This is a fictional account with everyone over eighteen. Special thanks to my editor.
*
"What? Why?"
"Dave, I can't see you this weekend. My Mom needs me right now. Ellen too; she's totally unglued," Megan argued, trying to control her emotions.
"What about you? I'd like to be there for you," I objected.
"That would be nice, but we have so many plans to make and relatives coming into town. It won't be much fun."
"Well, how can I help? You need me to pick up people at the airport, or at least drive you there?"
"That's sweet of you, but I just don't know anything yet. We're still recovering from the shock," she said, her voice breaking as she fought back more tears.
"Babe...let me see you, please. I want to hold you and be there for you."
"I'll let you know, sweetie, but I've got to go now. Too much to do, and I need to get back to Ellen and Mom."
"I'm coming home. I just want you to know I'm there for you," I said.
"Ok, babe...thanks," Megan agreed.
I hung up with Megan, but felt lost. She seemed to be pushing me away and all I wanted to do was hold her.
Chris and I left as planned after classes. We met with Jennifer in Phillipsburg and she kissed me on the cheek as we greeted. She gave me a sympathy card for Megan before she left with Chris.
I wanted to go directly to Megan to give her the card and see her, but thought better. Under the circumstances, I didn't want to arrive unannounced. Instead, I headed home and planned to call Megan to see if I could come by. Darci and Katie were already at our house and eating a late lunch. They apparently had just beaten me home.
After hugs and kisses hello, Darci said, "Hey, mom went shopping with her car. Can you give us a ride to Ellen's?"
"Sure, but they don't want to be disturbed. They have relatives coming into town and..."
"Fuck that," Darci exclaimed. "We talked to Ellen and insisted we come see her. We're going."
"Ok, but I'm only telling you what Megan told me."
"Ellen is our dear friend, "Katie declared.
"She needs us now," Darci insisted.
"Well, when do you want to go?"
"Give us ten minutes to finish and clean up," Darci replied.
I unpacked for the weekend and said hello to my Dad, who was working in the basement on a house project. Then I checked on Pete and Zach to see who was home. Pete was, but not Zach. I was still on the phone planning a get together with Pete when Darci called to let me know they were ready to go.
Darci got in the front seat with me and Katie sat behind her. When I turned around to back out Katie winked at me and blew me a kiss. I almost drove off the driveway looking at her.
"David...what the hell are you doing?" Darci asked.
"Sorry."
For the rest of the drive to Megan's house, I managed to drive safely. All the way Darci tried to convince me to come to the door with them, but I refused until I could speak to Megan and get her okay. I pulled in front of the house and did get out of the car as Darci and Katie walked up the stairs. I just leaned against the front fender of my car as they rang the doorbell. Megan answered it.
"Hi, Katie and Darci," Megan said and spotted me behind them on the street.
"Hi...Where's Ellen?" Darci asked.
"Up in her room, but she is taking my dad's death hard," Megan stated.
"We know, that's why we came to console her," Darci said, as she actually stepped around Megan, into the house. Katie followed her, leaving Megan turning to look in consternation. She seemed about to say something, but Darci and Katie were already charging upstairs. She turned to me and our eyes met. I stood up off the fender, but just looked.
Megan jumped down the steps and ran to me. I just got a few steps forward when she was in my arms. Her tears were already flowing and she sobbed uncontrollably against my neck as we hugged. I could feel the trembles in her lithe body as we embraced. We stayed that way for what seemed a long time.
Eventually, Megan stopped crying and leaned back to look at my face. Her face was streaked with make-up and drying tears. She kissed me before speaking.
"I'm so sorry I didn't call you to come over," she cried.
"I understand, and I'm so sorry about your dad."
"It's the worst pain I hope I ever feel."
"I'm sure it is. I can't even imagine it."
"Thanks," Megan whispered. "Come on in, please."
"Ok."
I followed Megan into her house and up to her room. As we entered her room and closed the door, I could hear voices from Ellen's room, but couldn't make out the words. Megan lay down on her bed and indicated for me to join her. The TV in her room was on and we just leaned back against the headboard and watched. Megan reached for and held my hand.
We stayed that way for about an hour with little conversation. Megan snuggled against me with my hand in her lap. Occasionally, I'd turn and kiss her cheek or hair. She'd snuggle closer and tighten her grip on my hand. It was getting dark outside when Megan's mom knocked on her door. Megan answered it and her mom wanted to know if she wanted pizza for dinner. Darci and Katie were staying and I was welcome too.
We agreed and her mom left. I felt bad about not saying anything to her mother and told Megan so.
"That's ok," Megan said. "There'll be plenty of time and opportunities later."
The evening stayed like that, very somber, with little laughter. We all ate together, which gave me a chance to see Ellen and tell her and her mom how sorry I was. I called Pete to beg off for another day, and Megan and I went for a drive after dinner. We drove around for a while and eventually ended up in the parking lot at the nearby city park where we'd had sex once before. This was not the night for sex, though, and Megan just sat with her back to me, but leaning against me. With my arms around her, I listened to her talk and cry while I held her tight.
I dropped Megan back home before ten. Darci and Katie had already gone; Ellen's mom had driven them home. When I arrived back home I said hi to my mom and went straight to Darci's room.
"How's Ellen?" I asked.
"Bad," Darci said, "but I think we helped her. What about Megan?"
"Maybe slightly better than Ellen, but she's still very vulnerable right now. We just mostly hugged and talked."
"Just wait for her, David. She'll find her way through this tragedy and come back to you. It's just going to take time."
"I know. I can wait."
"Good."
"Hey...things have been so crazy; you and I haven't had time to catch up. How're things back at school?"
"Excellent," she smiled. "I met a new guy."
"You did? Already?"
"Yeah...and he's so cute, and tall too."
"Oh, yeah."
"He's like six-two so I can still wear decent heels and still look him in the eye," Darci exclaimed gleefully.
"I'm glad to hear it," I said.
"And I'm not as horny as I was over the summer," she added with a cute giggle.
"Really...that's good," I chuckled along with her.
Darci pulled her cellphone off the end table by the bed and navigated to her saved pictures. She found what she wanted and handed me the phone. Looking at the picture, I saw her in the arms of a handsome guy with dark hair. She had held the phone away from her to take the picture. The smiles on their faces were heartwarming.
"Nice," I said.
"He's a cutie pie," Darci claimed.