Randi turned around and Eden could see tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then stay!”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
Eden couldn’t move as Randi got in her car and drove away.
There had been times when Eden and Randi disagreed with each other or didn’t see eye to eye, but they always talked things through.
This was bad.
Eden had to do something before Randi spiraled so far out of control that she wouldn’t give them a chance. She went back into the house and paced back and forth through the living room and kitchen.
“Think, think, think,” she said over and over. They’d always had each other when things went wrong, but now…
She stopped. They needed help. It took them this long to admit their feelings. Why would it be easy to talk through things now?
Eden reached for her phone and called Tennie.
She quickly explained all that had happened since they left Six Flags last evening. “I need your help. We need your help.”
“I’ll be right there,” Tennie said.
Eden exhaled a deep breath and wanted to cry. “No! This is not over. We’re just beginning.”
She looked around the room and wasn’t sure what to do. A warm nudge against her leg made Eden look down where Letty was sitting right in front of her. Eden stared into Letty’s one good eye as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Letty softly mewed at her then walked towards the bedroom.
“Right,” Eden said, swiping the tear away. “I should get dressed.”
She followed Letty into the bedroom and quickly changed into shorts and a T-shirt. Her thoughts were on Randi and she paused to stare at the bed for a moment before leaving the room. The sheets were a tangled mess, but the story they told was one of discovery, togetherness, and love.
Eden walked out of the room and went back into the kitchen. She could make the bed and tidy her bedroom later. Right now, she cleared the table, cleaned up her mess from making waffles, and still thought of Randi.
She wiped her hands and closed her eyes as another tear found her cheek. Eden wasn’t crying because Randi hurt her, shewas crying because she knew Randi was in pain. That made her heart want to break, but she knew if she could just get Randi to give them a chance everything would be okay.
Her doorbell rang and she quickly dried her tears, took a deep breath, and walked to the front door. She was surprised to find Analise standing there.
“Hey?”
“Tennie called me,” Analise said, taking Eden into her arms. “Everything is going to be all right.”
Eden was surprised by Analise’s comforting hug. Her boss wasn’t necessarily a touchy-feely person, but Eden didn’t realize how much she needed it until this moment.
When they pulled apart Analise smiled. “Tennie will be here soon. I live closer.”
Eden nodded and led her into the kitchen. Her house was an open-concept footprint with the kitchen, dining area, and living room all in one great space. “Would you like coffee?”
Analise shook her head. “Let’s sit.”
Eden took a seat at one end of the table and Analise sat perpendicular to her.
“They’ll be here soon,” Analise said. “In the meantime?—”
“They?” Eden asked, furrowing her brow.
“Tennie and Cari.”
