Hey!
Here's the new one… I think you'll like it. it's second-chance-at-love, and there are kids, hers and his and then there will be theirs to add to the chaos that will be their home. And a Newfie named Artoo. Oh, and don't forget the crazy ex's… you know they had to show up sooner or later.
I need to thank Sohypothetically, Alliswell and Notanislander. Without them, this would a lot worse lol! And thank you for reading!
"Are you sure this looks ok?"
"You look amazing!"
She turns in the mirror. "Yeah I guess I do for a divorced mom of two who needs a nap. This is crazy. Why am I even thinking about going to my 15th high school reunion?"
"Because you look good in that dress," Rose giggles. "And because you aren't going to make me go by myself."
"You look pretty good yourself there," Rey takes in their dresses in the curved mirror. The invites from the annoying sweet class treasurer who was annoying sweet but grew up to be a leading research scientist, said that the first event was going to be a cook-out for all of their families. Then that evening, a dance for the adults. Rose picked out a pink strapless mid-length dress with lace that looks like something Jackie O would have worn back in the 50's for Rey. Then Rey picked out a red ombre chiffon creation for Rose. "You look like you're eighteen again."
Rose steps closer to the mirror. "No, I'm not eighteen again. Maybe twenty-five," she says with a wink.
Rey looks at her own eyes in the mirror. "Yeah at least you don't have time trying to march across your face."
"You don't either," Rose chuckles as she elbows Rey in the ribs. "Mama is still going to baby-sit."
"Oh, crap. I forgot to tell you, Poe is taking the girls after all."
"He is?" Rose is as surprised as Rey was at first. "What about his new wife?"
"She's feeling motherly—" the old friends laugh at the thought of Poe's new wife, Zorii, the corporate executive who swore that she hated children, taking care of Rey and Poe's girls, Greer and Juniper.
"Are you sure you want to leave them with her?" Rose asks as they start to change clothes. "Just use the excuse that you want to take them to the picnic after all."
"I might do that," Rey answers, coming out of the curtained-off space. She straightens the dress on the hanger. Rose comes out of the room and meets Rey's eyes. She gives her a look that only an old friend can. "I'll call Poe."
"Thank goodness. Now I don't have to tell Josie that her best friends aren't coming to Grammie's house with her." Rose and Finn, Rey's foster brother, got married the day after graduation and have been together ever since.
Rey's marriage ended long before Greer, their youngest, was born. Poe left her his grandparents' old house so she wouldn't have to worry about rent or a house payment while he moved on. She went back to work, but instead of going back to working for Alderaan brewery, she got her teaching certificate and teaches high school English. It also helps that Rose teaches there also. As Juniper likes to remind her daily, she's eight now, but Greer is six. Now that they are in elementary school their schedules all mesh with the same vacation days throughout the year.
Even though she doesn't really want to go to her reunion, she'd never hear the end of it from her fellow teachers since she works at the school she graduated from. Plus, she needed an excuse to buy a new dress. Prom for her juniors and seniors is the weekend before the reunion and she can wear it again there.
They pay for their dresses, and walk out together to the busy main street. "You know, Finn said we could take as much time as we want—"
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Rey answers with a grin that matches Rose's. "Bookstore!" They say at the same time.
The bell on the door chimes a welcome as Rose holds it open for Rey. "Welcome to the Bookstore," Paige, Rose's sister, says from the back. "Oh, it's just you," she says with a teasing smile. "Lock the door, it's happy hour."
"I have to drive home," Rose whines.
"You can drink one," Paige says as she shoves a glass of red in her sister's hand. "And a beer for Rey."
"Thank you," she says before she takes a swig. Then she looks at the bottle with a smile. "I helped develop this one."
"I don't know why you didn't go back to Alderaan to work. It's got to be loads better than dealing with high school drama," Paige says.
"With me working at the high school, I have holidays and summers with the girls and all that."
"Did you hear? Ben Solo got custody of his kids," Paige gossips.
"He did? I'm not surprised. Bazine was always—"
"Trash?" Rose adds.
"A slut?" Paige finishes.
"You said it, not me," Rey says with a smirk. "I do feel bad for the kids. I'm glad that they're with Ben."
She misses the knowing look that passes between the sisters.
Rey's phone buzzes in her pocket and she doesn't even have to look at the caller id to know who's calling. "What does he want?" she hisses before she goes out the back door of the bookstore. "Hello, Poe."
"Hello Rey. Can I talk to Greer and Juniper?"
"No, the kids are at Josie's. Rose and I are shopping."
"The girls could have come home with me if you needed a babysitter."
"Poe, please stop calling 'taking care of your kids' babysitting." Rey looks in Paige's hiding spot and grabs one of her cigarettes. She lights it before she asks, "What do you want, Poe?"
"Do I still get the girls next weekend?"
"No, it's the weekend after for prom."
"I thought I was keeping them for your reunion."
"Rose mentioned that Josie was disappointed that Greer and Juniper wasn't coming to the picnic and then sleep-over at Grammie's house. I think the girls were looking forward to it too."
"So, nothing changes?"
"No, we keep the same days. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?"
"Zorii said that she was looking forward to our next weekend—"
"Who is she trying to impress? Is her boss coming over for dinner again?" Poe's wife works two days in Atlanta, then the rest of the time remotely at home. Rey's still mad that Zorii will invite work friends over and pretend that Juniper and Greer belong to her.
"No, she's not doing that anymore." Rey can hear her talking in the background.
"Poe." She tries to get his attention as he says something to Zorii. "Poe, listen to me. We're keeping our normal weekends. You get them this weekend, then next weekend is mine. Nothing has changed."
"Alright, Rey." He doesn't say anything else and hangs up on her. "Why does he keep doing that to me?"
"Everything ok?" Rose asks when she comes back in.
"My life sucks," Rey grunts as she grabs another beer.
"It's a good thing I drove," Rose adds.
"Why did you let me marry him?" Rey begins. "I don't regret having the girls, don't get me wrong, but why is Poe such a dumb-ass?'' Rose laughs and Paige throws an arm around her shoulders.
"He's still thinking with his dick, sweetie." They all laugh at that. "Did you say that he's taking the girls this weekend? Like tomorrow weekend?"
"Yep, then the reunion, then prom. We both got roped into prom this year." Paige drops her arm, and goes to her desk where she rummages in her top drawer. A key ring comes flying at Rey who catches it in one hand. "The cabin? You're going to let me use the cabin?"
"Yep," Paige says with a smile. "I'm going to be busy all weekend, Rose and Finn don't ever go up there. It's all yours."
"Thank you," Rey says, tears in her eyes. "This might be just what I needed."
"I'll be alright, I promise." Rey loves the feel of her daughter's hugs. "If you need me, call the cabin first or message me. My cell won't work there but there is Wi-Fi." She just wishes she didn't have to leave them. "Be good for Daddy," she whispers.
"I will," Greer says.
"I will," Juniper promises.
They pick up their duffel bags and walk slowly into the house. It still hurts Rey's heart to know that the perfect family she always prayed for has turned into this. But being apart from Poe is a lot better than the endless fights, the cheating, the lying.
And the girls still have their dad, even if he can't live with them.
Zorii opens the door for them and waves at Rey. She still waits for the girls to enter their house before she gets back in her truck.
It's a thirty-minute drive to Paige's cabin. Rey has already been by the grocery store and she has her kindle downloaded with the latest fanfics she's been dying to read. So, she rolls down the windows and turns up the radio…
Bear Lake is a small lake compared to some of the others nearby, but that's one of the reasons why Rey loves it here. She'll be able to finally relax and not have to listen to inboard and outboard motors zooming up and down the lake all day.
She just wishes that she could have her own little cabin here one day.
Her snort is loud in the truck. "Keep dreaming. You'll never be able to afford a cabin on a teacher's salary." She takes the turn that brings her closer to the water and she can't help but to notice how many more houses there are compared to a couple of years ago.
But she loves how the oaks and the poplars still line the little blacktop road, casting it in cool shadow even though it's almost ninety degrees. Then the little pops of color coming from the azaleas and rhododendrons blooming confirms that late spring is indeed her favorite time of the year.
Rey smiles when she sees Paige's mailbox that's shaped like a stack of books. She eases down the driveway. The blue tin roof of the cabin peeks through the trees at her while the porch that goes the length of the house welcomes her like an old friend.
When she parks the truck, she bounces out with a surge of energy she hasn't felt in years. She pulls the key out of her pocket as she steps onto the porch. The door swings open easily, and Rey steps in.
As well as Rey knows Paige, she knows that while she's changing stuff all the time in her bookstore, she knows that she leaves the cabin alone. Light, breezy lace curtains line the windows, while the overstuffed leather couch and chairs sit beside the antique fireplace. The kitchen is in the corner with the dining table big enough for all the Tico's to gather around it.
A new quilt does line the couch and she runs her hand down it as she heads for the French doors leading to the back. She unlocks them and they open before her like the lost princess viewing her kingdom she sometimes pretends she is.
But then no one comes to help her clean the house or fold the rest of the laundry and she tries not to be bitter.
She walks down the path that leads to the water. "That's new," she whispers to herself as she spies the new dock at least fifty feet from Tico's older one.
As if by magic, she hears laughter coming from the trees. Leaves crunch as something or someone approaches her quickly from behind. She turns to see a huge brown Newfoundland barreling down the dock to her. Just as she braces to be thrown off the dock into the water, she hears, "Artoo! Get back here!" A smile appears when she sees who is following the oversized ball of fur.
"Ben?"