Page 78 of Someone to Remember
“I’d never think that, and neither would anyone who knows you.”
“I worry about what his family would think if they heard I went on a date.”
“How would they hear that?”
I shrug. “People know who we are because of Sam. What if someone sees us and posts it or something?”
“That’s a long shot.”
“But it could happen.”
“Yes, it could, but most likely it won’t, and you shouldn’t worry about it because you wouldn’t be doing anything wrong having dinner with a friend.”
“You know how people spin stuff like that.”
“Ang, honey, as long as you know you’re not doing anything wrong, which you’re not, then you shouldn’t worry what anyone else thinks. No one else has walked in your shoes or his. If they criticize you, then they can fuck off. And you should feel free to tell them your older sister said it was okay to say that.”
She always makes me laugh. “Got it, thank you.”
“You’d better ask me to babysit that night.”
“Who else would I ask?”
“Mom, Celia, Sam…”
“I’d always ask you first.”
“And I’ll always say yes.”
Thank God for sisters and friends who get it and sweet babies who give me a reason to keep going. Despite the heaviness of the meeting tonight, I feel more optimistic than I have since that horrible morning at Camp David when life as I knew it ended forever, and a whole new, unwanted and unexpected life began.
Kinsley
I’m almosthome when Luke calls me. I’m so flustered to see his name pop up on my dashboard screen that I nearly press the cancel button instead of taking the call.
“Hi there,” I say, thinking I sound calm and cool when I’m a rattled mess because my crush called me.You’re an idiot, Kinsley.
“Hey,” he says, “are you home yet?”
“Not quite.”
“Where’s home?”
“Lorton. What about you?”
“A few blocks from Iris and Gage. My Beckham is in the same grade as their Tyler.”
“Ah, I see. How are you feeling after the meeting?”
“A little shaken, to be honest. It’s hard to hear about one of the original Wild Widows losing her second husband so tragically. Especially when they’re about to have a baby.”
“A few of our members have had babies after their husbands died. Brielle had her Charlie, and Angela had her Joshua. Roni had Dylan after her Patrick died. She didn’t even know she was pregnant when he was killed.”
“It’s all so sad.”
“It is, but they’re doing well, thriving as much as they can in the after.”
“I heard the second year is harder, and I’m finding that to be true. People have moved on from our tremendous loss, not that I expected them to stay close or anything.”
