Rebecca and Tabitha, enjoying the day off from work and
school. We did chores around the house and ended the evening
playing several hands of Go Fish with Tabitha. As Rebecca started
Tabitha’s bedtime routine, I got out my laptop with the intent of
working on some overdue research I needed for my project but found
myself unable to concentrate on any of it. Inevitably my attention
was drawn to thoughts of Lincoln, and I realized how little I
actually knew about him, considering his notoriety. But I thought
that was maybe one of the things he liked about me. He could talk
about himself, and I didn’t already know all his facts and
details.
I looked at my phone and brought up his
texts. I smiled as I thought about how sad he looked when he
thought I had given him a fake number and then, once again,
replayed our conversation over in my head, wondering what he was
doing right now. He said he had a game in Denver tomorrow. Did that
mean he left for Denver tonight or would he fly out tomorrow? How
long did he practice before a game? Would he fly back tomorrow
night or Saturday morning?
I considered texting him and asking, but a
little worry in the back of my mind told me he would be annoyed if
I bothered him. I opened an Internet browser on my laptop and
navigated to Wikipedia. I told myself I was just going to look up
the game of hockey to learn more about it, but a half hour later I
found myself on Lincoln’s wiki page, reading his biography. I was
reading about his college stats when a voice behind me surprised
me.
“You know, if you want to know more about
him, maybe you should just ask him,” Rebecca said.
I snapped my laptop shut, and my cheeks
turned red at being caught searching for more information on
Lincoln. “I was just researching,” I lied.
“Mm-hmm. He gave you his number. He would
probably appreciate it more if you asked him instead of googling
him,” she said knowingly.
“Tabby asleep?” I asked, changing the
subject.
“Yeah. She was lights-out right away. I don’t
think she got much sleep last night.”
“That’s okay though. She’s young. Unlike you.
What time did you get in last night?” I asked her pointedly.
“Not too late. Bars were still open when I
left,” she said with a shrug.
“Did you have fun?” Rebecca didn’t get out a
lot between working and taking care of her daughter.
“Yeah. It was great to see everyone.”
“You know, if you want to go out more, you
can. I can stay home with Tabby Cat. You should get out and meet
someone. Find a guy,” I said, and she snorted.
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that,” she said
sarcastically but then turned serious. “I know you love Tabitha,
but you know she’s my responsibility, not yours. I’m the one who
should be sacrificing for her, not you.”
I looked down with uncertainty. “I thought
you liked having me here.”
“Oh, stop it, Jillian. You know we do. Tabby
and I would be lost without you, and I never want you to leave. But
you should have a life.”
“You know why I stay home, Becca. I don’t
have anyone to go out with me,” I said quietly.
“You are selling yourself short again, Jilly.
I really think you need to give Lincoln a chance.”
“I just met the man, Bec,” I said, rolling my
eyes. “Plus how do you know he’s trustworthy?” My old fears crept
back.
“I don’t,” she admitted. “The only way to
know if he’s trustworthy is for you to give him a chance. Can’t
hurt to text him.” Rebecca patted my arm, trying to encourage
me.
“What if I annoy him?”
“Don’t doubt yourself, Jilly. There is
nothing about you that is annoying.” She stood up. “All right, I’m
going to be an old lady and go to bed early. I wasn’t kidding when
I said I was hungover this morning. You’re off tomorrow,
right?”
“Yeah. You’re working eight to five?” I
double-checked even though I already knew I was watching Tabitha
tomorrow.
“Yep. All right. I’m off to bed,” Rebecca
said while
school. We did chores around the house and ended the evening
playing several hands of Go Fish with Tabitha. As Rebecca started
Tabitha’s bedtime routine, I got out my laptop with the intent of
working on some overdue research I needed for my project but found
myself unable to concentrate on any of it. Inevitably my attention
was drawn to thoughts of Lincoln, and I realized how little I
actually knew about him, considering his notoriety. But I thought
that was maybe one of the things he liked about me. He could talk
about himself, and I didn’t already know all his facts and
details.
I looked at my phone and brought up his
texts. I smiled as I thought about how sad he looked when he
thought I had given him a fake number and then, once again,
replayed our conversation over in my head, wondering what he was
doing right now. He said he had a game in Denver tomorrow. Did that
mean he left for Denver tonight or would he fly out tomorrow? How
long did he practice before a game? Would he fly back tomorrow
night or Saturday morning?
I considered texting him and asking, but a
little worry in the back of my mind told me he would be annoyed if
I bothered him. I opened an Internet browser on my laptop and
navigated to Wikipedia. I told myself I was just going to look up
the game of hockey to learn more about it, but a half hour later I
found myself on Lincoln’s wiki page, reading his biography. I was
reading about his college stats when a voice behind me surprised
me.
“You know, if you want to know more about
him, maybe you should just ask him,” Rebecca said.
I snapped my laptop shut, and my cheeks
turned red at being caught searching for more information on
Lincoln. “I was just researching,” I lied.
“Mm-hmm. He gave you his number. He would
probably appreciate it more if you asked him instead of googling
him,” she said knowingly.
“Tabby asleep?” I asked, changing the
subject.
“Yeah. She was lights-out right away. I don’t
think she got much sleep last night.”
“That’s okay though. She’s young. Unlike you.
What time did you get in last night?” I asked her pointedly.
“Not too late. Bars were still open when I
left,” she said with a shrug.
“Did you have fun?” Rebecca didn’t get out a
lot between working and taking care of her daughter.
“Yeah. It was great to see everyone.”
“You know, if you want to go out more, you
can. I can stay home with Tabby Cat. You should get out and meet
someone. Find a guy,” I said, and she snorted.
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that,” she said
sarcastically but then turned serious. “I know you love Tabitha,
but you know she’s my responsibility, not yours. I’m the one who
should be sacrificing for her, not you.”
I looked down with uncertainty. “I thought
you liked having me here.”
“Oh, stop it, Jillian. You know we do. Tabby
and I would be lost without you, and I never want you to leave. But
you should have a life.”
“You know why I stay home, Becca. I don’t
have anyone to go out with me,” I said quietly.
“You are selling yourself short again, Jilly.
I really think you need to give Lincoln a chance.”
“I just met the man, Bec,” I said, rolling my
eyes. “Plus how do you know he’s trustworthy?” My old fears crept
back.
“I don’t,” she admitted. “The only way to
know if he’s trustworthy is for you to give him a chance. Can’t
hurt to text him.” Rebecca patted my arm, trying to encourage
me.
“What if I annoy him?”
“Don’t doubt yourself, Jilly. There is
nothing about you that is annoying.” She stood up. “All right, I’m
going to be an old lady and go to bed early. I wasn’t kidding when
I said I was hungover this morning. You’re off tomorrow,
right?”
“Yeah. You’re working eight to five?” I
double-checked even though I already knew I was watching Tabitha
tomorrow.
“Yep. All right. I’m off to bed,” Rebecca
said while
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