The next day I went to the gym after work. I wanted to work out with Jackie one more time before moving. Eric and I joined a gym in our new town and planned to go together.
I was getting dressed when Jackie walked into the locker room. She threw her gym bag on the floor. ‘I can’t believe I’m losing my gym buddy!’
I sat on the bench to put on my sneakers. ‘I’m sure you’ll survive.’
Jackie sat down beside me and opened her gym bag. She pulled out a wrapped box and handed it to me. ‘Just a little something for your new place.’
‘Thanks, Jack.’ I hugged her. I ripped off the wrapping paper and lifted the box top. On the left was a photo of me and Jackie as teens. On the right was a current photo.
‘It’s beautiful, Jackie.’ Tears formed in the corners of my eyes.
Jackie smiled. ‘I know we won’t see each other as often, but I wanted you to know that I’m always here for you no matter what.’
A warm tear slid down my cheek. I hugged Jackie again. ‘Thanks for always looking out for me.’
‘I’ll always have your back. Now, let me change into my gym clothes so I’m not late to class.’
One Zumba class and weight circuit workout later, Jackie and I hit the sauna.
Jackie spread a towel on the bench and sat down across from me. ‘What time are the movers coming tomorrow?’
I sighed. ‘Eight. I took off Monday, too.’
‘A four-day weekend will be nice. Are you sure you don’t want me to help?’
I tilted my water bottle and took a sip. ‘I think everything’s taken care of. Eric moved today; I’ll move tomorrow. He said the movers were excellent and I shouldn’t worry about a thing.’
I looked at the timer on the wall. ‘I feel like we’ve been in here forever and it’s only been a couple of minutes.’
‘If you’re ready to get out, just let me know,’ Jackie said wiping her face with a small towel.
I shook my head. ‘A couple more minutes.’
‘You know, there was a time when I couldn’t get you into a sauna.’
‘You’re right. I never liked being trapped in small spaces. I was so afraid the door wouldn’t open and I’d be stuck inside and die.’
Jackie laughed. ‘So, I guess you wouldn’t like having one of those panic rooms.’
‘Never thought about it. Maybe. I mean, it would be handy if someone was breaking into the house. I could just crawl inside and hide and no one would be able to get to me. I sort of like the idea of being able to hide.’
Jackie looked at the timer. ‘Time’s up. Let’s get out of here.’
I checked my phone as soon as I finished showering. There were four texts from Eric.
Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!
Finally, we’ll be waking up together every day!
Where are you?
Call me. I’m worried.
I called him on the way home. ‘I’m sure I told you I was meeting Jackie.’
‘You should download a GPS tracker app on your cell phone so I can keep tabs on you.’
‘Not really. I mean, I worry about you. I can’t help it. I don’t want anything to happen to you. I love you too much to lose you.’
‘Are you saying that if I download the tracker app, you won’t worry so much?’
‘Yes. And I’ll download it, too. That way we can both know where the other is. It’s not about keeping tabs. It’s about having peace of mind that you’re safe.’
It seemed like a reasonable request. And to be honest, I liked the idea of someone looking out for me and keeping me safe. I’m not sure I ever felt as if someone wanted to keep me safe. Maybe Grandma. Certainly never Mom or Scott. It was nice that someone cared so much about my wellbeing. By the end of the night I had downloaded the app.
Eric was right about the movers. They were careful and quick. I stood in the middle of my empty living room and scanned the empty walls. There were a few holes where pictures had hung and indentations in the carpet where furniture had sat.
Jackie and Bruce had just hauled away my dining-room set in a truck they’d rented. What I hadn’t given away was headed to my new home where Eric was waiting for me.
I felt as if I had a watermelon lodged in my throat. It was more difficult leaving the place I’d escaped to after my marriage ended than I anticipated.
I heard Izzy purr and picked her up. ‘I know, Iz. It’s tough saying goodbye but I think you’ll love our new home.’ I scratched her head. ‘I’m sure you’ll find a great spot to watch the deer and rabbits and squirrels in the backyard.’
I put Izzy inside her travel crate and checked every cabinet and room to make sure I’d left nothing behind. I noticed a half bar of soap in the shower and dropped it into the trash bag I’d put in the dumpster outside before I left.
I texted Eric: I’m on my way.
As I left the apartment complex, I glanced in my rear-view mirror. I could still remember the day I’d moved into my apartment. I was scared about starting my life over, of being alone, wondering if I’d ever love again.
As I pulled onto the highway heading south, for the first time in a long time I was excited about my future. I wasn’t sure what it would bring, but I was sure it would be great. After all, I’d found Eric. He was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
About twenty minutes into the drive, I felt hunger pangs and realized I hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch. It was now two. I noticed a sign for gas and food and decided to get off at the next exit. I pulled into a burger joint. Normally I didn’t eat fast food, but it was either that or a sandwich from the gas station.
Rather than drive and eat, I pulled into a parking space and gobbled down my food. I followed it up with two pain killers to squash the headache my lack of eating had caused. Eric texted.
I jumped, thinking he must be here, too. Then I remembered he knew where I was because of the tracker app. How sweet of him to check up on me. I texted him back: Yes. Very hungry. Was getting a headache. See you soon.
I wondered if there’d ever be a time when having the tracker app would be more of a curse than a blessing. For instance, I’d been thinking about buying Eric a new watch. A couple of weeks ago, he’d showed me one he liked while we were checking out rings at the jewelry store next to the mall. If he was constantly checking the app, he might see that I was there and my surprise would be ruined.
As the miles fell behind me the reality of being so far away from work hit home. I told my boss the distance wouldn’t be a problem, and I was determined that it wouldn’t be. I planned to keep an overnight bag in my car in case I had to unexpectedly stay over. Besides Jackie, a few co-workers also offered me a room if ever I needed one.
When I arrived at the new house, the movers were unloading the truck. Eric was at my car door as soon as I pulled in. I got out and he threw his arms around me. ‘Welcome home!’
I retrieved Izzy’s crate from the car and we walked inside. There were towers of boxes everywhere.
I sighed. ‘I’m glad I have a long weekend. We have a lot of unpacking to do.’
‘I want to show you the bedroom and see if you like where I placed the bed and dressers.’
Eric had decided that we’d put my bedroom furniture, which I bought after leaving Scott, in the guest bedroom and use his. I walked into the bedroom. ‘It looks great.’
‘Do you like where your dresser is?’ he asked. ‘If you don’t, we can move it to the other wall.’
I smiled. ‘No, it’s perfect. Thanks!’
I liked my mahogany bedroom furniture more but it pleased Eric that I’d agreed to use his oak set, and I liked making him happy. After all, it was only bedroom furniture.
After the movers left, Eric and I started to unpack. We started in the kitchen, where Eric had already lined the cabinets and put his dishes away.
I opened the cabinet where he’d stacked the dishes, saucers and bowls. ‘Wow! You have a lot of stuff. I’m not sure we really need mine.’
I checked the rest of the cabinets and drawers. All of them were filled with his things. ‘Why don’t we just store my kitchen items in the basement? I really don’t think we need to use mine and yours, and since yours is already put away. I can store mine.’
He looked down at the box he’d just opened. ‘Are you sure?’
I nodded.
‘Or…’ he started to say but abruptly stopped.
‘Or what?’
He glanced at the kitchen boxes stacked on the dining-room table, which was also his, and the floor. ‘You could donate them to charity. It’s not like we need them. Like you said, I have all of the kitchen stuff we need.’
My shoulders sank. I’d had some of my coffee mugs since college. For a moment, it occurred to me that I’d be surrounded by mostly Eric’s things. I felt a pang of regret that I’d moved in second. We didn’t need multiple slow cookers or canister sets.
‘Or, if you prefer, I can give mine away,’ Eric said.
‘No, mine’s packed. It doesn’t make sense to unpack mine and pack yours. It’s just stuff.’
We hauled the boxes to the garage and Eric said he’d drop them off at the Goodwill store.
‘Let me call Jackie first to see if she wants them,’ I said. ‘We can keep the sheets and towels and use them when yours wear out.’
That night, Eric made burgers on the grill and we sat outside on the patio overlooking the backyard. I was glad the sellers had sold us their patio furniture. We could have bought new, but buying theirs was easier. It was a perfect evening, warm enough to sit outside without a sweater.
‘Beautiful evening, isn’t it?’ I said, watching as the light of day slowly faded.
‘Not as beautiful as you.’ Eric removed the burgers from the grill and opened a bottle of wine. He handed me a glass and held up his. ‘Here’s to us!’
I gasped. My free hand flew to my beating heart. A silver wine charm dangled from the crystal stem. Tears filled my eyes. ‘Oh, Eric!’
Eric sat his glass on the table and removed the 1.5 carat solitaire platinum ring and knelt. ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Shelly. Will you honor and cherish me and be my wife?’
Tears streamed down my cheeks. Eric wanted me! He loved me! He wanted me to be his forever!
‘Yes! Yes! A thousand yeses!’ I cried as he took me in his arms.
‘I love you more than you’ll ever know,’ he said.
‘I love you more.’
That night, under the glow of the moon, we made love on a blanket in the backyard. It was the perfect ending to a perfect night.