Page 9 of Thirteen Years
“Since we’re wanting this to be our forever home, I thought it was time I made some friends as well,” I replied.
Nat stopped and turned. The look on her face stopped me in my tracks for a moment.
“What?” I asked gently.
“I knew you had said this would be our last move, I just don’t think I believed it until you said yes to Monica about hanging out,” she responded tearfully.
“Oh, sweetheart,” I whispered, pulling her in for a hug. I knew the moves had taken their toll on her, even as resilient as she was. Picking up and leaving after a few years in a place was difficult for adults, let alone children who were finding themselves and trying to make friends. That’s why this being permanent was necessary for both of us this time. Entering her emotional teenage years were going to be stressful enough without her worrying about leaving friends again or picking up and moving.
“Honey, I promise you that Reading, Pennsylvania is going to be it. It just feels right. I want that for both of us,” I said softly, squeezing her tighter against me.
She sighed against me and it was like I could feel the weight of the world rolling off her shoulders.
Was this what peace felt like? It had been so long since I’d let myself feel it.
We pulled into the driveway of the address Monica had given me at four fifty nine p.m. and Nat jumped out of the vehicle before the SUV had rolled to a complete stop.
“Natasha Rae!” I scolded, “be careful!”
“Sorry, Mom. I’m just so excited!” she grinned, grabbing her bag and running towards the front door as Lexi swung the door open, knocking the wreath askew as she screamed Nat’s name and hugged her like they’d been apart for months. Monica walked up behind them laughing.
“I think they missed each other!” she joked, winking at me.
I smiled in return, glad I had decided to dress comfy. Gone was the business skirt and blouse Monica typically wore behind the receptionist desk. Her long brown hair was thrown up into a messy bun, not unlike my own, and she was wearing gray workout leggings with a black sweatshirt that said ‘Got Coffee?’
“Girl, you look like a woman after my own heart! I knew I was gonna like you from the first day you walked into that office late!” she laughed pointing at my sweatshirt leggings combo and then her own.
“Is there any other way to do a Friday night of Chinese and girl time?” I asked, even though I really had no idea nowadays. It had been over thirteen years since my last friend had walked out of my life and I hadn’t had a night of girl time ever.
“Honey, I’d rather be in leggings and sweatshirts any day. But some time you and I should hit the town kid-free! We could get all dolled up and everything!” Monica responded. “We could let Lexi’s older sister Lacey watch the girls.” she added in a whisper. “Paul, my husband, would be home to supervise too!”
I couldn’t help but tense. “Oh?” I replied, hoping I hid my anxiety well, “Is Paul joining us tonight?”
Monica began getting Chinese food out and setting it on the kitchen counter while she spoke, “Nope. Just us girls. Paul actually works at the police station with Lucas Marshall.”
She looked at me, grinning like a smug cat, “They’re partners and friends! Lucas actually comes over for dinner once or twice a week. You’ll probably be seeing him occasionally if we hit it off.”
I laughed breathily, “Oh, that’s…nice?”
Nat intervened, “Mom needs to get out. This is the first time she’s ever hung out with a friend that I can even ever remember!”
“Thank you, Natasha,” I said, turning red.
Monica stared at me with her brown eyes as she paused opening containers.
“Baby steps then, Becks. You and I are going to become fast friends, just like our girls.”
I smiled back at her, grateful for her understanding.
Later after eating Chinese food and sending the girls up to watch movies, Monica stepped out onto the deck with me carrying a half bottle of chilled, white wine and two glasses.
“So, I know it's rude to pry, but I really gotta ask your story?” she questioned, gently. “If it's none of my business, just say the word. I have a sense about these things though, and I think we are going to end up being close.”
I stared at her, taking my wine glass. Could I do this? Finally tell someone my story and let them in?
I filled her in slowly. Explaining my somewhat isolated, nerdy childhood and lack of friends besides one or two. My parents died after graduation leaving me with no siblings or family. Describing not going to college after graduation and just starting a cleaning and organizing business of my own. When I was twenty four I met Clark and he swept me off my feet. He had seemed to have his life together. A job and apartment of his own. I didn’t know what a relationship was like, let alone just starting my first one. I was an easy target. He was well-known in town and had been a star football player in high school. Seeing how everyone responded to and treated him had made me feel like he was a safe choice.
We’d been engaged within three months and the couple of friends I’d had cleared out at the rapidness of the situation. I had been scared and so very desperate for the kind of all-consuming love that I was constantly reading about. It was after the engagement Clark started being controlling. I had moved into his apartment with him, giving up my own lease. He didn’t like any of my decisions or life choices. He claimed that he knew what was best for me.
