Sorry for taking so long, but Real Life came and bit me on the behind. It's a rainy day in Missouri so I have some time to update. Hope you like it.
Tami opened her daughters bedroom door and found Julie curled on her bed, crying quietly. "Julie, honey, what's wrong?"
Julie sat up to look at her mother and wiped her eyes. "I had a fight with Tim, again."
Tami sat down on the edge of the bed as asked "Was that him on the phone?"
Julie shook her head "No, that was Lyla, she and Tyra want me to go camping again with them."
"Well?" Tami asked. "What did you tell her?"
"I told her I didn't know if I felt like it. I'm supposed to call her back in a little while."
Tami was quiet as she considered her daughter's words. She reached out to smooth Julie's hair as she thought about how grateful she was that they had mended their relationship. "Julie, listen to me for a minute." When Julie met her eyes she continued. "Boys may come and go…" She held up her hand for silence when Julie started to protest. "I know you love Tim, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that I don't want you to look back on this summer with regret. Have a relationship with Tim if that's what you want but don't waste this opportunity to cement your friendship with Tyra and Lyla. Let them help you, Julie. Friendships are a powerful force of nature and they can carry you through the toughest times and they make the joyful ones even better." She leaned over to give Julie a kiss on the top of her head. On her way out of the bedroom door she said "Let me know if I need to pack you a cooler."
Julie thought about what she had said for a few moments before she reached for her cell phone.
That first trip to the lake had been one of desperation and confusion but the second one was the one that really started the tradition and put them on the road to their lifelong friendship. Lyla leaned back in her chair as she thought about all their trips to the lake. She gazed up at the stars as she listened to Tyra on the phone with Landry, explaining to him where she was and what was going on. She looked over and caught Julie's eye. "Who would have thought, right? Tyra and Landry with the two kids and a storybook romance." She shared a laugh with Julie at the expense of their friend. Tyra threw an empty cup across the fire pit hitting Lyla in the head and they all shared a good laugh as Tyra said good-night to Landry.
"Why don't you have the fairytale, Lyla?" Julie asked. "We've been expecting it for years. When are you and Jason going to admit that you're together for real this time?"
"I don't know. We've spent the last nine or ten years in and out of love. Well, you remember how we were that summer and then he just up and left to go on that trip with Herc." Lyla paused and thought about what she wanted to say. "That's how it was for about five of the last ten years. Every time we got back together he would disappear on another trip or something. It's been hard to trust him but we're getting there. Don't buy your bridesmaid dress just yet, but maybe someday. We love each other and we're taking it slow this time. That's enough for now."
Tyra was finishing up her side work after a hectic lunch rush when her phone rang. She had been hanging out with Lyla for a few weeks now but the sight of her name on the caller ID still had the power to make Tyra feel slightly Twilight Zoney. When she heard what Lyla had to say the feeling intensified. "Jason is gone and I don't know where."
Tyra could only think of one thing to say "Camping it is then. I'll swing by and pick Julie up and we'll pick you up in an hour."
After Lyla agreed, Tyra called Julie and arranged to pick her up. The ride to the lake was spent in a strangely comfortable silence. The silence continued through the set-up and the other two girls were content to let Lyla set the pace. They spent the remaining hours of sunlight floating in the lake and listening to music. Tyra kept a close eye on Lyla for the whole afternoon, but held her tongue until the were settle around the fire pit in their usual places.
"So, let's talk about this." Tyra stated. Before Lyla could reply Landry drove up in Tyra's truck and walked to them carrying a case of Budweiser. He set it down beside Tyra and gave her a quick kiss. "This is from Tim. He said that you can't camp without beer." He nodded at Julie and Lyla "Ladies, have a good night." He turned around a headed back to the truck leaving the three girls to gape in amazement.
"I think that he's a keeper" Lyla told Tyra.
Tyra just grinned at her as she handed each of them a bottle. "Don't think that you can change the subject that easily Garrity. Spill."
"I've known for a few weeks now that he's felt restless. He just kept talking about how he was feeling worthless and he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. I haven't been able to answer him. I just don't know what to say. Sometimes I feel like my loving him isn't enough for him." Lyla picked at the label on her bottle as she talked. "The note said that he was with Herc and that they would be back when they get back. What in the Hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Lyla, have you ever thought that he might actually need something more than your love? You know, all that 'man can't live on love alone' crap" Tyra told her.
"Holy Cow, Tyra's getting all literary on us. You better listen Lyla, this is a very rare occurrence." Julie said. She laughed at Tyra's scowl. "Now seriously, I think Tyra is right. Maybe you just need to take a step back and let him find his way back to you. You just need to decide if you still want to be here when he does find his way back."
Lyla was quiet for a few minutes as she digested what they had said. "You two are geniuses." She raised her bottle to Tyra. "I propose a toast to Tyra for being smart enough to stop and pick me up that day." They clinked their bottles and each took long swigs.
"Well, as long as were making toasts, here's one to the guys for driving us so crazy that we have to get together just to stay sane." Julie said. She looked across the fire to the other two girls and they all raised their bottles to the sky and shouted across the lake "Texas Forever!"
Tyra finished her conversation with Landry and joined the other two girls at the fire pit. "Landry's coming tomorrow and he's gonna pick Street up on the way here." She chewed her bottom lip as she considered her next statement. "Julie, I don't know if they can get past Tim so you should be prepared."
"Tyra, quit worrying. I told you that I'm not going anywhere so I'm gonna have to see him sometime. It might as well be here, surrounded by friends. In fact, I think I'm looking forward to it, having us all together again. I know it won't be like it was but I love all of you and I need this. I need to be with all of you." Julie twirled some hair around her fingers as she thought about something she wanted to tell them. "You guys want to hear something strange? When I was trapped in that Hum-V, waiting for them to get me out, I closed me eyes and I could feel you two there with me. I kept hearing that song we were stuck on that summer. Remember?"
She was startled when Tyra jumped up and ran to the truck. She came back with an iPod and a speaker system. "Remember? Hell, that's still one of my favorite songs." She pushed a button and the song filled the warm Texas night.
When I die I may not go to Heaven, I don't know if they let cowboys in. If they don't just let me go to Texas, Texas is as close as I've been.
New York couldn't hold my attention, Detroit city couldn't sing my song. If tomorrow finds me busted flat in Dallas I won't care, 'cause at least I'll know I'm home.
I'd ride through all of Hell and half of Texas just to hear Willie Nelson's country songs. Beer just ain't as cold in old Milwaukee. My body's here, but my soul's in San Antone.
By the time the last chorus was playing all three girls were singing at the top of their lungs.
When I die I may not go to Heaven, I don't know if they let cowboys in. If they don't just let me go to Texas, Texas is as close as I've been.
As the girls dissolved into laughing piles, they were unaware of their audience on the other side of the lake. "God bless Tanya Tucker" Tim said quietly to himself. Julie didn't know it, but Coach and Mrs. Coach had kept him informed of Julie's life. He knew all about her PTSD and hearing her sing and laugh with the girls was music to his ears.
After the music faded away, Julie finally got the courage to ask about Tim. "So, I know he graduated and then went to Canada to play. What happened after that?"
Tyra answered her "He played in Canada for two years and then went to Japan for another two years before he blew is knee out. He's been back here for three years, coaching at the High School."
Lyla saw Julies look of amazement "Your dad gave him a great recommendation and my dad made it his personal mission to get him hired. He's done a great job. They haven't made it to State yet, but everyone sees it in the future." She paused and exchanged a look with Tyra. When Tyra gave her a little nod she continued. "Julie, he hasn't dated anyone in the last five years and before that they were all just casual flings. We just thought that you should know that."
"How do you know they were just casual?" Julie asked.
"He told me a few years ago that he has only loved three women in his life. Then he said it was just his luck that they would turn out to be best friends. Call me crazy, but I think he was talking about us." Tyra answered her.
Tyra and Lyla could tell that Julie had a lot on her mind as they banked the fire and prepared for bed. After Tyra had turned down the lantern, Julie spoke up. "It's funny, ten years ago I would have died before living in Dillon, Texas but now I can't imagine anything else. It's just too bad that it took me ten years to realize that, ten years and a lot of life lessons."
"Life's too short to live with regret, Taylor. Suck it up and drive on." Tyra said from her sleeping bag.
"That's nice, Tyra. Real supportive." Lyla told her. She was trying to be stern, but she couldn't hide the amusement in her voice. Typical Tyra.
"You're right. Tomorrow is another day and I promise that I am no longer going to live with regrets." Julie stated.
"Amen my sister." Tyra said.
Julie lay awake as the other two girls drifted off to sleep. She was thinking about what could happen the next day and she finally joined them in sleep with a smile on her face.
I grew up in Texas and the campfire scene is an actual scene from my life. Drinking and singing with my best friends, it just doesn't get any better. My friend Jen gets the credit for the no regret vibe of this chapter. She is my own personal Amazon chic.