Page 56 of Third Time is the Charm
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I was leaving, mom,” she offered – a small olive branch to appease the woman who never seemed to be pleased with her.
Her mother looked shocked by her admission, momentarily speechless – which was saying something for Irene Bennet.
“That’s ok, dear,” she began kindly. “I just didn’t expect it from you; you’re always so rational and so thought out about everything – you and Jane. Lydia, as upsetting as it was, I could see the signs. You, I couldn’t, but then again, I know that we aren’t very close.”
Well, what was she supposed to say to that? It was the truth.
“I’ll try to act more rationally from now on…” she offered as a joke, trying to lighten the air.
“That’s not what I meant,” Irene huffed. “I meant that you leaving meant that something – or someone – must have hurt you so badly that for once your reaction was emotional and impulsive. Of course, you do what you have to do dear, but for a mother, to know that her child must be hurting that much to cause such a drastic departure from her normal character, it was very worrisome.”
Beth bit her lip, her heart aching at the most real conversation her and her mother had had in a long time.
“And you know how I am with my nerves – you know how sensitive they can be…” Irene trailed off, also trying to make light of the situation even though her expression told Beth just how worried she had been about her.
“I’m sorry, mom. I was ok – for the most part. I just needed to leave. I’m sorry for not telling you, but, honestly, I barely knew myself.”
“I know, dear; Jane told us – she kept us sane.”
Thank God for Jane.
“She’s good at that,” Beth murmured.
“Ok, dear, well I’ll let you get going. Don’t be a stranger,” her mom said, an attempt at a smile crossing her tired face.
“Thanks, mom. I’ll be back soon, promise.” She leaned in and hugged her mother – something that hadn’t organically happened in a long time. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, dear.”
And before the waterworks started again, Beth picked up her overnight bag and darted out the front door into the crisp, refreshing air. She made it down to the curb, her mind in a complete daze from it all – Darcy, Lydia, her father, her mother. Everyone was different, yet still somewhat the same. It seemed like her relationship with everyone was changing – all for the better, or at least most, but it still didn’t seem like it could be happening. It took a minute for the cars passing by her to creep through her tumultuous thoughts and remind her that she needed to call a car to take her to the airport.
Pulling out her phone, she saw that she had two messages from Darcy, remembering where she’d left their conversation before when Lydia had approached her. She sighed, sliding open the screen and calling an Uber before giving in and opening up Darcy’s messages.
-You can tell yourself that you aren’t running from me, gorgeous, that you just need space; but the truth is that you are trying to outrun yourself and how you feel about me and I can tell you right now that you won’t get very far. Trust me, I’ve tried.
A few minutes passed, probably while he waited for a response that never came, before he texted her again.
-Last time, I didn’t deserve you. This time, I’m different; I’ve grown and I’m not letting you go.
Beth swallowed, her heartbeat picking up its pace, knowing that he meant it; he would come after her this time. How he had changed, she wasn’t sure; maybe just from the emotional trauma of leaving and then losing her, but that seemed like a stretch.
She’d find out at some point.
After talking with her dad, she heard the truth in Darcy’s words. As much as she blamed her needing space on him and the ease with which she let herself become completely distracted and borderline irrational around him, it was really her own emotions that she was trying to hide from. It was her feelings for him that she was trying to flee from and if she wasn’t around him, it was easier to pretend they didn’t exist; it was easier to rationalize that they couldn’t exist or why they couldn’t exist or why theyshouldn’texist.
Except she didn’t want to pretend anymore.
Chapter 17
Beth had half-expected to run into Darcy at the airport, or on her flight, or to find him waiting for her at her tiny apartment when she arrived back in Boston. But he hadn’t been at any of those places, no matter how much she looked for him.
Unlocking the deadbolt and doorknob, she flipped on the light in her tiny space and dumped her bag onto the floor as soon as she crossed the threshold, locking the door behind her. Sagging against it for support, she sighed deeply.
Finally, a moment completely to herself. Alone.
Her back pocket buzzed. Groaning, she pulled out her phone to see a message from Col saying that he hoped she’d had a good flight and he couldn’t wait to see her tomorrow.
She was too tired for this – and that’s what her excuse would be tomorrow for why she didn’t respond to him.
