[Hearts of Palomino 01.0] Love Is Eternal

by Emily Sharp

  “You know, Julie, I have a lot of friends back home. But yeah, I think you’re really cool.”

  “What are you trying to tell me?” I said.

  “Well, they’re just friends to drink a beer with. We can’t have real conversations like me and you. And the way we get along, well, it sounds corny, but you’re like my best friend.”

  What was with this guy always making me want to cry? I absolutely loved him.

  “Travis, that’s not corny,” I said. Then I stuck out my pinky toward him. “This is.”

  He looked baffled, doing the same as our pinky's locked up.

  “Best friends forever?” I said.

  “Best friends forever,” he said, then we both laughed.

  “All right, talk to you later, and thanks again,” I said, walking out the door.

  Heading back to my own place, I put my new bear on the bed and then headed into the bathroom. A minute later I stood under the hot water, letting it soak away the smells of the fair. I thought about Veronica and wondered if she was thinking about me.

  A bit later I lay in bed trying to read but my eyes were too heavy. Turning off the bedside lamp, I turned to my side. The lightning flashed, lighting up the room and then a few moments later the thunder boomed causing a slight shake in the house.

  I wondered if Veronica was watching it too.

  Chapter Seven

  I had sent Veronica two texts and hadn't heard back from her by the following Thursday as I headed into another class. I had learned my lesson and swore never to take summer classes again. The workload was getting worse, and even Professor Roberts’ promise of oral assignments only, turned out not to be true. And now I found myself taking an elective that I kept putting off and trying to learn it in just a few short months was just too much.

  “All right, today we are going to start going over French history, and of course we always concentrate on Napoleon. Now a lot of people believe, based on paintings that…” the professor said.

  I soon found myself nodding off and pinched my arm to stay awake. I was pushing myself too hard and needed to study instead of playing video games or staying up late reading.

  The teacher kept talking, and taking a few notes, I started scribbling Veronica’s name on the notebook. Looking at it, I let out a giggle, which I covered up with a cough when a few people, including the professor, looked at me.

  I had written her name out with a heart next to it. What was I, in fifth grade or something? I felt my cheeks go red and tried harder to concentrate the lecture.

  ***

  It was now two in the afternoon, and putting my backpack in the car, I thought about going to see Veronica at work. It bothered me I hadn't talked to her in a while, and I knew she was busy, but all the same, I needed to see her.

  “Hey, there,” a guy who walked passed me said, a smile on his face. Flashing a fake smile, I opened the door and got in the car, starting it up and letting the AC blast. It had been a few weeks since I last saw her, and if she was busy I could at least order something and say a quick hello. Feeling excited, I backed out of the parking spot and headed toward her work.

  Traffic around this city was nonexistent one minute and then slow the next. Of course, since I really wanted to go somewhere, the traffic was slow.

  “What’s the holdup?” I yelled, shaking my head. A horn blared, and looking over at the car next to me, a woman was yelling.

  “What’s that?” I said, my passenger window going down.

  “Learn to drive, bitch!” she said, then gave me the finger.

  “Suck it!” I said, giving her the finger back as she pulled ahead.

  The car in front of me started moving again, and soon enough whatever caused the snarl had been fixed. Fifteen minutes later I pulled into Johnnie 80s and was happy to see the restaurant wasn't busy, judging by the dozen or so cars in the parking lot.

  Stepping out of the car, I grabbed my purse and headed to the front door. Once inside, a male host greeted me. He stood about six feet tall and had a dark goatee.

  “Just one today?” he said, grabbing a menu.

  “Yeah, and is Veronica working today?”

  The guy looked behind him. “Yeah, she’s over near the bar,” he said, then turning back to me. “Want me to go get her?”

  “Oh, no, that’s OK. I might just go over and say hi if that’s all right,” I said.

  “Yeah, sure, she’s one of the managers now. It’s not like she would get in trouble like we would,” he said then laughed.

  “Thanks,” I said, heading over.

  I saw Veronica sitting on a barstool facing another girl about my age. My smile grew wider and then I stopped, frowning. She was holding a single stem rose, and leaning her head back, ran it down her own throat. Then holding it in front of her she kissed it, then placed the rose on the girl’s lips. Then her arms came up and wrapped around the girl’s neck, pulling her in.

  I felt humiliated and like a fool, my heart being stomped right in front of my very eyes. Tears welled up, my face hot from anger. Turning around, I hurried to get out of there.

  “Did you talk to her?” the host asked, as I walked by.

  “No need,” I said, ready to throw up.

  Getting into my car, I started it up and felt a few tears rolling down my cheeks. How could she do that? She was the one who suggested we not jump into a relationship. And backing out, I realized she hadn't been replying not because she was busy, but because she found someone else.

  “I don't need her,” I mumbled, pulling onto Main Street.

  Looking back in the rear-view mirror though, I knew I did.

  The moment I got home, I changed into my tank top and shorts, grabbed some ice cream out of the freezer, and turned on the television. Flipping through, I found a romantic comedy, and by the end of it, I was crying and feeling sick as I looked down at the pint-sized empty ice cream container.

  “Oh, Julie, you pig,” I said, laying back and looking at my bloated stomach. My phone rang, and seeing it was Travis, I answered.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” I said.

  “I'm going to barbecue later tonight. Are you up for some BBQ and a few games?”

  Food was the last thing I needed, but seeing how the day had gone so far, I figured it would be fun.

  “Count me in,” I said.

  “Great, see you then.”

  I groaned, then curling up with my favorite lap blanket, closed my eyes.

  ***

  The phone rang, scaring the crap out of me. Groggily, I grabbed it. It was Veronica. My mind raced on what to do. Was it even worth talking to her? I mean, we were only friends. She could do what she wanted. But she lied to me. On the fifth ring, I answered it.

  “Hello.”

  “Julie, how are you?” she said, her voice excited.

  “Good.”

  “Really? You sound down. Is everything OK?”

  “Yeah, fine. What do you need?” I said my voice abrupt.

  There was silence for a moment, then she spoke. “I have great news. They made me a manager and I am heading to New York tomorrow night for some more training at Corporate!”

  “Oh, that’s cool,” I said, getting off the couch. Grabbing the empty ice cream container, I headed into the kitchen.

  “Yeah, I will be gone about a month. They are putting me in charge of my own restaurant. Well, technically it will be mine for a month, but it will be a good start for my career!”

  “That’s great, congratulations,” I said, rolling my eyes and throwing the pint into the trash can. It missed, hitting the ledge and falling to the floor.

  “So, I’ve been off work an hour and well, do you mind if I come by for a few? I just wanted to say hi before I left.”

  I picked up the carton and placed it in the trash can. She probably wanted to come by and brag about her new love life.

  “Sure. Travis is barbecuing, so I might be over there,” I said, looking at the clock on the microwave. It was ten past five.


  “OK…oh, sorry about not getting back to you sooner. I dropped my cell phone in the toilet three days ago and hadn't had time to get a replacement.”

  I thought about it for a moment. It made sense, but still it didn't matter, she was with someone else. Better to get it out and over with.

  “That’s crazy. Hey, I need to go. I’ll see you in a bit.”

  “OK, bye.”

  Hanging up the phone, I headed into the bathroom and got the shower going. I started to doubt my decision to have her come over. I should have just told her no over the phone and just got it over with instead of delaying it until later.

  Toweling off after the shower, I decided that it was good to do it face to face. I wasn't a kid anymore, and the mature thing to do was to air problems in person, not over the phone.

  I went into my bedroom and picked out a cream yellow tank top, blue denim shorts and a pair of sandals. I had my toenails done the night before and the red went really well with the tan I got over the last few weeks.

  I heard the sound of a loud rumbling, and peeking out my bedroom window blinds, saw Veronica pull up in her car. She got out and I felt a tingle of excitement. She was wearing a pair of heels, denim shorts, and a black tank with purple lettering over it.

  Hurrying into the living room, I grabbed my cell phone and was putting it in my shorts when she knocked at the door.

  “Don't lose your temper,” I whispered to myself, then opened the door.

  Though I was mad and hurt, I still thought she was beautiful. But she was a friend at best, and that made it hurt even worse.

  “Hey, come in,” I said, stepping back and letting her walk past me.

  “Good to see you. Sorry, it’s been like what, three weeks? Almost four? Work has been nuts,” she said, then gave me a hug.

  “Oh, yeah?” I said, putting one arm around her and then breaking it off.

  Veronica stepped back, a single eyebrow raised. She was wearing a light purple eyeshadow and a pink-purple lipstick.

  “Are you OK? You seem…off,” she said.

  Yeah, it’s me, I thought. “I'm fine. So, you came by yourself?” I said.

  She laughed. “Yeah, of course. Who else was I going to bring?”

  “Who knows?” I said, then shrugged.

  She looked at me funny, her head tilted.

  “OK then, do you want to say bye to Travis before you leave? I’m sure you need to get going,” I said

  “Sure,” Veronica said, following me out of the apartment. Locking the door, I put the key in my pocket and went to turn when Veronica put her hand on my shoulder.

  “Julie, what’s wrong?”

  I looked up at her, the tears welling up. “I came by to see you today.”

  “Really? I didn't see you. What section were you in?” Her hand went off my shoulder back to her side. And the moment it did, I felt separated from her.

  “The bar.” I let my words hang there.

  “The bar? I didn't see you there.” Her brown eyes looked over my face.

  I felt my hand clench up. “Maybe because you were busy with your…girlfriend,” I said, feeling my voice starting to shake.

  “Girlfriend? What do you mean?” she said, looking confused.

  I had to give it to her, she was an actress, she played it off well. Almost convincing me, but I knew what I saw.

  “You know what? Forget it. We’re friends, and it’s none of my business. Forget I said anything,” I said, my heart racing.

  “Julie, I swear I have no idea what you’re talking about. Please, tell me.”

  I exhaled. “I don't know her name, she looks a little like me…” I said.

  Her head shook. “I don't know. I'm sorry, I’m lost here.”

  I was sick of playing games. A few tears rolled down my cheeks. “You know, the rose thing, running it across your body, your arms around her. Don't worry, I left before I saw more.”

  Her mouth opened up, the look of someone guilty when they were caught. I expected denial. Instead I got a laugh. “You mean Janessa? The rose?” She said, laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  She looked at me, her face in a smile. “Janessa wanted to do something romantic for her boyfriend. I was showing her how to make it all sexy in bed.”

  “I…I thought…” I started to say.

  “You thought I was, like, coming onto her? Oh, Julie, come here,” she said, pulling me in for a hug. I felt foolish and relieved at the same time. All the worry and anger over the last few hours for nothing.

  She looked down at me, then wiped the tears off my face.

  “Are you OK?”

  Breaking the hug, I stepped back. “Yeah, a lot better. I'm sorry, I should have just asked you.”

  “Or stuck around!” she said, then winked at me.

  “I'm sorry…” I started again.

  Veronica waved me off. “Don't apologize, it’s fine.”

  I smiled and then a voice came out, making us both turn toward it.

  “That was sweet,” Travis said, stepping out of his door wearing his cowboy hat and oven mitts. “Now, come have some pulled pork.”

  ***

  For the next hour, we ate like royalty. Pulled pork, corn on the cob, baked beans, and cornbread were all to be had. It was fun, and I caught myself looking at Veronica as she talked. It had already been a month since I last saw her, and now it was going to be another month at least before I saw her again. Later around nine, we said our goodbyes, and Veronica and Travis exchanged phone numbers. They were hitting it off and got along really well.

  “Let me walk you to your car,” I said, standing in the archway.

  “Sounds good,” Veronica said.

  The sun had just set, and far off in the distance the last bit of light could be seen across the horizon. Soon the stars would be out, lighting up the sky. I loved Colorado, had been here my whole life and if I ended up moving once I graduated, I would miss it.

  “So, what time do you leave?” I asked.

  She leaned against her car. “Pretty early. I’m catching a lift from my roommate Dave up to Denver. You would like him by the way. And the flight leaves at five thirty.”

  “I never got to say congratulations. I was in a bit of a mood earlier.” I looked at her. “So, congratulations, I'm really happy for you.”

  Veronica smiled. “Thanks, this is opening up all sorts of new possibilities. And they’re a good company, really take care of people. But if I get my own store to run, well, I would love to become a franchisee, and open my very own one day.”

  I smiled knowing what she meant. Though I would head into the business world, like my dad, I would love to have my own company one day.

  “Look, just so you know, I'm going to be pulling twelve-hour shifts six days a week. So, if I don't get a hold of you…” She had a sly grin on her face.

  “It’s because you’re rubbing a rose across your body?”

  “Exactly!” she said, and we both burst out laughing.

  We talked for the next thirty minutes about her plans for her days off while in New York City to go sightseeing. I imagined being there with her hand-in-hand, going to the Statue of Liberty or shopping in Times Square. Exploring and discovering everything about the city and ourselves.

  “I hate to do this, but I got to go. We’re leaving early and I still need to pack.”

  “You still haven't packed?”

  “No. Terrible, aren't I?” she said.

  “Very,” I said, then went to hug her.

  We held each other for a few moments, the feelings I thought were lost earlier definitely still there.

  “Well, have fun and send me a postcard,” I said, closing her door as she fired her car up.

  “I will,” she said.

  “And hey, when you get back, I still want to go for a ride in this,” I said.

  “Definitely,” she said.

  I waited for her to pull out and then drive away. I was going to miss her, and like Travis had said
, distance makes the heart grow fonder. And did it ever.

  Chapter Eight

  It had been two weeks since Veronica left and I had only heard from her once. It was a brief five-minute call but it was enough to have me on cloud nine for the rest of the day. My classes were winding down, and I would have a three-week break before the next semester started with a lighter class schedule as well.

  I was at home for lunch, and setting my purse to on the couch, I went into the kitchen to make a sandwich. I had one more class in just over an hour, and then I would have the weekend to myself. Well, somewhat. With last minute assignments to be done at school, I would spend most of the time with my head buried in a book, or four.

  Taking the last bite of my sandwich, a knock came to the door. Figuring it was Travis, I opened it up but was surprised by who was standing there.

  “Dad!” I said, throwing my arms around him.

  “Surprise, honey,” he said, giving me a bear hug, then kissing the top of my head.

  “Wow, I am glad to see you. What brings you here?”

  A slight “ahem” came from beside him.

  “Oh, yeah. Julie, I would like you to meet Cathy,” Dad said, his face beaming.

  A woman stepped next to him, a smile on her face. She was wearing dress pants, a nice cream-colored blouse, and heels. She had brunette hair that flowed around her shoulders and a really pretty face.

  “Pleased to meet you,” she said, extending her hand.

  “You as well,” I said but was surprised how weak her grip was.

  Dad was just grinning at her, and smiling, I stepped back. “Please come in. Sorry it’s such a mess,” I said.

  They came in and sat on the couch. Cathy was the opposite of Dad, where he slouched back against the couch, she sat up straight, her hands folded on her knees.

  “Wow, I can’t believe you’re here. So, what’s going on?” I said then added. “Need anything to drink?”

  “No, you’re fine,” Dad said, sitting up. “I was talking about you last night, and well, I thought a surprise visit would be good,” he said. “So, we took off early this morning, and we’re going to head back tomorrow afternoon.”

  “I'm glad you’re here,” I said. “I do have class in just a little bit, but can we meet up later tonight?”