Page 62 of Lily In The Valley
Just seeing their names made my shoulders drop a little. I didn’t realize how much I missed them until now–our chaos, our arguments, the way we dragged each other with love. A notification popped up from Khalil. Just a heart emoji.
Nothing more.
That evening, after rounds and too many small mistakes to name, I got back to my apartment and collapsed on the couch again, fully clothed. It was past time for me to schedule a hair appointment. My edges would start to break soon if I didn’t show my hair some love. The trash in the kitchen was beginning to sour, with me missing the cutoff time to place the bin outside for the valet to pick-up. I didn’t care.
My phone lit up with a Facetime call from “Chaos Coven .” I stared at it for a second, thumb hovering. Then I answered.
Vanessa popped up first–barefoot, bonnet tied tight, holding another juice concoction and a bottle of stretch mark cream. Her baby bump was beginning to make the tiniest of appearances under her thin sleep tank. “My sweet Kelly,” she choked, tears beginning to fill her eyes. “I miss you so much.”
Nyah and Lynn’s faces popped in behind her, all from different screens but somehow syncing all their energy, like we were sitting in the same living room.
“You’re alive!” Lynn cheered, her eyes bright. “I was about to file a missing person’s report.”
“I’m fine,” I said, propping myself up on a pillow. “Just…tired.”
Vanessa squinted. “Tired ortired?”
“The former,” I muttered.
Nyah shook her head. “I still don’t get why you left the way you did. I mean, I get it–but damn, Kelly.”
I looked down. “I had to. I was suffocating. I needed this fresh start.”
Silence pressed at the edges of the screen for a second. Vanessa nodded, swiping away at a tear.
“Okay. But don’t act like we’re not here for you.” She sniffled.
“Nessa, please don’t cry,” I begged. I couldn’t handle tears. Not today.
“Nope. Hell no,” Lynn quipped. “You need to cry. Talk. Yell. Binge Real Housewives, we got you.”
I smiled, not the performative one. The real kind. Small but real.
“I appreciate y’all. I really do.”
Lynn smiled wistfully and sipped her wine. “So have you seen any fine men in Seattle yet or is it just coffee and sadness?”
“Mostly coffee.” I laughed. “I haven’t had much time to explore.”
“Speaking of men. When’s the last time you talked to Khalil?” Lynn peered at me over her glasses.
“I don’t know. When’s the last time you fucked Wesley?” I shot back.
Vanessa and Nyah doubled over with laughter. Lynn’s face fell flat.
“Fuck you, Kelly,” she huffed. “It was one time! Besides, I have an actual suitor in my life right now.”
“Does Wesley know this?” Vanessa laughed, wiping away happy tears.
“Shut up.” Lynn pouted.
“It’s so cliche,” Nyah agreed. “I would write it into a book if I had the time.”
“Oh, guess what y’all?” Vanessa ran around her kitchen then fumbled with her phone. “Look who’s finally poking out!” She lifted the bottom of her shirt up until it hit below her bra. The belly I’d swore was still nonexistent when I’d left home had doubled, no tripled in size since I’d been in Seattle.
“Ahh!” Lynn squealed from her end. “Do we know what we’re having yet?”
Vanessa shook her head. “No, we want to wait and do a reveal at the baby shower. Kelly, you’ll be here, right?”
