Jennifer Edwards was sitting on the bed in her New York apartment, with research for her article spread all around.
The phone rang and she absentmindedly reached over and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Jennifer? It's Rachel. Feel up to grabbing dinner?"
"Aww, no thanks. I already ate. Besides Holden is out of town again, and I am way behind on my work, so I am forcing myself to get caught up".
"He's out of town again?!"
"Yeah. Some work conference in Wyoming. Flew out last night, and won't be back till Sunday night late".
"I see. Are you planning on being a hermit the entire time?"
"No. I am going to work tomorrow and Friday, and we are still on for girl's dinner Friday night, right? You and me and Alexandria, and Stacie".
"Yes, we are definitely still on for that. And I talked to Stacie today, she suggested we go to Flash River Fondue House".
"That place is pretty swanky. Can we get a reservation? I've been begging Holden to take me there for months, but each time he says they are booked solid".
"I'll call and see what I can do. Lunch tomorrow?"
"Yes, that sounds great. I'll call you in the morning".
"Sounds good, love you".
"Love you too".
She hung up and got back to work. She worked a solid 3 hours, and then feeling as if she made enough progress to satisfy her boss, she put it away and went to take a hot bath.
As she sank into the bath, she thought about her friendship with Rachel. At this point in their lives, and after so many years, it had grown to as close to a sisterhood as they could ever hope to have. Jennifer recalled the day she met Rachel. She and Rachel lived in the same dorm at their boarding school, Gresham Hall. Jennifer's mom had passed away when she was 12, shortly before she was sent to Gresham Hall. Rachel arrived two years later. To say she and Jennifer did not hit it off would be an understatement. Jennifer was a tomboy most of the time, but when she wanted to be glamorous, she did it effortlessly. However, Gresham Hall didn't offer any of the sports that Jennifer excelled in for girls, besides track. So, she took up cheer in the fall and track in the spring. At the beginning of freshman year, Rachel arrived. Track was most definitely her lane, so to speak. It seemed like no matter what, it always ended up Jennifer and Rachel in the top two spots after every race. Jennifer tried to extend the olive branch to Rachel a few times, but she was always rebuffed. They tolerated each other, but that was about it. Rachel never felt a connection to Jennifer, and Jennifer got tired of being snapped at.
Then one night, all the girls in the dorm heard her crying. It was a deep, painful cry. They all rushed to her room to find out what was going on. Rachel's roommate Becki was trying to get her to calm down, but she wasn't having it. She was tearing stuff up and throwing things at anyone who dared speak to her.
Finally, Collette, the dorm monitor, showed up.
"What happened?"
"Her father called a bit ago. Her mother died tonight, and she just started crying, and then she got angry".
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here. I can hear you, you know".
"Ok, so talk to us. Tell us how you're feeling".
"What's the point? Nobody understands".
"I do", said Jennifer.
"Oh yeah, right. Miss Goody Two-shoes understands what this feels like? Give me a break".
"I do understand. I lost my mother before I came here. In fact, that's why I'm here. So, yeah, I understand".
Realizing she was out of things to tear up, she collapsed on the bed and started crying. Jennifer went to her and sat next to her.
She looked around and tried to figure out what it was that Rachel had destroyed. It looked to be mostly posters and magazines and nothing sentimental.
The other girls tiptoed out and only Collette and Becki and Jennifer stayed.
"There's a lost mom's club. And you don't get to join it till you're in it, and once you're in, you can't get out. And it sucks, and it's nothing to put on a resume, but it's a thing. And at some point, everyone on earth will be a member. And there is only one thing about the club that is good, and that is that everyone in it, and only everyone in it, understands what it's like to be there".
Rachel seemed to find understanding in Jennifer's words. And over time, the two formed a friendship that neither of them ever thought they would have. Midway through that school year, Jennifer and Becki switched rooms, making Jennifer and Rachel roommates. Rachel and Becki had the corner room, that wasn't perfectly squared. Jennifer had always wanted that room, so she was more than happy to move. For the rest of their time at Gresham Hall, Jennifer and Rachel never roomed with anyone else. Jennifer taught Rachel makeup. Rachel taught Jennifer boys. They swapped clothes, homework notes, and everything else. Jennifer cried buckets when she and Rachel parted ways after graduation. Jennifer was going to Vassar and Smith while Rachel was going to NYU.
"Jennifer, it's alright. We are only 2 hours apart, by train. We can talk on the phone every day, and spend weekends together."
"You always know just what to say".
As she soaked in the bath, she counted back to figure out how long they had known each other. 11 years.
Her thoughts drifted to Holden, her boyfriend of 3 years. Holden McAlister had come along right after Jennifer graduated college, and swept her off her feet. She tried hard not to fall for him, because she felt like he was too good to be true. But after three months, she realized that he wasn't going anywhere, and more importantly, she didn't want him to.
Most nights, they stayed at her apartment. Her apartment was closer to his work, and close to everywhere they liked to go in the city. His apartment was 20 blocks away, which in New York City terms, it might as well have been in Jersey.
Holden was a pharmaceutical salesman, and he was very good at it. He was the top salesman in his company. He had been hinting at marriage, but Jennifer had told him that if they got married, he would have to stop traveling so much.
"As soon as I get the promotion to Regional manager, I won't have to take so many trips, sweetheart. But you know, I'm the only one they trust to train the other salesmen. That's definitely a good thing".
She figured she would give him a call when she climbed into bed and tell him she missed him. That might get her over missing him so desperately.
She slipped a nightgown on, and headed to the kitchen to make some tea.
She reached into the jar for a tea bag, and found that it was empty. She opened the drawer to get another one, and found a small box.
She stared at it for a few moments, trying to decide if she wanted to open it or if she wanted to be surprised. The curiosity got the better of her and she opened the box to find prettiest pair of Peridot and diamond earrings. They were sterling silver, on French hooks. She looked at them a little longer and then closed the box and put it back. She found her tea bag and then made her tea, and headed to bed.
Just before she was about to climb into bed, the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey sexy".
"Hi. I was just about to call you".
"Perfect timing".
"Yeah. How was your flight?"
"Wonderful. All my connections were right on time, and I even got bumped up to first class".
"Lucky you. I wish you were here with me. 5 days is a long time, babe".
"Yeah, but I'll get to be home with you for a whole week straight when I get back. And we will celebrate your birthday".
"Babe, I have a confession. I found my present that you hid tonight".
"You did? Well, uh….did you like it?"
"I loved it. What made you go with Peridot?"
"They matched your eyes, and I just knew it was the perfect gift".
"You're so sweet." She stifled a yawn.
"Well, I better let you go, sweetie. I have an early meeting in the morning. I love you".
"I love you too".
She hung up the phone and fell asleep almost instantly.
Meanwhile, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Holden hung up the phone and had an angry look on his face.
"Damnit! She found the earrings. Now I have to get something else!"
"She found MY earrings that you bought me last week? How?"
"You left them on the counter, I quickly put them in the drawer when her back was turned. She was getting tea tonight and found them. I promise you, I'll replace them".
"Holden, when are you going to let her go? She doesn't make you happy like I do, and we obviously want to be together".
"We have talked about this, and the plan is already in motion. You take care of your end, and when the time is right, I'll take care of mine".
Before she could argue further, he leaned down and kissed her passionately.
"I love you, Tara".
"I love you, too".
***The next morning***
Tara and Holden woke up at 8 the next morning. He made love to her a few times, and then jumped in the shower. She grabbed the phone and dialed a number.
"Hello?"
"Hi babe. You busy?"
"Just missing you. Is it time for you to come home yet?"
"Jonathan, I just got here yesterday. I promise, I'll be home Sunday".
"Well, if I have to wait that long, how about I pick you up from the airport and take you to dinner?"
"I would love that."
"Perfect. As it turns out, I have something important to ask you."
"You do? Why not just ask me now?"
"Because, if I ask you now, I won't have anything to ask you in person".
"You're so cute".
"And you're pretty. And I have a meeting, so I have to go. I love you".
"I love you, too".
She hung up and then headed to join Holden in the shower.
***Sunday***
Jonathan picked Tara up at the airport.
"Hey there. I missed you!"
"I missed you too". She gave him a short kiss.
He carried her bags to the car, and then opened the door for her.
They drove to her favorite restaurant and parked.
He took her hand and led her inside.
They were seated by the window.
After they had ordered, she took his hand in hers.
"What did you want to ask me?"
"Well, my condo is pretty small. And all the bedrooms are upstairs, and I've been thinking about buying a new home. So, while I've been looking for a new home, I've been thinking. What if instead of it being me and Max, it was me, you, and Max?"
"As much as I stay at your place, it's already you, me, and Max".
"I understand that. I'm thinking along the lines of us making things a little more permanent".
"If we find a home we can both agree on, I'm open to that. You are more than welcome to move into my place with me, but I don't have room for Max".
Their food arrived, and he offered her a bite of his shrimp.
"No thank you".
He knew better than to try and take one of her fries.
"Want to stay with me tonight?"
"I can't, unfortunately. I have a really early meeting in the morning. I can come by tomorrow night though".
"That will work".
He paid the bill when it came, and they headed to her house.
He carried her bags in for her, and then pulled her in for a hug.
"There's a charity ball next weekend, benefitting the children's hospital. They asked me to give a speech about the new wing Hart Industries is building. Want to be my date?"
"I'm sorry, I have another work trip".
"Where to, this time?"
"New York".
"Interesting. I'll tell you what, I'll put one of my junior executives in charge of the speech, and I'll come with you. We'll make a weekend of it, take in a Broadway Play, do all the tourist-y things".
"Sorry babe, but I'll be working all weekend. We have this huge project that we have to get finished".
"I understand".
He stayed a little while longer, and then left.
She gave him several kisses before she locked the door behind him.
She immediately grabbed her cell phone and sent a text.
"Call me, NOW. 911!"
A few minutes later her phone rang.
"Hey, what is it? I've only got a few minutes."
"Have you left the airport?"
"No, I'm still in the terminal. It's ok, I'll tell her I stopped at the bathroom or something. What's the big emergency?"
"He wants us to move in together. I hedged him off for now, but he's talking marriage. And then tonight, when I told him I had a work trip in New York next weekend, he tried to tag along".
"What did you say?"
"I stuck to our story, that I would be working on a big project all weekend, and that I wouldn't have time for the tourist-y stuff. He bought it, but he was disappointed."
"We will figure something out next weekend. Maybe it's time that we told them…"
"It can't be. The company hasn't closed the account with his company yet, and he could withhold the bonus. Plus, he keeps hinting at buying me a new car, every time he sees me drive around in my old jalopy. I at least want to get a G-wagon out of him before I dump him".
"I completely understand. I am not ready to start paying for my own cabs, that's for sure. I love you, I'll see you next weekend".
"I love you too".
Tara hung up the phone and smiled.
Holden continued down the terminal and smiled when he saw Jennifer standing there at the baggage claim.
"Hi, I was getting worried".
"Sorry, I stopped in the bathroom".
She leaned up to kiss him.
After he had his bag, they took a cab back to her apartment. She had a monthly pass with a certain cab company, and every time they took a cab together, he insisted they use it. He used it even when he wasn't with her.
They settled in the cab and she leaned over on his shoulder.
"How was your trip?"
"Great. It was just great".