Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Meredith looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror as she waited for the ferry.  Even though it had been two hours since she left home, her eyes were still puffy from crying.  She couldn’t believe she left Julie and Nathan for a week at the beach.  She felt selfish.  She also felt scared.  Scared of Julie taking a turn for the worse.  Scared that Nathan will need her help.  Scared of what Julie’s parents will try to talk her into.

Meredith was startled by a car horn.  She looked in front of her.  The ferry was there, and the people behind her wanted her to drive forward.  She lightly put her foot on the gas and drove onto the ferry.  She parked and got out.  She looked out over the gulf  and breathed in the salty air.  She felt a familiar calm wash over her.  This was her week to be herself and enjoy her friends.  Julie knew how to reach her.  Nathan did too.  Everything would be okay.  At least that is what Meredith kept repeating to herself the whole ferry ride.

Meredith pulled up in front of the yellow house and saw Jenna’s mini-van and Krissy’s sports car parked in the carport.  Some of her anxiety started to melt away when she realized that her friends were right upstairs.

She parked her car behind Krissy’s and got out.  She decided her bags could wait.  She rushed up the stairs, opened the front door, and yelled, “Jenna? Krissy?”

Her two friends came out of the kitchen and walked toward Meredith.  She didn’t wait for them to get to her.  She ran over and threw her arms around her two good friends.  She started to sob.

“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked.

Meredith tried to answer, but her crying got in the way.

“Are you hurt?” asked Krissy.

Meredith reached into her pocked and pulled out a tissue.  She wiped her eyes and blew her nose.  She focused on her breathing.

“I’m ok,” she said, “I am just so happy to see ya’ll.”

Jenny and Krissy smiled.

“I had reservations about this trip, but once I smelled the sea air, saw the house, saw the two of you... Well I’m glad I”m here!”

“It’s where you need to be,” said Krissy.

“Where is Beverly?” she asked as she looked around the cozy living room.

“She’s coming tomorrow. When I spoke to her she was in the middle of a chapter and wanted to finish it first.”

“Is she ever going to go back to practicing law?” asked Meredith.

“Krissy rolled her eyes, “It will take an act of God.”

“Krissy!” hissed Jenna.

“What?  We all know this writing thing is ridiculous.  She needs to swallow her pride and go back to her dad’s firm.”

Meredith nodded.  “It’s the most practical thing to do.”

“We all know Beverly is more stubborn than practical,” said Krissy.

Jenna cleared her throat, “Where are your bags?  Let’s get you settled.”

Meredith smiled.  That was Jenna, always the peace keeper.

The three women unloaded Meredith’s car and got comfortable in the living room with a bottle of white wine.  Meredith prepared herself to have the conversation shift to her and Julie at any moment.

“How is Julie feeling?” asked Jenna with a sympathetic look on her round face.

Meredith took a deep breath.  “When I left this morning she was feeling better.  She really does have just a cold, but with her body already being so weak, it really wears her out.

“Whatt do the doctors say?” asked Jenna.

“They are not optimistic.  They give her just a few more months,” Meredith’s voice caught in her throat.

Jenna moved from her spot on the floor to the couch and put her arm around Meredith.

“What are you going to do about Nathan when she dies?” asked Krissy.

Jenna shot her a dirty look.

“What?” Krissy asked.

Meredith forced a smile.  “It’s ok Jenna.  Julie has had papers drawn up to say Nathan should stay with me.  Her parents are pissed!”

“He should be with his mother,” said Krissy.

“Unfortunately, Julie’s parents believe Julie is his only mother.”

The three women fell silent.  Although Meredith’s family had been supportive of her coming out, Julie’s parents felt differently.  They couldn’t handle their daughter being gay.  They were so happy when she told them she was going to have a baby.  They thought for a split second that maybe she had met a man, but to their disappointment, it was just a sperm donor.  At least she had not denied them a grandchild.  But now that they were losing Julie, her parents were doing everything in their power to keep Nathan for themselves.  Meredith felt like she was fighting a losing battle somedays. 

Jenna stood up and broke the silence.  “Who is hungry?  I have all the stuff we need to make a chef salad.”

Krissy jumped up from the chair and headed for the kitchen.  “I’m starving!”

Meredith hung back a bit.  She was playing with a string on the edge of the sofa.  Jenna turned and looked at her.  “Nathan belongs with you.  I’m here to help you fight if you need me.”

Meredith smiled.  “Thanks friend!” 

With that, the two women joined Krissy in the kitchen.