Betty
The drive is going remarkably fast. Both the highway and skies are clear and if I weren’t on my way to comfort my best friend and declare my love for her older brother, I probably would be enjoying it more. My stomach flips at the thought of telling Josh how I feel about him.
I love him. I am in love with him. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I feel it in every fiber of my being. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? I know he cares about me, that much is obvious. But does he really want me like I want him? Or am I about to feed my heart into a wood chipper?
Maggie drives like a woman who’s just been given the keys to her own jail cell. She is radiating pure, unbridled joy. I can’t remember the last time I saw her so happy. Her dark curls bounce as she moves her head to the music that blares from the car speakers. She sings along to every song on the radio, often attempting to sing the melodies and harmonies simultaneously. It’s something to see and hear.
Speaking of sights, maybe I should have spared five more minutes on my appearance. I take my still-damp hair out of its knot on my head and attempt to comb through it with my fingers. Maggie keeps moisturizer in her car, because of course she does, and my skin greedily absorbs it. Thankfully, I put my foundation compact in my purse last night in case I got splotchy at the restaurant. When I’ve finished applying it, I still look disheveled, but it’s a definite improvement.
I tell Maggie which exits and roads to take to get us to the Pine’s house. We would have used Google Maps for this, but with Mark repeatedly calling her phone, she made the wise decision to turn it off entirely.
The neighborhood hasn’t changed much since I had last been here. The playground where Rilla and I used to hang out sometimes after school has new equipment. Red and gold leaves are scattered on top of the shiny plastic slides. I smile to myself, wondering if the new swings go as high as the old ones did. Of course, Rilla once sprained her ankle jumping from them. She’s never been one to look before she leaps.
We pull into the driveway of the statuesque two-story home. Even though we’re well into October, the lawn is still perfectly manicured, with only a few fallen leaves to give any indication of the time of year. I notice that Josh’s car isn’t there, but Rilla’s is. We park next to the black Lexus in the driveway. Maggie decides to stay in the car for now. She needs to reschedule some appointments that are booked for tomorrow.
I knock on the door, a door I’ve knocked on hundreds of times in my life. The blue paint is faded and could stand to be touched up in places. I stare at the door, wondering who will open it. Rilla? Josh? The door starts to open, and I hold my breath, not even sure who I hope will be on the other side.
“Betty?” Eleanor stands in the doorway. All the air leaves my body. Eleanor. “How are you? It’s been ages.” Her tone is warm and her smile genuine. Her ebony hair is swept up in a neat bun and she’s wearing a beautiful knit sweater dress with tights. Her teeth are perfect rows of pearls, her pores non-existent.
“Eleanor, hi.” I manage to get out. “Is Rilla home?”
“Everyone is at the hospital. You heard about Tom?” Her voice is almost a whisper.
“Yes, I came as soon as I spoke to Rilla.”
She nods her understanding. “I expect they’ll be home soon. I’ve got lunch ready inside. Would you like to come in and wait?” I would rather run through a thorny field naked and dive into a pool of hand sanitizer.
“No, that’s okay. I’ve got a few things to pick up. I’ll come back when they’re home.” I say, already backing away.
“Okay! I’ll see you soon!” She beams at me while closing the door. It’s almost as if she lives there. Maggie steps out of the driver’s seat, looking concerned.
“Are we not staying?” she asks, looking from me to the house.
“No, we aren’t.” I climb into the car and she follows suit. My hands shake as I try to fasten my seatbelt.
“They aren’t home?”
“They aren’t. Eleanor answered the door.”
“Fuck.” Maggie breathes, slumping back in her seat.
“Yeah.” I can’t even summon the energy to cry. Just when I get to a place where I can picture a future with Josh, Eleanor enters the frame, douses it in gasoline, and sets it on fire. “Can we just go?” I figure we’ll wait at a coffee shop until I can connect with Rilla.
“No, we can’t.” Her eyes are in her rearview mirror, and I turn in my seat to see what she’s looking at. Josh’s car has pulled into the driveway directly behind us. We’re blocked in.
This is not happening. Breathe, Betty.
I’ve just gotten my seatbelt done when my door is flung open, and Rilla practically climbs into my lap. I hug her fiercely, and my heartache momentarily eases. She’s wearing a puffy coat that gets pushed into my face as she throws her arms wrapped around my neck. At the moment, I don’t even mind being smothered.
“Rilla! You’re going to suffocate one another!” Her mom scolds from outside the door.
“We’ll die together, like the prophecy foretold,” Rilla says without loosening her grip. Eventually, we detangle from each other’s embrace and climb out of the car with great difficulty. Nancy pulls me into a much gentler hug, and I accept it eagerly. It’s what a mom’s hug should feel like. Soft and warm. She smells faintly of ivory soap and something floral. I close my eyes and breathe her in. When I open them, I’m looking at Josh over her shoulder. And he’s looking at me.
He mouths “hi” and then smiles shyly at me. I think he’s waiting for his turn, but if I wind up in his arms, I know I’ll never want to leave. When Nancy pulls away, the distraction comes in the form of Maggie, who is tentatively climbing out of the car. I beckon her to join me and start making introductions. It’s hard to believe that Maggie and Rilla haven’t met before. Rilla surprises everyone by throwing her arms around her. Maggie, never one to pass up a hug, returns it happily.
“You smell incredible!” Rilla tells her, face still buried in her hair.
“It’s my soap!” Maggie giggles. “I will send you some.”
