Page 25 of One Chance to Stay
When she laughed, I spotted the family resemblance. She wasn’t as loud or animated as Jon, but she shared his laugh lines.
“Terrified. I had a job that paid well. They didn’t appreciate me. In fact, they were horrible to me. I needed a change, but I didn’t want to let go of that familiarity.”
“I hear that.”
“I ran a small boutique hotel. On paper, coming here looks like a big change. But I’m still doing what I love. I get to create experiences for people.” I held up my coffee mug in a salute. She returned the gesture. “I get to invite outsiders into this annoyingly cute town and give them a change of pace. Now I get to do what I love in a place I…” She let out a low growl. “In a place I love.”
“Painful to admit, huh?”
“Firefly is growing on me. That’s why I wanted to do the solstice bonfire. It’ll give me a chance to give back to the community that’s supported my dream.”
“What was the tipping point?”
“This isn’t genuine curiosity, is it?”
I shook my head.
“I needed a change. Jon refers to it as an adventure.” She took another sip. Her lips pursed as she thought of an answer. “It wasn’t one thing. There were signs all over the place. I think it finally clicked when I stopped resisting so damned much.”
Had I been resisting? Resisting might not be the right word, but I had a PhD in dodging my problems. There were signs. Staying late at the bar as a man recounted his crumbling relationship. Calling him a cab and escorting him into the backseat so he made it home safely. The fist bumps from patrons as they said thanks for listening. The kiss. I believe it had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with making him feel safe.
Seamus.
“It looks like you’re seeing the signs.” Evelyn’s feet dropped to the rug, and she leaned forward. “It’s okay to be scared. Not every forty-year-old knows what they want to do with their lives.”
“Thirty-seven.”
“So, you’ve got a few years before it’s all downhill.” Evelyn got up, reaching in my direction. I handed her my empty mug. “I’m going to make some more cocoa. Do you want a refill? I think we have plenty more to talk about.”
I handed her my mug. “Yes, please.”
As she exited the living room, she shouted back. “Don’t forget to leave Valhalla a rating online.”
I couldn’t help but snicker. With a simple, friendly statement, she hit the nail on the head. Fear of change… of what lay ahead… of failure. There were a lot of things that held me in check thanks to this single four-letter word. What were the possibilities?
Maybe I just needed to remember who I once was? In a world without fear, I’d be slow dancing to jazz on vinyl.
BACHELOR PARTY DEBAUCHERY
Mom: Vacation? You didn’t tell me! Went to Spectrum to say hi.
Dad: Why do you do this to your mother?
Mom: A lovely drag queen said you’re in Firefly?
Dad: She also did your mom’s makeup.
Dad: So. Much. Glitter.
Mom: We now know your dad can walk in heels.
Dad: And look fabulous to boot.
I nearly died when Mom sent the photo of Dad sitting in her lap. He showed off his heels while she puckered her lips, gesturing to her makeup. If ever there was a photo to describe their support, this would be it. They were determined to live, and it didn’t matter where their experiences took them. I always envied their fearless approach to life.
“Are you the stripper?”
I froze, the red grocery basket swinging from my hand. The woman behind the market checkout counter leaned on her elbows and patiently waited for my answer. Her cheek bulged as she rolled the lollipop from one side of her mouth to the other. Ishould have known I couldn’t get in and buy my supplies without being dragged into town gossip.
