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The thought left me with a pit in my stomach.
And as I finally fell asleep, it was with the fear that there was no longer any hope.
***
It had rained last night, yet today, the sky was cloudless, and the air was fresh. There was something so soothing about that. Here, neighbors would help one another. I remember, especially after Mom left, it felt like people were always around, offering to help my dad babysit or inviting us over for play dates or dinner. When I was younger, I didn’t quite understand it. I just shrugged it off and thought we had become so cool that everyone just wanted to be our friends. Now, I could see and appreciate everyone who tried to help. They were supportive and caring. The fact that we had a lot of family living there as well, as my father’s business was the most prosperous one in town, might have had some influence. But honestly, I thought people had time for one another there. And the longer I was away from there and just in the city, the more I’d learned to appreciate that.
I decided to take a walk, hoping the exercise and clean air would help shift the ever-present dark cloud that seemed to be looming over me. I’d been walking for about twenty minutes, not really paying attention to where my legs were taking me when I realized I was heading in the direction of the lookout. The place I had taken Rhett to - it felt like a lifetime ago now. Knowing I couldn’t face the place that once gave me peace and refuge, was now filled with bittersweet, heartbreaking memories. I took one of the other rockier trails that required some light rock climbing, but I knew it’d be worth it as this one led toward the lake.
Sweat began to bead at my temples, and my thighs were beginning to burn, so I grabbed a bottle of water and a coffee from the little refreshment stand nestled between the lake and the trees. I sat by the lake, lost in my thoughts.
How could any of this be fixed?
Chapter 26
Serena
Imust have been daydreaming as I hadn’t realized someone had come and joined me at my table.
Looking over, I recognized him instantly. Danny Gleeson. I’d had the biggest crush on him throughout my whole senior year. He wasn’t into sports, so he didn’t hang around Roman or his friends, nor was he into any of the leading social groups you have in most high schools. I remember he generally kept himself to himself. We went to lots of extra credit clubs together, we were on the debate team and took Spanish, Italian, and German classes. And if I remember correctly, he was also involved in the Giving Projects the school used to run. They were involved in the school with various events and activities in the community. I remember finding him so intriguing. He had this mysterious air about him. I cringe when I remember how I wrote about him in my diary for weeks, even to the point where I used to get depressed, wondering if he even knew I existed.
“Serena Parker.”
I almost choked on my coffee. My inner teenage self was jumping up with joy just because he knew who I was. God, was I pathetic.
“Danny. Wow, I can’t believe you know my name.”
“Of course I do. You were the hottest girl in school, I had the biggest crush on you.”
“Wait, hold on, are you being serious? You have got to be kidding me?”
“No, I’m being serious. Why?”
He chuckled slightly. Seemingly genuine.
“This must be some sort of joke, I had the biggest crush on you throughout the whole of senior year. I always thought you never noticed me.”
“Oh, now you’re the one that must be kidding. I remember once we were in debate class, getting ready for an upcoming competition, and Mr. Edwards had us on opposing teams. You had gone first, then it was my turn for a rebuttal, and I thought I would vomit. I was convinced I would freeze right there in front of you. How could you not tell that I was a nervous wreck?”
I knew the exact time he was talking about.
“I thought you didn’t care. I remember watching you, hoping you’d look at me, and instead, you just kept your focus straight ahead!”
We both sat there and laughed.
“So, what have you been up to?” he asked.
I told him how I went on to study law, passed the bar, managed to get work straight out of college at a prestigious law firm, and was now running my own.
“I can’t say I’m surprised. You were always such a strong and determined woman, even back then. I remember you were always our biggest asset on the debate team, you would make our opponents quiver. I can only imagine what it must be like coming up against you in a courtroom or a meeting.”
“Thank you. But I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
High school felt like a lifetime ago.
“Yes and no. You only ever fought for the right things.”
We both took a sip of our drinks.
