Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
T HREE YEARS LATER
EMILY
The rhythmic creaking of the swing on Mr. and Mrs. Donley’s front porch is soothing, both to me, and apparently to Shayna’s one-month-old son, Tommy, as he dozes peacefully in my arms while Shayna and I sit on the swing. I caress his velvety baby cheek as I hold him in my arms, unable to take my eyes off of him.
“Gosh, Shay. He’s the absolute most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe you’re a mom.” I keep my voice low and don’t look away from the baby as I speak.
“He is, isn’t he? I love him so much already. And having him, a part of Tom, helps me get through the harder days.”
Shayna lost her fiancé to lymphoma when she was only twenty-one years old. She was about four and a half months pregnant when he died and she had baby Tommy on her twenty second birthday.
Glancing up at her, I give her a sad smile. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be home more for you these last few months. I know losing Tom was the worst thing to happen to you, and I hate I was away at school when you needed me.”
“You came home almost every weekend. I know you would have been here if you could have. Plus, I had my parents and my siblings, especially Shyley and Jack.”
“I still can’t believe that you went and took your last final the morning you had Tommy. You’re a freakin’ rock star. You went through so much this year, then took your final nursing exams while in the early stages of labor and graduated on time. I barely got everything done this last semester, and I’ve had nothing extra on my plate.” I look back up at her. “I’m seriously so proud of you.”
Shayna’s eyes glisten with moisture, and she wears a sad smile on her face. Baby Tommy is waking, so I reposition him with his head on my shoulder and rub his back to help keep him relaxed. He smells so good—like baby powder and the lavender scented baby lotion Shayna uses on him.
“Speaking of school, have you told Teddy that you plan to stay at school for the summer to finish classes in August instead of December?” Shayna asks.
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“No, not yet.” My voice is hushed. “He just got hired on at the fire department and he’s been so excited. I know this is going to upset him. Doing the long-distance thing has been hard on him. And he’s been looking forward to having the summer together and apartment hunting for us. I’m afraid it’s going to throw him into a depression.”
Teddy doesn’t do well when he’s expecting one thing to happen and plans change. And he seems to struggle with depression, though he won’t see anyone about it. He’s a wonderful man, full of love and energy, but when he has his down periods, he can get really low and it’s frightening to see him like that. It’s in such stark contrast to the joy he usually exudes. Truthfully, I’m afraid telling him will send him into a downward spiral.
“You should tell him soon. You’re leaving to go back next week.”
“I know. I’m going to talk to him about it today. I was holding off because I was reconsidering the job offer and wondering if I should just stick to my original plan to finish in Dec?—”
“No. Are you kidding me? You’re done with everything but a few electives and this job is at the school you’ve wanted to teach at since you started your student teaching. Teddy might be upset at first, but he wouldn’t want you to miss out on this opportunity. Besides, it’s only like two and a half months of school if you do it this summer compared to three and half if you wait and go back in the fall. Use that when you explain it to him and maybe it will help.”
“I know. I’m just worried about how telling him will go.” When I look over at my best friend, I smile at her and attempt to reassure her I’ll be fine.
I’m patting little Tommy’s diapered bum when a rumble vibrates across my hand, followed by the most horrid sour smell. I gag.
“What is that smell?” I squeak out between, trying not to breathe in through my nose. “That can’t be coming from him, right?”
Shayna roars with laughter and stands up from the porch swing. She reaches for Tommy and pulls him into her arms.
“Looks like Tommy agrees that backing out on your plan to finish school this summer and move into your dream job in the fall is a crappy idea,” Shayna says. She’s still laughing, and it’s contagious because I can’t help but chuckle as well.
“On that note, I’m going to head out, especially if you’re about to open up that diaper. I’ll see you tomorrow for shopping, right?”
“Yep. Just text me what time we should head over. I love you, Em. It’s all gonna be okay.”
I wrap Shayna and the baby in a hug, then pull back and kiss Tommy on the head. “Thanks. I love you guys, too.”
* * *
CHARLIE
After climbing out of my truck, I walk around to the passenger side as Shelly shuts her door, and we walk toward Trina’s front porch. Just as we’re about to turn the corner at the edge of her garage, Teddy comes barreling around the bend from the other direction and narrowly avoids slamming into Shelly as she and I stop in our tracks.
“Sorry,” he mumbles hurriedly. He doesn’t wait for a reply before he stalks to his truck, gets in, and slams the door.
“Wow, what do you think that’s about?” Shelly asks as we head up Trina’s walkway.
“Not sure. He’s usually happy-go-lucky, so something must have upset him,” I explain.
As we step onto the stoop, my hand on the small of her back, I catch a splash of pink in my peripheral vision. When I glance over in that direction, I spot Emily sitting on the ground, leaning against the house. Her blotchy red cheeks and her downcast eyes give me the sneaking suspicion that she hopes we won’t see her.
I tap Shelly on the shoulder, and when she looks back at me, I tilt my head in Emily’s direction.
“Why don’t you head in and get something to drink? I’ll be in shortly.” I keep my voice intentionally low.
Shelly looks over at Emily, says nothing, then enters the house. I stroll over and plop myself on the warm concrete ground next to Emily. We sit in silence for a solid minute or two.
“Your girlfriend’s pretty. I’ve always wondered what your type is. I guess it’s gorgeous redheads, huh?” Her voice is quiet.
“That’s really what you want to talk about? My type? There’s nothing else on your mind causing you to sit out here alone when one of Trina’s cookouts is in full swing out back?”
“You didn’t deny she’s your girlfriend. That’s interesting.” Emily looks up at me with determined eyes. It’s clear she expects me to respond, and I’ve learned over the last four years of friendship with Trina that Emily is as stubborn as they come.
I sigh.
“Shelly’s someone I’m dating. I guess maybe she’s a girlfriend. But I don’t feel a need to label it.”
She narrows her eyes at me and tilts her head to the side. “Hmmm.”
“Now that we’ve cleared that up. Do you want to tell me why Teddy left looking upset and you’re sitting here by yourself instead of enjoying the get together?” I ask.
I wait in silence and watch as she fidgets with the edge of her T-shirt, her pretty gaze avoiding mine.
“Remember how I told you and Tri that I got that job at Elladine Elementary teaching kindergarten, but I have to start in the fall?” she asks.
“Yeah, of course I remember. You were bouncing off the walls, you were so excited. Why?”
“I told Teddy about it today and that I’d have to go to school this summer instead of going back to finish in the fall. He got upset. It’s probably my fault because I kind of sprung it on him.” She hesitates, and peers up at me. “Being apart has been hard on him. He gets… Well, he gets down sometimes and not being together makes it worse. We got in a fight over it. Maybe I should decline the job and just stick to the original plan to finish in December.”
I count to five in my head because I know I need to pause before I speak or I’ll say something in anger. I’m immediately pissed at Teddy for letting his feelings make her doubt whether she should take this opportunity she so clearly wants.
“If you do that, will they hold the job for you until January?” I know the answer already, but maybe she needs reminded. Mrs. McFadden has held the position of kindergarten teacher at that school for twenty-eight years and is retiring. God knows when it will open again.
“No…” she whispers.
“Look at me,” I tell her, careful to keep my voice gentle. When she does, I stare into her misty eyes. Her sadness right now dulls the usual brightness they hold. “This is an opportunity you may not get again, and it’s only another two and a half months of school. How long have you been with Teddy? Five or six years?”
“Almost six…”
Jesus, she’s never even dated another man. Does Teddy realize how lucky he is to have her?
“I don’t profess to know a lot about relationships or love, but I am a man. And I can tell you if I loved someone enough to be with them that long, I’d want all her dreams to come true.”
She pierces me with her gorgeous cobalt gaze, hanging on every word I’m saying.
I have to clear my throat to continue. “So, I’m sure Teddy will come around. And if he doesn’t, it’s still okay to pursue this dream.”
“You don’t think that would be selfish of me?” Her voice is timid, which she is anything but. It infuriates me that their fight has made her so unsure of herself.
“Hell no, Em. You’re the least selfish person I know.”
She drops her eyes, and a pretty flush creeps across her cheeks.
Something comes over me and I tilt her chin up, so she has to look at me. “Hey, I mean it. If you want this job, you do what you have to do to make it happen and if you and Teddy are meant to be together, he’ll get his head out of his ass and deal with it.”
A sense of relief washes over me as Emily chuckles and a sweet smile breaks out across her face.
“Thanks, Charlie. You always make me feel better.” Before I know what’s happening, her arms wrap around me and she squeezes me tight. Just as quickly as she hugged me, she releases me and leaps to her feet, holding her hand out to me. “Come on. Let’s go join the party before Trina gets mad at us.”
“You go on ahead. I’m gonna sit here for another minute.”
Her brow narrows in confusion. “You sure? Are you okay? Shit, I didn’t even ask if you were dealing with anything.”
I force a chuckle. “I’m fine. Just not big on crowds. Go in. I’ll be right behind you.”
She stares at me for several long seconds, then listens to me and is almost to the door when Teddy’s voice calls out to her.
“Em!”
I watch as she turns around, looking toward the path leading from the driveway.
Her eyes are wide and her jaw slack with shock as Teddy runs to her, pulling her into an embrace.
“Teddy? You came back,” she says softly. Yet it’s loud enough that I can hear.
“Yeah, baby. I’m so sorry. I was an asshole, and I didn’t mean to react so poorly. I just miss you so much when you’re gone.” He continues to hold her tight.
His back is to me, and I notice how she clings to him. Her fingertips practically dig into his back.
As if she suddenly remembers they’re not alone, Emily opens her eyes and looks over at me. She smiles and I nod at her.
“Come on. Let’s go inside and talk about it. Okay?” And she takes Teddy’s hand and leads him into the house, and he’s none the wiser that I was witness to his apology.
I wait another minute or two, then stand, take a deep breath, and go to find Shelly.