“Hi, Grace.”
“Hey, what’s going on? I just passed by your office and found out you’re out of town. Where are you headed?”
“Uh, something came up, kind of last minute.” She pulled into the parking lot of a Starbucks and took her seatbelt off. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to call before I left.”
“Is everything okay, Bell? You sound kind of stressed.”
She hadn’t slept much last night. Her talk with Loran combined with the knowledge that she’d have to make this trip, set her on edge. “I just have something to take care of, something I’m not looking forward to.”
“Tell me!”
“Parole hearing. My ex might be getting out of jail.” Just the thought of him walking free turned her stomach. That monster deserved to be behind bars for as long as the law would allow. “I need to say my piece, try to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Oh my God, why didn’t you tell me? I could have gone with you. Wait, Loran’s with you, isn’t he?”
“Uh no.” Bella rolled the window down a crack and turned the car off. “We kind of got into it last night. I’m not really sure where things stand, to be honest.” Tears welled up in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. “But I can’t think about that now. I just need to get through this parole hearing tomorrow, then I’ll worry about what’s going to happen with Loran.”
“Oh no! I can’t believe you’re going through this alone. Did you drive or fly? Can I meet you somewhere or—”
“Gracie, stop. I love you for wanting to be here for me, but I really can handle this on my own. I need to.” It’s not that she wouldn’t have liked Loran’s strong shoulder to lean on, but if she had to go it alone, she could. She was used to being alone.
“Will you at least text me the hotel where you’re staying?” She heaved a sigh. “So I’ll know where to find you if there’s an emergency?”
“Sure.” Bella was going to remind her friend that she always had her cell phone on her and charged, but didn’t feel like wasting her breath pointing out the obvious. “Listen, I’m sitting in front of a Starbucks right now, dying for a coffee. So I’ll text you the details about the hotel where I’m staying and let you know when I get there, okay.”
“You better!”
Even if she never found forever with her soul mate at least she had her best friend. That was more than a lot of people had.
