Lisa laughed. “Sounds great except for one thing.”
“What’s that?’
“Man, you’re getting forgetful. The Riders are at home tomorrow. We expected you and Doug to join us. I planned to take the kids and pick you up on the way to the stadium. Actually, Luis will be driving.”
Jen took a quick look at her calendar. Her sister was absolutely right. “I’ll be ready, but Doug’s away.”
“New York?”
“Not this time. I’ll fill you in tomorrow. No big deal.” She tried to make her voice light and airy, but her sister knew her too well.
“Okay…for now. We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Love you, Jen.”
“Back at you, Lis.”
She disconnected and fell back into a chair—a chair polished so brightly she could see her reflection in the wood. Two nights. He’d been away only two nights, and the place was so quiet. Too quiet. No jokes. No discussions, no one asking about her day. She missed him! True enough. But he made her nutsy.
Somehow, he pushed her most sensitive buttons. What had happened to her calm, planned and ordered life, the life she’d enjoyed only six months ago?
Doug happened.
Together, they were strong. Together, with their arms around each other, that was bliss. That was safety. So good.
But this pick-up-and-go business? The lack of routine, always changing goals?
So bad.
She called Lisa again. “One yes or no question, Lis, so listen hard. If Mike had been recruited by San Francisco or Kansas City or Miami…would you still have gone off with him? Packed us all up and moved?”
“Of course! Boston seemed a million miles from home anyway.”
A memory stirred. “Thanks, Lis.” Jen threw the phone on the table and ran to her
bedroom closet. Up high, high on a shelf was her box of keepsakes. She pulled it down and peered inside, not pausing to examine the trinkets of the past, simply searching for that college notebook. The one with the essay Doug had referred to countless times, the essay he’d read aloud to their class in his clear, beautiful voice. She took a deep breath and skimmed:
Most journeys are measured in miles. My longest journey began and ended inthe moment my parents died in an auto accident… In that moment, I leftchildhood behind and clawed my way up to adult status. At least I tried to. Lisawasn’t home, and the three younger kids ran to me first on that terrible, life-changing day. I held them close while we waited, and they clung to me likebabies to their mother. They were too little to know that I was a baby, too.
They’d needed her! Needed her to survive. No wonder she felt guilty leaving them. She continued reading.
Although the distance between Woodhaven and Boston is one- hundred miles, Imeasure my journey in light years. The wounds of childhood still bleed and myjourney continues.
She sat on the edge of her bed and re-read the last line. Her journey had continued and would continue. An exciting future beckoned. All she needed was to take that leap of faith with Doug. She browsed other essays. Geez, she’d been a mess. Why had Doug ever befriended her? What had he seen?
Laughter rose. The guy had already taken his leap of faith—with her!
She walked back into the living room and brushed her hand once more over her parents’ portrait. “Thanks for the advice, Mom and Dad. It feels right.”
##
“I slept on the plane, so now all I need is a quick shower and I’ll go to work.”
Jen could have stayed in his arms for the entire day, but she was dressed and ready to leave the apartment.
“We’ll talk tonight,” said Doug. “I hope you’ll be happy.”
“I hope we’ll both be happy.” She kissed him on the cheek and ran out the door.
“Don’t want to be late.”
But she was late getting home that night. Doug had been cool with the delay when she’d warned him about it on the phone, and Jen had wondered about that.
But as soon as she walked through the apartment door, she understood.
A white cloth and candles dressed the kitchen table. A wine glass sparkled at each place setting.
“As they say, timing is everything,” said Doug, bending to kiss her. “You couldn’t have chosen a better day to be delayed.”
“What are we celebrating?” she asked, waving at the table, her heart beating fast.
“A new job in Hollywood?”
He took a step and stared at her. “Not exactly. Unless you change my mind.”
“I don’t understand.”
He poured the wine and handed her a glass. “A toast to you. To us.” He raised his glass and she tapped it with hers.
“Yes. Definitely.” She took a sip. “Now sit down and talk to me. Our phone conversations left me hanging. So if you don’t want curiosity to kill this cat...”
