I woke up to something pinching my face. I opened my eyes and Trinity was looking at me. Her face nearly touching mine and her hand pinching my cheeks.
“Trinity, wet go of Aunt Wacie’s face.” She dissolved into giggles at how I was talking since she was squeezing my face.
She let go of my face and giggled, “Mom said you hung over. But I think you fit fine on my bed.”
I laughed at her and said, “I don’t think that’s what your mom meant, but it’s her fault I’m hung over.” I moved tickled her and she laughed,
“Aunt Lacie, no stop!” I stopped and she looked at me. “Aunt Lacie?”
“Yes my love.”
“Are you going to have kids some day?”
The little girl was so sweet, but it made my heart ache. “I don’t know sweetie. Maybe one day.”
Trinity smiled at me, “Mom says you need to give Jackson a chance.”
I sat straight up on the bed. Shit, Jackson! I called him last night, no wait. Did I? Shit, I remember now, I did. Damn! I set up a date with him too.
“Um, Trinity, can we talk about this later? I need to go talk to your mommy.”
Trinity nodded and went to get one of her stuffed animals to carry downstairs for some cartoons and cereal.
“Abigail! Where are you?”
I went in search of my ex-best friend. Damn it, she got me drunk and then we called Jackson. Damn it! Fuck! I was in trouble. What did I say other than setting up a date with him? Was I insane? Why did I do that? I walked into the kitchen and it hit me.
“You told Jackson I was hot for him! How could you? Whose side are you on?”
Shawn started laughing.
Abigail just smiled, “I’m on your side sweetie! Forever and ever, but you need to give him a chance and you are hot for his body. Admit it!”
I gasped, “I’m not! I mean he’s gorgeous and, I’m not hot for his body. Damn it Abigail, I set up another date with him and I don’t want to see him again.”
Shawn laughed again and said, “Lacie, give the guy a chance.”
I looked at Shawn then Abigail.
“You told him?”
Abigail laughed, “Of course I did. He’s my husband. We tell each other everything.”
Shawn wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. “Sounds like you already rocked his world once Lacie. Stick around and see if he can change yours.”
Shawn left the room and I swear my face was on fire.
“Abigail! How could you? I mean it’s bad enough I called him, but you told Shawn I slept with him! God that makes me sound so, so, I mean it’s like I’m,”
Abigail spoke up and said, “It makes you human Lacie. You haven’t been with anyone since Rex. Yes, I said his name, get over it! He’s an ass and I get that you don’t want to hear his name, but it’s time to move forward, and the only way to do that is to put the past to rest. He deserved to pay for what he did to you and we tried to get you to push the issue but you refused. So now it’s time to let it all go.”
I moved to the coffee pot and took some coffee. “But what if I mess it all up? What if I get hurt again?”
Abigail quirked a brow at me and said, “But what if it all goes right and you end up with what Shawn and I have? Did you ever think about it working out in your favor? Lacie, give it a chance. Don’t doom yourself to a life alone because you’re afraid to take chances. Take them and set your heart free. It’s been too long Lacie. You’ve been alone too long.”
I looked at my friend and I sipped my coffee. I didn’t know what to say. I needed time to process this, only I was supposed to be here forgetting about Jackson, not thinking about a “what if” with Jackson. Abigail always turned my world upside down, but I trust her with my life. What if she’s right? Could Jackson maybe be worth the risk?
“I need some aspirin. You’re making my head hurt.”
Abigail laughed.
“Come on, let’s get dressed and take the kids to the park. They want to spend time with Aunt Lacie before she goes home.”
She took me upstairs to the master bathroom and handed me the aspirin. I took them and headed to the kids’ bathroom to shower and dress.
I was dressed and down in the kitchen drinking a second cup of coffee in about thirty minutes. We walked the kids to the park and we pushed them on the swing, spun them on the merry-go-round and caught them sliding off the sliding board. They finally settled on the teeter totter and we watched them letting them play.
“So are you going to call him when you get home?”
I looked at her. “Abigail, stop pushing me.”
“Come on. Seriously? You know you want to go out with him, just let yourself go. Let it happen.”
I watched the girls so full of life, laughing and giggling although at any moment Trinity could jump off that teeter totter and drop Ella to the ground, but they didn’t care. They were happy, carefree. Could I be that way?
“I’ll try Abigail, but I’m not making promises.”
I moved up next to Ella and said, “Do you want to go swing again?”
She nodded and I helped her off the teeter totter and held on so that we could get Trinity off without toppling her to the ground.
We moved back to the swings and I grabbed Trinity and Ella, “Let’s take a picture.”
They jumped up and down then settled on my lap and I took a selfie of the three of us. Then Abigail came over taking my phone and snapped a photo.
Ella turned to look at me and said, “I love you, Aunt Lacie.”
She kissed my cheek and I smiled at her. “I love you too, sweetie. I love both my girls!”
Trinity kissed my other cheek and they were off. When I stood up again Abigail moved next to me holding the phone and flipping it so that we were staring at ourselves. “Smile Lacie.” I smiled and she snapped the picture.
Trinity was calling my name and I went off to help her onto the swing. I never saw Abigail texting on my phone. Once we were done at the playground I was exhausted, but I needed to get going home.
Abigail and Shawn hugged me. Shawn said, “Be happy Lacie. If he hurts you, call me. I can take care of him.”
I laughed and he hugged me again. The girls were waiting to hug me and when Shawn stepped away, I kneeled and pulled them into my arms.
“I love you guys. Thank you for spending time with me and playing games. I had fun at the park too. I promise I will come back and see you more often, okay?”
Trinity nodded, Ella did too. Before I stood up they both kissed my cheek and said, “I love you Aunt Lacie.”
When I stood up I wiped a tear away. Abigail put her arm around me and walked me to my Jeep.
“You had better keep that promise. We missed you and want to see more of you.”
I hugged my friend and said, “I love you too and I will make good on that. Somehow I’ll save up enough to come more often. The girls are growing so fast. I don’t want to miss any more time with them.”
Abigail smiled when I pulled out of our hug. “I love you Lacie. Be happy. Give Jackson a chance. I have a good feeling about this one. Maybe next time you could bring him along?”
I shook my head at her smiling, got in my Jeep waving as I drove out of sight.
When I got home, I worked some more on my story and knew I’d have to see Gail later to make up for not going to visit her yesterday. I spent about two hours typing on my laptop then drove over to the nursing home. I went onto my floor and Vanessa was working.
“Hey, Lacie! What’s going on? You look more like yourself.”
I smiled at Vanessa and said, “I feel better too. I went to visit my friend back home. I had a great time.”
She nodded. “Gail missed you yesterday.”
I groaned. “I know. I kind of was trying to avoid her questions.” I held up my flash drive. “Can I use the printer?”
She smiled, “Sure. I see nothing.” She got up and walked away.
I printed out more of my work and headed to Gail’s room.
I knocked on the door and Gail smiled when she looked up and saw me.
“Lacie! I was worried about you. Where have you been?”
I walked into the room and hugged her. “I’m sorry Gail. I went to see an old friend. I just needed to get away for a little bit.”
Gail nodded, “I understand. So are you going to read to me again or do you want to talk about why you needed to get away?”
I smiled at her and said, “How about we just read a little.”
Gail nodded and settled into her chair. I moved to the nightstand and took out the story to pick up where we had left off and added the new pages to it.