Three Months Later
Jackie walked into my apartment carrying a huge paper bag stuffed with newspapers.
I looked up from the kitchen table where I was packing dishes. ‘Thanks for bringing the papers. I just ran out.’
Jackie grabbed a bundle and laid them on the table. She pointed to the dishes I’d stacked on the kitchen counter. ‘Should I pack those?’
I shook my head. ‘I’m not taking those. They were mine and Scott’s.’
Jackie picked up one of the plates I’d been wrapping and walked over to the counter and picked up a plate stacked next to the toaster. She held up both plates. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to take these plates instead? They’re a little nicer.’
‘No. I like these better.’
Jackie walked back over to the table and wrapped the plate in her hand. ‘Are you okay? You seem a little grumpy.’
I sighed. ‘Just tired. I hadn’t realized how much stuff I needed to get rid of.’
Jackie looked around. ‘Yeah, I guess combining two households can be a chore. Not that I’m complaining because I get your gorgeous dining table and cabinet. Are you sure you don’t want to take them? They’d look great in a log cabin.’
I shook my head.
‘I can still remember when you and Scott bought them. We searched for months looking for the perfect table and you and I stumbled across that shop when we were driving through the Amish country, remember?’
I smiled. ‘Martin’s Chair Shop.’ I walked over and rubbed my hand on the cabinet. ‘Well, if I can’t keep it, at least I know it’s going to a good home.’
Jackie looked puzzled. ‘What do you mean can’t keep it?’
I waved my hand. ‘What I meant to say is that I’m glad you’re taking it since I won’t have room for it. I’ll see it when I visit.’
‘And if you ever change your mind,’ Jackie said, ‘you can have it back.’
‘I won’t change my mind.’ I returned to the table where Jackie had just finished wrapping the last dish.
‘So, what’s next?’ Jackie asked.
‘The set of china in the cupboard. I want to give that to Lucy.’
Jackie’s eyes popped. ‘But you got that set of china for a wedding present!’
I nodded. ‘Yes. I want my god-daughter to have it.’
Jackie walked over to the cupboard, opened the door and retrieved a porcelain tea cup trimmed in gold with pink flowers. ‘I don’t know what to say. This is a gorgeous set.’
‘Just say thank you.’
Jackie hugged me and we wrapped the china, carefully placing the pieces in a sturdy cardboard box.
Two hours later, we were done. I grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and gave one to Jackie. ‘I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted.’
‘Does Eric have as much stuff as you?’ Jackie asked.
I looked around my apartment. ‘More.’
‘Who’s helping him pack?’
‘He hired a company to pack, label and move everything.’
‘Nice.’
‘He offered to pay them to do the same for me, but I wanted to do it. I hadn’t realized how difficult emotionally this move would be for me.’
Jackie sat on the sofa. ‘That’s understandable. Replacing a life you know with one you don’t is stressful. But you need to remember why you’re making this move. You love Eric, right?’
‘Yes. I’ve never met anyone quite like him. Loving, kind. Sometimes it feels too good to be true. And I know it’s all happened so fast.’
‘I agree. Your relationship did progress quickly. Six months after meeting him, you’re buying a house together. But I must admit I’ve never seen you this happy, even when things were good between you and Scott. And work’s going well, too, right?’
I sat down beside her. ‘It’s been a great year so far. Remember that million-dollar home I told you about?’
‘I have someone interested. That would be a great commission if that came through.’
I stood and walked over to a box near the bookcase. ‘Look what I found!’ I handed Jackie our high school yearbook.
She laughed and paged through it. ‘We were quite the fashionistas.’
I laughed.
‘What are you wearing to the reunion next Saturday anyway?’
‘A dress Eric bought me. Want to see it?’
Jackie followed me into the bedroom and I showed her the dress.
‘That’s gorgeous. Try it on. I want to see it on you.’
I put on the dress and twirled around. ‘What do you think?’
‘I think you’ll be turning heads. You look beautiful in it.’
I cupped my breasts. ‘Do you think my breasts are too small?’
‘Oh, no! Not this again! I thought you got over your insecurity about your breasts. Did Eric say something?’
I shook my head. ‘He said he loves me just the way I am.’
‘Good. I’m glad to see he isn’t feeding your insecurity which, I might add, you’ve had since junior high. I’ve told you before and I’ll say it again, your girls are perfect. But, if having bigger boobs is important to you and you want to do it, then go for it. Of course, you could just gain some weight like me and your breasts will fill out along with your stomach and thighs. Just increase your caloric intake and focus on fattier foods like cheeses and sugary foods like cookies.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘You’re crazy!’
Jackie was right about one thing. I always felt inferior when it came to my breasts. I was a late bloomer and stuffed my bra with tissues in junior high. One day in gym class, I bent over and a tissue fell out. Liz the Loud Mouth picked it up and waved it around, telling everyone what I had done. I was mortified. After that, I tried to embrace my gymnast’s physique, but it still bothered me. Sort of like a splinter that you can’t get out from under your skin. There’s a dull ache and the more you try to dig it out the deeper it goes.
I called Eric after Jackie left.
‘I told you I’d have helped you pack,’ Eric said.
‘I know, but Jackie wanted to. And we haven’t spent much time together lately, so it was great catching up.’
‘What did you decide to do with your furniture?’
‘Jackie’s taking the dining-room table and cabinet and I’ve donated the guest-bedroom furniture to a local women’s shelter.’
‘Great. I can’t wait to wake up next to you every day.’
‘You’re so sweet.’
‘It’s easy when I have someone like you. By the way, I’ve arranged for you to have a day at that spa we saw in town.’
‘Wow! You didn’t have to do that.’
‘You’ve been working hard. And since you insisted on packing yourself, I wanted to give you an afternoon at the spa to relax.’
‘Thanks. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more thoughtful person.’