Page 11 of The Scars I Bare
“Try a few dozen good stories. Do you have a solid week? I could start with the one where she decided to have a tea party with her pet fish.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Did I mention, he was out of the bowl? When I asked her why her very dead goldfish was sitting on her grandmother’s china, she explained her swim teacher had told her that humans could hold their breath for up to five minutes underwater, so naturally, she thought fish could do the opposite.”
Another laugh as Molly led me toward the kitchen. “Well, I mean, it does sound logical when you think about it. You want to tell me a couple more over coffee? It will give us time to get to know each other while we wait for that fiancé of mine.”
“Sounds perfect.”
With one last glance toward the parlor, I took a deep breath and let Lizzie out of my sight.
For the first time since we’d left home.
Because, for now, this was our home, and I had to start acting like it.
It was late when Lizzie and I finally retired to our rooms for the night.
Or room.
Although she found the idea of having her own bedroom intriguing, the idea of actually sleeping in it didn’t appeal to her much, so for the foreseeable future, she would be in bed with me.
I’d been awake for well over an hour, lying next to the active little nugget of mine, the one who kicked in her sleep, my mind a racing whirl of activity that I just couldn’t seem to shut off. I wasn’t surprised. It had been a busy day.
But a good day.
For the first time in a while, it had been a very good day.
Perhaps the first of many.
Jake had finally shown up, and just as Molly had promised, he insisted on carrying in all our stuff from the car. He didn’t allow me to lift one finger, assuring me that this was a service they did for all their guests.
I rolled my eyes and laughed, seeing the beads of sweat dripping off him.
No doubt, the other guests didn’t have near as much luggage as we did.
But I stepped back, allowing him to help us even though everything inside me was screaming not to.
After he safely delivered our things inside, we spent the rest of the night getting to know our hosts. Molly cooked a fabulous dinner of local crab and homemade hush puppies, and afterward, Lizzie finally got her view of the backyard oasis, complete with a mini beach. It wasn’t the ocean, but the gentle lapping waves of the bay suited her just fine.
She’d gone to sleep a happy girl, and it made my heart swell to see her so content in her new surroundings. I only hoped it continued. Knowing I’d never get sleep with all these thoughts swimming around in my head, I quietly got up and headed for the small sofa chair in the corner.
Pulling out the laptop, I was online in minutes and doing the one thing I hated.
Lying to my family. But it kept them content, comforted with the security of my deceit.
So, I kept doing it.
I kept writing.
I kept assuring them I was everything I was not.
Happy, healthy, and carefree.
Home from Vacation!
Sorry I haven’t blogged for a while! After our vacation, I was completely exhausted and needed another week just to recover! Isn’t that crazy? A vacation to recover from your vacation? Ah, that’s the moment when you realize you truly have it rough, right?
Anyway, the three of us had a wonderful time. Lizzie never tires of the beach—a water baby through and through. Although she’s not much of a baby anymore since our big girl will be starting kindergarten in just another week or so! It’s hard to believe! Mommy and Daddy couldn’t be more proud.
