Prompt: winter
It was 10 degrees out with the wind-chill below zero. Lindsay sat in her living room, staring at the blank television screen. She'd just made a decision that she'd prayed for over a year that she wouldn't have to make, and even knowing that it was the right one, it still hurt. She suspected that it would always hurt, that part of her heart would suffer the pain for the rest of her life.
That didn't mean she was going to be unhappy, or dwell on it forever. She had a life to live, a daughter to raise, and she wasn't going to spend the rest of her life crying over what could have been.
She heard the door open and turned her head as Don came in.
"Hey," he said, coming in and locking the door behind him. She'd given him the key months ago. It made more sense since he was constantly watching Eva when she was at work, or stopping by with food, or just generally helping her in some way. He'd been the best friend that she could ever ask for.
"What's going on?" he asked as he sat down next to her, "I got worried when I got your call."
"Yeah," she said, wincing as she realized it was now three in the morning, "Sorry to call so late, it's just….I made a decision tonight and I needed to tell you."
"Okay," he said, "What's going on?"
She took a deep breath and met his eyes, "I'm filing for divorce from Danny."
Don fell back against the couch and looked away for a moment, "Wow, that's….that's a big step. Are you sure?"
She nodded, as much to herself as to him, "We've been separated for a full year now and… he has entered and left rehab three times. He's started twelve step programs and stopped. He was fired, I don't even know where he's working and…well forget child support. Most of the time I can't even let him see Eva when he comes around because he's too wasted. I tried, Don, I tried to hard to help him, but he doesn't want it right now, or he can't want it, I don't really know. What I do know is that Eva and I can't keep putting our life on hold to wait for him."
Don nodded, "I understand. You know I'll be here for you and Eva through the whole thing."
"And Danny?"
Don shrugged, "I'd love to be there for him, I've tried so many times, but…all he wants is to borrow money and I know where that's going. Doesn't mean I won't help him if he ever comes around, though, because I will."
Lindsay smiled, "You've been such a good friend to me through this and such an amazing godfather to Eva."
Don smiled, "Just doing my job. Promised I'd do it in church and everything, very solemn like, more serious than a pink swear."
Lindsay giggled as she thought of Don and Eva's pinky swear promises. She considered them very serious business.
After a few moments of silence, Lindsay looked up at him and spoke again, "There's another reason that I asked you to come over here. Something else I realized tonight, something that scares me, but also…makes me feel really happy and excited for the first time in a long time."
Don stared at her, waiting for her to finish.
She struggled with the next words, unsure what to say, and then finally she leaned forward and kissed him, softly pressing her lips against his.
When she pulled back, his eyes were closed, and when they fluttered open they were filled with confusion, but also something else…hope, at least she thought so.
"Lindsay," he said, "Are you…I mean you must be emotional today, deciding on the divorce and…"
She shook her head, "No, I've never been clearer in my life about what I want. I want a new life; I want to start over, with my little girl…and with you. I want you, Don, I've wanted you for a long time. I don't know when it happened, but I'm falling in love with you. I don't know if you feel the same of it you…."
"Oh, doll," Don said, his hand reaching up to caress her face, "I'm so far past falling, I'm just a speck on the floor."
"Really?" she said her smile lighting up her whole face.
"Really," he told her, leaning in and kissing her again. This time the kiss went on for much, much longer and soon she was pressing against him. Things were quickly getting too hot for them to control.
"Wait, wait," he said after a few minutes, gently pushing her away, "We, uh, please don't think I don't want this…because I do, but we need to wait until your divorced. I can't," he stopped, cursed under his breath, "I can't be with you that way until I'm sure you're free in everyway."
Lindsay smiled, "That's really sweet. Torturous, but sweet. If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do. We'll wait."
"Okay."
Silence.
"But we can still kiss and stuff, right?" she asked.
"Oh yeah," he said, pulling her against him.
Lindsay let him press her back against the couch and in the cold of winter, she suddenly felt warmer than she had in years.