Page 18 of Whatever It Takes

I saton the park bench watching Emery pump herself high on the swings. The sun was shining, and there was a light breeze in the air.

I took her on a walk this morning hoping to clear my head, but my thoughts kept slipping back to my conversation with Quinn and the way he looked at me, the words he spoke, and the impact they had.

My phone rang in my tote bag next to me. I reached in and saw Mackenzie’s name flashed across the screen. “Hey,” I whispered, fully aware that there were people all around within hearing distance.

“Thanks for picking up my call.”

“I almost didn’t,” I admitted, watching the birds circle over a few scraps of bread that children were throwing into the middle of the grass.

“I guess I can’t blame you.”

I moved to the other bench where there were fewer people around and could still keep an eye on Emery. I dropped my bag on the ground next to me with the juice boxes and snacks that we had packed earlier that morning.

“Tell me what happened last night after you guys left. I want every detail.”

I knew that question was coming which was why I didn’t pick up when Erica had called earlier. Even though I loved both my friends equally, Mackenzie was just easier to talk to, and if I was honest, I needed to get everything off my chest.

My eyes darted around the park, taking in my surroundings. There was a dark sedan parked across the street. I squinted my eyes but couldn’t see anything because the windows were tinted. When we left the house earlier, I could have sworn that was the same car I saw at the end of my street. I kept a close eye on Emery, ignoring the unease that was prickling along my skin.

“We had a great talk. Even though it was confusing because it still felt like there was some chemistry there. Isn’t that weird?”

“No, it’s not weird. Just watching you two interact last night. God…” She sighed. “You both grabbed my attention that was for sure.”

I reached forward and grabbed my water bottle out of the bag without taking my attention off my daughter. “What do you mean?”

“I could tell with the way he looked at you that there was still something there between you two.” She had no idea. “So, tell me everything.”

I started from the beginning and told her that he apologized and wanted to make things right between us. How he confessed to being at my wedding. My stomach clenched, and I closed my eyes briefly, dissecting every thought and every word he spoke.

“Wow,” she said into the phone. “All this time and you never knew he came back for you. That is…” There was a dreamy sigh in her voice. “So fucking romantic.”

I choked on the water I was sipping. “Mackenzie, there is nothing romantic about any of this.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it.”

“I just don’t understand how I can feel the way that I feel after all these years.”

“Because you never got over him,” she said bluntly.

There was probably more truth to that statement than I cared to admit to.

“It doesn’t matter how I feel, I’m not even legally separated yet.”

“We need to talk about Grant.”

“I’d rather not.”

I had an appointment scheduled this week with an attorney to find out if there was a way to start the divorce proceedings without Grant’s consent. This meeting was a long time coming, and I couldn’t wait to get rid of his last name and move on with my life.

My attention immediately shifted to the squeals of laughter echoing from inside the plastic tunnel that Emery and two other girls her age were playing in.

“Okay, we will save that talk for another time. I was actually calling to let you know that there may be an opening for a part-time sub position coming up at my school. We have a handful of teachers going out on maternity leave soon, and my contact at the district office said they are accepting applications.”

“Really?” I perked up at the news. I didn’t want to get my hopes up knowing that almost every position I had applied for had ended up in a dead end.

“Yes. I know you wanted to stay in elementary, but I have a better chance of getting you in at the middle school where I work if you’re interested.”

“Honestly, I’ll take whatever I can get.”

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