Estrella’s sister Josie shows up in Tampa in the middle of the week, calls Estrella at work and invites her to lunch. When they meet, Josie is shocked at the difference in her sister: the “straight” Estrella is someone Josie has never seen before, and she is scared at the sight. Josie tells Estrella that she has just gotten a new job in Tampa and will be in town during the weekend; can she stay with Estrella? In her beloved little home, Estrella is herself, cooking for Josie, joking, padding about barefoot with her hair a black nimbus about her face. Josie keeps Estrella talking—talking during dinner, talking over coffee, talking over dessert, talking over popcorn, talking over bagels and slightly hardened cream cheese, talking over scrambled eggs, talking over ice cream, talking the sun up. By dawn, the sisters have seen each other, and themselves, clearly and honestly. Estrella is back. They fall into bed, wake at noon and go get a Sunday paper. They have to go out anyway for breakfast, because there is no food left in the refrigerator. Sunday afternoon is spent writing letters of introduction to various employment ads in the paper—for Estrella.
On Monday morning Estrella invites Lawrence James the man with two first names (she will never be able to think of him any other way) to lunch and breaks off their engagement. On Wednesday she receives a phone call from a veterinarian in Clearwater: His wife has always managed his office, but now wants to quit working at the office and spend time with the grandchildren; would Estrella come talk with him about working as his receptionist/bookkeeper/office manager? On Friday Estrella hands in her resignation at the insurance company. On Saturday she rents her beloved house to Josie. On Sunday she takes a spacious apartment (Okay, as spacious as Clearwater has to offer) and buys new dishes. Two weeks later the family helps Estrella move out and Josie move in.
This is her third job, and third time is a charm. Estrella is amazing. She organizes the office, the clients, and the doctor. She charms the vendors (sometimes out of their socks—but never at work); she calms the anxious clients and is particularly good with people who have lost their animal companions. And the doctor is just one more brother to take care of. The doctor’s wife adores her. Thanks to Estrella, the doctor’s wife finally has a life of her own, just in time to be a happy grandma. Estrella is the heart of the clinic. And there she remains, flirting, organizing, soothing, nurturing, and advising.
(continued)
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