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“Might?” Her mom asked. “What kind of plans?”
Hallie sighed. “A date.”
“Baby, why didn’t you say so? Well, what’s his name? How did you meet? What does he do?”
The excitement in her mom’s voice had Hallie rolling her eyes. “I don’t know if we do have plans. I thought he was going to call or text me tonight, but he hasn’t yet.”
There was a long pause on the line. “It’s barely past nine o’clock. There’s still time, though I want you to promise me you won’t answer him if he messages past ten. It’s just not appropriate.”
Hallie smiled at her mom’s southern ways. “Yes, Mam.”
Her mother sighed into the receiver. “So, tell me about him.”
Hallie was raised to never deny her parents anything, especially not information when they asked her a direct question. It was all because of her “issue” as her parents called it, but somehow it bled into her personal life, too. She didn’t like it, but she was so used to it that she just answered without giving it too much thought. “His name is Caden. He came into my shop looking for a wedding gift for his friends, and he works for the FBI.” That was innocent enough, and also true.
“The FBI? Oh my! He sounds like quite a catch.” The excitement in her mom’s voice made Hallie laugh as she put her feet up on the couch.
“Don’t marry me off yet. I might never hear from him again.” A small part of her now almost hoped she didn’t because then she wouldn’t have to worry about him finding out about her secret. She’d never told anyone and even though her parents kind of knew, they didn’t really know. They just thought it was all in her head. An issue to be dealt with.
“He will, Baby.” Her mom reassured. “He might be quite a catch, but you are the best catch of them all. And he’d be a fool not to see it.”
Hallie blushed, not used to hearing her mom talk so highly of her. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Call me tomorrow and let me know what happens?” It was a request, but Hallie saw it for what it was. Her parents had always been active participants in her life, and she didn’t see that stopping any time soon.
“Okay, I will. Love you, Mom.” Hallie said, wanting to end the call.
“Love you more, Baby,” her mom said.
Hallie ended the call and gently tossed her phone onto the coffee table just out of reach of the couch. Talking to her mom was always so complicated. On the one hand, her mom was her best friend. On the other hand, Hallie always felt like she was treading a fine line. One wrong move, one slip of a word, and her parents would haul her back to that hospital and those horrible doctors that kept her drugged most of her teen years. If only those drugs had actually helped, maybe Hallie wouldn’t have hated them so much. But if anything, the drugs only made it worse. And she couldn’t even tell anyone because if she uttered a word about her issue, or how it was actually a legitimate thing, she could be forced to take more pills - or worse.
It was a never-ending cycle she’d finally escaped when she took all the money she’d saved from birthdays and her job at a local coffee shop, and ran away after graduating high school. Her trip to Asia was more than just a much-needed adventure. It was a cry for help, but even the best shamans there couldn’t help her. No one could get her glimpses to stop.
Her phone buzzed, and Hallie groaned. She’d gotten comfortable on the couch and didn’t want to move just yet. Then the phone buzzed a second time. Her mom really wanted to tell her something.
With a groan, Hallie sat up and scooped up the phone, then collapsed back on the couch. Not answering a message from her mom only led to dramatics and unnecessary worry. Her parents couldn’t stand not being able to get in touch with her. It was like they thought if she didn’t respond immediately, it meant she’d been taken by some unknown monster and would never be seen or heard from again.
She looked at the screen. There were two messages. And both were from Caden. Hallie smiled.
Caden: Hi.
Caden: Sorry it’s so late.
Hallie’s heart quickened. He’d messaged her after all. Maybe she’d finally found the guy her mom had always talked about - the one who would make her happy, or maybe it was just something silly her mom always said to make her believe in the ultimate fairy tale romance that her parents had. Hallie shook her head. Had her expectations of men really dropped so low that she was willing to take any man as long as he messaged her before ten o’clock at night? She shrugged. She couldn’t deny she was happy to hear from him and typed back a quick reply.
Hallie: That’s okay. I was just watching tv.
Caden: Blake came home today. The guys and I went over to give him a little surprise welcome home party.
Hallie: That was nice of you. How’s he doing?
Caden: Good. Still needs a few more weeks of rehab. Are you working on Thursday?
Hallie: Yes, in the afternoon as usual.
Caden: Good, that means you’re free for dinner.
Hallie: Dinner?
