Page 74 of Thanks for the Friendship
Diane leads me to the kitchen, where she checks on the roast. As soon as she lifts the lid, an intoxicating aroma fills the air. The smell alone was worth this awkward visit.
“Did Sara tell you exactly what happened?”
“You were there, weren’t you?” she asks. “It happened at your house.”
Oh, I was there all right. She and AJ disappeared together, and Cal found them.
“Anyway, Sara will tell you more when she gets here.”
Sara’s coming?Lovely. I should’ve known.
“Hi, Aunt Diane.”
I didn’t even have enough time to gather my thoughts before she arrives.
When Sara comes into the kitchen. She immediately runs to me and gives me a hug.
“Lila, I’m glad you could come over. I’ve been wanting to reach out to you, but Aunt Diane suggested it would be better if we could talk in person.”
“Hey, Sara, how are you?”
Normally I’m not the best at hiding my feelings, but I’ll put on my best acting skills for Diane’s sake.
“I’ve been better,” she says sadly. “I’m sure you’ve heard the news. Gabby probably thinks I’m a terrible person too.”
I shake my head. “You know Gabby. She minds her own business.”
Diane pours glasses of water for Sara and me after we both decline the Mountain Dew.
“I was just telling Lila that you could explain what happened after you and Calvin left her house.”
“Yes, it happened so abruptly I’m still a little confused about the details.” I look Sara straight in the eyes. I’m interested to hear the spin she puts on the story.
She launches into the fight that she and Cal had been having about a few things, including the purchase of my home. It’s the same story that Cal explained.
“When he stormed out of your house, I followed him. That’s when he told me that he’d been having doubts for a while and didn’t think he loved me anymore.” She stops and gulps. “Can you believe it, after I gave him three years of my life?”
“I’m so disappointed in him,” Diane snaps. “I never expected this kind of behavior from him, of all people.”
“But I think there’s more to the story,” Sara says, lowering her voice. “I think he has feelings for someone else and he’s using the excuse that we’ve grown apart. And blaming me for the cracks in our relationship.”
Her expression has quickly changed, and she’s eyeing me with pure disgust.
“Oh, honey, I doubt that,” Diane calls from the stove. “I think he got cold feet when you asked him about moving in together. He’s been stalling for a while.”
Sara finally lifts her gaze off of me.
“Oh, Aunt Diane, I picked up some of those pastries you love. I forgot them in my car.”
“I can grab them,” Diane offers.
That was a clever way to get Diane to leave us alone. If Sara really wants to have this conversation, I’m ready.
As soon as Diane leaves the room, Sara turns on me. “Consider this a warning. Don’t think for a second that you can just move in and claim Cal,” she sneers, her voice barely above a whisper.
I raise my eyebrows. “Why do you care what Cal does? You tossed him aside when you hooked up with Dr. Bennett. Very interesting that you left that part out when you were giving Aunt Diane your sob story.”
She glares at me. “Just because you dated him a for a minute when you were a teenager doesn’t mean you have another chance now. Cal and I will eventually find our way back to each other.”
