Chapter 5
Tori
I’m lucky to have someone like David for a friend. Going out to grab a bite to eat together is exactly what I need.
Normally, I wouldn’t drink this time of the day, but when he mentioned having a glass of wine with our food, how could I say no? We’ve laughed, cried, and told some pretty incredible stories. I feel like I’m alive, and for once, I finally feel that everything is going to be okay.
The waitress brings us another glass of pinot noir and I wonder if it’s even a good idea at this point for me to take a sip.
I know I’ve exceeded my daily intake, and I’m afraid if I stand up, I may not be able to walk straight.
Following Kyle’s tragic accident, I used to have a small glass at night before attempting to go to sleep.
A lot of good that did though, considering many nights I was still awake well beyond midnight.
When he and I and I first got married, I found myself staying up late because I hated the idea of being home alone at night.
I eventually forced myself to get used to it because his schedule wasn’t going to change.
Being on duty for twenty-four hours straight was the life of a firefighter… whether I liked it or not.
“You alright over there?” David asks as he sets his glass down on the table.
“Yeah, why?” I pick up my napkin and dab the corners of my mouth.
“You grew quiet all of a sudden.”
“I’m fine. Really.” It’s hard not to reminisce about Kyle…we had such a wonderful marriage.
The waitress returns with the check, and I feel as though I should offer to pay for my portion of our meal, if not all of it considering David is always tending to the yard for me.
“Tori, would you like anything else?” he asks as he slides the plastic tray with his credit card to his side of the table.
“Nothing more for me but thank you for asking.” I look up at the waitress collecting the plates from our table. “I’m sorry, can you use my card instead?”
“Tori,” David interrupts. “No. It’s my treat.”
“David, you do enough already.” I place my hand on top of his arm as our gaze’s lock.
“I’m not going to argue,” he says, a warm smile appearing on his face.
“Next time, it’s on me then.” I take another sip of my wine and swirl the liquid around in my mouth before swallowing it. Yeah, I’d say the wine is giving me some courage this afternoon. Did I just tell him the next time would be on me?
“Are you up for taking a stroll through the mall? Or do you need to get back home?” he asks as soon as he signs the ticket.
“Sure, I’d like that.” I lift my purse strap over my head, letting my crossbody rest against my hip. “Just don’t walk too fast. I might not be able to keep up.”
We both laugh at my remark. I’m amazed at how well David is handling his wine consumption compared to me.
“Who said we had to rush?” he asks then slips his hand around mine. “Come on, we’ll go slow.”
There’s hardly anyone out this afternoon as we causally stroll past the stores. No one seems to notice that I’ve had a little too much to drink and I do my best not to say anything too obnoxiously loud. Heaven forbid I embarrass either of us—he’ll never want to be seen with me in public again.
“Tori, is that you?” a voice from behind us calls out.
David and I both turn around at the same time. Kyle’s cousin, Sharon, and her daughter Harper have just walked out of one of the shoe stores.
“Sharon,” I say and let go of David’s arm so I can give her a hug. “It’s so good to see you. And Harper, you’re growing up so quickly. You’re almost as tall as your mom.”
I can feel the tension in her embrace, and I wonder if I’ve said something wrong. Does she smell the wine on my breath?
“I didn’t realize you were dating already,” Sharon says very condescendingly as she looks from me to David, then back to me again.
Dating?
Really?
No how are you, how’s school going, nothing about my well-being at all.
Harper steps away from us to look at something in one of the shop’s windows. Thank goodness she’s more concerned about that, so she doesn’t have to hear our conversation.
“I’m,” I pause for a moment to consider my choice of words. “I’m not dating anyone. This is David. Surely you remember him. He was Kyle’s best friend. We decided to grab a bite to eat together.”
“Wow, you’ve got some nerve. Talk about disrespecting your late husband,” she says and shakes her head. “Harper, can you believe this?”
Harper, though, doesn’t seem to be paying her mother any attention.
“I’m not sure I understand. How am I disrespecting Kyle?” Hurt doesn’t begin to describe the way she’s suddenly made me feel. The happiness I was embracing, not even fifteen minutes ago has suddenly been sucked right out of me.
David sees the moisture pool in my eyes and quickly steps up to intervene. “Ma’am, I’m sorry you have a problem with Tori and me being friends. We were friends when Kyle was alive too. Nothing is going to change that.”
“Kyle’s probably rolling in his—” Sharon won’t let it go.
“Come on, Tori,” David says and tugs my elbow. “You don’t have to listen to this nonsense. The nerve of some people.”
I know he’s right, but it doesn’t make sense why she’s acting this way. Am I not supposed to have a life?