“No.”
Penny heard the change in her friend’s tone. She heard the note of steeliness. The protective layer of anger that was enveloping her to cut off the pain.
“I need to get out of here, Penny. Too many memories, too much painful shit here, and I need you with me. I’m coming to see you tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay.” Penny nodded, already making mental adjustments to her plans. She would do whatever Bonnie needed.
“Teddy and Martha won’t mind, right?” Bonnie added the questioning note, even though they both knew they wouldn’t.
“Of course not. They’ll be delighted to have their adopted daughter here,” she poured affection into her voice.
“Thanks, Penny. You’re the best. I’m gonna pack. I need something to focus on that’s not him. I’ll give you a call tomorrow when I’m on my way.”
“Okay. Love you, Bon.”
“Love you too, Pen.”
Released from the conversation, Penelope pulled her legs to her chest. Then she let herself topple over as she tried to absorb the news. How could such an amazing couple break up? These two people were her inspiration for what love was. They adored each other and supported each other. They shared laughter and comfort in a way that made it look as easy as breathing. When they were out at parties, you could see them check in with subtle eye contact to ensure they were both having fun.
There had been a brief period when Penny, the silent observer, was jealous of it. She’d wanted that elusive form of love—something she’d never come close to. Luckily, she was too happy for Bonnie to let that feeling fester. And Felix was always so lovely to her. Even when it was painfully obvious she was a third wheel, they’d never let her feel like one. They kept her hopes for finding love alive, seeing a real-life relationship that could exist like that.
Penny had met Bonnie on her first day as a freshman at Michigan State University. They were so different in so many ways. Bonnie was the life of the party; Penny was a wallflower. Bonnie liked doing things, being out, and going places. Penny was perfectly content to spend a whole day curled up reading. Yet somehow, they’d clicked.
Bonnie had a sense of confidence that Penny admired. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was due to coming from money or if she would have rocked that attitude regardless. She guessed it was the latter. When Bonnie entered the room, people looked. When she talked, people listened. Getting let down wasn’t something that happened often in her life. But when it did, it happenedin big, soul-destroying ways, like when her mother divorced her father and left them both, disappearing from her life when she was only twelve.
Bonnie had only talked about it a handful of times, usually after drinking. Every time she did, she ended up a sobbing mess in her friend’s arms. It was clear it had scarred her deeply. It was also clear that her way of dealing with it was not thinking about it—something Penny wasn’t sure really worked.
While Bonnie’s dad obviously adored her and would do or buy anything for her, he was also a busy man. He travelled a lot for work. So, when Penny invited Bonnie to come home with her for their first spring break, Bonnie practically jumped at the chance. Penny knew her parents would like her new friend, but she hadn’t counted on Bonnie’s reaction to them. While she could tease Penny mercilessly about her cookie-cutter life, she was pretty happy to sink into every bit of it whenever she visited. Bonnie loved family movie nights, especially when Penny’s mom made popcorn. Or when Penny’s dad grilled out, and they all gathered around telling corny jokes. She even loved going to all the small-town parades.
Drifting to the window, Penelope looked back down at the dwindling crowd outside. It didn’t take much effort to spot her dad, the center of most of the remaining guests. He wore a blue polo shirt that only bumped slightly over his belly, something he would try to rectify over the summer, and khakis. His hair was graying, but he was proud of the fact that he wasn’t balding. He wasn’t a tall man, but the kindness in his eyes made him stand out. It drew people to him.
She scanned some more until she found her mom, hands full as she was beginning to tidy, caught in a conversation with the two secretaries from the middle school. Her mom’s slate-gray hair was cut in a cute bob. She wore sandals, a white T-shirt, and overalls. A staple part of her wardrobe for as long as Penelopecould remember. It had embarrassed her as a child—her mom, the kooky art teacher. Eventually, though, she’d come to admire her mother’s uniqueness. She wasn’t afraid to be who she was.
Her parents were another good example of love—older, less exciting, yet solid. Penelope felt the twisting in her gut as her thoughts drifted back to Bonnie and what she must be feeling. How much it must hurt to lose someone like that. Penelope hadn’t even had a serious boyfriend. Not really. There had been one guy, but… she breathed in and out deeply. I’m not shutting down the pain, she reminded herself gently. I’m working through it.
Penelope’s mom glanced up briefly, winking at her, returning to her conversation before her companions followed her gaze. Penelope let the curtain fall and sighed. The whirlwind that was Bonnie was arriving tomorrow. She would send her mom a text and let her know. Then, she would pop into the shower before getting some sleep. She would need it.
Waking groggily the next morning, Penelope stretched her limbs slowly, expanding from her tightly curled position. She could feel the slight warmth of sunshine pouring through her opened curtains and registered that something about that was wrong.
Her eyes popped open, searching frantically for the clock. The red numbers showed 7:23 a.m. Her heart slammed in her chest. She’d overslept. She’d be late. Then, just as suddenly, she remembered that not only was it Saturday, but it was also the first day of summer vacation. She let out a deep sigh and flopped back down on her bed.
“Well, that’s one way to wake up,” she mumbled. A self-mocking smile slipped across her face and managed to remain for almost a full minute before the next realization hit.
“Sshhooot.” The word slipped out as her conversation with Bonnie replayed itself in her still sleep-fuzzy mind.
Hauling herself up into a sitting position, she could feel the aftereffects of drinking. A slight headache made its presence known, and the opened curtains didn’t help. Not surprisingly, the cure for it rested on the bedside table. Not only was her mother the reason for the unwanted morning light, but she had also dropped off Tylenol and water, knowing her daughter’s low tolerance. Self-pityingly, Penelope gulped them down. If she wanted to get anything done today, she needed to do it before Bonnie arrived.
Penelope wasn’t surprised to find that both her parents were already up. As far as she could remember, they’d always been early risers, and it seemed she’d gotten that gene as well.
“Morning, Penny-pops,” her dad called out as he did every morning.
“Morning, Dad.”
“Coffee?” He was moving around the kitchen, cleaning up the remaining mess from the night before, making it a difficult place to enter with his rapid movements.
“Yes, please.”
“Morning, honey,” her mother called from the living room. “I got your text.”
