Second Chance at Love

Chapter 9

 “He’s…” How do I tell her who he is? I’m not even sure what he is to me anymore. We’re not friends. We haven’t been friends for a very long time.

“He’s Benji friends. He was at his and Lanie’s place last night when you called me. He offered to help since he was sober.” That the only thing I can tell her for now without lying to her. I hate lies.

“Oh! That was nice of him. We should invite him over for diner sometime to thank him for his help.” She says, smiling while still getting the vegetables ready.

My dear daughters got such a good heart. Regardless of last night's lack of judgment. She is still a teenager. She’ll get some things right, and others, she’ll get a lesson out of them.

I sure have learns a lot from my past mistakes...

“Maybe,” I say, not sure if I want him back here anytime soon.

“Hi, Tasha.” I hear one of the newly woken up girls says.

“Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?”

“Still a bit tired, but overall ok.” She says while yawning.

“Are the others woken up too? Or are they still sleeping?”

“Bree’s in the bathroom, the others are slowly waking up. This smells really good” She says, breathing in over the oven.

“Were making chicken and veggie soup. I hope you're hungry?”

“A little, yeah. Thanks… For everything.” She says a little shyly, looking down

“You don’t have to thank me. I say smiling at her.

Getting everything cooked and ready, I start setting the table with a basket of warm buns. While setting everything up, I hear the front door open. Just by the steps, I know who just walked in.

“You better have enough for us too! It smells sssssoo good and we’re starving.” I hear Sandy yelling from the door.

Thinking about it now, I left in such a hurry last night, I didn’t even tell the girls where I was going, or what happened. I was so focused on the girls and my encounter with Mathieu this morning, I didn’t even think to even text any of them. Where is my phone anyway?

“Tasha, what happened last night?” Lanie asks. “We saw you running away from my place and Mathieu was chasing after you. What did he do? When he came back, he seemed so lost. He kept bugging for your cell phone number and your address. I didn’t want to give it to him at first, but in the end, he seemed so pitiful and worried about you that I gave in. What happened between you two? He seemed so happy at first when he saw you last night. He almost looked like he had sparkle twinkling in his eyes when he was looking at you.” She says, mocking him a bit. “When you said you guys weren’t friends, he looked so distraught.”

“Mom, what is she talking about? Is she talking about the guys that was here this morning? Did he do something to you?” Kaylee asks, looking worriedly at me. So are the other girls.

 s**t, I almost forgot Kaylee and her friends were also here.

“It’s nothing sweet-pea. I used to know him. A long time ago. It’s nothing. You girl get ready to eat. We’re going to sit on the porch for a while.” I say, turning to my two-best friend with an unpleasant look on my face. I start walking toward the door and sit on my lounge chair.

The same one Mathieu was holding me in this morning…

Argh! Get a grip on yourself! He is the i***t that left you alone when you needed him the most! I tell myself.

“What was that all about?” Sandy asks, sitting next to me.

“Look, I never talked about him, because I… He… He’s part of a past I’d like to forget.” I tell them.

They both look at each other with an ‘as if you’re not going to tell us’ look. Looking back at me, I exhale deeply, giving in and explaining to them what happened to me and him back then.

“What an ASS!” Sandy yells out, furious after I’m done talking.

“If I would have known, I would never have given him your address this morning! I’m so sorry!” Lanie says, looking frustrated with herself.

“Don’t worry. I don’t blame you for it.” I tell her sincerely.

“Do you believe him? When he told you he would make it up to you? That he’s never going to hurt you again?” Lanie ask.

“I don’t know. I’m not even 100% sure how I feel seeing him back after all those years. To be totally honest, it scares me. It made so many things I thought I had been over with resurface back in my mind and my heart. I’m having a hard time dealing with it all.” I say letting out a frustrated sigh.

“Well, whatever you need us to do, we’ll be here to help! If you need us to bury a body, just make sure we’re cellmate because you’ll be my b***h in jail” Sandy says, making us laugh so hard.

“You’re insane, you know that, right?” I say, whipping away tears of laughter from my eyes.

“Yeah, I know. But you love me for it.”

“Sometimes you’re lucky I do,” I say, still laughing.

“Mathieu did also tell us about what happened to Kaylee and her friends. Is Mackenzie really ok?” Sandy asks, now serious.

“Yeah, she’ll be fine now. The doctor says we got her there early enough there shouldn’t be any damage to her body.”

“I can’t believe that this happened to them,” Lanie said, sighing.

“Alright, can we go in and eat now? Your soup smelt really good and I still starving!” Sandy says, rubbing her belly.

“Let’s hope the girls kept some for you, miss piggy!”

“Hey! You can’t fault me for liking your food so much!” She says, faking being offended.

“I know. Let’s go in.”