Page 2 of Best Friends' Unexpected Love

She certainly hoped that Chad had not picked up on her momentary awkwardness. The last thing she wanted was for their friendship to be jeopardized over the wishful thinking of women who desperately needed a girl’s night out with a romantic comedy to get all their girlish giggles out.

Smiling at the thought of arranging such an outing for her team, she paid her check and found a table out on the patio. Summer lasted pretty much all year in this part of Florida, but in the fall, the weather did start to cool enough for a comfortable environment in the shade that didn’t leave you drenched in sweat. Another heat wave was hitting next week, so Beth wanted to enjoy the seventy-degree weather while she could. She watched as Chad purchased his meal and made his way to her. The feeling of dread had lifted. Now she was filled with a sense of anticipation as to what was so urgent for him toneed to “discuss” it over lunch. Their lunches were usually very casual, with both sharing events from their week. This meal felt different, in a good way.

Chapter 2

As soon as Chad sat down across from her at the small glass and wrought iron table, Beth asked, “Well, what do we need to discuss?”

He glanced up and gave her a knowing smile. Beth was not one for surprises; even though she tried to hide it, she could be very impatient at times. His cryptic hints were probably driving her crazy. “Not so fast. Before we get into what I would like to discuss, I need all the details on your latest trip to visit your daughter.” He returned his attention to opening the plastic wrap covering his pumpernickel chicken salad sandwich before continuing, “We have been running around like crazy people the last couple of weeks, and every time I tried to call you to catch up, you were pulling a double shift again. I am worried about all of the hours you’re working, by the way. That’s a topic for another day. How are things going in Massachusetts?”

“Oh, the trip was absolutely heartbreaking, but seeing Sarah, Eric, and my grandbaby was just wonderful. I really wish it had been more like my visit for Saraphina’s birth in September. Everyone was all smiles and celebrations then. That baby girlhas more love pouring into her than any other child I have ever known. I am so happy for Sarah. She made a wonderful choice marrying Eric and moving there. I was heartbroken to lose her at first, but I know she found her soulmate, and he is going to be a wonderful father. Tom is a perfect uncle, and his wife Natalie is a wonderful aunt. Molly got to spend some time with Saraphina before her decline, and Natalie said it brought her so much joy she wished she could have given her some good news on the grandbaby front. I didn’t say anything at the time because losing her mom was so hard for her, but I know that Molly would never have wanted Natalie and Tom to rush into a baby just for her. They need some time to grow as a couple. I am proud of them for waiting, but I understand her feelings. My mother never met Sarah, and I know she would have loved her.”

Beth paused to wipe the tear that escaped from her eye. Chad retrieved his handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it into her hand, taking the opportunity to squeeze her fingers when she accepted it. Her compassion for others and the empathy she bore so courageously was one thing that drew him to her so many years ago and kept him by her side. This woman felt so much and felt it deeply, but if you didn’t know her, you wouldn’t see it in the moment if others needed her to be strong.

“Molly lasted longer than the doctors expected, didn’t she?”

“Oh yes. Tom and Natalie held a very quick surprise wedding so she could be there, and she was able to spend time getting to know Tom and witness her daughter’s joy in her marriage for almost three months. Tom and Natalie even moved into her home with her for the last two months so they could care for her and spend as much time as they could all the way to the end. Her decline was mercifully short, but you know how cancer goes; it leaves nothing but a shell behind.”

More tears escaped her eyes, and she wiped them on the soft linen Chad had provided. He moved his chair next to hers andwrapped a supportive arm around her shoulder. “I didn’t realize the visit had been so hard on you. You should have reached out as soon as you got back to town. Actually, I should have been there waiting when your plane landed. I am sorry, Beth.”

“No, it’s okay. Eric is a vault. You never know what that man is feeling but he can read Sarah like a book. He knew she was struggling and took Saraphina to play with Grace while Natalie, Sarah, and I had a good, long cry. Poor Tom just sat there watching and caressing his wife’s back or holding her. It’s not that Molly’s passing was unexpected; it’s just the loss. All the memories she won’t make with her daughter and all of life’s milestones that Natalie won’t have her there for. Annette had stayed back to help clean up and organize the final preparations for the memorial service and community meal. When she walked into the house, the poor thing looked like Tom, deer in the headlights. I am glad I went, but it was emotionally exhausting. It also made me hold my granddaughter a little tighter and appreciate every minute I have with her.”

Wiping the last tear from her face and turning away from Chad to blow her nose in the most lady-like way possible under the circumstances, she tucked the hanky into the pocket of her pumpkin orange and brown scrub top, “I’ll get that back to you tomorrow,” she said with a shy smile.

“You know I have plenty. Keep it.” Leaning back in his chair to make better eye contact with her, he said, “I am glad you were able to help Natalie grieve. You don’t often show those deeper emotions to others, but I am sure the girls needed that. It likely opened a door for Natalie to feel more comfortable coming to you as a mother figure in the future as well. There was a bigger plan at work with that cry session, I have no doubt.” He wrapped his other arm around her to complete the hug and gave a little squeeze, “I am so proud of you Beth; I wish I could have been there to support you.”

Placing her head on his chest for just a moment and soaking up the warmth of his embrace, she softly replied, “Thank you, Chad. Goodness knows I haven’t cried like that since I lost my husband and hoped to never do it again, but you’re right. The situation played out as it was meant to, and I am glad I was able to fulfill my role in it.”

Chad released her, and after a brief moment of eye contact where so much love and support was shared and accepted without a single word spoken, they turned, and both took a bite of their food.

“Annette and I talked at length on the plane ride back to Florida. I worried for a brief moment that I had overstepped. Natalie and I definitely got closer after our group grief counseling session on Sarah’s couch. When I left, she gave me a very big hug, and it was obvious that it was different than what she gave to Annette.”

“Have you and Annette had any jealousy issues before when sharing maternal duties with Sarah and Tom?”

“No, not at all. Annette and I became friends at the hospital before we even knew that our children were becoming friends at school. Sarah invited them over for dinner, and when they showed up, it was quite a pleasant surprise. It all fell into place so effortlessly. We were all hurting or struggling in some way, and we worked together so well. Annette and I were like sisters, and we adopted each other’s children into our family like they were our own. Tom has always been like a son to me, and Sarah like a daughter to her. We have spent every birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4thof July, and any other important or less important holiday together since that day. But, when your child grows up and gets married, things shift a little. Ours moved away and found their soulmates. We lost them twice in a way. I didn’t want her to feel like I was interfering in therelationship she is trying to establish with her new daughter-in-law.”

“And, what did she say. Was she bothered by it or grateful?”

Beth smiled at him because his tone told her that she should not have worried to begin with because, as he had already assumed, Annette was grateful. “She hugged me and said thank you. She and Tom have strong emotions but don’t show them well. They both felt like they were letting Natalie down but didn’t know what to say or do to help her. When they saw our waterworks display, they knew Natalie’s dam had broken, and things were going to get better from there. She had been guarding her heart a little from Tom, and after she cried into Sarah and my arms, that distance disappeared, and she turned to her husband. I really do believe that those two are a great match and will make a wonderful family.”

“I am glad you were able to be there for the kids and help them through that very challenging time. How did Eric handle things?”

“Tom texted him to let him know when it was safe for him to bring Saraphina home. He was very aware that everyone needed to cry out their grief but also didn’t want his baby girl picking up on any negative emotions and getting scared. My granddaughter is very sensitive with that. The doctor had to tell Eric to calm down when she was born because she could feel his stress and worry over hurting her, and that was making her feel insecure, resulting in inconsolable crying. She would only calm for Sarah, and it was hurting the relationship at first. Things got smoothed out when Eric was able to let the fear go, and his princess is a daddy’s girl for sure. Sarah said she won’t be a helicopter parent, but Eric is definitely in the running for it. After he returned, Natalie said it was time to lighten the mood and actually asked if we could play a game, and we had a rousing round of Scategories.”

“Have you heard how they are doing now?”

“I talked to Sarah yesterday afternoon on my break, and Tom called me last night. They are doing very well. Tom and Natalie are back at the cabin, and Natalie is going to put the house up for rent, not sell it. It was her grandparents’ home, and she wants to hold on to the last connection to her family, at least a bit longer. She jumped on the call for a minute and said she hadn’t realized how much she missed the mountain, but the weight in her chest had lifted, and she was doing better. They have even talked about planning a trip together in a few months. She wants a little more time to grieve but is on board with starting to plan something.”

Taking another bite of her salad and glancing at her watch, she said, “Thank you for asking about my family. It really means a lot to me that you care enough to ask and genuinely listen. You know the only other person I share these personal details with is Annette, but talking with you is very different. I appreciate this conversation Chad, more than you could possibly know.”

Reaching under the table, he gently squeezed her left hand as it rested in her lap, “You know you can talk to me about anything. I love hearing about Sarah and Tom and now Eric, Saraphina, and Natalie. I feel like they are a part of me even though we haven’t spent much time together. I live vicariously through you with each conversation.” Squeezing her hand one more time, he let go and took another bite of his sandwich.

“Sharing that bit of information helped to lift a burden I didn’t realize I was carrying, but I feel like that was not the reason you wanted to share lunch with me today. What is onyourmind?“ Beth’s penetrating gaze gave him little wiggle room. He had decided during her admission of all that was happening in her family that his proposal was ill-timed and better to save for the future, but if he backed out now, she would know. “I see you backpedaling Chad; spit it out before my lunch hour is over. Yousaid it wasn’t bad news, so…” She looked at him expectantly and raised an eyebrow when he took too long to start talking.

Chad placed the remainder of his sandwich down on his plate and dusted the crumbs from his hands before turning his full attention to Beth. “Okay, I remembered Sarah and Eric invited you on their Alaskan cruise and you turned them down, but I felt like secretly you wanted to go…”

“It was theirhoneymoon! Of course, I was not going to go on that cruise with them. I love my daughter, and her sentiment was generous and kind, but that would not have won meanypoints with my new son-in-law.“ Beth huffed just remembering that phone call.

“Well, I think this is terrible timing, and if you hadn’t been so persistent in your effort to drag this out of me, I would have held onto this idea a little longer,” Chad looked at her, indecision written all over his face.

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