would have to leave. My heart fell because I hadn’t planned anything for my future beyond this meeting. I had worked for a year with his business card taped to my computer and now I was done and he had said to call him when I was done and I had, I had called…