Page 49 of So Much More
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” she says. “I believe this all happened the way it was supposed to, though we might never know the reasons why.”
twenty
Ifell asleep during our fourth movie, and when I wake up on Melissa’s couch Sunday morning, there’s a pillow under my head and a blanket covering me. I’m thankful once again for Melissa’s friendship and how she went above and beyond yesterday to help me through the day. But today I need to put on my big girl pants and deal with Randall, whatever that might mean. A pit forms in my stomach from thinking about it.
When I head to the bathroom, I pass Melissa’s open bedroom door, and she’s sitting cross-legged on her bed reading a book.
“Morning,” I say from the doorway.
She looks up and smiles. “Good morning. You feeling better today?”
“A little.”
She nods. “Good. You’re welcome to stay here today, too, if you want. I have a few errands to run, but my home is your home.”
“I should probably get back to my place. I need to talk to Randall, and I’d rather do that in my own space.”
“I get that. Let me know when you’re ready for me to take you.”
“You don’t have to drive me. I’ll get a cab.”
“I’m driving you. End of discussion.”
“Okay. Thanks. I’ll be ready soon. I want to get this over with.”
* * *
“I know you don’t want to talk to me,” Randall’s voice comes out of my answering machine, “but I have something to tell you that will make you happy. So please call and let me tell you about it. We don’t have to talk about the rest of it if you don’t want to.” I think the message has ended and am walking away from the machine when his voice speaks to me again. “I’m so sorry, Wendy. So sorry.” His voice breaks on the last word, and it sends a pang to my heart, which irritates me.
Now I don’t want to call him, because I’m afraid he’s trying to manipulate me into talking to him by claiming to have good news. What could he possibly have to tell me that would make me happy? In my heart, I know he’s not the manipulative type, but I also thought he wasn’t the type to kiss another woman a day after declaring he was fully committed to me and only me.
While I shower and get dressed, I talk myself back into calling him. We need to work this out to some extent because we work together and because of Leslie and Ash. As much as I don’t feel like acting like an adult in this situation, deep down I’m thankful the circumstances are forcing me to.
I take my cordless phone to the kitchen table to make the call. I still don’t feel comfortable on any of my other furniture, and I’m going to need to get over that soon, but I’m not ready quite yet.
My pulse races as I wait for Randall to pick up.
“Hello?” He says from the other end of the line.
“Hey. It’s Wendy.”
He gives me a tentative, “Hi.”
I don’t respond. I’m going to let him take the lead on whatever he wants to tell me.
“I met your sister this morning,” he says, and my heart stops.
When it starts back up, I say, “You did?”
“I did, and I like her, Wendy. I like her a lot, and I know you will, too.”
“You don’t think she wants anything from me?”
“What she wants is a sister.” He pauses. “And an aunt for her daughter.”
My hand goes to my chest. “I have a niece?”
“You do. Her name is Emily, and she’s six.”
