Page 32 of A Magnolia Move-In
Isat at the front door the next day, regretting my decision. I didn’t know what overcame me last night, but agreeing to spend the afternoon with Fiona had been a mistake. My body ached this morning, and I desperately wanted to tell Fiona that I was sick, but Jackson wasn’t having any of my excuses.
He barged into my room and demanded that I get out of bed.
While getting ready, I got a call from my new physical therapist across the bridge. His name was Christopher, and I was to see him twice a week, starting tomorrow. Apparently, my doctor was going to remove my cast soon, and they wanted to start strengthening my body in preparation to walk.
I desperately wanted to return to normal, but the fact that I was close to getting my cast off meant that time was marching on. I was going to need to make a decision soonbefore my belly got too big and people started questioning me about it.
Which sent my anxiety and desire to find Walker spiraling out of control.
Every time I tried to think about what I was going to do, my stomach ached, forcing me to push those thoughts from my mind until they no longer hurt me. I wasn’t ready to have a baby without Walker, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to give it up for adoption either.
The fact that I was so weak and incapable of taking care of a child made me feel even more guilty in those moments when I wanted to keep the child even if that meant I was going to raise it alone. As soon as I made the commitment, fear and doubt crept into my mind, and I was forced to waffle on that decision again.
I was in my own personal hell.
Now I was waiting to head into town to meet new people and make small chat with Jackson’s girlfriend. I was tired and sore, and I doubted I would be good company.
Maybe when Fiona got here, I’d let her know I wasn’t up for this.
A minute later, the door handle turned, and Fiona appeared in the doorway. She looked startled when she saw me, but that quickly turned into a smile. “Hey,” she said as she shuffled by me and shut the door.
The hot sticky air lingered for only a moment before it was overcome by the house’s air conditioning.
“Waiting for me?” she asked as she smoothed her wind-tousled hair.
“More like Jackson wheeled me over here and then left me.” I winced, my tone coming out harsher than I intended. “I’m sorry. I’m sore and woke up in a mood today.”
Fiona waved away my comment. “I understand completely.” She shrugged. “I live with a toddler, so I know how to handle mood swings.” Then she pressed her hand to her lips. “I’m not calling you a toddler.” Regret filled her gaze. “I’m so sorry.”
I waved away her apology. “Don’t be sorry. I do act like a child sometimes.”
I wanted to tell her that I was confined to a chair. That my body ached everywhere. And that there was an alien invading my body and zapping all of my energy. But that wasn’t going to help me win friends.
“We all can be that way, can’t we?” she asked as she peered into the house. “Speaking of childish behavior…” She glanced back at me. “Where’s Jackson?”
I chuckled. She’d pegged my brother accurately. “I don’t know. After he forced me out of bed, he disappeared.” I squinted. “I think I heard Colten. So maybe he’s with him?”
Fiona glanced one more time toward the loft and then shrugged. “Sounds good. I’ll just text him later.” She turned and clapped her hands. “Ready?”
I wanted to say no, but I was here. Might as well go along with it. “Sure.”
Fiona moved to the back of my chair, and I leaned forward to open the door. The sun was blinding as shewheeled me out onto the porch. I raised my hand to shield my eyes and dug around in my purse for my sunglasses.
There was a moment when I was in the car and Fiona was struggling to shut the wheelchair that I wanted to call the whole thing off. But she seemed determined, so I remained. After a few tries—and some swear words—the chair folded, and Fiona put it in the trunk.
Then she climbed into the driver’s seat, and we took off.
Magnolia was beautiful. Driving the road along the beach was calming in a way that I hadn’t expected. Sure, it wasn’t home, but I knew the water was connected. Whatever touched the sand here could have easily touched the sand back in North Carolina.
That thought gave me some much-needed peace.
“Magnolia is beautiful,” Fiona said over the soft ballad that was playing from her speakers. She reached over to turn the volume down.
I turned to look at her. “It is. I hadn’t realized that.”
Fiona chuckled. “When Dave and I broke up, I moved back here from Tennessee.” She sighed. “It was hard. I left my life and my friends, packed up my son, and started over.” She slowed to a stop as the light changed red. “I had my mom here, but it wasn’t what I’d envisioned for myself. I had to find a new path, and that was scary.” She peeked over at me.
I knew she was telling me this as a way to connect. And I knew she had the purest of intentions, but I couldn’t help but feel like the class project. I was broken and alone herein Magnolia, and everyone was going to make it their mission to fix me.
