make heads or tails of any of it. One thing I do know is if Luke Hanlon thinks he is the one calling the shots in this little game we seem to be playing, he’s about to get a rude awakening.
By the time Audrey and I get the patio cleaned up and everything put away, it’s nearly dark. “I need to get home, I’m sure my kitchen is a disaster,” I say, drying my hands with a dishtowel.
“Oh no, what happened?” Audrey asks me, pouring a cup of coffee for herself.
“Everything just went wrong today,” I reply, blowing out a breath. “Broken glass, burned food, and a dishwasher disaster I still haven’t cleaned up. Just a lot of things adding up only to be topped off with a broken down car.”
“Oh honey, I couldn’t handle all of that,” She sighs, staring down into her mug.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Audrey,” I tell her, tossing the towel to the counter. “You have no idea what you’re capable of until you do it.”
She just laughs sadly, “I haven’t done anything, for or by, myself in so long. Can you believe this is the first time I’ve lived alone in my entire life?” I say nothing, so she continues. “I got pregnant with Lucas straight out of high school and was forced into a marriage with someone I barely knew. Now all of that is over and done, has been for years now. I’m almost fifty four years old and have nothing to show for it except two children who I was never a mother to.” When I start to argue, she raises her hand. “Trust me, I deserve that truth.” Sitting the mug down, she huffs at herself. “I’m sorry, you don’t need to listen to my bullshit pity party about things I wish I could change.”
“So change it now.” The words come flying out of my mouth before I can call them back. It’s really none of my business, but I can’t help myself.
“Wwwhat?” She stammers in shock.
“It’s that simple,” I explain. “You’re living alone for the first time. Now, you’ll learn to focus on you. What you need. The rest, the fixing things with your kids, that’ll come once you’re stronger. You’ll see. For now, just take it one day at a time, Audrey. That’s all we’re promised anyway.”
“You’ve got a lot of faith in someone you barely know.” Turning to face me, she straightens her clothes and meets my eyes. Her eyes shine with unshed tears. Looking at her, I smile reassuringly.
Yes, I do have faith in her. Why? Because after my accident, I was her. I was robotic when my mother died, unfeeling. After my accident something snapped. I laid in the hospital blaming the world. Hating everything and everyone. I was all alone and a part of me was angry with her for dying. I knew better, that she would never have left me if she could have prevented it. That part of me, the broken girl with the crushed spirit, she just wanted her mom. I had to claw my way back from that and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Because of that I also know it’s possible.
“I believe in the power we possess as human beings to overcome heartbreak and loss. When we are knocked down, we stand the hell back up and fight with everything we have. If we don’t who will?” Driving my point home, I take a step toward her. “That doesn’t mean you don’t ask for help. You need anything, I’m next door. Okay?”
She nods, “Thank you, Ki.”
“Anytime,” I reply, as Audrey walks me to the front door. “Thanks for tonight, I needed it.”
“Anytime,” she says before closing the door.
Taking a deep breath, I walk through the yard toward my house. Luke and Mitch still aren’t back yet with my car so I decide to start on the kitchen while I wait. Unlocking my door, I step inside my front door and head through the living room and down the hallway to the kitchen. Flipping on the light, I roll my eyes. The tile is soaked.
“Ugh, can’t I just go to sleep and pretend it’s not there?” I ask the ceiling, hoping for some kind of divine intervention.
Since the
By the time Audrey and I get the patio cleaned up and everything put away, it’s nearly dark. “I need to get home, I’m sure my kitchen is a disaster,” I say, drying my hands with a dishtowel.
“Oh no, what happened?” Audrey asks me, pouring a cup of coffee for herself.
“Everything just went wrong today,” I reply, blowing out a breath. “Broken glass, burned food, and a dishwasher disaster I still haven’t cleaned up. Just a lot of things adding up only to be topped off with a broken down car.”
“Oh honey, I couldn’t handle all of that,” She sighs, staring down into her mug.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Audrey,” I tell her, tossing the towel to the counter. “You have no idea what you’re capable of until you do it.”
She just laughs sadly, “I haven’t done anything, for or by, myself in so long. Can you believe this is the first time I’ve lived alone in my entire life?” I say nothing, so she continues. “I got pregnant with Lucas straight out of high school and was forced into a marriage with someone I barely knew. Now all of that is over and done, has been for years now. I’m almost fifty four years old and have nothing to show for it except two children who I was never a mother to.” When I start to argue, she raises her hand. “Trust me, I deserve that truth.” Sitting the mug down, she huffs at herself. “I’m sorry, you don’t need to listen to my bullshit pity party about things I wish I could change.”
“So change it now.” The words come flying out of my mouth before I can call them back. It’s really none of my business, but I can’t help myself.
“Wwwhat?” She stammers in shock.
“It’s that simple,” I explain. “You’re living alone for the first time. Now, you’ll learn to focus on you. What you need. The rest, the fixing things with your kids, that’ll come once you’re stronger. You’ll see. For now, just take it one day at a time, Audrey. That’s all we’re promised anyway.”
“You’ve got a lot of faith in someone you barely know.” Turning to face me, she straightens her clothes and meets my eyes. Her eyes shine with unshed tears. Looking at her, I smile reassuringly.
Yes, I do have faith in her. Why? Because after my accident, I was her. I was robotic when my mother died, unfeeling. After my accident something snapped. I laid in the hospital blaming the world. Hating everything and everyone. I was all alone and a part of me was angry with her for dying. I knew better, that she would never have left me if she could have prevented it. That part of me, the broken girl with the crushed spirit, she just wanted her mom. I had to claw my way back from that and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Because of that I also know it’s possible.
“I believe in the power we possess as human beings to overcome heartbreak and loss. When we are knocked down, we stand the hell back up and fight with everything we have. If we don’t who will?” Driving my point home, I take a step toward her. “That doesn’t mean you don’t ask for help. You need anything, I’m next door. Okay?”
She nods, “Thank you, Ki.”
“Anytime,” I reply, as Audrey walks me to the front door. “Thanks for tonight, I needed it.”
“Anytime,” she says before closing the door.
Taking a deep breath, I walk through the yard toward my house. Luke and Mitch still aren’t back yet with my car so I decide to start on the kitchen while I wait. Unlocking my door, I step inside my front door and head through the living room and down the hallway to the kitchen. Flipping on the light, I roll my eyes. The tile is soaked.
“Ugh, can’t I just go to sleep and pretend it’s not there?” I ask the ceiling, hoping for some kind of divine intervention.
Since the
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