AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Since they’d been reunited, Jennifer spent two days a week in Riverside visiting Emily. She’d hired a TaskRabbit to drive her to and from the memory facility, thanks to Gia’s technology help. Just like that, old flames had a new relationship, and seeing Jennifer happy and engaged—and regularly leaving her apartment—was the best outcome she could’ve imagined. Her neighbor had thanked her with a lifetime membership to the climbing gym, saying it was the least she could do for the granddaughter she never had.
That Tuesday, Gia sat in her usual chair waiting for her usual meeting and reflected. Legs crossed, hands interlaced, and eyes closed, she thought about what she wanted to share. In the past, she’d use the time before a meeting to chat with Roxi, but it’d been almost two months—no Roxi. The show was still going. She hadn’t been voted in yet, and the contest was coming to an end.
Gia only knew what she learned by watching each week. Such a constant fixture in her life had vanished, almost as if it had never been there. She’d long since stopped expecting a “hey,chica,” before the meeting started. Hadn’t had a café con leche from the diner around the corner in weeks. And visits to The Palmeranian were off limits alone. She’d spent her time working, climbing, and finding out who she was—without the influence of someone else.
As Gia shifted in her seat and stared at the St. Peter in stained glass, she wondered if she’d hear from Roxi again. A month had become two. When she’d texted that the reunion Roxi’d helped with—Jennifer and Emily—had gone better than expected and didn’t hear back, she gave up. The radio silence on the other end either meant Roxi truly didn’t have access to her phone or didn’t want to be contacted.
“Hey everyone,” Mikael started with his usual serene authority, silencing the chatter, and commanding the room. “Before we get started today, I have some news. I’ve taken a new job in Sonoma, and this will be my last meeting with you all. I feel so honored to have led this group for nearly three years—and to have known most of you for that time. Georgia here will be taking over for me, and I can assure you that you’re in capable hands.”
Though he said he’d taken a new job, Gia heard a “geographic” in Mikael’s story and reminded herself that not everyone moved because they were running away from something or someone. Some moved for better opportunities, new experiences, or a change of pace. She pushed down feelings that yet another person in her life was abandoning her—she and Mikael weren’t “that” kind of friends. And yet, the tears forming in the corners of her eyes revealed the impact of the loss. The importance of her group to her new life.
As Georgia greeted the group and spoke of her background, the pounding in Gia’s head started. The familiar metronome of discomfort. She wondered—could she start over with a new leader? Regardless of the answer, it was happening.
“So, who’d like to start this week?” Georgia asked with a smile, her combat boots a comforting statement against a long, flowy dress. She marched to the beat of her own drummer.
Gia knew it was her turn. The metronome was still keeping time in her head. St. Peter was still looking down. And Roxi was still not in the chair next to her. “I’ll go,” Gia said, the quiver in her voice appearing for the first time since the early days of joining the meeting.
“I’m Gia, and I’m an alcoholic. It’s been exactly nine months since I had a drink, smoke, or hook up. And in those nine months, I’ve learned a lifetime of information about myself. A lot of it is thanks to this group, so thank you to everyone for being you. And most recently, I’ve learned that I’m the best person to rely on—I am capable of being there for myself. And that’s huge, you know?” The quiver was there, but it was relaxing. What she was saying was true, and as the words escaped, Gia heard them. Shewasthere for herself. She was there for her mom, neighbor, and Derrick, too. She was showing up in ways she never had before. “I’ve built a life here that I like. I have a community. That’s pretty heavy for me since I used to move at least once a year—sometimes more. But I don’t have the urge to move—at least not now. I feel like my life is just getting started.”
When Gia rock climbed, she let her body take the lead—her mind followed. She didn’t think, just moved from hold to hold until she reached the top. Sinking back into the creaky folding chair in the Church of Christ’s Fellowship Hall, Gia’s body led, but her mind was right on its heels.
For the first time in her adult life—she feltsettled. And she couldn’t assign that feeling to another person. She’d done the work; she’d earned her place in the world. Because her mind wasn’t a mess of static and repeating narratives, she was present as others spoke. Jacques had resolved some drama with his parents—and his bright pink golf shorts reflected his good mood; another member spoke of backtracking and binge drinking. Each person brought their unique stories to the meeting, and Gia heard them with clarity she hadn’t before.
When the meeting ended and the group dispersed, she clicked the home screen on her phone—force of habit more than anything—and saw it.
A new text.
From Roxi.
Seasons of love
As it does every year,February faded into March. And March to April. The warmth of spring turned into the heat of pre-summer, and Gia girded herself for the impending Hell’s Front Porch season. Though it came with a side of intense heat, she’d grown to love Palm Springs. Months after telling her group she felt at home there, she still did. Routine was a good thing.
After climbing practice with Courtney that evening—still a twice-a-week commitment—Gia peeled the tight climbing shoes off her feet and watched as the Courtney’s next protégé flew up the wall with the grace of a ballerina and speed of a cheetah. Just seventeen years old, the latest addition to their climbing team had a leg up on everyone else—including Gia. Her climbing Cinderella story was changing as the next leading lady disrupted the plot. Just as well—she didn’t want the pressure that came with being the team’s ringer. Or so she told herself.
“Hey, G!” A woman was speaking to her, but Gia wasn’t listening. She was in awe of the girl with such a natural approach to the wall that she must’ve been climbing since before she could walk.
“Gia!” A hand waved in front of her face.
“Oh, sorry.” Gia blinked and focused on the body that belonged to the hand. It was Sister A, otherwise known as Janelle. “Hey.”
“Are you okay? You seem a little—”
“Yeah, fine. I was just watching that.” Gia motioned with her head. “We have our work cut out for us to keep up with her.”
“We do.” Janelle nodded. “Nice kid, though. It’ll be fun to watch the other teams get a load of her and weep.” Janelle laughed like a hyena, Gia thought.
“Sure will. Anyway, I need to get going—”
“Okay. Good seeing you. Hey—how are things with Roxi?”
“What do you mean?” Gia feigned confusion.
Janelle probably already knew that Roxi got a part in the musical. Already knew that she and Gia had been texting daily since she got her phone back. Already knew that Gia was planning to be at opening night—in two weeks—in Los Angeles. What else was there to tell?
“Just wondered if you two are doing the long-distance thing. Or whatever. It’s none of my business, actually.”
“Oh, we’re not together.” Gia corrected the assumption. “Just good friends.”
