Love In Between(81)

“I don't want to talk about it. I'm going to bed. Be ready bright and early sunshine.” I pointed at Drew.

I BRUSHED MY teeth before stripping off my jeans and crawled into bed in my tank top and underwear. I nestled into the pillow as my thoughts drifted over the past few years of my life. A few minutes later I heard my door creak open and Drew's form was bathed in the light from the hallway. She closed the door behind her and silently curled up in the bed behind me.

“Are you okay?” Her voice was heartbreakingly sad.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Doesn't sound like it,” she said.

“I am.” I hugged my pillow tighter.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Okay.” She nuzzled deeper into the pillow we were sharing.

“I'm sorry I haven’t been around, Georgia.”

I sucked in a sharp breath and closed my eyes as tears stung behind my eyelids. “I know.” I took another deep breath and tried to swallow the painful lump in my throat.

***

THE NEXT MORNING I dragged Drew out of bed at ten and the three of us headed to town for shopping. We picked up coffee then wandered the streets, in and out of antique stores and boutiques. Our first purchase was a love-at-first-sight large cream couch. We came across some eggshell blue and cream striped chairs that complemented it. With the big items out of the way we focused on smaller decorative things. Silas spotted a weathered wrought iron and glass side table and I found a beautiful vintage mirrored lamp to place on top of it. My vision for perfect modern cottage chic was coming together.

With bright sunshine and a cool breeze, I breathed deeply and thought at this moment, I was the happiest I'd ever been; life was simple as I strolled around a small seaside town with my two best friends. Tears pricked my eyes, thankful for both of them.

After lunch we went to the hardware store to get paint samples. Silas and Drew went a little wild, bickering and stuffing dozens of colorful paint chips into my oversized purse. Kyle and I had moved into a beautiful furnished apartment in D.C. where not a single thing needed to be done, so I was embracing starting from scratch with the beach house.

We headed home mid-afternoon to meet the furniture delivery truck. They hauled the old couch away and brought the new furniture into the living room along with the oversized plasma TV Silas had insisted I get. Once the furniture was in, Silas, Drew and I spent time debating the placement of the smaller items. I cracked beers for the three of us and giggled as I watched them argue over everything. This summer would be an exercise in patience between the two of them.

The Mourning After is available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.