Her thoughts drifted to where they usually did when she needed to feel better about things. “What’d you think of my date, Cass? I imagine you got a few laughs out of that. You have to give her points for originality.” She stared at the carton in front of her. Cassie used to scoop the ice cream for her when she was depressed. And now she was older than Cassie ever would be. Sobering.
She missed her old life. When she had someone to come home to, discuss her day with, and to pick her up when she was low and laugh with when she wasn’t. Life had been good then. Yes, they’d had their share of problems and there had been some arguments about the future and kids, but eventually they’d have figured it all out…if it weren’t for the crash.
She believed that. Just as she believed they were robbed of what should have been their life together.
Molly took a bite of the double chocolate crunch, blinking back the tears in her eyes for only a minute before giving in and letting them fall in a ridiculous cascade down her face. Great. Now she was pathetic and emotional. Such a catch. With a lump in her throat, she continued eating her ice cream. Hell, maybe she’d gain another six pounds.
But you know what? That wasn’t right. She set down her spoon with purpose. It wasn’t fair to sell herself short and call it quits on any kind of meaningful existence because of a couple of horrible dates.
She decided to look at things another way.
She needed to get out there and have some fun. Take control of things. And damn it, she was going to start right now. She scanned the room for the remote control to her stereo system and stalked over to it on a mission now.
A flick of her wrist brought the living room to life with the vibrant sounds of some artist on the radio she’d never heard of. But the music was fast. It was loud. It was current, and she danced. She danced with a wild abandon she’d never felt before, moving across the room in a flurry, bopping her head, arms in the air, the music moving through her.
And it was good.
She felt alive, vibrant…dizzy. Whoa, okay, so maybe one too many turns around the sofa. Perhaps if she stood here for a moment, the room would stop spinning and that ringing would quiet down. That’s when it registered that it was her phone that was ringing. Yes, definitely her phone. She located it just in time, glancing quickly at the readout before answering.
“Hey, Jordan.”
“Oh, hey. Wasn’t expecting you to answer. I was just planning on leaving a voice mail.” And then in a hushed voice, “Oh, and sorry if I’m interrupting your half-date.”
Molly looked around her empty kitchen. “Nope. No interruption happening here. Just maniacal dancing. What’s up?”
“Um…just wanted to make sure you thought the shutters came out okay. I finished them up earlier. So when you get home, check them out and let me know.”
It had been dark when she’d returned home, but how had she missed this? “Hang on. Let me take a look.” She scurried down her front porch and across the sidewalk a bit. The luminous moon lit up the front of the house nicely. She took a breath. “Oh, Jordan, they’re gorgeous.” She placed her hand over her heart because they were. The fresh blue offered a perfect contrast to the white stone. It was amazing what just a small pick-me-up had done for her little house. Gone was the chipped paint and limp structure. The shutters were good as new, and Molly laughed at the obvious metaphor for her life. The shutters, as crazy as it seemed, gave her hope.
“So you’re happy? I’ve earned my keep?”
“And more. Thank you. I needed this.”
A pause. “Hey, you okay?”
Molly nodded into the phone. “I will be. Kind of a crazy night.”
“In what way?”
She sighed. “Let’s see, there was supernatural suspense, an overindulgence in ice cream, a self-involved fish, the crazy dancing previously mentioned. Oh, and I cried. I shouldn’t forget the pathetic crying. Yeah, that about covers it.”
“I’m coming over.”
“No, you’re not. I’m back together again. Promise. You do not need to come over.”
“Yes, I do. There’s ice cream.”
Molly couldn’t contain her smile, suddenly feeling not so alone. “There is ice cream.”
*
Jordan knocked on Molly’s door ten minutes later. The nearly full moon poured light across the porch and the word “welcome” glowed brightly from the doormat. It was a peaceful night on the sleepy street, and the shadows the moon created played softly in the trees.
She’d spent the evening shooting the breeze at The Owl Tree with the bartender, Little Bobby, her closest buddy from high school. Little Bobby, six feet three inches and two hundred and ten pounds, wasn’t really little at all, but he was named after his father and the town had to differentiate. She’d been having a good time catching up with many of the locals and could have stayed there most of the night if it hadn’t been for the obvious emotion in Molly’s voice.
It was clear she could use a friend, and Jordan didn’t like the idea of her alone and depressed. So she’d dropped a ten on the bar for Little Bobby and abandoned the second half of her beer.
It was only a few moments before Molly appeared at the door. She was smiling, but the semi-red eyes indicated that all was not as well as she tried to play off. She wore gray yoga pants, a light blue T-shirt, and had pulled her hair up into a ponytail.
“You didn’t have to come, you know. I’m sure you were wrapped up in something way more exciting and I’ve gone and ruined it.”
Jordan followed her in. “I think your idea of my life is a lot more exciting than the actual reality of it.”
“You’re trying to make me feel better.”
“A little. But it also happens to be true. So why the rough night? I take it the date didn’t go so well.”
“If you like lunatics it did.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes.”
“Tell me about it now or later?”
“Definitely later.”
“Done. But I feel strongly that we should take advantage of this opportunity.”
Molly plopped onto the couch and pulled her feet underneath her in the most adorable move. “What opportunity is that?”
“The feel-sorry-for-ourselves, veg-out-on-the-couch opportunity, of course. They don’t come along all that often. I’m boldly suggesting a movie. I love movies.”
“I’m aware. People pay you to make them.”
“Oh, you noticed. Can I check out your collection?”
“I’m not sure I could stop you.” But she was smiling so Jordan pressed on to the shelf lined with DVDs and perused. “You actually have quite an impressive little group here. I never would have guessed.”
“I feel there’s a veiled insult in there somewhere.”
“Not true.” She held up the case for The Godfather . “Did you know Sofia Coppola appeared in this film as Michael’s baby daughter in the christening scene?”
“I do now, movie person.”
“Hey, are you feeling dark and violent or sweet and heartwarming?”
“I’m feeling dark and violent, so maybe sweet and heartwarming as a counteragent?”
“Great idea.” She selected a DVD. “Eighties gold. Do you approve?”
Molly sat up straighter to read the title. “ Say Anything . Perfect.”
They settled in on the couch and watched as everyman Lloyd Dobler did his damndest to woo the smart girl in school. At several points, Jordan stole glances at Molly who seemed lost in the story, laughing and sighing appropriately at all the classic moments. As the credits scrolled, Molly pushed herself up into a sitting position, a dreamy expression on her face. “Can I just say that I love that movie? That’s how it’s supposed to be. Organic. You meet someone, fall for them, and do anything and everything to make it work, against all the odds and then…you know, live happily ever after.”