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He smiles affectionately as his shoulders drop, the tension leaving his body. “Your dad would have been so proud of you. I’m sorry he’s not around to see the beautiful woman you’ve turned into. But trust me, he’s watching.”
“No doubt. He always was a helicopter parent.”
Charles laughs as he nods his head. “You’re not wrong there. I never understood it. While my two were throwing themselves into any danger they could find, you were wrapped up in cotton wool.”
“Only until I was seven.”
Charles’s smile fades, undoubtedly remembering my dad and the way he was for his last year of life. “He was a strong man. He hated every second of that hospital bed.”
“I know and—”
“Oh, shit, Dani. I’m sorry. You don’t need to be thinking about that. I’m proud of you. You’ve been through so much. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help.”
I’m thankful for the change in subject, but as I walk away, the tears threaten to fall at the reminder that I have no one left. Other than Charles and his wife. Eighteen months ago, I at least had a fiancé. He may not have been blood, but he was mine. I was building my own family. And now…
“How’d it go?” my friend and work colleague, Lucy, asks, jumping out of nowhere as I rush toward my car, reminding me that I’m not completely alone. I have her. She’s been a godsend since we first met at an event last year, and now that we work together—with her being a physical trainer for the football team and me working in marketing—I honestly don’t know what I’d have done without her. I try to subtly wipe the fallen tears from my eyes, but she notices straight away and pulls me into a side hug. “What happened?”
“Nothing. We just got to talking about my dad, which made me think of Eric, and…basically, I’m just a downer today.” I try to laugh it off, but Lucy’s having none of that.
“Dani. You’re allowed to be upset. Today’s a big day.”
She’s right. It is a big day. I’m officially moving into my own place, alone, for the first time ever. When I was nineteen, I moved from my family home to a place with Eric, then—when I couldn’t handle the thought of living by myself in the house I once shared with my fiancé—I moved into the dorms with a roommate, and now…I’ll be alone. And I’m not yet convinced that I’ll cope, but I’m giving it a red-hot go.
“Let’s get your things, take our time settling you in, and then order something really dirty for dinner. Like ice cream covered donuts.”
“For dinner?”
Lucy bites her lip and nods.
“Sounds perfect.”
We dance around the room to theRock of Agessoundtrack while making my tiny apartment look like a home. Since I barely have anything, it’s not an easy task. But we make do with what little I have.
When there are only two boxes left, Lucy opens the one marked fragile and frowns when she sees the image on top. A framed photo of Eric and me on a trip to the Grand Canyon, wrapped in a loving embrace with ridiculous smiles on our faces. It’s my favorite photo of us. The one I would have displayed at our wedding. And yet, now, I’m not even sure I want it in the apartment. It hurts too much.
“It’s a big ask, but can you hang on to that one for me? Just for a little—”
“Of course, Dani. Anything I can do.”
She gets up and puts the frame with her things before silently moving back to the box and pulling out the remaining happy snapshots I have, helping me display them around the living space.
“How about that junk food?” Lucy asks when I’ve set down the last picture on the windowsill, breaking my downward spiral and bringing a much-needed smile to my face.
We eat our ice cream and donuts and chocolate topping for an added extra, and then Lucy starts yawning. It’s only then I realize how late it is.
“Okay, you need to go home. We both have to work tomorrow.”
“Ugh, I know.” She collects her things, including the last remaining reminder I have of Eric, and makes her way to the door. “Oh, remember how I told you about the Friendsgiving we have with my friends? Well, we’re having it again this year, and I want you to come.”
“Ahhh.”
“Nope. You’re coming. It’s still a month away, but I have a lot going on between now and then, so I’m asking you now, in case I forget. I usually order the food three weeks out.
“What does it matter when you ask? You’re not letting me say no.”
“Good point. I could have just ordered the food without this talk. Thank you.”
She laughs to herself as she walks down the hall toward the elevator, offering me a small wave and smile over her shoulder. “See you tomorrow, Dan.”
