The Empty Nesters

by Brown, Carolyn

The message was definitely a strange one, but it gave Diana the courage to leave. She checked the thermostat, made sure that the lamp in the living room was set to come on at six every evening and go off at seven in the morning, and locked the door behind her.

  Joanie had a second cup of coffee that morning and fretted about the trip. Zoe should have been in the kitchen with her at that time of day. She would have just come in from the two-mile run she’d started doing the first of the summer. She’d said she was getting in shape so that basic training didn’t whoop her ass. Joanie had seen her daughter in cheerleader action for four years—there was no way that anything they could throw at Zoe would get the best of her. She touched the senior picture of Zoe sitting in the kitchen window.

  What if Zoe faded now that she’d left the house? Would Joanie be able to close her eyes and remember all those times? What if she couldn’t even remember what Zoe looked like without pulling up one of the hundreds of pictures she had on her phone?

  Joanie’s front door opened, and Diana yelled, “You ready?”

  “Not really.” Joanie rinsed her coffee cup, dried it, and put it away.

  “Second thoughts?” Diana peeked around the kitchen door.

  “Oh, yeah, lots of them,” Joanie answered.

  “Me, too, but I imagined Rebecca demanding that I get out of her room. I took that as a sign that we should go,” Diana said.

  “I haven’t gotten up the nerve to even look in Zoe’s room. I’m afraid if I go in there, I’ll back out of this trip. This will be the first time ever I’ve gone anywhere without her,” Joanie sighed.

  “Me, too.” Diana gave Joanie a sideways hug. “This empty-nest stuff stinks.”

  “Yes, it does,” Joanie answered as she turned off the kitchen light and rolled her suitcase outside.

  It was only a matter of crossing her and Carmen’s yards to get to Carmen’s porch.

  “Carmen,” Diana shouted from the front door, “are you ready?”

  “I’m not going,” her voice echoed from the back of the house.

  Joanie gave Diana a long look, and the two of them headed down the hallway. They found her stretched out on Natalie’s bed, arms crossed over her chest and eyes staring at the ceiling.

  Diana got her by the elbow and pulled her up to a sitting position. “You are not dead. You’ve got some fight left in you, so get up.”

  Joanie’s heart hurt for Carmen. She’d probably wither up and die if Brett sent divorce papers, especially at that time. “We’re not leaving without you, and if you say the word, we can have a six-foot hole dug when he gets home. Right in the front yard. Think about how disappointed Tootsie will be if you don’t go. She’s done so much for us these past thirteen years. Remember how she came over here and sat with Natalie when she had her tonsils out? And how many times did she and Smokey take the girls for ice cream and a movie just to give us an evening alone?”

  “Y’all can go. I’ll be fine. Tootsie will understand,” Carmen argued.

  “Are you packed?” Diana asked.

  Carmen nodded. “But I can unpack. I can’t leave my daughter. What if Natalie gets kicked out of basic and she comes home and I’m not here?”

  “If she gets booted out, then she’ll have to call you to come get her.” Diana drew her up to a stand. “And we’re just as close to Lawton in the northern part of Texas as we are right here in Sugar Run.”

  Carmen balked when Diana pulled her toward the door. “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can.” Joanie got behind her and gave her a gentle push. “If you can’t even do this, then how are you ever going to fight Eli about this divorce? If you stay here all alone with no support, you’ll be by yourself when he comes home. If that happens, he’ll steamroll right over you. But if that’s what you want, then when we come home, we’ll help Natalie pick out a real good mental home for you,” Joanie said with a shiver. If she were in Carmen’s shoes, she might really end up in a facility for folks with broken minds. “Think about how hard it would be on Natalie to see you in a place like that.”

  Carmen flipped her off and stormed out of the room, got her suitcase by the handle, and said, “I’ll never put Natalie through that shit. Let’s go.”

  Luke Colbert was actually looking forward to being semi-unplugged for a few weeks. He’d have his device to use if he just had to have internet, but for the most part, he’d be on vacation. Fall weather was perfect for sleeping out under the stars and getting a brand-new perspective on what he wanted to do next with his life. Spending the days on the road definitely had an appeal. Had he not been so involved with technology, he might have been a truck driver.

  “Holy crap!” he exclaimed when he saw the size of his uncle’s motor home. “I’d forgotten how big that thing is.”

  “You’re here!” Tootsie ran out the back door, threw her arms around him in a fierce hug, and then scooted up on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. “Let me look at you. I swear to God, you look more and more like Smokey did at your age every year. Same light-brown hair and that little cleft in the chin. Only thing is that he had brown eyes, and yours are blue. Go on and put your things in the storage space. I left a spot empty under the motor home for you to stow your gear. The girls should be here soon, and there’s room inside for their stuff.”

  “Why did you buy such a huge motor home when there was only the two of you? That thing must sleep six people,” he said.

  “Eight if we use the overhead bed,” she said.

  Then all of what she’d said dawned on him. “Did you say some other people are going? I thought it was just us.”

  “I hear the front door opening now—you’ll meet them. I can’t tell you how excited I am this morning to have all y’all goin’ with us. Smokey is every bit as happy as I am.”

  “Who? What?” He raised an eyebrow.

  Before Tootsie could answer, three women came through the back door, each rolling a suitcase along behind her, with a laptop case slung over one shoulder and a purse over the other.

  “Who are these people?” he whispered. Aunt Tootsie had done wacky things in the past, but she should have told him before now about this. At least given him a chance to back out of the drive. Hell’s bells, he didn’t even know these women.

  He squinted a little and recognized the tall redhead from Uncle Smokey’s funeral last month. Aunt Tootsie had said she was more than a neighbor when he asked who she was, but then she got called away to the kitchen. He hadn’t seen her again until right that moment.

  “These are like my daughters. Remember Smokey talked about them last year when we were in Scrap?” Tootsie said out of the side of her mouth. “They need to get away for a while. I need their support since Smokey can’t be here to go with me.”

  Luke might not have liked having so much sprung on him, but he loved his aunt Tootsie. Uncle Smokey had been like a grandfather to him. No way would he hurt her feelings by saying a negative word.

  “Hello, ladies. I’m Luke.”

  The tall redhead stuck out a hand. “I’m Diana McTavish. Thanks for driving us. I don’t think any one of us could handle that thing. Anyone ever tell you that you look a lot like the pictures of Smokey when he was young?”

  “Yes, ma’am, all the time.” He shook hands with her and turned to find a short brunette with blue eyes at his elbow.

  “I’m Carmen. Tootsie told us that Smokey’s favorite nephew would be our driver.”

  “How d’y’do.” He tipped his cap toward her. “The feeling went both ways. Uncle Smokey was my hero.”

  “And I’m Joanie,” the blonde said.

  “Well, it looks like we’re all here now, and we’ve been introduced,” Tootsie said.

  Luke nodded and asked, “Could I help y’all with that luggage?”

  “We’ve got it. We got the tour of the motor home last night. Tootsie has shown us exactly how much room we have and where we’ll be sleeping,” Joanie answered as she headed toward the RV.

  “But thank you.” Carmen forc
ed a smile that didn’t erase the sadness in her eyes.

  “Looks like you’ve got baggage of your own.” Diana hung back. “You looked surprised to see us. Didn’t Tootsie tell you that she’d invited the neighborhood?”

  “Not until about thirty seconds before you arrived.” He picked up his suitcase and the zippered bag holding his two-man tent. “But I’m fine with it if she is, and I assure you, I’m a safe driver. So are all y’all’s husbands military?” He opened the hatch and shoved his things inside.

  “Was, is, were,” Diana answered. “I’m five years divorced, but my ex is still military. He and Joanie’s and Carmen’s husbands are part of a black-ops team that we can’t even ask questions about. Carmen got divorce papers two days ago. She’s in denial. Joanie’s still married, and her husband will be home for our daughters’ graduation from basic training in December.”

  One divorced. One getting a divorce. One happily married.

  He’d been looking forward to a few weeks of quiet introspection, not female drama. If his aunt could really drive this monster of an RV herself, he’d seriously consider hightailing it back to Houston.

  But she’d only driven it home from the dealership less than two miles—taking it on a long trip was a whole different ball game. He’d feel horrible if anything happened to her because he was too stubborn to drive this circus.

  For the past five years, Diana had been too busy with her job and taking care of her daughter to even consider another man in her life. Add that to the fact that Gerald’s new wife was jealous of any time that he spent with Rebecca, and Diana refused to even go out one time for fear that she might fall in love. What if the new guy in her life became more important than Rebecca? Or heaven forbid, if he wanted children. Diana loved her daughter, but just the thought of starting to raise another child gave her the hives.

  Still, it had been nice when Luke sized her up and down like maybe he liked what he saw. Could that have possibly been a slight spark between them when he shook her hand? He looked to be about her age, which would put him up near forty, but men aged differently than women, so he might be a little older or maybe a year or two younger.

  “Listen up,” Tootsie said when they were all in the RV. “See that sign hanging beside the door?”

  Diana pulled her reading glasses from her purse and read aloud:

  MAY GOD GRANT YOU ALWAYS

  A SUNBEAM TO WARM YOU

  A MOONBEAM TO CHARM YOU

  A SHELTERING ANGEL SO NOTHING CAN HARM YOU

  LAUGHTER TO CHEER YOU

  FAITHFUL FRIENDS NEAR YOU

  AND WHENEVER YOU PRAY

  HEAVEN TO HEAR YOU.

  “Amen,” Joanie and Carmen said in unison.

  “Smokey gave me that sign for our first wedding anniversary. It hung above our bed through countless military moves. I’m grateful for y’all to help me get through losing Smokey. Now start up the engine, Luke, and let’s get this wagon train on the trail just like Smokey wants me to do.” Tootsie wiped a tear from her cheek. “Dammit! I promised Smokey I wouldn’t cry.”

  “He understands,” Carmen said.

  “I know, but this trip is to honor him, not to become a dramafest.” Tootsie sat down at the U-shaped dinette and took a candy bar from the full dish on the table. She peeled back the wrapper and said, “This is for you, Smokey. I know how much you loved Snickers.”

  Luke started the key in the ignition, and Diana could almost hear the engine sucking up expensive gasoline. But if this is what would help Tootsie find closure for Smokey’s death, and maybe even help Carmen get through the denial stage, then she was all for it.

  Luke surprised her when he drove the huge motor home out of the backyard and managed to make the turn onto the street without bumping a single curb. But what impressed her even more was how the crystal candy dish didn’t even slide across the table.

  “Next stop, Texas City,” Luke called out over his shoulder.

  “Actually it’s Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant in Schulenberg. Smokey and I always stop there for lunch on the first day. They make great barbecue, and their pickles are amazing. Smokey was partial to their German sausage and sauerkraut. I can’t wait for y’all to see the inside of the place. It’s just like walking into an old barn,” Tootsie said.

  “Sounds great,” Joanie said. “I love sauerkraut.”

  “Not me.” Diana shook her head. “But barbecue sounds really good. Did you already make reservations at a campground for tonight?”

  “The trip is all planned out. That’s what I was doing all afternoon on Wednesday. When we get over around Beaumont, I’ll be spending the evening with an old friend, Delores. We were a lot like y’all—close friends who stood by each other when our husbands left us at home for weeks on end. I’d invite you to go with me, but I’m selfish enough to want to have some time with her all by myself,” Tootsie told them. “And my friend Midge—I’ve known her since we were toddlers—lives up near Scrap. I’ll be seeing her while we’re there. Don’t mean to be desertin’ y’all, but she’s been pretty sick, and she’s my last living childhood friend. Enjoy the ride.”

  Enjoy the ride. Carmen almost groaned. She’d much rather be at home trying to get this crap with Eli sorted out. But she’d never let Tootsie down, and this trip meant so much to her. She pulled her phone from her hip pocket and checked for texts. Tootsie said the lawyer would call her when he’d had time to look over the papers. A part of her wanted to know right now. The other part hoped the attorney played golf every day and didn’t read over the papers until Christmas so that she and Eli could talk face-to-face and get this thing worked out without a divorce.

  There were no texts or messages from Eli, but then, realistically, she didn’t expect anything. It had been only two days, and she hadn’t done what he wanted—like always. Looking back, she’d never denied him anything, except when he threw a fit about her getting her teaching degree. But he’d gotten over it, and he’d get over this, too.

  Diana set her laptop on the table and started working on whatever it was that she did for the insurance company. Joanie took out a Kindle and started reading a book, and Tootsie moved up to the passenger seat beside Luke. None of them, not even Diana, who’d been through a divorce, realized that she was willing to lay it all on the line for her marriage.

  She pulled up the hundreds of pictures she’d taken of Natalie during her senior year and flipped through them, one at a time, remembering all the events as if they’d just happened yesterday. When the phone rang and Eli’s picture popped up on the screen, she fumbled it and almost dropped the thing on the floor. She answered it on the third ring. “Hello.”

  “I haven’t got long. Have you made a decision?” he asked.

  “Is it Christmas?” she asked coldly, then softened her tone. “I’m not rushing into anything. I haven’t read the papers or heard from the lawyer.”

  “It’s pretty simple. We’ll sell the house, split the equity down the middle. You can keep your car if you take over the payments. You can have the furniture. I want my clothes, my guns, and my—”

  She raised her voice. “Stop!”

  “Problem back there?” Luke asked.

  “I’m sorry,” Carmen said. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

  “Who are you talking to? Was that a man’s voice I heard? What’s going on, Carmen?” Eli slammed the questions at her in rapid-fire succession.

  “I was talking to Luke. He’s Tootsie’s nephew, and he’s our driver.” She went on to tell him where they were going.

  “You’ve left Sugar Run on a whim? Are you crazy? What if Natalie bombs out and needs you? God, you never were smart, but this takes the cake.” Eli’s voice got louder with every word.

  “What if Natalie bombs out and needs you? Have you told her that you’re divorcing me? I’m going on the trip because I need some space. Are you really going to take the house?” Carmen shot back at him. “Did you wait this long so you don’t have to pay child support?”

&
nbsp; “No, I didn’t, and I’ll tell Natalie when the time is right. I’m waiting until the divorce is signed and final,” Eli said.

  “Then you won’t have to tell her, because—”

  “There are no buts, maybes, or becauses, Carmen. Either sign it or I’ll get a court date set up right after I get home. We’ll let the judge take care of it,” Eli said. “Goodbye.”

  His picture disappeared. Seemed fitting to her right then. She looked up to see Diana peering over the top of her laptop, and Joanie had laid her book to the side.

  “Dear Lord, what am I going to do? He’s determined. If I don’t sign the papers, he’s going to take this all to court. Has he found another woman?” Her voice sounded hollow in her ears. “He’s going to sell the house, and we’ll split the equity. That’s not much because it’s got a second mortgage on it. I’m scared out of my mind. What if he’s been cheating on me? What if he really isn’t going to give us a chance? I won’t have a home. I don’t have my degree finished. My heart is being ripped out of my chest—I shouldn’t love him, but I do.” Carmen laid her head on the arm of the sofa and shut her eyes tightly. “Please tell me this is all a nightmare.”

  “I can’t,” Diana answered.

  “It’s like death,” Carmen whispered and then clamped a hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Tootsie. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Why not?” Tootsie turned her chair around to face them. “It’s the truth. We’re going through the same grieving process. I lost Smokey, and you are losing your marriage. It’s painful and scary as hell. I’ve never lived by myself, either. I married Smokey right out of high school, like you did Eli, and the thought of being alone the rest of my life terrifies me. If he makes you sell the house, you can move in with me, or you can live in the motor home until you figure things out.”

  “Thank you,” Carmen said, but it did little to ease the tightness in her chest. Diana’s invitation hadn’t, either.

  “You are forgetting something important,” Diana said. “You have three-fourths of a degree. Just one more year, and you’ll be able to teach elementary school anywhere in Texas. You could use what you’ve already learned to get a job and finish up your degree at night. Stop selling yourself short, girl. We’ve all proved for years that we can live on our own.”