Page 52 of Forgiving Fate

Chapter Nineteen

Allie

Staring down at myphone, I debate whether I should answer him. It’s been weeks and maybe it is the fast approaching holidays that have me searching for something close to home, but here I am weighing my options on answering a simple message.

Harrison: Hey! I miss you and Lo! Haven’t heard from either of you in months. Don’t get mad, but I stopped by the hospital and they said you quit. What the hell dude?!! Text me back soon or I’m filing a missing persons report!

I smile and can almost hear him saying the words as if he were here in person.

Harrison Mansville is definitely an odd one. He is all over the place and always saying the most random stuff. It was great during nursing school and even better when we both moved to Florida.

Due to him being in the foster system, he had no family and was always a little down around the holidays. And my parents couldn’t let that slide, so he became a regular at Evans' holiday parties. His favorite being Thanksgiving.

My mom and he would spend hours creating these beautiful pies while I helped Dad. Only for Mom and Harrison to have a pie-eating contest. I have no idea how it started, but as soon as dinner was cleared, they would set up and go at it. Elbows would fly, crust and pie filling would get everywhere, and at the end, they would fall into a fit of laughter and Dad would have to hose them off outside.

A wave of peace and nostalgia settles over me as I sink further into the recliner. The pumpkin spice scented candle filling the air taking me back to times that were easier.

Closing my eyes, I try to fight back the emotions clogging my throat as memories of Mom, Dad, and Harrison filter through my mind. And I allow the happier times to play in my head for just a moment.

We were all so happy and it’s crazy how everything changed so quickly just a few months later.

Not wanting to go down that very narrow path, I decide it is finally time to take a step to regaining my life. I may not be able to face Logan just yet, but I can face Harrison. It’s the holidays after all and he’s probably worried that Mom and Dad haven’t called him.

Allie: Hey. Sorry. Life got away from me. I’m alive, I promise.

Text bubbles appear right away, and I watch flurries of snow outside fall and melt as soon as they hit the ground.

Harrison: Allison Paige Evans! It’s a Thanksgiving miracle! *cries tears of joy*

A laugh escapes me and a rare feeling of happiness crashes over me.

Allie: Harrison Trevor Mansville, the forever drama queen.

Harrison: Hey! You would react the same way if your best friend disappeared without a trace for months! Where have you been, Al?

I smile at the nickname and am hit with an instant longing for my best friend, who is just minutes from me.

“One day. One day. But first I need to get through this hard but necessary call with Harrison.” I say out loud to the empty room.

Allie: Can you talk?

Harrison: Always. Facetime or regular?

Allie: Regular.

I type the message quickly so he doesn’t decide for me. He can’t see me. I can’t even look at myself and I know the second he saw my face, he would immediately see behind the lies I’m about to tell him.

Maybe one day I will be strong enough to tell him the full truth. I just hope he forgives me when the time comes.

Hitting the call button, he picks up immediately. His southern accent filtering through the phone, “Happy Turkey Day Al!”

“Happy Turkey Day.”

Silence blankets us, and it feels weird. When we are together, we never shut up. And it was ten times worse when Logan, Harrison, and I got together. Especially after nights out when Harrison made us be his wing women at the gay bars near the beach. Logan never went out to regular bars near the school, but she would always tag along when we went to the coast.

And now I have a sneaky suspicion why.

“Sooo…” Harrison’s voice interrupts my thoughts, stopping me from connecting dots from Logan and I’s friendship. Now is not the time. I need to focus on Harrison.

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