Page 63 of Fourth Wall

It wasn’t more than twenty minutes before someone knocked on the door, and I quickly whipped it open to find a very disheveled Tatum.

“You guys are fiends.”

“I promise it’s the pregnancy hormones. They make me absolutely crazed.” I laughed.

“Okay, but I called you here because I’m in a moment of panic.” She looked me up and down, and I quickly shut the door behind her. We stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.

“Is Christian downstairs?” I asked.

“Uh, I didn’t see him?” she questioned. “What is going on? Why do you look different?”

“Because I’m going on a date,” I whisper-yelled at her. If I said it aloud, then I felt like it was actually happening, which it was, but it made it somehow real.

“Ohhhh ho-ho-ho.” She crossed her arms and leaned on my bed frame.

“Those are not words,” I responded by pacing back and forth.

“Is this a fake date or a real one?” I stopped and shot her daggers with my eyes. She just laughed again.

“A real one. He asked me out, and I somehow agreed to it. Selfishly knowing we still haven’t talked about him leaving.” I could feel myself ranting, and somehow, I couldn’t stop from word vomiting either.

“You’re nervous,” she stated.

“Very,” I responded.

“Okay, let's talk this out. Why?”

“This is the first person I have dated since Tyler. The girls already know him and are attached, so it can be very bad if things go wrong.”

“Why?” Tatum asked again.

“Because then it would be awkward between us.”

“Honestly, I don’t think anything would go wrong between you two, but if it did, I don’t think anything would change. Christian is very respectful and would be professional if we were ever together.” I stood there silently and stared at her, wanting to believe her but definitely not.

“He offered to pay for half the girls' schooling. He told Tyler today when he picked up the girls that we were paying for half, but I don’t have the money.” Tatum sat on the edge of my bed and ran her fingers through her brunette locks.

“That is serious, Maeve.”

“I know. Is this a bad idea?” I asked, lowering my tone.

“What do you think?”

“I want to do it. It is a bad idea, but I feel like I deserve a little something.”

“You have been through so much. You deserve all the happiness in the world.” She reached her hands out for me, and I took them.

“Remember when you braided my hair in a gross bar while I cried about not knowing what to do with Julian?” I nodded, laughing at the old memory of us and looking at where we are today. She was married and pregnant, and we were neighbors.

“I think this is my moment to tell you the same thing you told me. You never ever doubted Julian and encouraged me to follow what my heart told me. You need to listen to that same advice.” I swallowed…hard.

“He would never hurt you, no matter the outcome.”

“Okay,” I meekly responded.

“That’s the spirit. Go down there and walk with your shoulders high.” I gave her a quick hug.

“I will. Thank you.” Tatum got up to leave my bedroom before turning back to me.

---