It's Better This Way(5)

Three people were in line in front of her. Her phone beeped, letting her know she had a text message. Taking it from the outside pocket of her purse, she saw it was from her niece, Carrie.

Can u talk?

Julia called and Carrie answered right away.

“You okay?” Julia asked.

“Not really.” She sounded as down as Julia could remember. Carrie was generally upbeat and happy.

“You want to tell me what this is about?”

It wasn’t uncommon for Carrie to seek Julia’s advice. Her niece was like a third daughter. Carrie was the same age as Marie, and the three girls were tight, having grown up together. Carrie often claimed she had two mothers.

    “I’d rather do it in person.”

“Great. How about lunch tomorrow?” Her niece had been on her mind ever since last Monday’s conversation with her sister. And when Heath had introduced himself, she’d gotten an idea. The condo was looking to hire another concierge, and Carrie would be a perfect fit. Plus, a small apartment was offered with the position.

“Sure, I can do lunch.”

“How about the Thai place,” she suggested, knowing it was Carrie’s favorite. “Noon?”

“That would be perfect. Thanks so much, Aunt Julia.”

If this panned out, it would solve a big problem for Carrie, and her sister and Robert.





Chapter 2




“What’s got you so down?” Marie asked Carrie.

Carrie sat with her knees bunched up beneath her chin in the middle of her cousin’s apartment. “It’s Mom and Dad,” she said, releasing a slow, frustrated breath. Rarely had she been more depressed.

“Your mom and dad,” Marie repeated, her eyes widening with alarm. “They aren’t splitting up, are they?”

Carrie supposed this was a natural assumption after what had happened with Marie’s parents. Even now, after nearly six years, Carrie found it hard to believe that her uncle Eddie would leave a woman as wonderful as her aunt Julia.

“Not yet,” she said, “though I have a feeling if I don’t find a job that pays me enough to move out, they might consider it.” That would be the extreme, but after hearing their argument, she couldn’t discount the possibility. Her parents rarely raised their voices at each other. The shock of hearing them argue had hung over her head for a week now. They were miserable, and so was Carrie.

    “They were fighting about you?”

Carrie nodded. “They didn’t know I was home. They hardly ever argue; it shook me to hear them yelling at each other.” They must not have heard her come in, and she didn’t think it was a good time to interrupt. Sneaking up the stairs, she silently went to her room without letting them know she was home from work. “Their raised voices were amplified from the foyer like it was being broadcast throughout the house. Dad insisted that it was time I move into my own place. He was adamant they weren’t helping me by letting me live at home.”

Marie lowered herself from the sofa and sat on the floor next to Carrie. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. Dad’s right. It’s time I accepted responsibility for myself and had my own life.”

“You could always move in with Hillary and me,” Marie suggested.

Adding a third person in a two-bedroom apartment wouldn’t work. Carrie had a good relationship with her cousins. Becoming their roommate had catastrophe written all over it.

“Where would I sleep or put my things?” she asked, hoping the question was answer enough. Carrie’s cousins were close, both in their late twenties. Living together wasn’t ideal for them, either. But the cost of housing in the Seattle area made it nearly impossible for each to rent their own place.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Blake and Hillary announced their engagement soon,” Marie offered. “I’ll be looking for a roommate once they get married. Do you think you could wait a few more months?”

    “No way. I need to find a solution as soon as possible. Besides, even if they do get engaged, it could be months before the wedding.”

It did cheer Carrie to hear her cousin was ready to make the leap with Blake. They’d been dating for more than three years. Marie had once mentioned that Blake had hinted at marriage a year earlier. Only Hillary claimed she wasn’t ready.

“Yeah, I know.” Marie drew her knee up and rested her chin there, mirroring Carrie’s position.

“I’m happy for Hillary. Blake’s a good guy.”

“He is. She’s lucky,” Marie agreed. “I think Hilly would have accepted his proposal last year if it wasn’t for what happened to Mom and Dad. They were married thirty-one years. Even now it’s a jolt, you know?”

“I do.” Carrie had been stunned when her mother told her the news that her wonderful uncle Eddie was leaving her aunt for another woman. While that was bad enough, it had deeply affected both Hillary and Marie. After the shouting match at Lake Sammamish, neither cousin had anything to do with their father or his new wife. From what Carrie had heard, Uncle Eddie had made several attempts to reconcile, only her cousins weren’t interested. The problem was, he insisted they meet and accept their stepmother, which Hillary and Marie refused to do. They considered the other woman to have ruined all their lives. That their dad had put this woman above them wasn’t something they were willing to forgive.