Page 72 of Happy Is On Hiatus
Chapter 26
SAFE.
The cars were gone. That was the first thing Rita noticed as she drove down her block. Well, good. She’d told all of her family she didn’t want them here when she returned, and she’d meant that.
She’d also meant what she’d told herself as she’d walked out of that hotel two hours ago—that was the last time she would cry over Nate and their marriage. For a few minutes she’d sat in the driver’s seat, hands in her lap, gaze focused forward, and told herself all the things she was no longer going to do. Crying over crap that wasn’t her fault and commiserating over the years she couldn’t get back or change were on the top of her list.
The long drive afterward was meant to clear her mind and refocus her energy on herself and her future. It was alone time she’d desperately needed to work through everything that had happened in the past month.
Her cousin had betrayed her. Even letting those words play in her mind sounded wrong. Impossible. Sharae would never do anything to hurt her. Ever.
But Sharae had known Nate was sleeping with Amy. She’d known Amy was a member of their church, which wouldn’t be such a big dealbecause the cheating was the focal point, but yeah, itwasa big damn deal. Sharae knew that next to Rita’s marriage, children, and family, NVB was a big part of Rita’s life. She gave that church and the congregation so much of her time and her heart, it was one of the few places she felt safe some of the time. And no, Rita had never fooled herself into believing that every member of NVB loved, respected, and cared for her just because she was the pastor’s daughter. She knew that there were some who talked negatively about her, her children, and who knew whatever else. Still, learning that one of those members was sleeping with her husband was a deep invasion of her personal space that she couldn’t easily let go. Sharae would’ve known that.
Which was probably why she hadn’t told her.
Even that long drive hadn’t cleared that issue from her mind, but she was tired. The headache that had made a painful appearance after she’d left the hotel had tamped down to a dull ache. It coexisted with the exhaustion that hit each night after she’d had a big event. Pressing the garage-door opener, she pulled her car alongside Necole’s. So everybody hadn’t left her house after all.
The garage door rumbled to a close as she stepped out of her car and made her way to the door leading into the house. Once inside, she checked the knob to make sure she’d locked the door, then walked into the kitchen. A spotless kitchen, she noticed with a soft gasp. There were no dishes in the sink, no leftover food containers on the island. The Sternos and racks that had been outside weren’t piled in a corner, and when she crossed the room to peek through the patio-door blinds, she saw that all the tables and chairs had been removed from the yard as well.
“We knew you’d only fuss more if you had to come home and clean up.”
Rita spun around to see Necole and Taryn easing into the room. They were both in their bare feet, their hair pulled into messy tails asthey stood next to each other in a way that reminded Rita of when they were little girls.
Her smile was genuine but small, as she really did feel like she’d been depleted of all her energy. “I’m used to handling the cleanup.”
Necole stepped forward first, coming to put an arm around Rita’s shoulder. “And we’re used to helping with the cleanup. So tonight we just spearheaded the effort.”
“Yeah,” Taryn said when she walked up to Rita and took her hand. “We learned how to lead the team from the best.”
Looking from one of her beautiful daughters to the next, Rita couldn’t help but be thankful. The last two decades had brought these two into her life, and she would never regret that. “Thanks,” she said. “Now, you two better be on your way. It’s late. You know I don’t like you out driving at night as it is.”
“That’s why we’re spending the night with you,” Necole said.
Rita had started leading them out of the kitchen. Taryn turned the light off and added, “Well, we really decided to stay because we didn’t want you to be alone.”
She could’ve told them to leave. That she was a grown woman and could certainly take care of herself after such a tumultuous evening. But she didn’t. “Thanks,” she said instead. “That means a lot to me.”
And it had. They locked up downstairs, and Rita went to her room to wrap her hair and change into her pajamas. She thought about just how good it felt to have her daughters down the hall in their bedrooms and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. It didn’t mean that she wanted them to move back home, although they knew the door was always open. But just knowing they were there if she needed anything made her feel good. In fact, it made her feel just a tad old. Her daughters were here to provide comfort for her when Rita was used to being the one comforting them.
She rinsed her mouth and shook her head while picking up one of the many hand towels she kept in a neat stack on the double vanity.Wiping her hands and face, she dropped the towel and walked back into her bedroom, only to stop and stare in disbelief.
“What are you doing in here?” she asked the girls, who’d also changed into nightshirts that Rita hadn’t seen in years, and were now sitting on her bed.
Well, Necole was already under the covers, on the side of the bed Nate used to occupy. Taryn was sitting cross-legged at the end of the bed, TV remote in hand while she channel-surfed.
“We told you we were staying with you tonight,” Necole said and patted the spot next to her on the bed. “C’mon, it’ll be just like old times.”
Old times when Nate was out of town and the girls joined her in bed to keep her company. The smile that spread this time was huge, as that memory traveled like warmth and comfort throughout her soul.
“During old times, one or both of you were afraid of some horror movie you’d watched and called yourself coming in here to comfort me, when you were the ones who really needed the comfort.” She chuckled and walked to her side of the bed and got in.
Taryn turned and pointed her finger at Necole. “That one right there!Candymanhad her scared for a whole year after she watched it.”
Necole pulled the covers up to her neck, shaking her head. “Don’t say that name, girl.”
“See, she’s still scared.” Taryn laughed and Rita joined her. Necole had been terrified for a long time after seeing that movie. And Nate had seemed to be gone a lot that year, so she’d been in this bed with Rita.
“Here, this isn’t scary,” Taryn said and crawled to the top of the bed to settle under the covers. She took the end of the bed, so Necole scooted over to the middle.
