Chapter 2
2
T abitha finally heard from April later in the day when she had arrived back in Tampa. She had accidentally packed her phone in the trunk and decided to see what it would be like to be phone-free for the day. April had expected long, productive conversations with Kylen or learning about something important on public radio. That didn’t happen because Kylen had headphones, and the discussion on PBS radio was political. Her vote was decided, and she didn’t need convincing either way.
“That means that I only just received your message. You would have been almost to Oliver’s place by now. Are you still feeling a little shell-shocked?” April asked. “This is a complete curveball.”
“No, I’m not feeling shell-shocked since Deb single-handedly rescued my sabbatical summer. She came over here and took charge, which is no surprise. In that magic contact tab that she’s always bragging about, she had the name of a realtor. I’m renting a place in Melbourne Beach. It’s one of those things that happened before I gave it careful consideration. It’s when I over-consider that things fall apart.
“You said your current job location was being remodeled, and you’d be temporarily relocated elsewhere. Does that mean that you have some wiggle room that would allow you some extended time off?”
“Are you asking me if I want to join you in your beach house?” April asked.
“Of course I am,” Tabitha said.
“Maybe you didn’t think through the invite because I’m a package deal. I’m not sure Kylen would think sharing a room with his mom would be cool. We’ve done it in hotel rooms, but for longer than that, he’d rebel.”
“I considered Kylen. You weren’t going to leave your seventeen-year-old home alone. It’s a six-bedroom house that a family was going to rent, but they had to cancel at the last minute. Get this. Mel and Deb are already on board, and you would make a great addition. Kylen would have his own room.”
“I’ll check with Kylen. He will ask if Deenie will be there, but I assume the answer is no because she’s spending the summer with Greg. He has a job lined up here, so unless Deenie is going to be there, it’ll be a tough sell.”
“I wish I had found out sooner. Greg was relaxed, and he may have been open to negotiating, but it’s too late now. Besides that, the whole thing with Glenn may have made her happy to be leaving Florida.”
“I’m not so sure. Deenie is resilient like her mom, and she’d never leave just because of a guy. Melbourne Beach isn’t Merritt Island, and she might meet someone new with Kylen as her wingman. Their relationship makes me wish I had a cool male cousin. Deenie is like his little sister, which is good for you. It has its perks for me, too, because Kylen is on his best behavior around his cousin. He knows that word will eventually come back to me.”
“I’ll call and see if there’s any flexibility. He’s dealing with his divorce and trying to get more time with his precious baby. It’s disgusting that she’s using that innocent baby as a cudgel. Julie left Texas and returned to Florida, but the court called her back. It’s a mess, and Greg might want extra time to deal with his lawyers. I’ll try and get them on the phone before they get too far. I know they were visiting friends in the Panhandle. He knows people from college in Tallahassee and Pensacola. I can drive up to either of them and pick her up.”
Tabitha prepared herself for rejection before calling Greg because she knew asking if Deenie could spend some of the summer with her was a big ask. Plans had been in place since the beginning of the year, and he had probably arranged a schedule of things to do. Plans would have been made with her Texas cousins, so she’d be affecting their summer as well. Tabitha took a deep breath and dialed.
“Hey, are you okay?” Greg asked.
“I am, and I’m sorry to call so soon after your departure. I bet you thought you heard the last of your ex for a couple of months, at least your first ex-wife,” Tabitha joked. “My summer plans crashed and burned, but new plans rose from the ashes…”
Tabitha went on to explain and then asked if Deenie might spend July in Florida with her. She was clear that it was understandable if he turned her down.
“What a roller coaster you’ve been on in the last twenty-four hours. I should let you know you’re on speaker, and Deenie is listening. I don’t think I could turn you down now if I wanted,” Greg said. “Our strong-willed sixteen-year-old would revolt and run away.”
"Hi, sweetie. I miss you and note that I only requested this change in custody for a part of the summer,” Tabitha said. “If your father grants my request, don’t beg for even an additional day.”
“I know, I know,” Deenie said. Tabitha knew her daughter, and she would make it clear to her father that it wasn’t him she wanted to avoid but Houston.
“Give me a week with her in Houston because I want her to meet her little sister. It’ll show the courts my commitment to family, and I can use all the help I can get. “I’ll fly her over before the Fourth of July. It’s better this way because I can finish up things with my lawyer, and she’ll have more fun at Melbourne Beach. This custody agreement we cobbled together wasn’t meant to torture Deenie, and this way, everyone will be happy,” Greg said.
“I’ll pay for the ticket. Just let me know when. I’m grateful, and I wouldn’t have asked, but her cousin Kylen will be there with his mom.”
“You mean my sister April?” Greg asked jokingly. “We occupied the same room, and it didn’t explode, so there’s hope for us.”
“Good to hear. A brother and sister need each other as time goes by. When it’s time for my mother to go, I will rely heavily on my brother. Are you okay because you sound down?” Tabitha asked. “I imagine the divorce is weighing heavily on you. I should be happy that you’re in pain, but that’s not me. I don’t like seeing anyone in pain.”
"It's a tough time. With you, I screwed up, and you deserved to be pissed at me. Julie is making things up, and I think I had been set up from the start. I’m on the verge of becoming permanently bitter.” He sighed. “Deenie and baby Addie are the only good things in my life. One thing is for sure. I’m never getting married again. Shoot me if I even consider it, at least for the next ten years.”
“That’s a smart move. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do. You can text me regarding details because I have to run and sign a rental contract,” Tabitha said.
Tabitha took out the tub of clothes that contained long pants and sweaters. Now that Maine was off the table, she didn’t have to worry about the mercury going below eighty degrees. Tabitha had alcohol left over from her farewell party, so she made herself an Aperol spritz.
Tabitha lay on a lounge chair on her back deck. It was no surprise that her best friends saved the day or, rather, the entire summer. Without them, she would still be on shaky ground following her divorce. The split came as a shock, and Tabitha was in shock. It felt like she had three therapists available around the clock. They never let her even ask the question, “What did I do wrong?” They helped Tabitha rebuild her foundation, and it was made up of the three of them holding her up. However, they only did that until she was able to hold herself up, but they were there if she faltered.
Now they did it again. Her summer in Maine fell apart, and in less than a day, they helped create new plans. No offense to the state of Maine or her friend Val, but Melbourne Beach was looking like it might be better. It was a celebration of female friendship, and she couldn’t wait to get started.