Unfinished Business

by Roxanne Hensley

  “Well, did she like it?” Laura asked.

  “Yes, we were just talking about you while we were drinking it.” Adrian sensed her mother was about to say something big, reopening old wounds she wasn’t sure she was ready to face. Her emotions were mixed when she answered the phone.

  “Do you want to call me back?”

  A part of Adrian felt relieved to be saved by the bell, so to speak. But the other part of her knew something big was about to be said. She knew there would come a time when they would need to face the past, but the thought of it terrified her. They had come to some sense of normalcy, and for them, that was saying something. She didn’t want to rock the boat but knew it would have to be rocked eventually.

  “Hello?”

  “No, it’s totally fine.” Adrian grabbed the pack of cigarettes stashed in her car and lit one.

  “So, she liked the milk?”

  “Yeah, she said it looked like puke.”

  “Did you strain it?”

  “Was I supposed to?”

  Laura scoffed. “No wonder. Yeah, you’re supposed to strain the spices out of it. Otherwise, it can be a little—”

  “Chunky?”

  They both laughed.

  “I miss you,” Laura said. “What else is going on?”

  “I miss you too. And let me think…oh, you won’t believe who I ran into.”

  “Who?”

  “Christian Stephens.”

  “Oh, wow. Where’d you run into him?”

  “At Brennan’s while I was getting ingredients for the milk.” Adrian didn’t want to mention group therapy. She wanted to keep her conversation light despite the heaviness in her life lately.

  “So? How’s he look? What’s he doing?”

  “He’s definitely not a geek anymore.” Adrian blushed as she thought about him in the grey suit.

  “Oh, really?” Laura sounded way too enthusiastic.

  “Yeah, and he’s a lawyer, although I don’t know what kind.”

  “Christian Stephens is a hot lawyer…never would have guessed. So, did he ask you out?”

  “What? No.” Adrian would have been lying to herself if she said the thought hadn’t crossed her mind, especially the way he’d looked at her when they were in the parking lot. “I’m a grieving widow. What would people think?”

  “Who cares what people think? Besides, at some point you need to get your groove back.”

  “I won’t be grooving anytime soon.”

  They both laughed.

  “But you know who might? My mother.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Yep. My mother is sweet on her pot dealer.”

  Laura sounded like she choked. “Come again?”

  “You heard me right. My mother is a pothead. And she has pothead friends. And a crush on her dealer.”

  “Did you skip Florida and move to Compton?”

  Adrian laughed. “Apparently, a lot has changed since I’ve been away.”

  “No kidding.” A timer went off in the background. “Okay, I need to go take dinner out of the oven.”

  “Okay, love you.”

  “Love you more.”

  12

  Adrian rolled the painting she’d made for Gina for easy transport as she made her way over to the pavilion for another group therapy session. She’d felt so moved hearing Gina’s story and could only imagine the pain the woman felt losing her Trudy. Adrian had shed so many tears in the past over what could have been every time she got her period, and she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to endure losing a child. She hoped her painting of Trudy in a better place would help Gina find peace.

  She approached the group. Henry and Susan were in deep conversation. Adrian caught bits of chatter about their support of the same candidate in the upcoming election. Karen and Frank were talking about the latest episode of some reality TV show Adrian hadn’t heard of. Gina sat alone, staring off toward the shoreline in the distance. Adrian approached, placing a hand on her shoulder.

  “Gina, I have to tell you—your story about Trudy really touched my heart last week.”

  “Thanks. She was a very special girl.” Gina placed her hand on top of Adrian’s.

  “I made something for you.”

  Gina turned toward Adrian with a puzzled look as Adrian unrolled the watercolor painting of Trudy playing in a field of daffodils with the little girl Adrian had met in Heaven. “But—wow, this…it looks just like her.” Gina’s jaw slacked in awe, seeing her little girl happy on the other side. Tears ran down her face, pooling in her wide smile. “How did you know?”

  “You painted a clear picture for me, so I thought I’d do the same for you.”

  “I—I don’t know what to say.” Gina looked back at the painting, running her fingers over her little girl. “Thank you.” She reached her arm up to embrace Adrian in a hug. Adrian felt something release in Gina, a heavy weight lifting off her shoulders. She squeezed Gina tighter.

  “You’re welcome,” she said, pulling back from Gina as they looked at the painting together again.

  “You painted that?” Christian asked. His cologne tickled Adrian’s senses as she felt him standing behind her. His proximity made her skin prickle with excitement as she nodded. “Wow, that’s…amazing.”

  “Thanks,” Adrian said. She blushed as they locked eyes.

  “Okay, I think it’s about time we get started,” Karen said. Everyone took their seats, Christian sitting next to Adrian. “Today, I thought we’d spend some time talking about anniversaries and how we memorialize our loved ones. It can be tough the first time you experience an anniversary or a birthday without your loved one present, and just because they’re gone doesn’t mean you can’t continue to celebrate. Does anyone have a way they continue to celebrate milestones for their loved one in their absence?”

  Henry cleared his throat. “It was my and Betty’s fortieth wedding anniversary on Monday.” He fidgeted with his wedding band. “We spent our thirty-ninth in the hospital after the chemo stopped working. I always brought her a dozen roses and took her dancing after a candlelit dinner at Rock Island Grill, and our last anniversary was no different.

  “I had to do some begging, but the hospital staff helped me recreate our anniversary tradition, allowing me to bring in dinner from the restaurant along with the red roses as usual. One of the nurses brought in a CD player, and I put on some of our Motown favorites. I had to give up the candles, but the look on Betty’s face was enough to light up the whole hospital.” He smiled before continuing. “After we ate dinner, I carefully helped my wife up from bed and we danced together, cheek to cheek, just like old times. When a nurse came into the room to let me know visiting hours were done, I mouthed ‘five more minutes.’ She nodded, and I held my wife closer, wishing those last five minutes would never end.” He closed his eyes, holding his hand over his heart, reliving the moment in his third eye.

  “That’s beautiful,” Frank said.

  “This year, I continued the tradition,” Henry said. “I brought roses to her gravesite and played the same Motown CD as I ate my usual from the Grill while I talked to her. I could almost feel her cheek pressed to mine, her delicate hands wrapped around me. God, I miss her so much.”

  Karen handed Henry a tissue box, and he took one, dabbing at the corners of his brown eyes.

  “Better hand me one too,” Gina said. “I’m sure no one’s surprised I’m crying again.” She giggled.

  “That’s so beautiful, Henry. Thank you for sharing,” Karen said.

  Adrian could see Henry and Betty dancing vividly in her mind’s eye. He spun Betty around in a perfect circle before bringing her close again, their cocoa-skinned figures merging into one form. She knew what she needed to do.

  “Well, some of you probably remember this, but it would have been my son’s twenty-sixth birthday on Saturday,” Karen said. “He was a total adrenaline junkie, and he always pushed the limits, nearly giving me a heart attack in the process.” She chuckled. “But
to honor him, I’m going skydiving this Saturday, and I’m scared to death.”

  The group certainly reacted at Karen’s news. Frank reached over to check her pulse, and Gina and Susan said they would never consider doing something so dangerous, which was the only thing they’d ever agreed on.

  “That’s awesome,” Christian said. “I bet Isaac would be proud.”

  “I think he would be too,” Karen said. “And I’m forcing Lyle to go with me so one, I don’t chicken out, and two, if the parachute fails, we’ll go out of this world together.”

  Christian laughed. “The parachute won’t fail. I’ve heard it’s a life-changing experience.”

  “It is,” Adrian said.

  “You’ve been?” He looked over at her in surprise.

  She nodded. “Laura and I went after college graduation. It was…peaceful.”

  “Peaceful?” Susan and Gina said in unison.

  “It’s hard to explain, but…yeah. Everything moves in slow motion despite how quickly you’re falling. You’re going to love it.”

  “You’re full of surprises,” Christian said. They locked eyes. She wasn’t the only one.

  “I hope you’re right,” Karen said. “Hopefully, you’ll see me next week. If not, it’s been nice knowing you all.” She chuckled.

  “You’ll be here, probably still in one piece,” Frank said.

  “It’s amazing what we do for our loved ones, isn’t it?” Karen said.

  “No doubt,” Christian said, stealing a glance at Adrian. Her cheeks warmed.

  After they wrapped up for the week, Adrian and Christian stayed behind to help Karen clean up.

  “Who knew you were so gutsy?” he said.

  “Oh, trust me, I was scared to death. It was Laura’s idea.” She leaned a folding chair against a pillar.

  “The real question is, would you go again?” Karen asked.

  “In a heartbeat.”

  “Wow,” Christian said. “I’m impressed.”

  “Me too,” Karen said. “Christian, would you…?”

  “Got it,” he said, lifting the stack of folding chairs. Adrian admired his muscles flexing through his crisp white shirt as he carried them toward Karen’s car, following behind with a folding table. Karen opened the hatchback of her small SUV and he loaded the chairs. Adrian handed him the table and their fingers lightly grazed during the handoff.

  “Well, that’s it for me,” Karen said, lowering the hatch. “I hope to see you both next week.”

  “You will,” Adrian said before Karen took off.

  And then there were two.

  “That painting you did for Gina was beautiful. Where’d you learn to do that?”

  “My dad was a painter. I guess it’s in the genes.” She shrugged. “I thought it might help her a little.”

  “You never cease to amaze me.”

  “What?” She blushed.

  “I never would have pegged you as a skydiving painter.”

  “Well, I don’t typically do those two things together.”

  He laughed. “I guess that wouldn’t work out too well.”

  “I don’t know, maybe that’s how some of those splatter paintings are made.” She shrugged and they both laughed. His gaze intensified, and Adrian’s knees felt weak.

  Christian’s phone buzzed. “I gotta go meet a client. Stay safe. I want to see you again.” He blushed, both of them surprised at his honesty.

  She nodded. “Me too.” This time, she watched him walk away.

  Adrian had a smile on her face the entire drive home. She couldn’t stop thinking about Christian and how good it felt to just flirt. It felt really good to be desired again, even though it probably wouldn’t go anywhere. It had been a while since she felt sexy, and when he looked at her, she felt like a goddess.

  Her mood changed when she turned onto her mother’s street. She saw an unfamiliar sedan with Texas plates parked along the curb outside the house. Laura drove an SUV, so it couldn’t be her, could it? Maybe she’d decided to rent a car to avoid putting miles on hers. Was this all part of a surprise?

  Adrian parked her car and headed toward the front door, smiling at the idea of seeing her best friend. The last few weeks had been challenging and seeing her would certainly lift her spirits. They’d have to get chili fries at The Pelican, stat.

  As Adrian turned the doorknob, her smile slowly faded. Her mother sat in her usual chair, but a blond woman was on the sofa. It took Adrian a moment to recognize Celeste, one of Brad’s former co-workers. She looked different than the last time Adrian saw her, which was at a Christmas party she and Brad held at their house about a year ago. Celeste’s straight blond hair kissed her shoulders, and her skin looked radiant, practically glowing. What was she doing there?

  “Adrian, have you met Celeste?” Margaret asked. Adrian’s pulse raced. Based on her tone, she knew Margaret already knew the answer.

  “Celeste…what are you doing here?”

  “I’m sorry I just showed up this way, but I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me if I called,” Celeste said.

  “She was just telling me how she knew Brad…intimately,” Margaret said before Celeste.

  Adrian’s brow wrinkled. Clearly, she was missing something.

  Celeste struggled to get up from the couch. As she stood, a very pregnant belly protruded from her small frame. Cylinders in Adrian’s mind clicked: Celeste was Brad’s mistress. Was she carrying his baby?

  “I don’t understand,” Adrian said. She didn’t want to believe the blatantly obvious. Maybe there was some other explanation, and she hoped the pregnant stick figure would say otherwise.

  “I know this may come as a shock to you, but Brad and I were having an affair for the last year. This is his baby.” Celeste rubbed her belly, obviously proud of her and Brad’s creation.

  Adrian waited for a punchline, but it wasn’t a joke. She looked at Margaret, who avoided eye contact with either one of them. The proverbial cat was out of the bag. There was no way Adrian could continue the charade of Brad being a loving, faithful husband.

  “So, why are you here? Brad’s dead.” Adrian felt sick, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

  “Well, according to my lawyer—”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I have rights. Well, my child has rights.” Celeste placed a hand on her side as she winced from discomfort.

  “But he’s dead. What do you want from me?”

  “I’m due financial support. From his estate, perhaps.”

  Celeste had to know Brad wasn’t worth much. That had to have come up at some point during their pillow talk. Adrian couldn’t help feeling like this was personal somehow. Celeste had a good job from what she could recall. Why would she do this?

  “I know this is a lot to process. Maybe we should sit down and talk about it.” Her saccharine tone made Adrian want to vomit.

  “You can’t be serious?” Adrian couldn’t hold back anymore. Seeing the reality of her late husband’s infidelity staring her in the face reopened wounds that had barely scabbed over. Pain oozed from them, threatening to drain her dry.

  Adrian looked at Margaret, who sat quietly in her chair, concentrating on one spot on the floor.

  “I assure you, I’m very serious.” Celeste stepped forward. “I thought maybe we could discuss this without lawyers getting involved, but I guess that’s not a possibility.”

  “Don’t you dare make this about me. You’re the one who fucked my husband and got yourself into this mess. You really thought I’d just accept you—it—with open arms?”

  Celeste paused. “I thought maybe—”

  “How the hell do I know that’s really his child you’re carrying anyway?”

  “Brad was the only man I’ve been with in the last year.”

  “Whatever.” Adrian crossed her arms. “I want proof. I want to see a paternity test.”

  “But I just told you—”

  “I don’t care!” Adrian couldn’t take it anymore. “You know
what? Get out.” She grabbed Celeste by the arm, pulling her toward the door.

  “Adrian!” Margaret yelled.

  “Let go of me! Ow!” Celeste tried to pull away. Adrian dragged her toward the front door and pushed her out.

  “You’ll definitely be hearing from my lawyer.” Celeste smoothed her hair.

  “Can’t wait!” Adrian slammed the door in her face. Adrian took deep breaths as she tried to push the rage monster back. Guilt from her outburst set in, and tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t know how to process the multitude of emotions coursing through her body. Brad and Celeste. Really?

  It had been easier when she didn’t know who it was. But, of course, Brad’s affair was a total cliché of someone he worked with. How had that even started? Who came onto who first? She shook her head, avoiding her imagination as it threatened to run away.

  To make matters worse, he got Celeste pregnant with ease. She now carried everything Adrian always wanted with Brad. Adrian was the problem all along. It had nothing to do with him. She felt sick.

  She looked at Margaret, who had a disgusted look on her face. She braced herself for the impending storm ahead.

  13

  “I know you want to say something, so just say it.”

  Margaret shook her head. “You know, I hate to say I told you so, but…” she shrugged.

  “Oh my God. Are you serious?”

  “Well, I knew Brad was no good for you, and there went proof.”

  “You are choosing this moment, after what just happened, to gloat?”

  “I’m not gloating.” Margaret paused. She let out a breath and shook her head. “You obviously knew Brad cheated, though, didn’t you?”

  Adrian sputtered something incomprehensible, feeling exposed.

  “You know how I know? Because you didn’t seem that surprised by his affair, only by the baby.”

  “What do you want me to say, Ma? You’re right? Okay, fine, you’re right. You’re right about everything. Are you happy now?”

  “No. Why would that make me happy?” Margaret’s tone was much more controlled than her daughter’s.