“Oh God,” she breathed. She had broken away from the destructive world of Brice but at least it was a world she knew. Tentacles of fear wound around her heart. Could she do this? The suffocating thoughts were coming far too often.
In the back of her mind, the mantra began again.
After Jesse finished unloading her car, he patted her shoulder, told her to get some rest, and headed toward his place—the small home that stood as a sentinel to the estate. At the end of the long driveway, he cut across the grass. Suddenly, he turned back around and came towards where she was sitting. When he was close enough, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to her. “Your friend Jenny has called on the house phone several times. I forgot to tell you earlier.”
She waved her acknowledgement. Was Jenny in town? Angela had shut her phone off for the entire trip to Florida. Angela had friends on Wishing Beach, but they mostly only saw each other over vacations and not typically this early in the summer. She hurried into the house to find her cell phone. Having some real friends to ground her would make this whole thing more bearable.
It should be bearable by now. After all, she and Brice had been separated for months. Plus, she’d been the one to leave. Brice had crossed a line. A very clear doormat line. It was only a short time after the doormat incident that she’d served the divorce papers.
The doormat that ended a marriage.
But the finality of the divorce had created a whole new awareness of loss. She supposed it would be honest to admit she no longer loved Brice. She finally saw him for what he really was and not the man she’d thought she’d married. Still she continued to grieve for the sense of home and of family and especially for the close relationship she had with her stepsons. She’d raised them for the fifteen years of her marriage to Brice. The hollow place in her heart was real.
Angela opened the door and screamed. Jenny, on the other side, screamed too. It had been so long, too long, and Angela couldn’t wait to catch up. They’d hugged, screamed again, hugged again. “I’m so glad you’re here,” Angela said as she led Jenny farther into the house. “I love your hair.” The cute brunette had always worn a blunt bob but now it had dozens of shades of blonde added.
Jenny shook her head, letting the strands dance. “It makes me look ten years younger,” she exclaimed. “At least that’s what my stylist said as I was fishing a cash tip out of my wallet.”
Angela chuckled. “I bet the amount of that tip doubled.”
“Tripled!” Jenny considered her. “Hmm. I like your hair, too. Not so polished. Not so perfect.”
Angela nodded. “Well, Brice always preferred it straight and sleek. He no longer gets a vote.”
Jesse was just coming out of the kitchen and greeted the two women.
“Nice to see you, Jenny,” he said, on his way to the front door. Jenny smiled and gave him a wave.
“Join us in the kitchen, Jesse.” Angela motioned for him.
Jenny cast her a confused glance.
Jesse scratched his head, looking like he’d rather chew hot lava than suffer through “girl talk.”
“Y’all go ahead. I’ve got work to do. Those fire ants are trying to set up a fortress in your front yard. Never gonna happen.”
“Well, will you be around for dinner? I thought I’d toss something on the grill later.”
Jenny bumped her friend’s shoulder. “Aww. A party? For me? I’m honored.”
Angie laughed and gave Jenny a squeeze. “I don’t think I’d call it a party. And I’m sure Jesse’s sick of watching me mope around here. It has been two days after all.”
“Two whole days? I don’t know how he’s managed.” They both laughed.
Jesse rolled his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I won’t be around later. Mama Grace called. I was told to be at her house for a fish fry. Ladies, you’re on your own.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.” Jenny rested a hand on her hip.
“I don’t know how I would’ve managed the last two days without Jesse. He’s kept me sane,” Angela said.
“You sane? Not likely.” Jenny tossed an appreciative look toward Jesse.
When Angela and Jenny fell back into conversation, Jesse said, “I’ll be in the yard if you need me. Glad you came by, Jenny. I know Angie’s been looking forward to it.”
Chapter Two
Present Day
Angela and Jenny sat in the lawn chairs at the table on the wide lanai. Beyond the swimming pool, the sea stretched forever, and the brilliant sun shone above the water casting long shadows beneath the banyan tree on Wishing Beach. She and Jenny wore sunglasses to guard against the glare. Angela was glad for the bit of cover they offered. Jenny would be relentless in her questions, and any armor was good armor. Even if it came in the form of Chanel sunglasses.
“Have you talked to the boys?” Jenny sipped the iced tea Angela had made for them.
“No. I’ve tried to call, but I’m fairly sure Brice had their phone numbers changed. Brice told me they were furious at me.”
“At you? For leaving their abusive father?”
“Abuse is such a strong word.”
“He was abusive, end of story.” Jenny pointed her index finger at her, punctuating her remark.
“He’s still their father,” Angela said. “I’m not sure how much they actually know about how Brice treated me. I was pretty careful all along so they wouldn’t feel insecure. I think Brice was somewhat careful too, he does love them, and wouldn’t want them to see that side of him.”
Jenny leaned forward. “And you’re the mother they’ve known since they were, what, four and six? I don’t know how you can stand not talking to them.”
She’d been over and over this in her mind. “And what, Jen? Expect them to take sides against their father? At least they were both away at college most of the year. I could have never left if they were still at home.”
“True.” Jen snapped her fingers. “Remind me. Where are they boys right now?”
“Backpacking through Europe with a bunch of their college friends. Brice said to give them some time. That’s really all I can do.” Angela shrugged.
Jen shook her head, light brown strands dusting her shoulders.
Where the boys were concerned, Angela had made up her mind. She would take it slow, no matter what it cost her. “I believe him that the boys are angry right now.”
“So they know that the divorce is final?”
“Brice said he told them. He said they need some space to wrap their heads around the divorce. Even though we’ve been separated for a year, divorce is absolute. It’s so final. With the boys being away at school, I don’t think they realized their father and I were leading separate lives.”
“What about holidays? Christmas? Surely the boys came home and noticed you weren’t there.”
“No. I moved back into the house, and we pretended everything was fine. Well, fine as it ever was. Brice told me not to worry, the boys will come around eventually. He’s probably right on this. Anyway, I don’t have a lot of options.” Angela placed her drink on the coffee table with a little too much force. Frustration drove her out of her chair. She stopped at the edge of patio. Before her, the Atlantic glistened. “It’s killing me not being able to talk to them, to explain. Sometimes there’s just no right answer. So, I’m going with the best wrong answer.”