Page 69 of Someone to Remember
“You’re ready, Lex,” Joy says emphatically. “You’ve done the work and taken the time to heal. This is your moment with Tom, and you deserve every happiness. Please don’t let anything stand in the way of that.”
“I’ll try not to, but it’s hard to be elated when someone else is hurting.”
“Someone else is always hurting, which is why we have to take the joyful moments where we can find them,” Gage says.
“True, thanks for the reminder.”
“Any time you need it, pal.”
“When’s the wedding?” Kinsley asks.
“We’re hoping to do it next summer. Something fun and chill at home. He doesn’t care about having a big wedding, and I’ve been there, done that, so we’re keeping it simple.”
“We can’t wait to celebrate you guys,” Roni says. “We’re so proud of you, Lex.”
“Aw, thanks.”
“How’s the new job?” Derek asks.
Lexi recently took a job as the volunteer coordinator for the Northern Virginia Chapter of the ALS Association. We’ve worried about how she’d cope with being surrounded by the illness that took her husband, Jim.
“So far, so good. I really like the people I work with, and I’ve met several of the local families who are relying on us for help. It’s nice to feel like I’m making a difference at work, which is a huge improvement over the data-entry gig.”
“Anything would be an improvement over that job,” Naomi says.
“Who else has good news?” I ask.
“I, um, I swiped right,” Brielle says, her face flushing with a rosy glow. “For the first time.”
The news sets off a round of applause that mortifies Brielle.
“Oh stop. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a huge deal,” Naomi says, “and we’re proud of you.”
“Don’t get too excited. It’s nothing much so far. Just a few messages exchanged. I’m not as good at this as you are, Nai. Thanks for the encouragement. It’s really helped.”
“Please… It’s not like I’m an expert or something.”
“You’ll keep us posted, right?” Joy asks Brielle.
“If there’s anything to tell, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Excellent,” Joy says, smiling. “And you’ll never meet him or anyone without someone knowing who you’re meeting and where, correct?”
“Yes, Mama Joy, I’ll be careful. Promise.”
“I have some good news,” Hallie says. “Robin had a scan this week, and her cancer is stable. That’s four months in a row.”
“Wonderful news,” Roni says. “We’re happy for both of you.”
“Don’t you guys ever get sick of this shit?” Wynter asks in an angry burst of words that takes us all by surprise.
“What shit in particular?” I ask her.
“The widow shit. The constant cheering of tiny steps forward. The ridiculous optimism in a world where someone can losetwohusbands tragically. The platitudes, the this-too-shall-pass nonsense, when we all know it’ll never pass. It’ll always be there. It’s starting to feel like total bullshit to me.”
Her outburst is met with stunned silence.
