Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“So no one knows it’s your birthday?”
Kay knew, and she respected the fact that I didn’t celebrate the day like everyone else. Why would I when the only thing people wanted to do was focus on the holidays, which I happened to love, too? So it was a win-win. But that wasn’t the point. “Beau, I have to go, but I wish you all the luck in the world. Not that you need it.” Just like he never needed me. Just like my friends never needed my party. It was time for me to grow up and start getting honest with myself.
I headed for the door and closed it.
As I went outside, lugging my stuff, I spotted a big white van parked out front. The driver—who wore the same red uniform and hat—came rushing up the walkway, carrying a white box with a red bow.
“Excuse me. Is Beau Starling here? I have another package for him,” said the man.
“Sure. He’s in apartment four. Just knock.” I let the man inside the building and continued on my way.
I knew it was another letter from Beau’s dad, but it wasn’t my business any longer.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“I’m sorry you’re feeling so down about your party and everything else, sweetie,” said my mom the next morning over coffee in the breakfast nook with the big window overlooking the front yard. Outside, the pine trees were covered in a blanket of snow, and the driveway was completely hidden. If I’d arrived ten minutes later last night, my truck wouldn’t have made it since I’d forgotten my snow chains.
My mom went on, “But no matter what, we always bake you a cake. Plus your brothers and everyone else will be here to celebrate.”
They were never here to celebrate my birthday. They came to my folks’ house for Christmas.
“It’s not the same when everyone gets to open gifts on your birthday and cake is the last thing anyone wants.” My mom prepared everything from spicy tamales and sweet pies to roasted lamb and herbed potatoes. No one had room for cake after all that, not even me.
“I tried to squeeze you out early,” she said, “but baby Jesus just wasn’t having it. By the way, did you see the new one I put in the manger outside? It has LED lights so you can change his color. Blue, green, or even orange.”
Weird. “Sounds great, Mom. Bet it goes great with all the decorations.” The house had lights in every tree along the driveway, lights on the roof, lights around the windows, and more lights on every inch of the front porch. At night, it reminded me of a bright spaceship about to take off. With a manger and baby Jesus, of course. Now in blue, green, or orange.
“I’ll show you tonight after your father gets home. We can make a fire, drink cocoa, and watch a movie.” My dad was out helping a neighbor with a fallen tree.
“That sounds great,” I said, “but I plan to sleep.” Nothing like coming home to recover from the chaos of adulting and failing at life.
“Sure you don’t want anything for breakfast?” she asked. “Some pancakes?”
Pancakes instantly made me think of Beau. I still couldn’t get over how he’d lied to me. Then again, what was I thinking? I’d let a stranger into my life, into my home, and into my erogenous zones. I’d somehow talked myself into believing it was all perfectly normal.
“Thanks, but I’m good,” I said. “I think I’ll head over to the community center and help Libby set up.” Libby was Kay’s mom, and since I’d come a day early to beat the storm, I had time to kill. “But let me know if you need anything from the store. I can swing by on my way back.”
“Sounds good, honey.”
I went to take a shower and prepare for the day. At least the snow had eased up, but I’d have to drive mom’s SUV.
I went to my old room, which hadn’t changed much since I went away to college, including the pink carpet. There were still photos of me and Kay on my corkboard, the two of us with our goofy smiles and bad hair. There was a picture of my friend group all sitting around a picnic table, wearing cowboy hats for pioneer day. There was even a drawing from art class of my dream house—the one with the red barn.
“Where did you go, Meri?” I said to myself. I’d had so many plans, so many dreams. I’d wanted to travel and see the world, maybe open my own business and eventually fall in love. Instead, I got a job in the city after college, working in insurance. How boring. I’d been stuck there ever since.
I really did need a change. Or more accurately stated, I needed to find myself again.