Page 115 of Someone to Watch Over Me

Hallie:I sort of dig Wynter’s idea…

Wynter:YES!!!! I win!

Hallie:Except we’re not even kinda ready for the move-in stage of the program.

Kinsley:From the cancer widow here… Things can change at any time, especially at stage four. If you’ve decided you’re all in with her, which it seems as if you have, then be all in for the time you have left. Just don’t give up your own home…

Gage:Very good advice, Kins.

Hallie:Thank you all for weighing in. When she told me this, my first thought was FUCK no. But you all make good points, and I feel better after talking it out with you.

Wynter:Especially me.

Iris:Love you, Hallie. Let us know what we can do for you.

Gage:Ditto. Widow Movers is standing by ready to help.

Hallie:Thanks, guys! Xo

“What’s blowing up in widowville today?” Tom asks when he rolls over to find me on my phone.

“Hallie, who lost her wife, Gwen, to suicide, is dating Robin now. Hallie is Robin’s first female partner, and Robin has two almost-teenagers and stage-four breast cancer. Her ex-husband is talking about moving back in to care for the kids—and Robin. Needless to say, that’s not going over well with Hallie.”

“Whoa. You guys don’t mess around when it comes to complications, huh?”

“Sometimes it’s messy. This is one of those times, and we’re all terrified for Hallie in this situation, even if she assures us that Robin is lovely and all the things. It’s a lot for Hallie, who’s already been through so much.”

“Surely Hallie is going into this with her eyes wide open.”

“She is, but we wish it wasn’t so complicated for her on the first time out after her loss.”

“It’s always complicated, isn’t it? When it truly matters?”

“There’s complicated, and then there’s this situation. Wynter suggested that the husband move in to care for the kids and Hallie move in to take care of Robin.”

“That sounds like the makings of an unfunny sitcom.”

“I know.”

“Come here.”

I put down my phone and snuggle into his warm embrace.

“I love how you worry about your buddies, but I don’t like that frown on your face when everything is going so well in your own life right now.” He kisses the spot between my brows. “What can we do to turn that frown upside down?”

“This is the hard part of being one of the Wild Widows. We take on everyone else’s problems and make them our own. And yes, we know that’s probably not as healthy as it could be.”

“It’s very sweet the way you all take care of each other.”

“I certainly wouldn’t have been ready for you without their support.”

“In that case, I’m very glad you have them.”

“Me, too.”

Hallie

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