Forever

by Rachel Maldonado

  Forever

  Rachel Maldonado

  Copyright © Rachel Maldonado April 2017.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of Rachel Maldonado, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal. Please be aware that downloading an e-book from an illegal site is a crime.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  For Hollie. Our chapter in life, as brief as it was, made an impact and an impression on me that will last me all of my years. I thought it necessary to have some closure to a story that needed to be told; a story that needed a happy ending.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my parents for giving me life and the gift of learning, writing, and the desire to read anything and everything. I love you Mom and Dad.

  Thank you to my beautiful wife, Vanessa. Without you I am nothing. You love me and care for me every single day unconditionally, and I am grateful to have you in my life.

  Thank you to my sweet friends Becky and Debbie. I appreciate all your help in the past and feel truly blessed to have encountered you on this path called life.

  Thank you to my friend Hollie whom I know leads a very busy life, but sometimes finds it in her schedule to make time for me.

  Prologue

  “You won't regret it,” said Willie Friedkin over the phone to her longtime friend. To some she was Willimena, to her family she was Mena, but to Meghan Jeffries, she'd always simply been Willie. Ever since she had met her in high school, she had called her Willie.

  “I've never even been fishing,” said Meghan. She sighed and placed her right hand on her hip, hoping that Willie would change her mind and suggest a movie at the local theater instead.

  “Come on,” insisted Willie. “It will be fun. I'll teach you what to do.”

  Meghan was seeing an older woman that was twice her age named Melanie. She glanced over in Melanie's direction to find that Melanie was watching old reruns of Seinfeld and laughing occasionally at the punch lines.

  “Just a second.” Meghan muffled the phone with her hand, then spoke aloud in Melanie's direction. “Willie wants to know if you want to go fishing today.”

  “Huh?” replied Melanie turning her attention from her comedy show to Meghan.

  “Fishing. Do you want to go fishing?”

  Melanie nodded. “Sure. Sounds good. I can get my fishing pole out of the shed and my tackle box.”

  “Okay, I'll be ready. Come by in half an hour.”

  “Great!” Willie was thrilled. She had been dying to set her up with her friend Alexandra, but never found the right time or opportunity to do so. Little did Willie know, however, that Melanie was coming along on their fishing adventure.

  When Willie pulled up in front of Meghan's home to pick her up, she was surprised to see that Melanie was standing out front with her fishing pole and tackle box. She was wearing a large floppy sun hat, shorts, flip flops, and a T-shirt with a depiction of a cactus, armadillo, and the state of Texas.

  Meghan ran out of the house and locked the door. She, too, was carrying a small tackle box and fishing pole. She carried also a small ice chest with a couple of sodas and lunch.

  Willie hopped out of the car to open the trunk so that the two women could stow their belongings for the trip.

  “I thought you were coming alone,” remarked Willie to Meghan in a hushed tone making sure that Melanie didn't hear her.

  “Why would I do that?” asked Meghan curiously.

  Willie rolled her eyes. “Never mind.”

  As Meghan and Melanie hopped into the backseat, they were surprised to see a blonde woman in the passenger side of the car. Willie jumped into the driver's seat and put on her safety belt. “Ladies, I'd like you to meet Alex Hunter. Alex this is Meghan Jeffries and her girlfriend Melanie.”

  “Nice to meet you,” said Melanie.

  “Yes, nice to meet you.” Meghan shifted nervously in her seat. She smiled warmly as she put her seat belt on. She was taken aback by the woman's eyes and bright smile. She was beautiful. She could see why Willie had been so insistent upon having the two of them meet, but Meghan had always declined. How could she say she wanted to meet another woman when she was clearly involved already? She had to admit that her relationship with Melanie had been one of circumstances that seemed to be beyond her control. It had been a long, painful break-up with an ex, and Melanie had been there at the right time and the right place. She consoled her, was there for her, talked her through the worst of things. She somehow felt she owed it to her when Melanie had asked her to be her girlfriend, and thus, found herself stuck in a relationship that she was unhappy with. It seemed like she was transparent in her lack of interest and true feelings. Everyone from an outside perspective could tell that she was unhappy. She even knew, but she just refused to see it. Now that she was in the car with Alex, she realized that there were other women out there in the world. Other women that could make her happy.

  What she felt, however, was that her relationship with Melanie had to play out. It had to run its course. She couldn't very well just dump her in a heartbeat over someone she had just met. How could she do such a thing? For one, she didn't even know if Alex was interested in her. Two, how could she leave her relationship for someone that she knew nothing about. She was comfortable. She was settled. She had always wanted a relationship where she could have a home life and do family things like go on picnics, read books in the park, have barbecues, go to the zoo, and ride the mini train. She yearned for the romantic gestures and long walks in the park, but the thing was, it wasn't meant to be with Melanie. She just didn't know it yet. A year passed before Meghan and Alex would meet again.

  Chapter One

  “It's best if you don't sit around moping, Meghan. I don't know why you're so worked up about the break up anyway. Anyone who's anyone could tell that you and Melanie weren't happy.” Willie plopped down on Meghan's bed and rested her head on the pillows. She grabbed the remote control and flipped on the power to the television set while Meghan sat in front of the mirror doing her make-up and styling her curly dark hair.

  “I know. I know. You can quit with the lectures. I should've known we weren't going to work out. I guess a part of me hoped that things would somehow get better, and we'd live happily ever after the way it happens for other couples.”

  Willie laughed. “No one said you couldn't live happily ever after, Meghan. You just weren't meant to live happily ever after with Melanie, is all. Now she's about a thousand miles away, and I'm sure she's happy. Do you think she's moping around like you are?”

  “Well, no, but she met someone online before we broke up. Technically, she's a cheater. She started an online relationship, then moved in with that woman as soon as we broke up. At least I had the decency not to cheat on her. I could have, you know.”

  Willie grinned. “Yeah? With who? You're such a goody two shoes that I bet you never even looked for anyone else while you were with her.”

  “Okay, okay. You're right. I wasn't looking for anyone because I believe that when you're with someone, even if you're unhappy, that you should be faithful. Apparently, Melanie didn't believe that.”

  Willie had the television muted, but it didn't stop her from flipping through the channels. “So you said you could have cheated. With whom were you referring to?”

  “Your friend Alex.”

  Willie kicked off her sneakers and crossed her legs making herself more comfortable. “Alex? The one we went fishing with a year ago, Alex?”

  “Well, how
many Alex's do you know?”

  Willie giggled. “Come to think of it, just that one. I don't really know her all too well, and I didn't know you were into her.”

  “She was attractive. Great smile.”

  “How come you didn't tell me that a year ago?”

  Meghan shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know. I guess it wasn't my place to say. I was, after all, seeing someone.”

  Willie nodded. “Oh, right. Melanie.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “So how do you feel now?”

  “What do you mean?” asked Meghan. She had been trying to style her hair in the mirror with a curling iron the entire time and finally decided to give up when she realized the curls just weren't going to stay. Her hair was naturally curly and her curls usually stayed, however, today was one of those days where it was laying flat. She sighed, disappointed that she couldn't fix her hair the way she wanted, then sat down on the bed beside Willie.

  “Do you still think she's attractive, is what I mean?” probed Willie.

  “I haven't seen her in a year or even ever talked to her.”

  “Okay, but from what you remember. Had you been single when you met her, would you have dated her?”

  “Why the third degree?” questioned Meghan. She leaned back against the headboard and sighed.

  Willie sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed so as to sit next to Meghan. “I didn't tell you at the time because I didn't want to freak you out. I mean, you made it clear that you wouldn't cheat on Melanie. But Alex was really into you that day. She said she could tell you were in an unhappy relationship. She wanted a chance to date you; a chance to make you happy.”

  Meghan's eyes opened wide in surprise. “She said that? She said those exact words?”

  Willie nodded. “Yes, something to that effect. Yes.”

  Meghan hung her head low and looked down at the ground. “So I screwed up, huh? Is that what you're telling me? She was interested in me, and I let the moment pass?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Meghan furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “What's that supposed to mean?”

  “Yes, you could've had a chance with her back then. She was single. But the thing is, she's still single, Meghan. If you want, I can call her up.”

  “And say what? That doesn't come across as desperate? 'Hello, Alex. Remember my friend from a year ago? Yeah, how about that date?'”

  Willie laughed. “Don't be silly. I'm sure she remembers you. I'm telling you, she was quite taken with you. Besides, I told her you and Melanie were involved and that you weren't a cheater. She really respected that and liked that about you.”

  Meghan sighed. “Okay, let's do it. Let's arrange a double date.”

  “A double? And just who do you plan to double with?” asked Willie grinning.

  “With you. This was your idea.”

  “What do you mean? I don't have a date! I'm not even seeing anyone.”

  Meghan shook her head. “You either go with me, or I don't go at all.”

  Willie laughed. “You drive a hard bargain. But since I think you two would make an adorable couple, I'm going to have to say okay. Let me look through my phone to find myself a date.” She began scrolling through her contact list and talking to herself under her breath. “Ada, Anna, Bette, Brenda, Carla, Deborah, Diana, Frances...Here. Here's one. How about Jasmine?”

  Meghan watched her carefully and listened to the list of names, then she laughed. “How did you get from Frances to Jasmine in a split second? What happened to G, H, and I?”

  Willie had a wide grin. “I scrolled a bit too fast and skipped a few names, but Jasmine is nice. We went out a few times last year. She's game for bowling, movies, fishing, you name it.”

  “How about the Arcade Brigade?” blurted Meghan.

  Willie laughed. “What are we, twelve?”

  “I like the food there. Besides, who doesn't like video games? They have ski ball, pool tables, pizza buffet, laser tag, mini golf, and not to mention about a hundred different arcade games.”

  Willie rubbed her chin as she thought about it. “I don't know if Jasmine likes all that stuff. It seems too busy.”

  Meghan laughed. “I thought you said she was game for anything.”

  “Okay, maybe I'm the one that doesn't like video games. How about something else?”

  Meghan grinned. “You said she liked bowling. Bowling is sort of like a video game except it's interactive. You're actually walking up to the ball and hurling it down the lane so it can hit the pins. It's not like you're sitting on the couch waving a remote control around in the air.”

  Willie smirked. “Okay, then I'm against bowling now, too. Too much like a game box with a controller where you sit around and do nothing but push buttons.”

  Meghan couldn't stop smiling. “You're referring to home video games on a console. I'm talking about going to a fun arcade. You play shoot-em-up games with guns and dance around on dance pads. They even have the games where you can sit in a car seat and maneuver through race tracks with a steering wheel and real gas and brake pedals. Come on, Will. It'll be fun. I promise. I'm sure you and Jasmine will have a great time.”

  “Dance pads, huh? I don't know about that. But I think you had me at race tracks and gas pedals. I guess I can do it. I mean, I did make you go fishing with me, and you weren't really into it much.”

  Meghan giggled. “I'm the one that caught all the fish, and packed us a great lunch of cheeseburgers and chips. What do you mean I wasn't into it?”

  “You just seemed uncomfortable is all I'm saying,” offered Willie.

  “In my own defense, you did put me in an awkward position. I mean, I was there with my girlfriend, and you asked another woman along to be my blind date.”

  Willie burst into laughter. “Okay, you got me there. I was only trying to help.”

  When Willie's laughter lulled, Meghan questioned. “When are we going on this double date?”

  “How about tonight? Are you free?”

  Meghan thought for a moment. “Tonight? I sort of have a date.”

  “What?” Willie stood up to get her laptop bag, then sat back down on the bed. “I thought you weren't seeing anyone.”

  Meghan shook her head. “I'm not. I mean I wasn't.”

  Willie turned on her laptop and logged into her social media accounts. “You either are, or you aren't. Which is it? You weren't, but you are now?”

  “No, I was asked out by someone from work is all. I'm not even sure if she really likes me like that or not.”

  “What do you mean? Look, here's a photo of Jasmine.” Willie turned her laptop screen toward Meghan to show her a picture.

  “She's pretty.”

  “Yeah, I'm glad I thought of her. Anyway, how do you mean you don't know if she likes you? She asked you out, didn't she? What's her name? Let me look her up.”

  Meghan forced a grin. “I don't know if I want you checking her out.”

  “Don't look so constipated,” said Willie laughing. “I'm not going to message her or anything. I just want to see what she looks like.”

  “I do not look constipated! Just...concerned.”

  Willie laughed. “Whatever. You have nothing to worry about. What's her name?”

  “Mitch.”

  “Mitch? What's her last name?”

  Meghan sighed. “Her last name is Mitchell.”

  “Mitch Mitchell?” asked Willie laughing. “You're joking.”

  Meghan shook her head. “No, her name is Joanna Mitchell. People mostly call her Mitch. I know her from work, so I call her Jo.”

  “Okay, let me search for her.” Willie brought up several accounts with that name. “Looks like there's a few Joanna Mitchell's. Which one is she?” Willie scrolled down to view the listings.

  Meghan pointed and practically jumped. “That one! Stop! You just passed her. Go back up.”

  “That's Joanna Mitchell? It says Jo and it looks like a man. She doesn't look like your type at all!”

  �
��Since when do you know what my type is?” asked Meghan.

  “Since you were with rob-your-cradle Melanie, and you had interest in my sporty friend Alex.”

  “They were both complete opposites. Melanie was about twelve years older, and your friend Alex is my age. Plus, they look nothing alike. What type would you say that is?”

  Willie laughed. “I don't know. I guess you're into old women and jocks.”

  “Older women and jocks? Are you sure it's not older women that are jocks?”

  Willie laughed. “What does that mean? Is there some geriatric sporting events that I don't know about? Blue and pink hair dye competitions, hockey with dentures as pucks, or maybe some baseball with canes as baseball bats? If there are, maybe we should go to those. You could find a new girlfriend. Heck, maybe Melanie's there, and she can set you up with someone new.”

  Meghan shook her head and laughed. “You're such an idiot. I'm only twenty-two. Melanie was thirty-four. You make it sound like she was in her eighties.”

  “Ouch. An idiot? I thought you thought I was funny?”

  “Sometimes you are. It's not so funny when you're making jokes at my expense.”

  Willie perused Joanna's photos on her profile page. “Where are you and Sloppy Jo going tonight?”

  Meghan shrugged her shoulders. “Why is she Sloppy Jo now?” Meghan chuckled, but continued without waiting for a response. “I think she said something about going out to see the stars and maybe to see a late movie.”

  “She invited you out to see the stars, and you didn't think that was a date?”

  Meghan shook her head. “No, I guess I don't really think of her as someone I would date.”

  “I knew it. She's not your type.”

  “I don't have a type.”

  “She's sloppy anyhow. Look at the way she dresses. She could at least tuck in her shirt once in a while or comb her hair. It looks like she just rolled out of bed.”