WREN

“Is that your phone ringing? I thought we don’t have service out here.”

Digging through my bag, I’m surprised, too. “Yeah, didn’t we check earlier?”

“Who is it?”

Staring at a number I don’t recognize I shrug one shoulder. “Don’t know…hello?”

“Wren?”

“Yes, who’s this?”

“Eric Cocker.”

I almost drop the phone, but manage not to as I repeat for her benefit, “Eric Cocker?”

She mouths, What the fuck?

“How did you get my number?”

Eric’s deep voice is quiet, even bleak as he explains, “Mike gave it to me.”

I mouth to her, Mike gave him my number. Eleanor nods and frantically waves for me to keep talking to him.

“Um, how have you been? I haven’t seen you since the park.”

A fact I’ve tried not to notice.

And failed miserably.

He doesn’t answer the question, asks instead, “Where are you right now?”

“At another park.” Appalled at my inability to talk like a normal person, I roll my eyes. “Guess I like them.”

“Which one?”

“Cascade Springs.”

He exhales, “God, I haven’t been there since I was a kid.” His volume rises. “Okay, it won’t take me long to get over there.”

“You’re coming here?”

Eleanor’s butt bounces on the boulder, her frantic hands hitting my knees.

I slap her away.

“Fifteen minutes probably without traffic if I’m lucky.”

“Why are you coming?”

“I have to talk to you. And it has to be in person.”

This is so bizarre all I can do is agree. “Um, okay, we’re by the stream. When you go left in the park, keep on that path. It’ll be a ways but there’s a small waterfall over a man-made cave.”

“The drainage pipe one?”

“Is that what this is?”

“Pretty much.”

“But it’s so lovely.”

“Yeah, nature took it over. I’ll see you there.” He hangs up.

I drop the phone onto my lap, dumbfounded and speechless.

Eleanor leans close. “What. The. Fuck.”

“Mom?!” Antoine calls over, distressed.

“Coming baby,” she tells him before leaning toward me. “I’ve been watching this go down, keeping my mouth shut but now that Eric-fucking-Cocker is driving all the way over here to see you when he probably has a million other things he could be doing, I’m glad I just broke the silence about Peter, because girl, don’t be a doormat anymore. You deserve more. Wake up and smell the quarterback.” She jumps off the boulder. “Antoine, what is it? Please tell me you didn’t kill that sweet turtle.”

“No, look! A snake!”

“Oh dear lord, get away from that thing.” Octopus-like arms wrap around her children and whisk them from the stream’s edge, setting them down and shooing them onto the trail. “We’re walking back to the car, go! But don’t run. I want to be able to see you at all times, you hear me?”

“Yes, momma!” they say, Tia pushing her hair back with both hands.

I swipe our empty cups and jump down. We’re heading to the parking lot at the park’s entrance, so I’m not worried I’ll miss Eric’s arrival. If anything I’ll run into him on the way.

With our feet crunching dead leaves I confess, “I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

She calls to her kids. “Are there any snakes where you are?”

They stop walking and look around. Disappointed, their shoulder slump, “No.”

“Good, hang tight.” She returns to me, eyes patient but firm. “This is not the Wren I know. That guy has fucked with your head. You are going to ditch him, right?”

“Yes. I think I have to.”

“Do you feel relief or sadness when you think of ending things?”

Blinking to the ground I mull it over. Sliding my gaze back up I say, “Relief. But it’s hard to break up with someone.”

Nodding she admits, “It’s never easy. But the best things rarely are.” Giving me a hug, she heads toward her children, calling over her shoulder, “Call him right now!”

“Now?”

“Yes! Or you might not do it.”

Oh, I’ll do it. What she said cleared the fog I’ve been in. It’s weird when you’re in a bad relationship and you can’t see outside of it until a friend shines the light and says, this way to freedom.