Page 121 of Grown-Up Second Chance

“We’ve agreed you two should marry,” Sam’s father would announce at a formal meeting between the two families.

My mouth would drop open in shock.

“Flies,” my mother would say, a warning to shut my mouth before a fly got in.

“I’m not doing it,” I’d announce.

“It’s really for the best,” my father would say, his tone getting that I’m-not-taking-any-flack-from-you-young-lady edge.

“Diane’s got a boyfriend,” Kathleen would taunt in a voice only I could hear.

“We know better about these things,” my mother would explain.

“Adults don’t know anything! I don’t love Sam! I’ll never love him!” I’d jump to my feet.

“And who do you love?” Sam’s mom would say.

That was the question, wasn’t it? Did I love Joe? Did I love him enough to give up some of my freedom? To adjust to living with another human being again?

Once I’d left Larry, I told everyone I knew that I was never living with another man again. They are simply too much work!

As nice as Joe was, he probably still left socks on the floor, the toilet seat up, and the cap off the toothpaste. Unless Patti had trained him really, really well.

The wheels on my car slipped as the car started to hydroplane. Damn it!

Automatically, I turned into the skid. The car corrected itself, and I slowed down. A few yards up there was a pull-out with a trash can.

I drove in, stopped the car, and took my hands off the wheel.

My body shook as the adrenaline worked its way through.

That was close.

No more thinking about alternate realities.

I checked the weather app on my phone. Rain for the rest of the trip. Maybe I should turn this into a three day trip. Checking the map, I decided to see if there were accommodations at Hot Springs.

Apparently, not many people stopped in Hot Springs in late July, because I was able to find a room. When the desk clerk suggested a mineral springs spa add-on, I decided to go for it.

Pampering myself sounded good, and the price was right.

With a deep breath, I pulled back on the road, maintaining a slower speed than I’d been doing previously. In a few hours, I’d checked in and sent messages to Joe and my sisters, telling them of my delay and assuring them everything was okay.

Then I indulged myself.

The spa was an easy walk from the hotel. For over an hour, I let myself be ministered to, first with a soak in a hot springs pool, followed by a short massage with fragrant oils. I floated back down the sidewalk to my room where I instantly fell asleep.

Just before seven, I woke and got dressed for dinner.

The hotel shop had a selection of best sellers, and I picked up a thriller before taking myself to an upscale restaurant where I indulged in a beautifully prepared trout with rice and vegetables as a side, accompanied by a fine wine, and followed by a rich chocolate dessert.

A perfectly balanced dinner.

Even the television cooperated when I got back to my room. A rom com relaxed me enough to fall into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning I was ready to tackle the world.

Well, if not the world, then I was ready to hit the road.

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