Today, that hockey player had picked them up for the team’s family skate, something the Sockeyes did a few times a year at the practice facility. He’d invited me, but I’d politely declined, even though part of me really wanted to go. I loved to skate and skating with Easton and my kids would be like a dream come true.
After they left, I paced the floor until I’d just about driven myself batshit crazy. I fretted about everything, and right now I happened to have a lot to fret about. Stopping in mid-pace, I drew in a breath and let it out slowly. I needed to do something productive.
My eyes were drawn to my cell resting several feet away on the coffee table. I had the ability to relieve myself of one worry, and I needed to do this one thing.
With determination, I marched to the phone, picked it up, and called Fran. I’d tried to contact her a few times since Christmas with no luck. Hopefully, I’d get through today.
The phone rang six times before I heard a hesitant “Hello.”
“Fran?” I swallowed hard and cleared my throat, hoping I didn’t sound like the basket case I was becoming.
“Caro.” Fran’s tone was neutral, and I’d take that as a good sign.
“I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I know, honey.”
Her calling me honey had to be a good thing, and I jumped on it. “I’m so sorry. I miss you and Howard.” My last few words came out as a strangled sob.
The silence stretched through time and space. I glanced at my display to assure myself she hadn’t hung up. She was still connected.
“Fran?” I said in a shaky voice.
“I’m sorry too. I had to take a little time to sort out my feelings. The funny thing is I was going to call you this morning.”
Finally, she’d spoken, and I flopped onto the couch because my knees refused to hold me upright. “I can’t express how sorry I am. I never meant to hurt either of you. I had so much going on and-“
“It’s okay, Caro. I was as much to blame as you. I immediately jumped to conclusions, out with the old, in with the new. That sort of thing. Howard and I struggle every day with losing Mark. I panicked when I thought I was losing you guys too. Let’s forget about it and move on, shall we?”
“Yes, please. I love you, Fran.”
“I love you, too, my sweet girl.”
My heart soared as some of the burden was lifted from my weary soul. I’d fixed one thing going wrong in my life, now if I could figure out what to do about the rest…
We talked for a while about the new dog, Hailey’s pony lessons, and my classes. I avoided the subject of Easton. Gratefully, Fran didn’t bring him up either. When we finally ended the call, we both made a promise to speak tomorrow so Fran and Howard could talk to the kids.
After I ended the call, I realized Junie was sitting in the recliner. I hadn’t noticed when she’d come into the room.
“Fran?” she asked.
“Yes, everything is good.”
“I’m relieved.”
“Am I being unreasonable, Junie?” I asked, bringing up a subject that had been on my mind for a few weeks.
“About what?” She glanced up from her phone. She’d been secretively texting someone quite a bit lately. As much as I wanted to pry, I didn’t.
“Easton wanting to adopt Heath and Hailey.”
Junie blinked a few times and squinted at me. She’d expected more conversation about Fran and Howard, and I’d done an end run on her. “You’re being emotional, but changing your kids’ last name and him legally adopting them is an emotional thing. It’s permanent.”
“But am I wrong?”
“I don’t see it as right or wrong. Mark was in those kids’ lives for six years. Easton will be in their lives for the rest of his life. That’s a lot more than six years.”
“You think I should let him change their last name?”
“I think you should think long and hard about the decision. Did you talk to Fran and Howard about it?”
“Oh, God, no. Not when I’m finally in their good graces again.”
“You might want to see what they have to say about it,” Junie suggested.
“Mark wouldn’t have wanted it changed. It’d be like wiping out the last piece left of him.”
“No, it wouldn’t be. They’d still have their memories, and I know you. You’ll make sure they remember him.”
“If I changed it, then I wouldn’t have the same last name as them.”
“Is this about Mark or you?” Junie stared pointedly at me, and she might have hit the nail on the head. Was I being selfish and using Mark as an excuse?
“I don’t trust Easton. What if he’s trying to steal my children from me?”
“Are you listening to yourself?” Junie rolled her eyes and snorted. “Are you serious? I know he’s not, and I don’t know him nearly as well as you do. He’s a good person, Caro. Why would he do something so damaging to you and the kids?”
Again, she was right, and I knew it. “I do miss him.”
“I know you do.”
“These past few weeks without him have been hell, but I’ve hurt him, too.”
“Tell him you’re sorry.”
“I don’t know where to start,” I sighed.
“I know where you can start.” She beamed as if she were the brightest best friend in the world.
“And where would that be?”
“Join him at the family skate.”
“I don’t know if I should,” I hedged.
“I think you should.”
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.