We smiled at each other as there was a knock at the door signaling our dinner had arrived. We sat and ate our dinner in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. When we were done, Morgan helped me clean up everything. I grabbed two wine glasses and a bottle of wine and we decided to end our night sitting outside on my patio chairs and enjoying the night air. I was sitting just staring up at the night sky enjoying the silence when Morgan said, “Jessie, thank you for everything you said after I shared my history with Karen. I know what you have gone through is still new, but I hope you will find some form of peace like I have. Just remember I am here for you too. I have been enjoying our friendship and I hope you have been as well.”
“Morgan, you have been immensely helpful since I came here. I do enjoy the friendship we developed because I thought I was going to have to establish this new life on my own, when, in fact, you have been a key factor in helping me discover happiness in this new chapter of my life. I can’t wait to introduce you to my friend Amy when she gets here. She helped me rebuild my life after my parents died and, in a way, you are doing that now for me too. She will be here in a week for a long weekend and I hope you will be open to meeting her when she is here in town.” Morgan’s smile was genuine, “I would love to meet her, she is obviously important to you and I would love to hear stories of things you use to do together back in Tennessee.” He smirked but I had to shoot him down adding, “There is not much to share in regards to mischief, I worked at a school and I feared running into students or their parents.” Morgan chuckled and said as he walked to the door, “I wasn’t talking about that, I was referring to how you were before you became a social worker.” He smirked, “Good night Jessie. Keep me posted on when your friend is in town. I can’t wait to meet her.” With that he left to walk back to his place.
My week flew by quickly with work and then preparing for Amy’s upcoming visit. I had set up a spare bed in my office so she had someplace comfortable to sleep, and went and got snacks, wine, and other groceries in case she just wanted to stay in. Amy had texted me early this morning that she was already on the road, but she said Dean was insistent on coming along, refusing to let her do the drive on her own. I found that odd because Amy and I have taken trips together before and he never felt the need to come with us. Maybe he just didn’t want her alone. However, either way, he did offer to find things to do if we wanted to have some time alone to talk. It’s good that the spare bed was big enough for them both since he decided he was coming too. I was on my way home from work, checking the time, excited because she would be arriving soon. I had just enough time to change and start some dinner for us. I pulled into my parking spot, and saw that Morgan was getting out of his truck, “Hey Jessie! How was your day?” He smiled and walked over towards my car.
“Actually it was great. I am actually excited my friend Amy will be arriving soon. Her husband, Dean, is actually coming with her too, so it will be a full house for the next few days.” I chuckled. “I have to get a few things done before they arrive, but I would like to introduce you while they are here. I will talk to them tonight, but maybe we can all do something together.” Dean smiled, “I would like that. Just let me know, depending on whether you like music, I know a good country bar that has some good bands.”
Smiling, I did think that sounded like fun. “I think that sounds like fun. I will keep you posted after I talk to them.” I headed into my place and rushed to change so I could put dinner in the oven. I flipped on some music and started singing along to the music as I put a meatloaf into the oven and set the timer. I was just pouring myself a glass of wine when the doorbell rang. I ran to the door, flung it open to my best friend, beaming and lunging at me to give me a hug. “Jessie!! God I missed you!” Laughing, I hugged her back, noticing Dean unloading their suitcase, he closed up his truck and walked up to the door. “Hey Jess, it’s good to see you. How have you been enjoying your new place?” Smiling, I turned towards him, “It’s actually been great. This place has been perfect for me and my neighbor and I have become good friends. He has actually shown me around town and we took a road trip last weekend and he showed me some sites outside of town as well.”
Dean stopped and looked at me, while Amy looked at me with a huge grin on her face. “Would this neighbor be cute? We have to meet him, I hope you didn’t tell him to stay away this weekend.” Laughing, I showed them up to their room and as they got situated I told them about Morgan. “It has been nice having someone to talk to, but before you ask, we are just friends. I have no interest in any type of relationship. Besides, my divorce still is not finalized because, from what I have been hearing from my lawyer, Mark is making things difficult. Morgan and I are just enjoying being friends. He has been through a lot as well, so it is nice hanging around with someone that knows what you are going through.” Dean looked at me, “I’m glad you have a friend here, I was kind of worried at first when you mentioned it was a guy. I just don’t want someone that will take advantage of you. Just consider me an older brother wanting to protect you.”
I just nodded and looked back at Amy, “So what was this surprise you refused to tell me until you got here? Waiting has been driving me crazy. I hate you were so stubborn about not telling me on the phone.” Amy’s grin spread even wider and she looked at Dean, who smiled and nodded, “I’m pregnant!” I screamed and jumped up, grabbing her into a hug. “Congratulation!! I can’t believe it. You have been wanting this since you got married. I am so happy for you guys.” Amy was just glowing, “That is actually not the only surprise. Dean and I were also looking into moving around here because we both were impressed with this area when we helped you move here. Dean will actually be looking at a couple of job possibilities while we are here. I hope this is good news for you?”
Shocked, I looked at Amy and asked, “I love it but, what brought on this decision because I know you both love your jobs back home?” Amy just smiled and said, “We both just loved this area and when we found out about our little one here, we thought this would be nicer area to start our family.” Amy had her hand over her stomach as she was talking. “Obviously, us moving here is dependent on us finding jobs, Dean wants me to take it easy and not do anything to strenuous so I am checking out different office jobs.
“Well, let’s not worry about all that. Now, let’s go down, eat some dinner, we can take it easy tonight but, I have an idea for Saturday night if your up for it.” I started walking down to the kitchen.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.