The Friends We Keep

*

Nicole wiped her hands on the sacrificial towel and stepped back to look at the mural. She’d been working on it nearly every day. The painting had gone slowly. She had neither Jairus’s talent nor his patience. But it was important to Tyler and if her son couldn’t have the friend he adored, at least he could have his work.

Nearly a week had passed since she’d last spoken to Jairus. A week of sleepless nights and long, sad days. A week of Tyler asking when Jairus was going to be home.

Because for the first time in her life, she’d lied to her son. Rather than tell him the truth, she’d said he was back on tour. She kept promising herself she would explain everything, just as soon as she figured out what she was going to say. Or rather how to phrase it. Because what had happened had been awful...and her fault. She was going to have to tell her son that they weren’t going to be with Jairus because she was afraid.

Afraid to love, afraid to be hurt. Afraid to trust. She was a coward. And rather than face those fears, she would walk away from him. Had walked away, hurting not only herself, but Tyler, too.

She studied the mural, the bright colors, the careful lines that brought the ever cheerful Brad to life. A boy and his dragon, she thought sadly.

The doorbell rang. For a second she allowed herself to hope that it was Jairus. That he’d shown up to talk some sense into her, to insist that she give him another chance. But when she pulled open the door, there was only a uniformed delivery woman with a slim package.

“If you’d sign here, ma’am,” she said, handing over her tablet.

Nicole scribbled her name, then took the envelope. She hadn’t ordered anything. There was no return address.

She turned the package over in her hands before opening it. Inside was a book. No, not a book. Just loose pages bound together. The cover showed a familiar red dragon and the title: Brad the Dragon and Tango Girl.

Nicole sank to the floor. She was crying before she turned to the first page.

The story was simple. Brad met Tango Girl—a pretty blonde dragon who danced. Brad and Tango Girl went to dinner and out on the beach. Brad fell in love with Tango Girl and asked her to marry him. Only Tango Girl said no. The second to the last page showed Brad crying big, fat dragon tears. The last page was blank, except for a Post-it that said: I’m hoping for a happy ending.

There was nothing else.

Nicole closed her eyes and told herself she would be fine. That this wasn’t a big deal. Yes, it was a lovely gesture, but it didn’t have to mean anything unless she wanted it to. She’d made her decision. She wasn’t going to be swayed by...

A book? The story wasn’t the problem. Nor was the unwritten ending. The real problem was her. She’d always prided herself on being self-sufficient. On taking care of business. On being a good example for her son. So what was all this? Her teaching him it was better to lie and be afraid than tell the truth? What was she showing herself? That she would rather be alone and safe than take a chance on a wonderful man who loved her?

She got up and walked back into Tyler’s room. The mural dominated the space. Everything about it was happy and positive. Jairus had only been in their lives a few short months, yet he’d already left his mark. Was she really going to lose him because of something he might never do?

Fear battled with hope and love. She knew what she wanted and she knew what was right. For once, they were the same thing.

She ran to the kitchen and collected her purse, along with her cell phone. She was still holding the book.

It only took ten minutes to drive to Jairus’s house. She raced up to the front door, which opened before she got there.

He stood in the door and smiled at her. “I hoped Brad would get through to you when I couldn’t.”

She flung herself at him. Her purse and the book fell to the floor as she buried her head in his shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was so scared. No. Terrified. I love you and I want to be with you. I love you, Jairus. I’m sorry for not being able to deal with that sooner.”

He drew back enough to kiss her. “It’s okay, Tango Girl. You were worth waiting for.”

*

“I know there’s someone else.”

Hayley stared at her husband. He was pale as he stood in the kitchen, looking at her. His shoulders were slumped and his mouth a straight line, laced with pain.

“I’ve tried to ignore it,” he continued. “But you’ve been taking long lunches every day and disappearing in the evening. You’re not even trying to hide it.”

“How did you know about the long lunches?” A ridiculous question, but the first one that came to mind.

“I stopped by to see you and Steven told me.”

Betrayed by her boss, she thought, knowing that under any other circumstances, the situation would be funny.