24. Chapter 24
twenty-four
A nnie yanked a black t-shirt over her damp hair as she got ready to leave the house. Sunshine whispered through the white window shades of the guest room. She heard Peter outside. He was messing with the sprinklers while Molly took a mid-morning nap.
A series of bizarre texts from Chris that morning threatened to unsteady Annie, despite their paltry and unimpressive content.
Dread pooled in Annie’s gut. “Great... Just great...” She muttered, tossing her phone on the bed. Groaning, she cast her eyes upward to the ceiling.
In the weeks since her vacation, Chris had texted a handful of times. Mostly to ask if she was okay or wanted help with anything. Seeing nothing inherently wrong with being friendly, she’d replied politely. Now she kicked herself mentally. He’s being so extra today.
She’d reached her breaking point a couple of weeks before. With Molly's encouragement, Annie had started going to the therapist Molly herself had been seeing. Just to get some relief from the stress of Chris, her work, and finding a new place to live.
Therapy was… helping. Perhaps she should have reached out for someone to hold her hand while she healed much sooner, but what mattered was the present and the future to come. She thought that if she was taking better care of herself, she could show up for others more fully, too.
Now, despite the whispers and her ex haunting her from the graveyard of their failed relationship, she’d began to feel more at peace — or, rather, more in control.
Bad days still existed, but work was less burdensome, and her writing was once again deserving of praise.
New leads peppered her inbox. It unnerved her to leave Molly alone, and she wondered if it held her back from committing to an apartment, but her fresh start was coming soon.
It had to.
Almost two hours after leaving the house, she walked out of her third therapy session.
They’d discussed finding a place to live and the distant attachment she had to her nearly-absent mom.
Although talking through things had been intense, she felt like some weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
She didn’t feel happy… but she definitely felt more content. More at home in her own skin.
She checked her phone in her car.
Immediately, her mood soured.
Chris had left another rambling text, saying how in his dream they were getting back together. And that he missed her .
Let me go, dude... Annie’s hands twisted and strangled her steering wheel. Couldn’t he take a hint? Her jaws clenched in a harsh line as she drove to her next errand.
A couple of minutes later, her phone dinged again. From the tone, she could tell it was Chris and quickly decided to look at it later. She ran a hand through her hair.
There was plenty of time to kill before her appointments with two apartment managers. She spent the afternoon buying decorations for the anniversary party. Peter had let her borrow his debit card.
How long is Chris going to keep this up? she thought as she decided between floral and yellow napkins and plates.
While talking on the phone with Molly, after viewing the safest-looking apartment complex, Annie’s text notification buzzed in her hand. She looked when their conversation ended.
i feel empty and now you’re gone maybe forever. Im a fucking idiot. (sent at 3:59 pm)
Need to talk. Pls. Would you reconsider going to counseling with me? I’ll go. (sent at 4:15 pm)
Annie’s cheeks flushed.
You’ve lost your texting privileges. Blocked. The growing wall of unanswered texts tossed her stomach. She archived the conversation. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
“It’s just too bad Julian isn’t texting you, huh?” Serene Hallowbrew spoke up. “But why would he do that when you asked for your heart back?”
Anymore, Annie railed against her childhood imaginary friend.
The absurdity of still having one as an adult disgusted her now.
Although embarrassed, she’d brought it up with her therapist. They’d decided that because she’d conjured Serene in a time of need, it made sense that her mind would lean on the coping mechanism during this transition, too.
"Never mind that I speak the truth,” Serene Hallowbrew laughed. “Always.”
Around dinner, Annie returned to Molly and Peter’s, went to the kitchen, and threw a chub of ground turkey, eggs, and seasonings into a bowl. After putting a meatloaf in the oven, she went to Molly’s room, where her friend was reading.
“Hey. Will Peter be here for dinner?” Annie clung to the doorway. “He isn’t anywhere.”
Molly smiled and looked over the rim of her black reading glasses. “He went out with friends.”
“Ah. Hungry?”
Molly slipped a bookmark between her book’s pages. “I could eat.” She set the thick tome on her nightstand. Her eyebrow arched. “I heard dishes a minute ago.”
Annie drummed her fingers on the door trim. “I’ve been itching to cook.”
Molly sniffed the air. “Casserole?”
“Meatloaf.”
“It’s going to be good,” Molly said, clapping her hands happily.
They watched trash TV before eating dinner.
Annie thought about bringing up Christopher’s texts, but didn’t feel like burdening Molly with how much of a pest he was being.
After all, she’d blocked him, and she hoped that would be the end of it.
She just didn’t want to think about him for one night.
Molly’s appetite wasn’t ravenous, but when Peter came home, he coaxed her into finishing every bite Annie had served her.
Later, while watching a movie together, Annie looked over at her friends from her spot on the end of the bed.
Molly dozed with her head lolled on the large real estate of Peter’s broad shoulder.
His head was cocked to the side, his cheek supported by the crown of Molly’s red curls.
He winked and smiled at Annie before kissing the top of his wife’s head.
Eyes still closed, Molly snuggled closer.
“I’m goin’ to bed.” Annie stretched and yawned. It was midnight. “See you tomorrow.”
“G’night,” Peter whispered back. “Close the door?”
Annie reached for their dinner plates and tried not to clank them. As she turned, Bell jumped off the bed. With a soft bark, Bell pawed Annie’s leg.
“What’s it, girl?” Annie whispered.
Molly cracked an eye, and Peter groaned, rubbing a hand over his forehead.
“The dog should go out one last time.” Peter disentangled himself from his wife, who pouted sleepily. Bell whined again. “Okay, okay.”
“I’ll do it,” Annie said, “then I’ll bring her back.”
Peter looked to Molly.
"Thanks, Annie.” Molly yawned.
Thank you, Peter mouthed. As he sank back into bed and into his wife’s arms, Molly sighed happily.
Walking down the hallway and to the kitchen, Annie dropped off the dishes before going into the living room.
Bell trotted after her. She switched on the back light for them, but still needed the flashlight on her phone.
Bell bolted into the middle of the grassy backyard and sniffed the sprinkler-damp grass.
A high, faded orange wood fence enclosed the pretty area.
Flower beds and bushes rimmed the perimeter.
A few spring perennials poked up through the dirt.
Peter had his ladder tilted up against the gutters.
Annie had never met a sweeter couple than Molly and Peter.
The home they’d created together was beautiful.
Gazing softly around the dark yard, waiting for Bell to do her business, Annie hugged herself.
Just as she looked at the night sky, sadness acutely gripping her heart. Her entire mood took a dump.
Julian was miles away. She was determined— still determined— to find her way again on her own. She hated it, but she doubted her path included him, especially after she’d let her feelings be known in no uncertain terms.
Feelings at the time. You had a lot going on, came a thought, much to her surprise.
Regardless, she doubted he’d ever forgive her for ghosting him. She was a terrible person for dropping their friendship like a sack of potatoes, but to lead him on would be crueler.
Unbidden, tears welled up in her eyes. Soon, they rolled down her cheeks and she couldn’t stop crying. All she wanted after the day she’d had were his arms around her.
A paw batted at her leg and Annie looked down. Bell had finished her business. The little dog’s head cocked to the side.
“I’m okay, girl,” Annie choked out. She wiped her face, even though the tears immediately returned. “Let’s get you inside.”
Bell followed close at Annie’s heel. One more time, Bell batted at Annie, trying to get her to stop. Outside of Molly and Peter’s bedroom, Annie cracked the door enough for Bell to slip through, stifling her sobs.
“Go on. Go to Mama and Papa,” Annie urged when Bell sat down, cocking her head up at her again.
Bell wiggled her ears, tilting her head from side to side, before letting out a sharp bark .
Surprise and irritation made the tears come harder. “Go, Belly,” Annie hissed more sharply than she liked. Squatting down, Annie pushed the stubborn dog through the doorway.
Molly swung the door open.
“What on earth is going on out here?”
Bell turned tail and dashed back into Annie’s arms. Still low to the ground, Annie was at the perfect height for cheek licks.
“Stop, Bell,” Annie groaned, trying not to laugh at the ticklish tongue even as she continued to cry. When she looked up at Molly, embarrassment made her face red hot.
“Hun! Wh…” Molly looked over her shoulder before stepping into the hallway, closing the bedroom door. She whispered, “Why are you crying?”
Words of denial tipped her tongue, but how could she hide her tears? “Today was… a lot.” Annie muttered.
“Come here.” Molly helped her to her feet, her arms slipping around Annie’s shoulders and leading her to the living room.
The bedroom door opened again. “Everything okay?” Peter followed after them.