Page 117 of Friendshipped
“I’m coming!” I tell her. “Let me get my boots on. I was just wrapping up my column on old covered bridges to visit in central Ohio.”
About three months after Trevor and I started dating, Jeanette transferred to a larger paper in Dayton. Chase went with her. I think they might be seeing one another, though they kept everything very hush hush at work.
Jeanette had started smiling more, and it was obvious she lit up like a Christmas Tree when Chase walked into a room, even though she would immediately school her features to their usual resting grumpy face so no one could witness her pleasure and possibly mistake her for a happy person.
The week our new boss, James Peterson, took over, he asked each of us to pitch new ideas to him to keep the Tribune fresh and relevant and to reach a younger demographic. I pitched my Oh-So-Ohio column and he called it “pure genius.” I’ve been traveling and doing features on events and attractions around our state ever since early November.
I do more work outside the office now, but I love what I’m doing so occasionally taking work home doesn’t bother me at all.
Today, Laura talked me into going to see the new romcom movie showing at Movies on Main. And, I am making us late. I always view the half-hour of previews as leeway, but Laura does not. She always insists they are essential to helping us plan our next few months of movies.
I hadn’t heard of the movie Laura picked for today, but she said it just came out this weekend and it’s calledFinding Forever withMy Best Friend. Considering how Trevor and I went from best friends to lovers, this movie feels like it will be right up my alley.
I put my boots on, grab my winter coat, and Laura and I walk out to her car.
“Pulling you away from your writing is like getting my niece to come off the slide at the playground. Never easy.”
“I’m sorry. I owe you one. Popcorn’s on me.”
“No worries. We’re on our way now.”
She drives down my street, turns onto the next one, and when we reach the country road running behind our neighborhood, she turns left.
“Hey, you’re driving the wrong way,” I tell her. “You need to go right to head into town.”
Fields covered in a light blanket of snow pass outside my window. Trees bare of leaves line the road heading to the acreage properties outside Bordeaux. This direction leads to farmland and then a whole lot of nothing for miles.
“Sorry. I didn’t tell you. I have to make a really quick stop to pick something up and then we’ll get on our way.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I glance at Laura who is staring intently at the road. I can’t imagine what she needs to pick up out this way. Something feels suspicious, but I can’t put my finger on it.
“Are you okay?” I ask her. “You seem distracted or uptight. Did something happen with Rob?”
“Nothing happened with Rob. Nothing probably will happen with Rob. He’s over me.”
Her brows draw together.
“I’m sorry, Laura.”
I sit quietly, wondering if I should say anything more. Laura puts on her right turn signal and turns down the long treelined drive that ends at the old Finch farm. I’m getting more confused. This place has been abandoned for several years.
“I don’t think Rob is over you either,” I say. “I don’t have any insider information. I don’t even think Trevor knows where Rob stands. But I notice Rob whenever you are around, and he seems the opposite of unaffected.”
Laura gives me a wan smile. “Maybe. Miracles happen, right? But still, I don’t know if I could buy another ticket on that ride even if he wanted me back, which I’m pretty positive he doesn’t. Rob and I were high school sweethearts. We went our own paths and things changed. It’s best to leave the past in the past.”
I want to ask her more, but she’s been so quiet on the subject, I decide she’ll tell me when she’s ready. Instead, I reach over and pat her arm. Then I look out the windshield and see Trevor’s car parked between the barn and the farmhouse.
I glance back at Laura with a questioning look on my face.
“Trevor’s here?”
“Go on,” she says. “Get out. He’s waiting for you.”
“What about the movie?” I ask her.
“There’s no movie, Lexi. They’re playing some new action film on screen one and they’re replaying Pride and Prejudice on screen two.”
