Page 56 of Through the Snow Globe
“Happy birthday,” she said, plopping down in her usual seat.
Rochelle slid a drink across the table toward Diana. “I ordered for you.”
“Thanks.” Diana took a sip and looked at her friend. “Any big news to tell me?” she asked, remembering how excited Rochelle had been about this new guy in her life yesterday.
Rochelle seemed to think for a moment and then she shook her head. “Nope. Same old, same old.”
“A new guy maybe?” Diana prodded.
Rochelle snorted out a laugh. “I wish, but no. I’m still as single as the day is long.”
And this was a very long day. “You didn’t get flowers today?”
Rochelle sipped from her drink, looking confused. “No, why? Did you send me some?”
“No.” But Diana had yesterday. And that had prompted Rochelle’s dream guy to get her flowers too. And since Diana hadn’t sent the flowers, dream guy apparently hadn’t gotten the memo to do so either.
Sigh.There were too many balls in the air to juggle. Was this true for every day that ever existed? Were there a million choose-your-own-adventure options for every second of every hour?
“No, but it’s your birthday and a girl deserves flowers on the anniversary of her birth.”
“Aww. That’s sweet. It’s the thought that counts.” Rochelle watched as Diana pulled her drink toward her and took a big gulp. “Diana,” she said hesitantly, “I’m a little worried about you. You’ve been . . . distant lately.”
That was the same thing Linus had said on December 3rd. “I’m not distant. I’m sitting right here. Three feet from you.”
“Physically, yeah, but if I bring up your engagement or how you’re feeling, you’d bolt in a heartbeat.” Rochelle pursed her lips around her straw and sucked up the bright red liquid inside her glass.
“What exactly do you want me to say?” Diana huffed, her frustration building like a slow-moving hurricane, picking up random feelings that she’d been trying so hard to ignore. She was sick of repeating this stupid day. All it did was amplify what a mess her life was, and it was all her fault. “Do you want me to say I’m terrified of joining Linus’s huge, hugs-obsessed family? That I’m worried I’ll end up letting Linus down somehow and that he’ll leave just like everyone else in my life?” Diana picked up her drink, took another gulp, and slammed the glass back down on the table with startling force, making the drink splash over the rim. Tears gathered behind her eyes. Blinking them away, she said, “Or that I hate it when you try to force me to look at things in my life that I don’t want to see? I’d rather robotically go through my day and chase squirrels.”
“Squirrels?” Rochelle repeated with a brow lift.
“Yes, squirrels.” Diana pushed back from the table and stood. “Happy birthday, Ro. I’ve got to go.”
“What? Why? Are you upset about something?”
Diana shook her head. “No, I just need some air. I’ll call you later, okay? Tomorrow.” Because tomorrow never seemed to exist anymore.
Rochelle looked like she wanted to ask if Diana was okay.
“I’m fine,” Diana said.
“F-word alert.” Rochelle offered a peacemaker smile.
Diana wasn’t ready to make peace yet, though. She was doing her best, and she was making progress on this stupid day, but it wasn’t enough. “Happy birthday, Rochelle.” Turning, she walked out of the tavern. The cold stung her lungs as she inhaled deeply on her way to her car. She unlocked her door, plopped into the driver’s seat, and rested her forehead on the steering wheel for several minutes. Then her phone buzzed with an incoming call. Diana glanced at the screen already knowing it would be Linus’s mother.
Why does Joann keep calling?
Diana suspected Linus’s mother was trying to form a familial relationship with Diana. At Thanksgiving, Joann had even told Diana to feel free to call her “Mom.”Sorry, Joann, but not everyone associates that word with positive attributes.
On a sigh, Diana reluctantly answered. “Hi, Joann.”
“Diana. I was just preparing to leave you a voice mail. I know how busy you are.”
“You caught me at a good time, I guess,” Diana said, even though it was crummy timing. There was never a good time on December 4th, though. “Is there something you needed?”
“Oh, no. I just wanted to check on you and see how the wedding planning was going. Do you need help with anything? Perhaps we can get together this weekend to start the planning.”
“Thank you for the offer, Joann. I’ll talk to Linus.”
