Learning to Live Again

Chapter 2

Libby smiled at her niece Abby. She lived in the garage apartment that her brother owned, which allowed her a lot of time with her niece and nephew. Aside from her students, it was the closest she would come to having kids of her own.

Her first fiancé had died from the Red Flu, and her second had texted her the day of their wedding that he was jilting her. Turns out, he had been sleeping with a friend all along and couldn't see himself married to a size 20, when he could be with a size 2; according to his text.

Libby threw herself into losing weight. She accomplished losing forty pounds before the auto-immune disorder that had caused her to weigh so much reared its ugly head. It also caused skin issues, so she never wore make-up and her eyesight was terrible. She had contacts for when she was at school, but on the weekends, stayed in her glasses.

"So, Joey said that you were going out to Mike Slattery's to see about your class adopting him. How'd that go?" Libby's sister-in-law, Tamara asked.

"He agreed but oh, the sarcasm!" Libby said.

"I think it is a coping mechanism. He's scared to let people in, so he makes himself into a butthead, so people don't like him." Tamara said.

"I just hope he doesn't subject the kids to it." Libby said.

"I'm sure he won't. He's really good with Andy and Abby." Tamara said as she filled her fruit bowl.

"Which is surprising. I read up on him. He lost his three kids to the Red Flu." Libby remarked.

"Which has to be incredibly painful. I couldn't imagine losing one kid, let alone three. And his wife too. He's never really moved on, which is shocking." Tamara remarked.

"How so?" Libby asked as she picked Abby up.

"Well, he's still good-looking. If you can get past the sarcasm, he is basically a good guy." Tamara said.

"Don't!" Libby said.

"Don't what? I'm just putting apples in my fruit bowl." Tamara said.

"Don't try and fix me up with him. He's ten years too old. He is arrogant and sarcastic. Things I detest! I know how you do your matchmaking." Libby said.

"No matchmaking here. We'll have him to dinner again and you live upstairs. You eat most of your meals with us. If you have an itch, scratch it and if he has an itch, scratch it. You're thirty-four. This isn't the Victorian times, and I don't have to chaperone for the two of you. Honestly, I think it is what you both need." Tamara said.

"What?" Libby asked.

"I repeat, you are thirty-four, surely you know what I mean?" Tamara asked.

"No, I want you to spell it out." Libby answered.

"I think you need laid. I think he needs laid. Viola!" Tamara said.

"Oh. I think I'm going back to my apartment on that note. Bye, Andy! Bye, Abby!" Libby said as she kissed her niece and nephew. She put Abby back down on the floor and walked out before Tamara could say much else. She had no real response.