Page 201 of As They Are
Tammy let out a snort. “Like I care. She had it coming!”
“Still. I try to be better than that. That’s not the best version of myself.”
“Kid, your girlfriend left you after having a bomb dropped on her. No one expects the best side of you after that.”
“But yesterday?—”
“Yeah, that was justified too.”
“I highly doubt the town saw it that way.”
“It’s fine,” Wren added. “We can smooth it over.”
“There’s nothing to smooth over. Here.” She pulled out her phone and tapped on the screen as she pulled something up. Then she handed it to me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“The Facebook group. They’re talking about you.”
Wren got close to me and peered over my shoulder.
I started to read, my stomach sinking. But then I saw what they’d all said.
And not one thing was negative.
“You people have to give us some credit,” Tammy said when I was done. “We might post some dumb shit on there, but we aren’t gonna expect everyone to be perfect. We take everyone as they are. Henry, you’re a part of us, at your worstandyour best.”
I numbly handed the phone back to Tammy. I wasn’t sure whatI felt. Relief? Joy? Gratefulness?
Maybe it was all of it.
“T-thank you,” I said. “You have no idea how much it helps to hear that.”
“You’ve really been going around thinking we would judge you? Good lord, we’ve seen Hugh’s whole ass!”
“I prefernotto think of that.”
“OhGod,”Wren said. “Seriously?”
“Yep. Last year. It was both hilarious and scarring. Henry, you’re good. Whether you’re crashing up or being the nice doctor we know and love.”
“Crashing up?” I asked.
“Do you mean crashingout?”Wren asked.
“Is that the phrase? Kelsey used it last night to describe the state of her finances.” She shrugged. “Crashing up would be better, though.”
I laughed. I was finally able to name the emotion I felt. It made a smile break out onto my face. It made my chest light, and everything seem brighter.
It was love. Love for Wren. For Strawberry Springs. All along, I didn’t think I would be accepted for who I was, and yet I had been this whole time.
“Henry wasn’t the only one,” Tammy told Wren. “I lost it too. Half the townwantedto, but Henry and I had it covered. Your egg donor is fuckingbannedfrom the town.”
“Egg donor?” she asked.
“She ain’t your mother. That’s for sure.”
“I suppose that’s true.” Wren’s voice was quiet again. “I underestimated how good she is at making me feel like I’m not good enough.” She looked out into the distance, and I wondered if her mom’s words were playing on a loop in her mind.
