by Lydia Rose
Joyce walked up to the beach carrying her beach bag and blanket. She spotted Reese the moment she stepped onto the beach. “Hi,” she said, looking down at her, “can I sit with you?” Reese looked over Joyce’s shoulder to see if she was alone. “I’m alone. I left the writer in the middle of a chapter.” Joyce chuckled and put her hand over her mouth, realizing what she had revealed.
“Joyce, I know Jennifer is a writer,” Reese said, easing Joyce’s conscience.
“Am I welcome to sit with you, or did my friend’s comments from last night put me on the outs with you, too?”
Reese smiled and motioned with her hand. “Please make yourself comfortable.”
“I’m sorry about last night,” Joyce offered.
“You have no reason to apologize. You did nothing wrong. I didn’t know that Jen enjoyed being cruel to people.”
“She doesn’t. I’ve never seen her like that before. It is so unlike Jen. She has always gone out of her way to be nice to people,” Joyce professed strongly.
“I guess it’s just me that brings out that side of her.” Reese lowered her head. “Do you know the story about her cutting me out of her life for no reason?”
Joyce knew Jennifer did cut Reese out of her life and yes, she heard and read the novel as to why she did that. Looking at Reese now, she wondered if there was another side to this story. “I heard something about that.”
“I called her one day to tell her about my “boyfriend” (and I use that term loosely) at the time,” Reese paused. “The only reason I even went out with him was because my roommate liked this guy, and he wouldn't go out with her unless she had a friend for his friend. I did nothing to encourage him. The most he ever did was to give me a peck on the cheek. Then one day, out of the blue, he asked me to marry him,” Reese laughed. “I thought he was being ridiculous, and told him I wasn’t interested in getting married.”
“But you married him?” Joyce asked.
“Four years later," Reese said firmly.
“So that day you told Jen that Steve had asked you to get married,” Joyce touched her hand to her head, “she never gave you the opportunity to tell her you said no.”
“That’s right. She turned her back on me and never looked back. If anyone has a reason to be hurt and angry, it’s me.” Reese’s words were biting. “I’m sorry, Joyce. I haven’t thought about that day in a while and it still ticks me off. I read her novel where she said I was the cause for her broken heart. That’s a crock.” Reese was losing her temper again. “She left me and then blamed me for her pain. I believe that book was pure fiction. She was seeing other women and I get the blame for breaking her heart.” Reese’s head shook back and forth. “I wish she had never come back here.”
Reese remembered the day she called Jennifer a month after her trip to New York.
“Hello,” the voice on the other line said.
“Hi,” Reese said, wondering who was on Jennifer’s phone. “Is Jen there?”
“Who is this?”
“I’m a friend of Jennifer. My name is Reese.”
“She’s in the shower. I’m Kay, her girlfriend. Can I give her a message?” the woman said with a smile in her voice.
“No. That’s okay. I’ll call her later.” Jennifer disconnected the line and sat down. Reese couldn’t believe that Jennifer had moved on so quickly after they had been together in New York. The phone calls and the emails became infrequent after that day.
Joyce looked at Reese. “Jen is my friend and I have watched her over the years go from relationship to relationship, with no desire to really get involved. I know she is looking for you in all these women. In her mind, you did leave her for a man,” Joyce sighed. “I was there when she took your phone call. I saw her face.” Joyce took Reese’s hand. “She was devastated.”
“Then why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t she give me a chance to explain? Why didn’t she fight for me?” Reese’s voice broke with emotion. She didn’t want to cry and blinked away the tears. “We weren’t meant to be together.”
Jennifer came out of the house getting ready to go to the beach, when she spotted Carol Caldwell in the back yard. “Hi Carol,” Jennifer said softly.
“How are you today, Jennifer?” Carol asked, looking over her reading glasses.
“I just wanted to apologize for yesterday.” Jennifer stared at her feet.
“I believe you owe my daughter an apology. Not me.”
“I know I do. Is she here?”
“No, she’s up at the beach.”
“I’m on my way there now.”
“Jennifer, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but if you can’t be civil to my daughter…” Carol touched Jennifer’s hand, “please leave her alone.”
Jennifer just shook her head and headed for the driveway.
Reese stood up and began folding her blanket. She wanted to leave the beach and not think about Jennifer.
“Don’t leave, Reese.” Joyce sat up.
“I have a headache. I need to get out of the sun.” Reese didn’t want to hear excuses for Jennifer’s behavior.
“I guess I’ll see you later,” Joyce said to Reese’s back.
Reese walked slowly up to the walkway and didn’t notice Jennifer coming toward her. Her head lifted and suddenly Jennifer was there. Reese kept walking.
“Reese, can I talk to you a moment?” Jennifer asked as Reese walked past her.
Reese stopped walking, but didn’t turn around.
“I just wanted to apologize. I was out of line yesterday.”
“Fine,” Reese said, and continued walking.
“What did you say to Reese that got her so pissed?” Jennifer asked as she took her seat next to Joyce.
Joyce looked at Jennifer and shook her head. “You’re an idiot, Jen.” Her head shook back and forth.
“What did I do?” Jennifer asked, touching her hand to her chest not understanding.
“You never gave that woman a chance to explain about Steve.”
Jennifer smirked, “What was there to explain?”
“Did you know Reese only went out with Steve because of her roommate?”
“She told me that, but I didn’t believe they were only friends when he asked her to marry him,” Jennifer insisted to Joyce.
“As I said, you’re an idiot. She told him that he was being ridiculous.” Joyce touched Jennifer’s hand. “She told him no, Jen.”
Jennifer looked at Joyce stunned. She couldn’t even respond to what Joyce had just told her.
CHAPTER FIVE
Reese made herself scarce on Sunday. She didn’t want to run into Jennifer or Joyce either. Monday morning Reese was dressed for work when she came down in the morning.
Her dad looked at her over her glasses. “I thought we agreed you were going to take a few days off?” Richard asked, looking carefully at his daughter.
“I’ve rested enough, Dad.” Reese kept her eyes low. “I'm ready for work.”
Richard didn’t believe her, and he glanced at his wife who now set a hot cup of coffee in front of Reese. “What would you like for breakfast, dear?”
“Nothing, Mom, just coffee this morning.” Reese transferred her coffee to a travel mug. “Don’t rush, Dad. Relax with Mom.” Reese opened the back door. “See you later.”
Her Mom and Dad looked at each other, and Carol took a seat next to her husband. “I’m worried about her.” Richard nodded. “I thought Jennifer coming home might have been a good thing, but I’m not so sure anymore.”
“Do you think we should say something to either one of them?” Richard asked, taking his wife’s hand.
“I think we might just make it worse. Let’s see what happens in the next couple of days. If things get worse, then we will have to intervene.”
Richard stood and reached for his briefcase. “Love you, Carol.”
“I love you too,” Carol said, planting a gentle kiss on his lips.
As Richard came out the back door he saw a woma
n walking towards Jennifer’s car. He approached and held out his hand. “Hello, I’m Richard Caldwell.”
Joyce took his hand. “Hi, I’m Joyce Henderson, Jennifer’s friend.” His smile was kind and Joyce said, “I guess Reese was off to work too. I saw her leave a while ago.”
“Yes. I thought Reese was going to take a few days off, but…” he paused, and realized what he had said.
Joyce leaned closer. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything.” She smiled. “I guess the reunion hasn’t gone as well as I hoped.”
“No, I guess it hasn’t.” His head lowered. “My wife doesn’t think we should interfere.”
“It’s so hard when you care about them, isn’t it?” Joyce asked and watched his eyes.
He only nodded. “Where are you off to so early?” Richard asked, changing the subject.
“I’m in search of a bakery,” Joyce said, smiling.
“There’s one a few doors down from my office. Why don’t you follow me?”
“That would be great.” Joyce opened the car door. “It was nice to meet you, Richard.”
“It was my pleasure, Joyce.” Richard waved before he got into his car.
Joyce parked next to Richard. “The bakery is just around the corner. Have a good day, Joyce.”
“Can I get you, or someone in your office, something?”
“Not for me, thanks. Carol wouldn’t be happy if I was eating pastries with my heart condition.” He laughed and walked toward his office door.
“See you later,” Joyce said as she walked away.
Joyce bought two croissants, and three pastries. “Would you put one of those pastries in a separate bag?” Joyce asked the sales person. She walked to the law firm and opened the door. “Hi,” she said to the receptionist. “Is Reese available?” Joyce asked, holding up the white bag.
“Can I tell her who’s here?” the receptionist asked.
“Joyce.”
The receptionist returned. “Reese will be right out.”
“Joyce, what are you doing here?” Reese asked, smiling.
“Your dad was nice enough to show me where the bakery was and he didn’t want anything, so I brought you something,” Joyce said, holding up the bag.
“Oh, that was nice of you. Would you like to come back to my office for a few minutes?”
“Sure,” she said, and followed Reese.
“Have a seat.” Joyce placed the bag on Reese’s desk. “It smells wonderful,” Reese said, peeking into the bag. “So are you enjoying your stay, so far?”
“I love the beach, but my friend has been burying her head in the computer for the last few days.” Joyce looked at Reese. “I was hoping you would have been on the beach yesterday when I went up there.”
“I had other things to do,” Reese said, before lowering her eyes. What could she say to Jennifer’s friend? I was avoiding Jennifer and you.
“I enjoy talking with you, Reese.” Joyce offered a wide smile.
“I like talking to you too, but…” Reese paused.
“I know. You don’t want to see Jen."
Reese lowered her head. “I think it’s better if she and I just keep our distance.”
“I understand how you feel, Reese, but neither one of you are going to feel any better by ignoring each other.” Joyce looked at Reese and held her gaze.
“Too much time has passed. There’s been too much pain between us. If we continue to speak, we are just going to keep hurting each other,” Reese said honestly. She didn’t want
Jennifer to blame her anymore, or to blame Jennifer for what had happened to them. It was time for them to move on.
Joyce looked at Reese again. “I understand, but I hope you and I can spend some time together before I leave?”
“Sure. I usually take a walk after dinner.” Reese looked at Joyce who was now smiling. “Would you like to join me later?”
“I would. Here’s my phone number.” Joyce wrote her number on a pad and handed it to Reese. “Call me when you’re ready.”
“Joyce,” Reese began.
Joyce held up her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll be alone.”
CHAPTER SIX
"Hi, Joyce, it's Reese. Are you ready for a walk?" Reese asked as she walked to her front door.
"I'll see you in two minutes," Joyce said, standing outside Jennifer's room. “I'm going for a walk, Jen,” Joyce paused. "If you understand me, nod your head." Joyce laughed as Jennifer shook her head.
Jennifer stopped typing. "Do you want me to go with you?" she asked when she turned around.
"No, but if you don't take me to dinner tomorrow, I'm going back to Chicago," Joyce said with a laugh. "And I'm serious."
"Okay, I promise," Jennifer said, turning back to her computer screen. "Have a nice walk."
Joyce met Reese on the sidewalk out front. "Hi. I just told Jen that if she didn't take me to dinner tomorrow night, I was going back to Chicago."
"It's that bad, huh?" Reese laughed as they walked. "What did you do today?"
"I spent a good part of the day on the beach. When I came back for lunch, Jen surprised me and spent an hour with me on the beach." Joyce and Reese took a seat on a bench on the boardwalk. "If I knew she was that far into her book, I never would have agreed to come with her."
"I thought writing for a career would give her more time for fun."
"Not Jen." Joyce chuckled remembering. "There was this woman she used to go out with years ago. Jen was supposed to go to her house for dinner one night. I think her name was Cheryl. Anyway, six o'clock came and went and no Jen. Cheryl began calling her cell phone and of course, Jen didn't answer. After three hours, Cheryl became concerned that something had happened to Jen, and showed up at her apartment." Joyce laughed again. "Jen opened the door wearing shorts and a t-shirt. She had an apple hanging out of her mouth and said, “Cheryl what are you doing here?"
Reese chuckled. "No, she didn't?"
Joyce shook head. "Oh yes, she did. Cheryl began screaming at her, and she punched Jen right in the face, turned, and said, ‘don't ever call me again.’”
They were both laughing. "That's so funny."
"She had such a black eye the next day. That girl had one great right hook." Joyce touched Reese's arm. "She was so worried that Jen was hurt, and then she found her without a care in the world. The poor girl just snapped." Joyce was still laughing. "She had to tell me what happened because of the black eye. Cheryl wasn't the first woman she has done that to, but she was the first one to hit her." Joyce stopped laughing. "I think when the right woman comes along, she'll be different."
"I hope for her sake, she is,” Reese offered. "I'm sure she was so embarrassed."
"She attracts the crazies, too. When we were in college, there was this girl on our floor in the dorm that was delusional. I came into the room one day, and this girl was on the phone with someone, saying Jen was in the shower and she was her girlfriend, and could she take a message?”
"What was this girl's name?" Reese asked, already knowing the answer.
"I can't remember,” Joyce replied.
Reese wanted to ask if it was Kay, but she didn't want to explain how she knew.
Joyce touched her hand to her head. "Kay. Her name was Kay. Why would you ask her name?" Joyce looked at Reese, and then suddenly knew the reason. "It was you on the phone, wasn't it?" Reese nodded. "That's why you stopped calling Jen?"
"I thought she had moved on and I didn't want to stand in her way. She was in Chicago and I was in New Jersey."
"Boy, if it wasn't for bad luck, you two wouldn't have any luck," Joyce said, shaking her head.
"Let’s walk for a while," Reese said as she stood. "Please don't say anything to Jen. I feel stupid because I never asked her about this woman. We both are very stubborn."
"You were both young and sometimes feelings get hurt." Joyce reached for Reese's hand. "I hope you were at least happy with Steve?"
"I thought we were happy for a while, but we never saw each oth
er. We were both building careers which seemed more important than working on our marriage,” Reese paused, wondering if she should continue. Feeling comfortable with Joyce, she said, "He was cheating on me with the nurses in the hospital."
"I'm sorry, Reese,” Joyce said softly.
"It worked out for the best. I got to come home and help my dad when he got sick." Reese waved her arms fanning the air. "I missed all this."
"Can I ask you something?" Joyce asked.
"You can ask, but I won't promise I'll answer you," Reese said with a laugh.
"Is Jen the only woman you've been with?" Joyce asked, not looking at Reese.
Reese stopped in her tracks. Her eyes opened wide. "How did you...?" She didn't finish her question. "Of course, Jen told you about us, didn't she?"
"I'm sorry. We share all our secrets, but we keep them to ourselves. "You didn't answer my question."
"Yes, she was the only woman," Reese said quietly.
"What you've told me will stay with me as long as you want. Do you want me to keep these conversations a secret?"
Reese thought for a moment before answering. "It doesn't matter anymore, Joyce. I'm not interested in Jen and she's not interested in me."
Joyce nodded, but she didn't believe that statement to be true for either woman.
As they reached the driveway to both their homes, Joyce touched Reese's hand. "Thank you for taking a walk with me. I enjoyed the walk and the conversation."
"I did too, Joyce. Thank you. I feel like we've known each other for a long time." Reese chuckled. "I can understand why you and Jen are best friends."
"I’m very glad to be your friend, Reese. Before I leave, I want to get your email address. I have your phone number and you have mine. I'd like to keep our friendship going even when I go back to Chicago."
"I'd like that Joyce," Reese said, bringing Joyce in for a hug. "See you tomorrow."
"Good night, Reese," Joyce said as she opened the back door.
Joyce met Jennifer in the kitchen. "Hi. Taking a break?"