Page 116 of Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind
I’ve finally done it—I’ve finally gotten a photo of that menace dog next door breaking the rules. My horrid neighbor eschews common decency, taking more care of his pet than he does the people around him, but I won’t stand for it a moment longer. My body is still sore from being knocked over; my wrist is still stiff. If that horrid man thinks he can get away with lying about toppling me over, he has another thing coming.
January19
Dirty old Stanley Riggs has taken a mistress, and I’ve got photos. I’m going to take him for every penny he’s worth, and then I’m going to donate all of that money to the charity his wife works with. What a horrific, conniving scoundrel.
I certainly never would have put up with such behavior. My sweetheart would never have looked twice at another woman. And he was always so handsome, even when his hair began thinning, even when his hands began to shake.
I miss my Errol.
April7
Sometimes I feel sad.
I went on a date with my darling Errol this evening. I looked stunning, if I do say so myself. But dates with my husband’s photo, I’ve found, are providing less and less comfort as time wears on.
I miss him. I miss having someone who smiled when they saw me. I miss the time when people knew who I was, when they valued me, when they found me beautiful and charming and worthy of their attention.
What a fickle world we live in.
I miss my darling.
I hope I’ll be by his side again soon.
EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
My mom’s new house isn’t actually that bad.
I knew it wouldn’t be. I knew I was weirdly attached to the old house because it’s where I grew up. But it’s nice to actually come see her new place, to get a feel for it, so I can imagine her living her best life here.
There’s a cute neighbor, too, a single dad in his sixties whose daughter and grandchildren come over every weekend and play in the backyard together. My mom hasn’t said anything about being interested, but I’d bet money it will happen.
I knock on the front door, which is painted a cheery blue, and wait for her to answer. Soren is next to me, stupid man bun in place, his hand wrapped tightly around mine.
Too tightly, in fact.
“You’re cutting off my circulation, Man Bun,” I tell him with a little smile.
“Sorry,” he says quickly, loosening his grip with a guilty look. “I’m just nervous.”
“She’ll love you,” I say as my smile grows. “She already loves you.”
“Yeah,” he says, “but this is the first time meeting her in person. I want to make a good impression.”
“You’ve already made a good impression. This is the longest I’ve ever dated anyone in my life. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt this way about a man. She’s a big fan of yours for making that happen.”
He looks slightly mollified at this.
The front door swings open, and there’s my mom, her hair curly and wild, her smile stretching as wide as I’ve ever seen it.
“You don’t need toknock, baby,” she says, standing aside. “Come in, come in!”
“It felt like I should, since it’s a new place,” I say, stepping in and pulling Soren behind me. “Mom, this is Soren Mackenzie.”
Soren holds his hand out for my mom to shake, but she ignores it entirely, throwing her arms around him instead. “Hi, sweetie,” she says, hugging him tightly. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you.”
He looks briefly startled, but then he smiles and returns her hug. And I know, as I watch the tension drain out of his shoulders and his expression relax, that my mother has worked her magic once again. She’s put him instantly at ease.
