head, but then half-smiled, as if we’d broken through his exterior wall. He really was good looking, all pale skin and chiseled jawline. Lucy’s eyes hadn’t left his face through most of our exchange, and he finally turned to her, eyeing her body that could be seen through the thin, ragged T-shirt and fuzzy pants. “What are you ladies watching next?”
Lucy reached behind her to pull a movie off her bookshelf. “Here. The Notebook. You’re welcome to stay.” She batted her eyes at him.
He laughed, but it was forced. The rough exterior had been rebuilt. “ The Notebook? Yeah, I’ll pass. I can’t stomach that tearjerker stuff. You girls enjoy your spa and movie time. I’m, uh, glad to hear you’re not missing.”
Officer Strong left the room, closing the door firmly behind him.
As soon as it clicked, Lucy grabbed my arm. “Oh my God, did you see that guy? Officer Strong? Hell yes, Officer Strong, you can strong-arm me anytime you want!”
“Lucy.”
“He was gorgeous , Jo! How can you just stand there calmly when I just met my future husband? Did you see his eyes? Green! My favorite. It’s fate!”
“Lucy!”
“I’m so going to start breaking laws and stuff just so he comes back to visit me again.”
“Lucy!”
“What?”
I pointed to the gap under the door. The hallway light was blocked in two spots by two large feet. “He’s standing right outside the door.”
Lucy squealed and dove for her bed. I threw The Notebook at her and stalked off to my own room. That had been a close call, and I wasn’t sure we were really going to get off that easily. He’d stared at me too intently. He’s noticed too much. I wasn’t out of the woods yet.
I sat back down at my desk, ignoring my grotesque reflection in the mirror. I flipped open my laptop and powered it on. While it booted, I picked at a loose thread on my robe. It wasn’t unlike the loose thread I’d tucked back into place on my face not five minutes before.
A minute later Lucy reappeared in the doorway, her face set back into a serious mask, hiding whatever emotion she was feeling. She handed me a damp towel. “Here,” she said. “Wipe your face.” Then she stared for a moment at a picture of the two of us, arms wrapped around each other, hanging on the tackboard above my desk. She frowned. “We’re going to fix this, Jo. You and me. Together. You’re going to be fine.”
I’m not sure if either of us believed her.
I nodded, and pulled up a web browser on my computer. It was time to be alive again.
Jolene,
Hi sweet girl. I miss you.
What happened the other night? Are you okay? You were telling me about the fight with that Eli boy, and then you hung up. Did I say something wrong, sweetie? If so, I didn’t mean to.
Next time you call me in the middle of the night, though, please don’t hang up so abruptly. And then definitely don’t stop answering my calls the next day. It makes me worry. It made Daddy worry, too. I actually had to stop him from calling the cops out there, just to check up on you. You know how he gets, hahaha.
I’ve given you some space now, but I am starting to worry, so please do call when you can. I love you, sweetheart. Daddy and I both want you to know that if things with Eli can’t be patched up, we have a nice boy in mind. Daddy’s ex-roommate’s son goes to Smytheville, and I bet you two kids would hit it off. He’s pre-law.
Give sweet Lucy our love and please, call me soon.
Love, Mom
Hey Mom,
Relax. I haven’t been mad. I’m sorry I made you worry. I lost my phone the other night, still haven’t gotten it replaced. I’ll go to the store tomorrow. I spent most of the weekend in Lucy’s room. We watched a bunch of movies and had girl time. I’m not too worried about Eli. I’m only 19 I’m sure I’ll find the right guy someday, and I guess I never really thought Eli was it anyway. I mean, who marries their freshman-year boyfriend, right? And it’s not like I’m
Lucy reached behind her to pull a movie off her bookshelf. “Here. The Notebook. You’re welcome to stay.” She batted her eyes at him.
He laughed, but it was forced. The rough exterior had been rebuilt. “ The Notebook? Yeah, I’ll pass. I can’t stomach that tearjerker stuff. You girls enjoy your spa and movie time. I’m, uh, glad to hear you’re not missing.”
Officer Strong left the room, closing the door firmly behind him.
As soon as it clicked, Lucy grabbed my arm. “Oh my God, did you see that guy? Officer Strong? Hell yes, Officer Strong, you can strong-arm me anytime you want!”
“Lucy.”
“He was gorgeous , Jo! How can you just stand there calmly when I just met my future husband? Did you see his eyes? Green! My favorite. It’s fate!”
“Lucy!”
“I’m so going to start breaking laws and stuff just so he comes back to visit me again.”
“Lucy!”
“What?”
I pointed to the gap under the door. The hallway light was blocked in two spots by two large feet. “He’s standing right outside the door.”
Lucy squealed and dove for her bed. I threw The Notebook at her and stalked off to my own room. That had been a close call, and I wasn’t sure we were really going to get off that easily. He’d stared at me too intently. He’s noticed too much. I wasn’t out of the woods yet.
I sat back down at my desk, ignoring my grotesque reflection in the mirror. I flipped open my laptop and powered it on. While it booted, I picked at a loose thread on my robe. It wasn’t unlike the loose thread I’d tucked back into place on my face not five minutes before.
A minute later Lucy reappeared in the doorway, her face set back into a serious mask, hiding whatever emotion she was feeling. She handed me a damp towel. “Here,” she said. “Wipe your face.” Then she stared for a moment at a picture of the two of us, arms wrapped around each other, hanging on the tackboard above my desk. She frowned. “We’re going to fix this, Jo. You and me. Together. You’re going to be fine.”
I’m not sure if either of us believed her.
I nodded, and pulled up a web browser on my computer. It was time to be alive again.
Jolene,
Hi sweet girl. I miss you.
What happened the other night? Are you okay? You were telling me about the fight with that Eli boy, and then you hung up. Did I say something wrong, sweetie? If so, I didn’t mean to.
Next time you call me in the middle of the night, though, please don’t hang up so abruptly. And then definitely don’t stop answering my calls the next day. It makes me worry. It made Daddy worry, too. I actually had to stop him from calling the cops out there, just to check up on you. You know how he gets, hahaha.
I’ve given you some space now, but I am starting to worry, so please do call when you can. I love you, sweetheart. Daddy and I both want you to know that if things with Eli can’t be patched up, we have a nice boy in mind. Daddy’s ex-roommate’s son goes to Smytheville, and I bet you two kids would hit it off. He’s pre-law.
Give sweet Lucy our love and please, call me soon.
Love, Mom
Hey Mom,
Relax. I haven’t been mad. I’m sorry I made you worry. I lost my phone the other night, still haven’t gotten it replaced. I’ll go to the store tomorrow. I spent most of the weekend in Lucy’s room. We watched a bunch of movies and had girl time. I’m not too worried about Eli. I’m only 19 I’m sure I’ll find the right guy someday, and I guess I never really thought Eli was it anyway. I mean, who marries their freshman-year boyfriend, right? And it’s not like I’m
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