Rain hurried to her unlocked car, but her cell phone was almost dead. She threw it onto the driver’s seat in frustration and whirled around. “Let me use your phone!”
“Hey, hey, calm down, honey. She’s going to be okay. The doctors are watching her closely. No one saw her fall, but she was complaining about the pain for a while. Once your sister got her to the ER, they realized how serious it was, and they got her into a room immediately. If the bleeding stops, she won’t need the surgery. I’m sure your parents are there as well by now. They were on their way to the hospital when they called me. I volunteered to drive here to tell you.” Rick took her trembling hands in his, and she stared at the ground, trying to process his words.
“I should go to Florida too. As soon as possible. That poor little girl! And Mia and Derek must be worried sick!”
Rick nodded in agreement. “We’ll find you a flight. Do you want me to go with you?” He squeezed her hands, which brought her mind back to the present. She hadn’t even noticed he was touching her.
“What?” she asked incredulously, her brow arching. Did he think she was an idiot? She pulled her hands away and twisted them together anxiously. “Of course I don’t want you to come with me. We’re divorced, remember? I appreciate you coming here to get the message to me, really I do. But don’t think for one second this will bring us back together in some way.”
Rick’s handsome face grew angry, his steely blue eyes flashing. “So which one of them are you fucking, then?”
Before Rain could even think about untangling her hands and slapping him, the large terra cotta pot she had filled with flowers and positioned near the door smashed on the concrete steps. Dirt and reddish brown shards spilled over the bottom step and the walkway. Rain jumped back, hitting her back against her open car door.
“What the fuck?” swore Rick, looking around for the culprit. This alarming noise brought her friends, who had been at least attempting to give her the illusion of privacy, running out the door.
Hysterical giggles emerged from Rain’s lips. “Brandy doesn’t like your tone,” she explained to Rick. She began walking back toward the house.
“What?” Rick bellowed, obviously confused. He yanked her arm to stop her, and Jason was there in an instant, breaking his grip on Rain and pulling her behind him. She was beginning to feel like a rag doll.
The two men glared at each other for a moment, A.J. and Allie approaching now as well. Rain moved from behind Jason and got between them. “Look,” she said shakily, “Rick was just leaving. The flower pot must have been off balance, and it tipped over and smashed. That’s all.”
Allie narrowed her eyes, unconvinced by that version of events. Jason continued watching Rick until he finally shrugged and said, “Well, I guess I’ll get going then. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your little party with important family news any more than necessary.” He turned and sauntered back to his car.
****
Rain insisted her friends eat the dinner she had prepared while she contacted her family on Allie’s phone. Her 7-year-old niece was doing reasonably well at the moment, undergoing transfusions and being watched carefully. Her parents were adamant she get a good night’s sleep before she traveled to Florida. Once she agreed, they told her they would be making her flight arrangements for her, since she had no computer access, and furthermore they would be paying for it. She relented, since she didn’t have the energy to argue. Her father called back with her itinerary. She would leave from the Westchester County Airport in New York on Tuesday morning and arrive at Palm Beach International a few hours later.
After dinner, A.J. cleaned up while Allie forced Rain to eat a small plate of leftovers. Rain noted the inclusion of Caesar salad on the plate that Allie made for her and they shared a look. No chance of kissing tonight. Still, Rain picked at her food listlessly.
They sat with her, tried to cheer her up. And the tears fell from Rain’s stormy eyes as she stared dejectedly at the table. Not only because her little niece was suffering, but also because Rain realized again that she truly had her friends back. So when they asked what they could do for her, she took her chance.
“Promise me,” she said, ignoring the disapproving inner voice that told her she was being manipulative, “that you’ll all come back, one more time. I hate that I have to leave now, with everyone here. You guys have become so important to me, all over again, in such a short time.” The tears were flowing in earnest now. I must look awful, she thought to herself. She wiped her nose on her napkin.
“Of course we’ll all come back,” Allie promised reassuringly. A.J. and Jason nodded.
Rain sniffled. “Can we pick out a time, right now? That way we can all plan. And then I’ll have something to look forward to.”
Guilt gnawed at her as she pushed them to decide on a date right away, but that was what she needed. They decided on one whole week in the beginning of August, with the understanding that it could be more or less, based on individual schedules.
The events of the past 24 hours led Rain to comment that she might have trouble getting to sleep, and Jason immediately offered to drive into town and pick up an over-the-counter sleep aid. Rain protested, but not vehemently. She was physically and emotionally exhausted, and she needed to get some rest in order to be of some help in Florida, not to mention the stress of packing and traveling, which seemed overwhelming at the moment. Jason set off, and Allie suggested Rain accompany her for a short walk on the beach.
The two women walked the beach in the fading light, barefoot in the rocky sand. They were quiet for a few minutes, and the splashing of an occasional fish played against the croaking of the bullfrogs and the chorus of the crickets. Rain decided this was as good an opportunity as ever to bring up their estrangement in high school.
She took a deep breath and broke the silence. “Allie, thanks so much for being here for me tonight. I just want to say that I’m so glad we’re friends again.” Reaching out, she grabbed Allie’s hand and clasped it. Not letting go, she continued, “But I sometimes wonder, especially now, in hindsight, what happened to our friendship all those years ago. After Brandy disappeared, you became so distant. I guess I thought it was a phase at the time, but we ended up losing all contact.” Rain slid a glance in her friend’s direction and held her breath.
Allie’s pace slowed, and her hand grew slack. She started to reply, then shook her head, her blonde curls hiding her face as she looked down. “I am so sorry,” she tried again, but her voice broke, and she stopped walking altogether.
Rain turned to face her and grabbed her other hand. To her great dismay, she spotted tears rolling down Allie’s cheeks. “Oh my God, please don’t cry!” Rain begged. I should not be allowed to interact with people, she thought to herself angrily.
Allie gulped and spoke softly, continuing to stare at the sand. “It’s all my fault. I screwed up, and I owe you an apology. I had some…issues…at the time. I’m a terrible friend.”
Rain pulled her hand into the sleeve of her hoodie and used the cuff to wipe Allie’s tears away. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. You don’t owe me any explanations; it was a difficult period in all our lives. I’m just thankful we’re friends again. That is, if you can get past my lack of social skills and my poor timing.”
That got a small smile from Allie. “I’m thankful, too. I just can’t talk about that time right now,” she said as fresh tears leaked out of her hazel eyes.
Rain nodded her head in agreement and pulled on Allie’s hand gently, turning them around. “Subject’s closed. I want to hear more stories about your beautiful kids,” she said firmly, as they made their way back toward the house.
****
Allie helped Rain pack after doling out sleeping pills for both of them. “If Brandy comes tonight, I don’t want to know about it,” she joked. “I hope those pills discourage both dreams and visions.”
Rain nodded in assent, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. “The rest of the packing can wait until morning,” she said with a yawn. “And if Brandy is strengthened by our combined energy, well, I think she’s out of luck tonight.” Other than A.J., no one had slept well the previous night, and they’d all had a long day. Rain and Allie propped themselves up in bed together with books before the last of the light blue streaks in the summer sky turned black. The night was quiet and peaceful, as though Brandy sensed that her weary friends needed some rest.
Chapter 19
Jason locked the door to the lake house and hid the key. “Bye Brandy, see you soon,” he muttered. He was the last to leave, having spent most of the day enjoying the beach with A.J. Rain had left for the airport early in the morning, insisting on driving herself so her car would be there despite their many offers to take her there. Allie had left shortly after, gladly cutting her spooky vacation a few hours short in favor of spending time with her family. With the girls gone, A.J. and Jason decided to remain for the rest of the day and then return to their busy lives early as well.
Throughout the day, Jason had considered telling A.J. about the kiss. He didn’t want to keep any additional secrets from his friend. And yet, every time he thought about how to bring it up, it sounded extraordinarily juvenile in his head. Furthermore, he was a little ashamed. He did have a girlfriend, for God’s sake. He had no right to be kissing Rain. Certainly he shouldn’t be missing her so much already. Five years had passed, and here he was, right back where he started.
He was sorry he hadn’t had a chance to talk to her before she left, but their relationship issues seemed trivial in contrast to her family crisis. He laughed at himself mockingly in the car, glancing in the rear view mirror as he changed lanes. Relationship? He was in trouble.
There was only one thing to do, as unpleasant as it would be. He had to break it off with Cara. The very fact that he had these feelings for Rain, whether they were mutual or not, highlighted the truth: he was no longer in love with Cara, if he ever had been. He vowed to find a way to talk to her and explain how he felt.
Cara was quick to put him off, however, when he broached the subject late that evening. “Jay, I have had such a hectic day. I have a really important meeting in the morning, and a thousand things to finish tonight.” She gestured at papers and files, spread all over their bed. “Can whatever it is wait? Maybe we can catch up this weekend,” she finished, dismissing him with a rueful smile.
Jason opened his mouth to argue, then changed his mind. There was no need to drag her into an emotional conversation when she was already so overwhelmed. He owed it to Cara to at least take her work schedule into account. Their talk could wait until the weekend, he decided as he stretched out in front of the television. Friday night at the latest. He sighed internally and switched mental gears, anticipating being back at his studio tomorrow. It wasn’t long before he drifted off to sleep on the couch.
****
Thursday of that week brought a brand new crisis with it. Cara called Jason at the studio, catching him between classes. Her father had suffered a heart attack, and was in the ICU in an Arizona hospital. Cara’s parents had left Connecticut last year, moving across the country to enjoy their retirement in the perpetual sunshine of the southwest.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, meaning it. He had only met her father a few times, but he could sympathize with what she must be going through. “I’ll be right home, Cara.”
“Thanks, Jay, but I can’t leave work right now. I’ll see you this evening, though,” she said in a shaky voice.
“I’ll be there,” he assured her, raking his hand through his sweaty hair. Although he hated to miss more class time, he would ask his assistants and some of the older kids to teach the late classes. He intended to be there to support Cara, regardless of his current confusion surrounding their future.
When she arrived at their apartment, however, she was in full vent mode. She stomped around, throwing things into a suitcase. “This is horrible! What am I going to do? My mom is really pressuring me to stay for more than the weekend, but I just cannot possibly miss that much time at the station. This is such bad timing!”
Jason fought a crazy impulse to suggest that maybe her father could reschedule his convalescence. Really, was there ever a good time for a life-threatening cardiac event? But he didn’t want to be cruel. Cara was under a lot of pressure these days. The problem was that he couldn’t help but compare her reaction to a family emergency to Rain’s reaction. And that wasn’t fair; they were two very different people, with very different lives.
He wanted to be loyal. Lending his support and help was something that came second nature to him, when he let it. And so he offered to go with her to Arizona, despite the fact that it was actually the last thing in the world he wanted to do. Luck was on his side, however; Cara was practical as usual.
“Thanks, Jay, that is so sweet of you. But there’s no reason for you to miss work too, especially since you just got back. All I’m going to be doing is sitting in the hospital and telecommuting.”
Jason tried to hide his relief and did not argue the point. He didn’t want to be away from his studio, and he certainly didn’t want to be in a hospital in Arizona. Pangs of guilt stabbed at his insides. He leaned against the bedroom doorjamb and watched her finish packing. “What can I do for you, then? I’ll go grab us a nice dinner.”
She zipped up the suitcase and pulled it off the bed, then turned to face him, combing her hands through her thick auburn hair. “You can provide some stress relief, I’m betting,” she said in a sultry voice. “We haven’t found time to be together in ages.” With a playful pout on her lips, she sat down on the bed and reached for him.
Jason stood absolutely frozen for a moment. He hadn’t anticipated this turn of events at all. He had intended to force her to discuss their future this weekend, and in his mind, the end result of the conversation was a mutual decision to break up. There would be no sex beforehand to confuse the issue, and no sex afterward because, well, they would be broken up. This was not part of his carefully laid plans.