She answers within three rings.
“Hey Carter, how are you?” Her tone is light, the smile evident through her voice, and I’m hit with a pang of guilt over the impending conversation.
“Good thanks Molly, yourself?”
This conversation already feels uncomfortably stiff.
“Excellent to hear. What can I do for you?” Molly asks. I’m thankful she’s managed to be direct when all I’m currently capable of is small talk. I rub my hand over my jaw, contemplating how to proceed. Fuck, I should’ve thought about this before I hit call.
“Would you perhaps like to grab a coffee on Monday morning?” Restless with anxiety, my knee bounces up and down of its own accord. “My first meeting isn’t until ten, so we’d be able to sit and have a chat.”
“As lovely as that sounds, unfortunately I’m not able to on Monday,” Molly responds. Before I can reply, she continues. “If byachat, you happen to meanthechat, I think we’re on the same page.”
I’m taken by surprise at Molly’s admission. We chat for the next few minutes, and by the time I’m hanging up the call, a weight has lifted off my shoulders.
It turns out Molly had been feeling the exact same way but didn’t know how to call it quits when it was her who’d instigated this in the first place. We laughed at how silly we both sounded, too scared to communicate with each other. Let this be a lesson on the importance of communication.
We wish each other the best, but neither of us utters the classic “let’s stay friends” phrase. Frankly, it’s unnecessary. There’s little chance we’ll see each other again. We don’t see one another organically out and about.?
Feeling lighter than I have in weeks, I bring up the text thread with my siblings. The current conversation between Emmy and Teddy brings a smile to my face.
Big Ted
Em, are you trying to kill me?
Emmy
What’s troubling you biggest brother?
Big Ted
You know very well “what’s troubling me”, you heathen. You sent my daughter home with the highest of sugar highs!
Emmy
In my defence, she’s quite hard to say no to.
Big Ted
Me
I hate to break up this sibling bonding, but I’ve got news
The speech bubbles pop up a second after I hit send. Two replies come through at the same time.
Big Ted
What did you do?
Emmy
Lord have mercy. What have you done?
My eyes threaten to roll back into my brain. They always assume the worst.Arseholes. I lean my elbows on the table and type out a response.
Me
Why do you both assume I’ve done something?
