“Whatever you say,” I mumble with a grin before sliding from my chair and walking into Roland’s living room.
It’s just me and Greg Mauer today. Roland’s teaching some seminar this morning, and I just need to get this “in-depth” interview over with. Jahara is supervising the whole affair, but I’ve been so damn busy since getting back to school that I’ve had little time to fret over this interview. I’m still working my shifts at Word, have a full course load, attending Bible study, and trying to be an active participant around campus. Also there’s the bit about grieving over losing my best friend and trying not to let him go, but other than that …
“Kennedy,” Greg starts the interview with a warm smile. Out of the corner of my eye I see Bridgette fawning over herself in the mirror as the makeup artist works her magic. “It’s great to see you again.”
I nod, offering a professional, closed-mouth smile. “Likewise, Greg. Likewise.”
“Let’s get right into it. It’s a new semester,” he leads. I nod. “Have you had contact with Joy Martinez? Is she back to school.”
It would be unprofessional to roll my eyes on camera, but I do it anyway. I throw a smile on top of it to lessen the sting. “I believe so, but we haven’t had a chance to get together yet.”
I know so. Joy’s repeating all of her classes from last semester, though, so we don’t see each other during the day. Also, she’s moved to another dorm, and since she wasn’t friends with any of us anyway, no one really knows where she is. I’ve seen her at the dining hall and once or twice in passing to classes, but that’s it.
Greg’s eyes widen like he’s looking at prey. “Really? After all she put you through, you’d go almost a month into the new semester without speaking to each other to try to reach some sort of understanding?”
Little does he know, I’ve got fangs of my own. I look to the camera, then back at Greg. “Forgiveness doesn’t come from what we do down here, Greg. It’s not about our relationships with each other. It’s about our relationship with God. I forgave Joy months ago for what happened. I was given the grace to forgive her.”
“By God.”
“Yes. And, under that grace, I don’t really find it necessary to rehash a story that’s three months old. I’m moving forward with my life, and I trust Joy is too, and I know that when the time is right we’ll be able to sit down, face-to-face, and talk with each other respectfully, like the strong women of God each of us are.”
Evidently I was also given the grace of bullshit for this interview. I did forgive Joy, but I’m so consumed with what’s going on—or not going on—with Matt, that I just haven’t given Joy much brain space over the last several weeks. I do want to talk with her, and see if she’s okay, because I can’t imagine what it must have been like for her to step back on campus after all the outrage.
Greg looks at me with an unamused expression that he quickly morphs into one with personality. “You sound like a changed young woman. When I first spoke with you a couple of months ago, you seemed a lot quieter, maybe more timid. What’s different now?”
I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin just a little. “I’ve accepted who I am, Greg. I’m made up of where I came from, where I am right now, and even a little of where I’m going. I know without the shadow of a doubt that God is ordering my steps through this process. I know that,” I cut off his follow-up question, “because I would have never chosen this for myself. Yes, I chose to come to CU, but that choice was driven by something far greater than my will. It was driven by the primal desire to know my roots, so that I may grow the right wings.” I let out a long, silent exhale, and briefly close my eyes.
Thank you for that …
Clearly only prepared for a gossip session regarding Joy or the differences between Greenwich and Asheville, the rest of the interview feels like fluff. I don’t know what in-depth he was expecting, but I assure you it wasn’t regarding anything positive. Which is really quite disappointing since I typically do like Mauer’s interview style.
When the interview finally ends, Greg Mauer is out of the house and in his SUV faster than I’ve seen someone move in a while. He didn’t stick around for coffee-talk, but that’s okay. I’ve got to get to my “biology” class anyway. The quotation marks will stay there until I can be sure they’re not politically motivated in their teachings. It’s still too early to tell, but I have a feeling they’ll stay a while.
“Smart,” Jahara, says approvingly with a nod, holding the door open for me. “You’re a smart girl, Kennedy. That was an excellent interview. I bet if it wasn’t live, they wouldn’t have ever aired it. You were really good.”
I blush, having never heard much from Jahara at all, let alone pounds of compliments. “Thanks.”
Eden and Bridgette are waiting outside for me, since we all have “biology” together.