"Hey Sue!" Mack called from across the street before she ran over.
"Hi Mack." Susan replied. Mack laughed as she fell into Susan's arms. "Where's Andy?"
"He had a meeting with his history prof today. He wants to know why he failed his report on Europe." Mack said.
"Ah. Yeah, this is why I didn't go to college. I'm attending the school of life." Susan responded.
"I tried going there." Mack said and paused with a sigh. "But then my mother had a fit and I chose UCLA to get away from home."
"I wanted to be away from my home as well. Where I live is surrounded with people I know." Susan stated.
"Oh I don't know. I think it'd be cool to have a mountain named after my family." Mack teased with a smile.
"It was when I was younger. But it got irritating as I got older. Such as anything to do with my father." Susan said.
"What about your father? I thought he and your mother divorced when you were little." Mack questioned.
"Yeah. I was seven when they got divorced." Susan replied. "But my Grandfather owns Northridge Lumber. It's the largest company in Virginia. My father works there and now because my last name is Northridge everybody treats me differently."
"Oh." Mack said.
"Hey ladies." Andy said as he walked up behind them and wrapped his arms around their shoulders.
"Hi Andy." Susan said. "I'm sorry, but I have to head to my apartment."
"We'll go with you!" Mack exclaimed. Susan laughed.
"Okay. I just need to change my clothes before we got out. I just hope Stacey doesn't mind." Susan said.
"It won't be a problem Sue." Andy replied. The three teens joked and messed around walking the five blocks to Susan's apartment. When they got to the old brick building they went inside and Susan headed straight for the mailboxes, and opened up her box. There were three white envelopes. Susan pulled them out and started flipping through them.
"Electric bill, phone bill, and a letter from my dad." Susan said absent mindedly.
"From your dad?" Mack asked as they walked to the elevator and Susan opened the phone bill.
"Yeah." Susan said.
"Why don't you open it?" Andy asked.
"Oh I will." Susan replied. The elevator doors opened on the third floor and the three walked out and over to Susan and Stacey's apartment. Susan fumbled to find the key as she opened the electric bill. Finally she pulled out the key and unlocked the door. The living room was empty as they all filed in. Susan put her coat over the arm of the couch and put the bills and the letter on the table.
"Stacey! I'm home! I brought some friends home, but we are leaving just as soon as I can change my clothes." Susan said. Susan sat back on the couch and looked at the letter from her dad. She picked it up. Just then Stacey walked in from the other room.
"Hi Susan, I was in the kitchen washing the dishes when you called for me." Stacey said. Mack and Andy looked at her and couldn't believe that Susan and Stacey were actually roommates. Susan was sitting on the couch in a t-shirt and jeans, whereas Stacey had on a business-like pantsuit and her hair was pulled back in a bun. She wore wire frame glasses that went from her eyebrows down to the apple of her cheek. Standing there, the two could tell that she had perfect posture and wasn't slouching. Stacey seemed kind of quiet and the apartment was immaculate except for Susan's jacket on the couch.
"Hi." Mack paused, and then started up again. "I'm-"
"Oh I know who you both are." Stacey said nicely. "I go to UCLA as well. You are Mackenzie Friedman, but you go by Mack; and this is Ralph Andrew Michaels the Third, but he prefers Andy."
"How do you know that?" Mack asked curiously.
"I pay very close attention to what happens and the people at school. I am quiet and reserved so I am good at being invisible when it comes to other people." Stacey said.
"Oh." Mack replied. Mack tapped Susan's shoulder. "Are you going to open that letter or what?"
"I'm going to open it. Just give me a minute." Susan responded. Susan opened the envelope and took out the piece of paper that was inside. At first, she sat and quietly read the letter from her father. Mack tried to read over her shoulder, but Andy pulled her back and shook his head at her.
"Mack, if Sue wants you to read her letter than she will let you. She hasn't talked to her father in years; let this be a private time between them." Andy said. Mack nodded and sat down next to her, but was no longer trying to read the letter. When Susan finished she looked at Mack.
"Would you like me to read the letter to you? It's nothing personal. I mean I can't believe some of the things he wrote but it's not personal." Susan said.
"Sure." Mack replied. Stacey sat down in the chair across the living room, but still had perfect posture.
"Dear Susan, I was very surprised to hear that you had moved to Los Angeles. I was out there once with your Grandfather for a business trip back in 1943, it's a beautiful place. Well how are you doing? Things are going great here for Northridge Lumber. The business is doing really well. I would love for you to come and see me sometime. I have been married now for about nine years to a woman I think you would just love. We have a seven year old son. I tried talking to your mom about Amanda and Peter coming to see us and that's when I found out that you were in California. I miss you a lot. I remember how you used to help me in the office all the time. With you out of high school and out from underneath your mother's thumb you can come be a part of Northridge Lumber with me and your grandfather. I know that you can't cut wood or do any of the jobs around here, but you can do odd office jobs. I guess I will talk to you if you ever send a letter back. Signed, Paul M. Northridge." Susan quoted.
"He sounds nice enough." Mack said.
"He didn't ask about my life here or anything. The majority of the letter was trying to get me to go back and work with him at the lumber mill and I don't want to do that. He left my family, he left my mother, I can't do that to her." Susan replied.
"I can understand that." Andy said nodding.
"Thank you." Susan responded. Just then the phone rang and Stacey walked over and picked it up.
"Hello?" Stacey asked. "Why yes she is. Who's this? Okay, I'll tell her." Stacey pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at Susan. "Susan, it's your mom." Susan looked at Andy and Mack, and then walked over and took the phone from Stacey.
"Hello?" Susan asked.
"Hi Susan!" Erin's energetic voice said through the phone. "How are you?"
"I'm good. I'm with some friends of mine right now. We were about to get ready and head out to go catch dinner and a movie." Susan replied.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize I would be bothering you. I was just calling to talk to you because all of us have been thinking about you. I talked to Peter and Amanda today, and it turns out you are on all of our minds. I miss you sweetie. I love you." Erin stated.
"You are never a bother mom. Really? You guys were actually thinking about me? I miss you too mom and I love you." Susan replied.
"Of course we think about you. Why wouldn't you think that we did?" Erin asked. Susan turned away from Mack and Andy.
"It's just because I got a letter from dad today." Susan said.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I told him that you moved out to California when he called and invited you and your brother and sister to go see him." Erin stated.
"I know. He wrote about it all in his letter. But mainly, all he talked about was what I could do for the business now that I was old enough that I didn't have to be with you anymore. It hurt me so much. I needed to find myself which is why I came to Los Angeles, but I am tired of dad always trying to use us kids to get back at you. It's not right and it's certainly not fair to you or to us." Susan said.
"I know honey, I know." Erin replied and Susan could tell that her mother was crying on the other end.
"Mom, did he tell you that he got married?" Susan asked.
"No he didn't. I figure he wouldn't want his ex-wife knowing about the new one. How long have they been together?" Erin questioned.
"Nine years, dad said they have a seven year old son together." Susan said.
"Oh, well isn't that good for them. Look Susan, I don't want to hold you up any longer for going to the movies with your friends. You call me sometime when you have time and we can talk about your dad or just how you're doing if you'd like. I'm here for you that is what mothers are for." Erin responded.
"Thanks mom. I love you." Susan said.
"I love you too." Erin replied and then hung up the phone. Susan hung up the phone and Mack hugged her. Susan wiped her face from where she had been crying.
"Come on! We got a movie we wanted to see." Susan said and they started walking towards the door, but Susan turned around. "Stacey? Do you want to go with us? It's my treat." Stacey's face lit up.
"Sure! I'd love to! Even if you didn't pay for it." Stacey said with a chuckle. Susan let everybody out of the door before she closed it behind her.