The Calendar of New Beginnings

by Ava Miles

  The minute Andy closed the door, he took her hand and led her down the hallway to what was clearly the family room.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, sitting her down on the tan couch and leaving the room with the dog.

  Trucks, trains, and books lay in a makeshift circle on the floor in front of a dark bean bag chair, clearly Danny’s perch. Next to it sat an adult-size one as well—green, she thought. Lucy liked the image of Andy sitting beside the boy as he played. The fireplace was bare, but to the right sat a basket piled with fresh-cut wood ready for the cooler fall nights approaching.

  She glanced at the clock. Just after seven o’clock. All she wanted to do was go home and crawl into bed. Right now, she felt like giving up. It wasn’t her usual, but she decided she was entitled to a pity party. Cold glass touched her shoulder, and she turned to see Andy handing her a bottle of Guinness.

  “I know it’s not as good in the bottle,” he said, coming around to sit with her. “But it’ll hit the spot.”

  Her two sips of her cosmopolitan didn’t count as mixing, so she took the beer and drank while he sampled his IPA.

  “Feeling pretty sad, aren’t you?” he asked, putting his arm around her after setting his beer aside.

  She turned her head. “How can you tell?”

  “Please. When you’re sad, your shoulders sag.” He kneaded them. “Plus, it’s written all over your face. Who can blame you? You had a fight with your mom, and your visual acuity and color vision has worsened with no clear explanation. That’s what I’d call a pretty bad day.”

  “I hate feeling sorry for myself,” she admitted, kicking her legs out and crossing them at the ankle. “But I’m feeling a truckload of self-pity right now. I just want my eye to get better. I want to take pictures again. I want—”

  “Everything to be like it used to be,” he finished for her, kissing her temple. “I know. I have my days too.”

  “What do you do when it happens?” she asked, glad she’d made the decision to come to him. She didn’t just need a ride, it turned out—she needed a friend.

  He blew out a breath. “Well, you saw how I got the other night, which I’m still a little embarrassed about.”

  She set her beer on the coffee table, and this time she was the one who leaned closer to him. “Don’t be. I’m glad you can share how you feel with me. We never held back in our chats online.”

  “Seems a little different in person,” he said, pressing her head to his chest. “Right now, I’m happy to be the one comforting you. Don’t laugh.”

  He’d always been sensitive about people laughing at him. Why, she could remember how upset he’d been in third grade when the class clown made fun of him for wearing brown cords to school in May. Lucy had shoved the boy later on the playground and told him she’d beat him up if he ever made fun of her friend again.

  “I won’t laugh. I know it’s hard to be the one bleeding out.” If only the human body had a shutoff switch to flip when it was hurting.

  “I look at stupid stuff online like lawnmowers or power washers instead of going to bed,” he said. “I sometimes can’t face going to bed alone. I miss…”

  “What?” she asked when he trailed off.

  His inhale sounded like an airplane engine firing up. “I miss hearing someone breathe next to me in the dark. I’m better now, but I have nights. After Kim died, I couldn’t sleep in our bed. I slept on the couch when I wasn’t sleeping by Danny’s bedside. After Kim died, he’d wake up crying for her.”

  “You never told me that,” she said, trying to imagine the kind of toll that must have taken on him. On both of them.

  “I’d lie in bed for hours, and even though I was exhausted, I couldn’t fall sleep. When I did my residency, I didn’t sleep much, but this was different. It was like I was numb or something.” He kicked out his legs, crossing them at the ankles. “Shit. This is pretty depressing. I should be trying to cheer you up.”

  “You don’t have to cheer me up. Do you have a quilt? It’s stupid, but I’m suddenly cold.”

  “It’s the emotion,” he said, rising and grabbing a blue and yellow quilt. He wrapped it around her and kept his arms around her too, rubbing her skin to generate warmth. “I know the things you saw in the field made you sad sometimes. What would you do to feel better?”

  “Well…I usually wrote you,” she said, and when he shifted to look at her, she turned to face him as well. “You were always a link for me when I was pretty low, especially when it was too dangerous for me to go outside. I’d pull up my computer and write to you. It always helped. I don’t know if I’ve ever fully said it, Andy, but our chats have meant more to me…”

  She cleared her throat, unable to go on. He’d been her lifeline in so many ways.

  “They meant a lot to me too,” he said softly, tucking her hair behind her ears again.

  The moment lengthened. She stayed where she was, looking back at him, feeling like she was seeing him in a different way than she ever had.

  “Lucy—”

  “Dad!” Danny yelled out, making them jump apart like two high school kids caught sitting too close together on the couch. “Rufus! Where are you?”

  “Guess they’re back,” Andy said, rising and walking to the front door. “Hey, big man! How was Latin dance tonight?”

  “The best!” the little boy said, appearing in Lucy’s line of sight. “Hey, Miss Lucy. Are you having dinner with my dad? Aunt Natalie, Aunt Moira, and Aunt Jane took me to Brian’s restaurant so I’ve already eaten.”

  “Hey, Danny,” she said, giving a little wave. “No, we’re not having dinner. Just a beer.” That seemed like the understatement of the day.

  The women appeared, all dressed in workout gear. They kissed Andy on the cheek. There was no mistaking their interest in her presence.

  “Dad, where’s Rufus?”

  “I put him in your room since Miss Lucy is here,” he answered.

  “You look like you’ve had a tough day,” Moira said, coming over and sitting beside her on the couch.

  “It wasn’t easy street,” she responded with her usual flair. “How’s the job hunt going?”

  “It’s taken an interesting turn,” she said, frowning, and Lucy could all but feel the questions turning in her mind.

  Natalie came over, pointing to the quilt around her. “Are you sick?” she asked.

  “Nah,” she said, shaking her head. “Just got cold. Weird, right?”

  As Jane walked over to greet her, Moira and Natalie exchanged a look and then glanced over at Andy, a silent question on their eyes. He gave them a blank look back—oh, that silent sibling communication—and took Danny’s hand, positioning the little boy in front of Lucy.

  “Why don’t you show us what you learned tonight, Danny?” Andy asked, taking his seat beside her again.

  “Are you sure Miss Lucy’s okay, Dad?” Danny asked. “She looks kinda sick to me too.”

  Lucy forced a smile. “I’m used to tropical jungles and hot savannahs, remember?” she said, ad-libbing on the spot. “Dare Valley feels cold to me. Now how about you show me how you break it down. Your dad has been chatting up your merengue.”

  The little boy wiggled his hips. “Aunt Jane, can you put on our playlist? It’s better with music, Miss Lucy.”

  “You have a playlist?” Andy asked.

  “Yep,” Jane said. “Danny picked his favorites, and Elizabeth shared her music with us.”

  “You’ll have to share it with my dad, Aunt Jane,” the little boy said, “since I’m too young for a cell phone yet.”

  Andy was already shaking his head. “Man, I think my head just exploded. My five-year-old kid is talking about having a cell phone.”

  His son put his hands on hips. “Dad! All the older kids have them.”

  Even Lucy felt her mouth twitch. Then Jane’s phone started playing a fast, Latin beat, and Danny launched into his moves. His little legs executed a fast but effortless salsa. Lucy looked over at Andy in shocked
delight.

  “He’s really good,” she whispered. Andy’s smile glowed with parental pride, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  Danny did a spin, which had Lucy clapping. Then the Hale sisters jumped up and joined him. Jane followed suit, and all four executed the moves in tandem. When Danny slapped himself on the butt during a spin, Lucy had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

  But she couldn’t contain it when he ran his hands down his sides like a diva and wiggled his little body for all he was worth. Andy started laughing with her, and he put two fingers to his lips and gave a shrill whistle.

  When the song finished, Danny ran over to his dad and jumped on his lap. “Dad! You’ve just got to come to class with me sometime. It’s so much fun.”

  Andy ran his hand over the boy’s mussed hair. “You know I prefer to run, but I’m glad you’ve found something that makes you happy.”

  “It’s so much more fun than baseball,” Danny said as Jane shut the music off. “Even if I’m the only kid. Miss Lucy, you should come too.”

  “Even though I was one of the worst dancers at Dare Valley High School, I do love to dance. Especially to songs with a fast rhythm. Maybe after I settle into town a little more.” Although it might prove problematic to follow along in class considering the peripheral vision in her right eye was shot.

  “Okay, you let me know,” Danny said, bouncing on his dad’s lap. “We need more backup dancers. Right, Aunt Natalie?”

  “Always,” she said, laughing.

  Andy made a show of sniffing his son. “Someone needs a bath. Why don’t you say goodbye to your aunts and Miss Lucy and head upstairs? I’ll be up in a jiffy. You know how to start the water.”

  “All right, Dad,” the boy said, giving them hugs. Then he turned and gave her one too before racing up the stairs. “Rufus! I’m coming.”

  “Are you sure you’re going to be able to take me home?” she asked Andy.

  Then she realized all the women were staring at her with open curiosity.

  “I don’t have a ride, so I walked here,” she explained with a shrug. “Long story.”

  Natalie narrowed her eyes. “Wasn’t today the meet-the-volunteers party?”

  “Wait!” Andy called out. “How do you know about the calendar?”

  “I might have mentioned it,” Jane said with a grimace. “Elizabeth told me about Terrance’s involvement. She couldn’t keep that to herself.”

  “Terrance volunteered?” Andy asked, his mouth agape. “You’re kidding.”

  “She’s really not,” Moira said, fanning herself. “This calendar is going to sell like Chef T’s hotcakes with his famous salted maple syrup.”

  “She’s right,” Lucy said, remembering his meat cleaver suggestion.

  “You didn’t hear it from Mom?” Andy asked his sisters.

  “No way,” Natalie said, making a face that matched Moira’s. “Personally, I’m glad they didn’t ask me. Blake’s football friends would never let me live it down if I posed for a calendar like that. They’d probably put my photo in their locker rooms just to rile Blake.”

  Now that would be funny, Lucy thought. And it would make the calendar’s popularity spread even further.

  “Care to share who else volunteered?” Natalie asked, turning to face Lucy. “Jill can’t keep a secret worth spit, so she spilled her involvement weeks ago.”

  “Terrance is terrified of her,” Jane said, sputtering.

  Moira wiggled her hips. “She’s never going to stop torturing him. C’mon, Lucy, who else has volunteered besides our mothers and those two?”

  She didn’t even consider playing coy. She ticked off the list, delighting in their facial reactions. When Old Man Jenkins’ name came up, Andy actually slapped his forehead.

  “Him! And Rhett too? You’re right, Moira. They are going to sell like hotcakes. Personally, though, I’m not sure I want to see Mom in all her glory as Miss April.”

  “Me either,” Moira said, crossing her eyes. “It’s a good thing Lucy is doing the calendar. There’s no one in Dare Valley who could match her ability as a photographer.”

  Andy’s laughter faded. It was obvious he was thinking about her eye—just like she was—so Lucy gave him an encouraging smile.

  “Could one of you stay a little longer with Danny?” he asked. “I need to take Lucy home after I get him bathed and in his PJs.”

  “I can get the munchkin bathed and into bed,” Moira said. “You don’t have to wait to take Lucy home. You guys feel free to head out. You too,” she said, turning to face Jane and Natalie.

  Jane grinned. “Matt told me he’s opening up one of my favorite wines. But I can stay if you need me to.”

  “Me too,” Natalie said.

  Moira shook her head. “You get to be with Danny all the time. It’ll be fun for me to have some alone time with him.”

  They both nodded, and there was a round of kissing and hugging as everyone said goodbye.

  “I’m going to say goodnight to Danny,” Andy said to Lucy. “Cover up until I get back. You’re still cold.”

  He was right. She felt like she’d swallowed icicles.

  As soon as he disappeared up the stairs, Moira sat down beside Lucy and narrowed her eyes. “I’m not stupid. You are sick, aren’t you? That’s why you came home. I told Andy something was up.”

  She didn’t like hearing they’d discussed her condition behind her back. “I’m not sick,” she said, gripping the quilt. “Please don’t ask me any more questions, Moira.”

  After hearing how quickly the news of the calendar had made the rounds, the last thing she wanted to do was tell one more person about her condition. Even if she thought Moira would respect her privacy.

  “My brother is worried about you,” Moira said, “and so are your parents. I won’t ask any more questions, but I’m glad you’re relying on Andy. It’s always made me happy how you two have stayed close friends all these years. It’s pretty rare, especially when someone gets married.”

  “Kim knew I wasn’t a threat, thankfully.”

  “That isn’t the only reason she was glad you and Andy were friends,” Moira said matter-of-factly. “Andy pours so much energy into taking care of other people, and because of that, he doesn’t always tell us how he really feels about things. But he could share those things with one other person besides Kim. You.”

  But their agreement was changing, Lucy realized. Even though she was doing her best not to let Mr. Responsibility take care of her, here she was, relying on him for a ride because she couldn’t drive. And now he would be driving her to the doctor too. She was entangling him in her problems, and though she didn’t want that, she wasn’t sure how to stop.

  “He’s the best friend anyone could ever have,” she said in all seriousness. “It’s been hard to make longterm friends given how much I travel. Andy has been a constant in my life forever.”

  “And you’ve been one in his,” Moira said, giving her a smile. “You might be a bit older and my brother’s best friend, but I’ve always liked you. Considering the way I blabber every time I talk to you, I’m sure you know I admire you and all you’ve accomplished.”

  “Thank you,” she said, not sure how to respond except directly. “Are you saying you’d like to be my friend too?”

  Moira laughed. “Yes. Hope that doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

  Andy walked back in. “Ready?”

  Nodding, she rose. “Thanks, Moira for—”

  “You don’t have to say it,” she said. “It’s what friends do. Don’t rush back on my account, Andy. The munchkin and I are going to have some fun.”

  “Thanks, Mo,” he said, crossing the room to Lucy and extending his hand to help her up like she was too weak or blind to walk alone. When he grabbed the quilt to bring with them, she wanted to bristle.

  “I’m not that cold,” she hissed.

  He gave her a look. “Humor me. See you in a bit, Mo.”

  After leading the way to the garag
e, he opened the passenger door and stood beside it until she was buckled in.

  When he tucked the quilt around her, she blurted out, “I’m not an invalid.”

  “I know you’re not,” he said softly before closing the passenger door.

  But as he drove her all the way out of town and to her house, all she could think about was that she was an invalid. She couldn’t even drive herself home. Those seven miles between her house and his felt like the longest she’d ever traveled. They drove in silence, and she was glad he didn’t try and engage her in conversation. When they arrived, she threw the quilt in the backseat, undid her seatbelt, and exited the vehicle. Sure, she still felt cold, but she would get over it.

  It was her vision that troubled her. It hadn’t improved yet, and she feared she’d slipped backwards. Was this it? What if it never got better? What then?

  He was waiting for her at the hood of the car, and while he didn’t touch her, she could feel his support as they walked to her front door. She inserted the key into the lock with a heavy heart.

  “Your mind is spinning all sorts of horror-story scenarios, isn’t it?” he finally asked when she opened the door.

  She had to press her chest to her tight diaphragm to breathe. “Hard not to. I’m trying not to freak out.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay to freak out. My mind is spinning with all sorts of things too. How about we have something to drink?”

  She had one bottle of champagne she’d bought just because. Lucy thought everyone should have a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator.

  “I’m going to pop some champagne. Because fuck it. Why not? I’m still here, and I’m going to find a way to be happy—regardless of what happens with my eye. I won’t let this destroy my life.”

  Even if it felt like it would. She didn’t know who she was or what she’d do if she couldn’t take photos and travel. Lucy O’Brien was a globetrotter with the world as her address. She wasn’t some college professor living back in her hometown of Dare Valley.

  He rubbed her back. “So we’ll have champagne. You should call your doctor’s service first. It’s late, and the office will be closed, but there will be a way to get him an urgent message.”