They hung on my every word. “Very new.”
“I sense another but coming,” murmured Ana.
I took a deep breath. I hadn’t untangled my complicated feelings in my own head yet. How could I put them into words? “I hate families, you know that. I hate the way they’re always in your face. Melanie has bossed me around since we were tiny, and poked her nose into every aspect of my life. I’ve never had a moment of peace. Here in the city, it’s big enough that I don’t have to see her, and since she got married to Greg, she’s busy most of the time.”
“But?” Roz picked up the tale.
“Ben’s very close to his family. Really, scarily close. They live ten minutes away from him, and he’s always calling in, or they’re calling him. He does odd jobs for them, runs errands and stuff. His little sister talks constantly, and he’s got two younger brothers as well. And his mom’s nice, but she wants me to go to dinner, and…” I was running out of steam. “I can’t handle it.”
Roz glanced at Ana. “I might be speaking out of turn here, sweetie, but not all families are like yours.” Her voice rose, when I tried to interrupt. “Melanie is a jealous shrew. She’s been competing for your mother’s attention, and that meant you were usually pushed aside.”
“Let me ask you a question.” It was Ana’s turn. “If you could turn back the clock, and go back to Melanie’s wedding, would you do it differently? Would you accept Scott’s proposal?”
“No.” That didn’t even need thinking about. “We would both have regretted it. We were friends; that was all. His brother was marrying my sister, and it seemed like a logical step. That’s how Scott thinks, and it’d make sense for me to say yes. He was a safe option, you know? After all the dating disasters with Melanie outshining me at every turn, Scott was reliable.”
“Mm hmm.” Roz sounded understanding, but with an edge. “Safe. Reliable. Logical. He sounds more like a Mag-Car than a husband.” I laughed. “Now tell me about Ben,” she said.
“He gave me this.” I fumbled inside my shirt and extracted the shell necklace. “We’ve been friends for months, and then it all came together a couple of days ago.” The memory of us making love against the picture window flashed through my head, and I covered my burning cheeks with my hands. “It’s good. I think he loves me.” My friends stared, little smiles breaking out across their faces. Ana twirled her finger in the air, in a keep going motion, and I did. “I think I love him.”
“Right.” Roz clapped her hands. “Two choices. Stay here and take the promotion, or go and be happy with Ben.”
Put like that, it was ludicrously simple.
Chapter Fourteen
I wandered aimlessly through the familiar city streets. On the surface, I was admiring the lights and Christmas decorations, but I didn’t really see any of them. I’d been homesick for most of the past twelve months, longing for my city and everything I’d left behind, so why did it feel wrong now? The crowds of shoppers and tourists were annoying. The traffic was heavy. Even the coffee didn’t taste like I remembered.
Maybe the old cliché was true? Home is where the heart is, and my heart lay securely with Ben.
The promotion would be exciting. Wouldn’t it? I’d have to spend more time in meetings and organizing other people. Being confident and sociable. That was scary.
The idea of leaving Ben behind, of breaking off this fledgling romance we’d started, wasn’t just scary. It paralyzed me with fear.
My decision was made.
****
Another airport, another concourse, but this time, brilliant sunshine poured through the windows and bathed the floor in summer. I stood in the line for a Mag-Car, and dug into my bag for my phone. My fingers brushed against the slim box that sat in there. I hoped Ben liked his present. It’d taken much thought before I decided what to buy, and then even longer to find in the
“I sense another but coming,” murmured Ana.
I took a deep breath. I hadn’t untangled my complicated feelings in my own head yet. How could I put them into words? “I hate families, you know that. I hate the way they’re always in your face. Melanie has bossed me around since we were tiny, and poked her nose into every aspect of my life. I’ve never had a moment of peace. Here in the city, it’s big enough that I don’t have to see her, and since she got married to Greg, she’s busy most of the time.”
“But?” Roz picked up the tale.
“Ben’s very close to his family. Really, scarily close. They live ten minutes away from him, and he’s always calling in, or they’re calling him. He does odd jobs for them, runs errands and stuff. His little sister talks constantly, and he’s got two younger brothers as well. And his mom’s nice, but she wants me to go to dinner, and…” I was running out of steam. “I can’t handle it.”
Roz glanced at Ana. “I might be speaking out of turn here, sweetie, but not all families are like yours.” Her voice rose, when I tried to interrupt. “Melanie is a jealous shrew. She’s been competing for your mother’s attention, and that meant you were usually pushed aside.”
“Let me ask you a question.” It was Ana’s turn. “If you could turn back the clock, and go back to Melanie’s wedding, would you do it differently? Would you accept Scott’s proposal?”
“No.” That didn’t even need thinking about. “We would both have regretted it. We were friends; that was all. His brother was marrying my sister, and it seemed like a logical step. That’s how Scott thinks, and it’d make sense for me to say yes. He was a safe option, you know? After all the dating disasters with Melanie outshining me at every turn, Scott was reliable.”
“Mm hmm.” Roz sounded understanding, but with an edge. “Safe. Reliable. Logical. He sounds more like a Mag-Car than a husband.” I laughed. “Now tell me about Ben,” she said.
“He gave me this.” I fumbled inside my shirt and extracted the shell necklace. “We’ve been friends for months, and then it all came together a couple of days ago.” The memory of us making love against the picture window flashed through my head, and I covered my burning cheeks with my hands. “It’s good. I think he loves me.” My friends stared, little smiles breaking out across their faces. Ana twirled her finger in the air, in a keep going motion, and I did. “I think I love him.”
“Right.” Roz clapped her hands. “Two choices. Stay here and take the promotion, or go and be happy with Ben.”
Put like that, it was ludicrously simple.
Chapter Fourteen
I wandered aimlessly through the familiar city streets. On the surface, I was admiring the lights and Christmas decorations, but I didn’t really see any of them. I’d been homesick for most of the past twelve months, longing for my city and everything I’d left behind, so why did it feel wrong now? The crowds of shoppers and tourists were annoying. The traffic was heavy. Even the coffee didn’t taste like I remembered.
Maybe the old cliché was true? Home is where the heart is, and my heart lay securely with Ben.
The promotion would be exciting. Wouldn’t it? I’d have to spend more time in meetings and organizing other people. Being confident and sociable. That was scary.
The idea of leaving Ben behind, of breaking off this fledgling romance we’d started, wasn’t just scary. It paralyzed me with fear.
My decision was made.
****
Another airport, another concourse, but this time, brilliant sunshine poured through the windows and bathed the floor in summer. I stood in the line for a Mag-Car, and dug into my bag for my phone. My fingers brushed against the slim box that sat in there. I hoped Ben liked his present. It’d taken much thought before I decided what to buy, and then even longer to find in the
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