The Friends We Keep

“Have they found any of them?” he asked.

He’d hidden a couple dozen old Easter eggs all around the yard early that morning. They held silly things, like plastic rings, stickers and marbles. Just fun prizes the kids would like.

“Not yet. I’m going to say something soon.”

The children continued to race around the yard.

He moved closer and put his arm around her. “I forgot to thank you.”

“For what?”

“I took your advice with my customer. The one who lost her husband. You said she might be looking for attention, rather than trying to make my life miserable. So I started calling her after her appointment, to make sure everything was okay. Then I followed up the next day.” He flashed her a smile. “Ever since that, she’s been sweet as pie and not coming back with made-up problems.”

“I’m glad the advice worked for you.”

She spoke automatically, which was good, because her mind was elsewhere. If she were to count the number of times her husband had put his arm around her, it would probably be in the thousands. But this time was different. This time she was hyperaware of his body close to hers, of the heat of him and how he’d slept next to her last night.

Nothing had happened, but she’d enjoyed listening to him breathe while he slept.

She was, she acknowledged, healing.

Rob released her. “Okay. Time to let the wild things know there are prizes.”

He clapped to get everyone’s attention, then told the kids about the Easter eggs. Immediately the game stopped and the search began.

She watched Rob help the twins find eggs. He was so good with all the children, she thought. So patient and loving. A great husband. She’d been lucky to fall in love with him and have him love her back. More than lucky. Blessed.

Kennedy ran up to her with several stickers in her hand. “Look what I found.”

“Those are very cool,” Hayley told her.

“I know.” The five-year-old hugged her. “You’re the best, Auntie Hayley. I love you.”

Hayley hugged her back. “I love you, too.”

She’d meant the words. She did love the twins, and Morgan’s kids and her friends and Rob most of all. Which meant that however damaged her heart might be, it wasn’t, in fact, broken beyond repair. There was hope. And if she was very lucky, there was a happy future with her husband.

*

Gabby waited patiently in the parking lot. Right on time, a half-dozen or so teenage girls walked out of the building. Two more followed, a teenage boy in tow. Two minutes later, she spotted Makayla.

She walked directly to the car, her head slightly bent, her shoulders slumped. Gabby drew in a breath as she wondered what on earth she could say to make an impossible situation better.

“How was your parenting class?” she asked as the teen settled next to her in the car and put on her seat belt.

“Okay. We learned about how to tell if our baby’s sick.”

“That must have been a little scary.”

“It was.” Makayla shrugged. “Heather’s boyfriend dumped her. He’s going into the army or something.” Her mouth twisted. “They were like engaged. He asked for the ring back. He told her he might want to give it to someone better.” Tears filled her eyes. “He got her pregnant and he’s acting like it’s all her fault, you know? It’s not fair.”

Gabby squeezed the teen’s arm. “I’m sorry. Boys can be idiots.”

“Yeah, they can.” She wiped away the tears. “I’m not crying over Boyd, you know. He’s not worth it. He’s a total shit head and I hate him. I’ll hate him forever.”

Gabby wondered if she should tell Makayla that kind of thinking wouldn’t get her anywhere. But a part of her wondered if hating Boyd was kind of a good thing. At least it gave her something to focus on for the moment. Over time, the teen would have to figure out a strategy but for now, maybe having an enemy wasn’t so bad.

“I hate him, too,” Gabby admitted. “Because of how he hurt you.”

Makayla surprised her by smiling. “Then he’s in trouble, because you’re really strong.”

An unexpected compliment, Gabby thought, as she signaled and then pulled out of the parking lot.

They didn’t talk as they drove home. Gabby kept listening for the familiar notes that indicated her stepdaughter had a text. Lately, her phone had been far too silent. Gabby wasn’t sure about the balance between supportive and interfering, so she didn’t ask too many question, but from what she could tell, most of Makayla’s friends had drifted away. She wasn’t hanging out with them after school or making plans on the weekend. There weren’t any phone calls, no giggling conversations.

Cecelia and the twins were at the table coloring when they got home. Boomer raced over to greet them, circling and moaning as if they’d been gone five years instead of a couple of hours. Gabby had a feeling his enthusiasm had a lot more to do with dinner than with missing them.