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I hand her a red, short-sleeved chiffon that matches perfectly with the details in the orange dress. She immediately perks up as she pulls it off the hanger to add to her chosen purchases.
“I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with me.”
“Really? Sounds good. Glad to hear it. I mean, I’d be irritated to discover the man I’ve secretly compared others to, wondered how he was doing, and even quietly pined after was living a happy life without me.” She pauses then adds another item to her “to purchase” pile. “I’d want answers and demand explanations. Why is she worthy of the life the two of you were supposed to lead?”
I’m nodding my head as she speaks a lot of the things I’ve wondered about over the last week or two. He and Hope seem like they would be a happy couple. Journee has determined they are together from what she’s claimed she’s seen. I think she’s enjoying the thought of being seen as a spy. I’m thinking they are close friends. Might have the whole FWB (friends with benefits) thing going.
I just can’t believe I’ve worked with the Hope Foundation for as long as I have and never knew Hope was connected to the Shaw family. I’ve always known her as Hope Alexander so it’s an easy miss. Plus, it’s not like I had other things to think about or anything. I’ve been doing my own form of therapy.
It’s why I was bothered by him not speaking to me. He shouldn’t give me the cold shoulder if he’s found what he needed in his better half. When he went off on me, I found I was even more confused. I’d gone in there with the intention of closing out one crazy aspect of my life, not making it that much crazier.
Regardless, I have no right to wonder any of those things. We went our separate ways. The main reason we did so was because he made the choice to leave. I’m not bitter about that. Why would I be?
“Like I said, ‘I’m fine’.”
“Great. That’s great to hear. I’m so glad to hear that.” She turns to face me then smiles. Journee walks around to stand in front of me. “Help me out here, honey. What exactly happened between the two of you? What I know, I’ve assumed and pieced together from bits of information. It isn’t because you clued me in on anything.”
“Okay. You pay for your stuff, and I’ll stop by the store. We’ll meet back home in half an hour, and I’ll share. I don’t want to bare my soul while doing retail therapy.”
She nods her head then grabs her pile. I leave her in the store then head out to complete my tasks. I’m leaving the bakery when I feel that familiar feeling. I search the area and see him hugging the woman I saw him at the restaurant with last week. He looks up then turns like he’s looking for something. I’m so glad he doesn’t see me. After this morning, I can do without running into him for a while.
When I see him head in a different direction than the way I’m heading, I send up a prayer of thanks. I feel like a spy as I duck behind things trying to make sure I’m free and clear of seeing him. I don’t claim success on this mission until I’m safely inside my home.
I’m glad Journee isn’t there when I arrive. It gives me the time I need to get settled and calm myself. By the time she does get home, I’ve had time to get showered and changed into my comfy,Minnie Mousepajamas. When she sees what I’m wearing, she drops her bags at the door and darts upstairs.
An hour after our agreement to come home to talk, Journee and I are sitting down on our favorite couch facing each other. We’re both comfortable and surrounded by snacks.
“All right. Tell me about you and Mr. Shaw. I don’t mind dirty details. If you have some, do share.”
We tap spoons and dig into our ice cream of choice.
“First off, Mr. Shaw is and always will be Daire to me. Jaxson Daire Shaw has never met a dare that he didn’t accept. It’s one of the things I have forever dislike about him. It’s the reason we met. I should probably be grateful for the daring side of him.”
Handing me a glass of wine, Journee grabs a pillow from the floor.
“Okay. I’m going to need a little bit more of an explanation of the whole dare thing being the reason you two met.”
“Right. Sometimes I forget you haven’t always been around. It feels like you’ve been here the entire time. It’s weird knowing we’ve only known each other a year. I had this whole other life ... Daire and I went to high school together.” I huff out a breath before continuing the story. “The story goes, he had been interested in me for a few months but hadn’t gotten up the courage to let me know. He says, he used this situation to his advantage. Tuck and Rye tell it a little different. They say they knew he was into me and gave him the nudge he needed by offering up the dare. Evidently, his older brother let it slip to his friends that he hated being dared to do anything. He felt this weird obligation to complete the task. Not that it was put that way when it was shared with me, but whatever. They dared him to introduce himself to me. That same day, he did. Two days later we went on an official date. That was it. We were inseparable afterwards, until we weren’t.”
I scoop out some of the ice cream, rocky road, my favorite, then eat it and another spoonful. Journee eats and drink. Patiently and silently waiting for me to continue my story. When I don’t, she gently prompts me. first with her tickling me under my thigh then her words.
“Enough with the suspense building. You explained the dare thing and told me how you met. You’ve yet to tell me what happened to end things. Spill. I can tell you want to tell me.”
Taking a large sip of liquid courage, I open myself up to the memory of that day.
“Right. It started off as the best day. It was beautiful. I was excited about an annual event. I kept going on about it being one of the many firsts I was looking forward to having.” My hand itches to move to the belly from my memory. It was huge because I only had weeks to go. “We were all excited because it was the first time in a long while that everyone from the Magnificent Seven Crew was going to be together. Someone was either out of town or grounded. We were all going, and we did. It was one of our last full group photos. It was the perfect day until it wasn’t.”
Tears begin to form in my eyes as I recall the events that followed.
“Oh Sweetie, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would make you cry.”
I shake my head. For what reason, I don’t know. I’m sitting there with my friend. I’m not back in that moment with the big belly. It’s not happening but my heart feels like it is.
“It’s weird. When I told my therapist the story, I didn’t react this way. With you, I’m a big ole baby.”
“Well then, let me hold the baby.”
She holds out her arms and I snorfle (snort and sniffle) before snuggling into the warmth of her hug.
