In the Blink of a Decade

I sat in the back of Hallie and Austin’s pickup truck watching the city disappear behind us. The worst part of the four hour drive was over. Getting through Toronto while headed North is always painstaking in a car. I have never had patience for sitting in traffic, I have no idea how some people make the commute to and from Toronto every day. I have no desire on sit in a car on a highway. Hallie and Austin have been giving each other teenage googly eyes for the past two hours, and while I am so glad to see my best friend happy, it makes me feel like the third wheel in the back seat. I have resigned myself to watching out the window and listening to the classic rock playing on the speakers so that they can be in their little love bubble. Hallie and Austin finally said “I Do” a few months ago and it has really renewed their love for each other. Austin has always been that friend that had trouble growing up, and that has put a lot of strain on their relationship. It took them seven years just to move in together because he didn’t want to stop living with his college roommate. I thought Hallie was going to give up on him more than once, but then it was like one morning Austin woke up and decided he wanted to be an Adult. Austin proposed to Hallie in a condo he wanted to put an offer on to buy, and just like that they were buying their first home, moving in together and getting married. Or so Hallie thought. Austin spent the next three years dodging setting a date. We all thought they would just be engaged forever, then one day Austin convinced Hallie to hop on a plane and elope in Vegas. They have been like lovesick teenagers ever since. Our other friends made an assumption that Hallie was pregnant, but haven’t had the nerve to ask. They’re all about to get a clear message when we start unpacking the truck. Hallie forgot she is not twenty anymore and bought what seems like have the liquor store for this week. As we start approaching Barrie on the 400 north, Hallie turns around to look at me and says “I still can’t believe Fisher got married!” I smirked. Hallie and I have always joked the the only reason Fisher was going to get married is if he had an oops child or had a Ross and Rachel in Vegas moment. Somehow, Fisher rose above all expectations and actually found someone who matches his never grow up nomadic demeanour and he decided to take the plunge all on his own. I’ve know Fisher since we were teenagers and his taste in relationships has always been been brief and s****l. I am very interested to meet his wife, Alinta. I have a feeling she is going to be a hoot. I looked at Hallie and replied “I can’t wait to meet her in person, the f*******: video chat I had with them before they left Australia makes be think she is going to be a lot of fun!” Hallie replied “She has to be if she has Fisher chasing after her!” I smirked again and replied “Remember the girl he dated in college, Simone? In the four months they dated I think I heard them having s*x in more random places than I have ever had. If she didn’t mix it up that much, he would have broken up with her so much quicker. Before Alinta, that was his longest relationship. I’m really interested to see what has kept his attention this long.” Hallie laughed “Oh Simone. I had almost washed her moans from my memory before you brought her up. We couldn’t go anywhere without them disappearing and then all of a sudden hearing porn level love sounds. The bathroom in the coffee shop was the worst place. I liked their Espresso, and thanks to Fisher and Simone’s urge to get it on we were all kicked out and banned.” Austin was smiling in the drivers seat but not saying a word. One of the great things about him was that Hallie and I could have girl talk in front of him and 90% of the time he was like a fly on the wall. The other 10% he was actually saying something insightful. For someone who fought the change of adulthood so hard, he actually had food advice when he chose to give it. When my husband Dave died, Austin was like the big brother I didn’t know I needed. We had always been good friends, but Austin took it upon himself to not just look out for his fiancé’s best friend, but take care of her and her daughter while she got back on her feet. Austin and Hallie moved into the guest room in my house for three months after Dave died, and it was Austin’s idea. Austin made sure that all the things Dave did around the house were taken care of, cooked meals and helped Hallie keep my house clean. They watched my daughter Dalia and didn’t judge me if I was too depressed to get out of my PJs. I have no idea what I would have done without them. They let me heal, and never made me feel like less of a mother. I looked at Austin and said “You are pretty quite up there.” He replied “I’m smart enough not to comment on Fisher’s behaviour to the two of you. Whatever crazy guy he was when we were younger, I have a feeling he has slowed down some.” Hallie laughed out loud “I’m not sure posting drunk pictures of you and your friends cliff diving in Australia to i********: counts as slowing down!” I looked at Hallie “When was that, you know I can’t be bothered to look at Instagram.” Hallie pulled up the post on her phone and showed it to me. It was only two weeks old. “Yep, that’s Fisher for you. I can’t believe I let him talk me into this trip.” I said with a sigh. Hallie looked me in the eye and said “Shelly you need to get away and let loose. Having a glass of wine with your daughter’s daycare provider when you pick her up on Friday afternoon does not count as having a social life. Dalia is going to have a great week with your parents at the farm, take a deep breath and relax.” “The amount of alcohol in the back of this truck says more “Beer Olympics” than relax” I replied. “I seem to remember you being the planner of the last “Beer Olympics” we all had” Hallie said with a smirk. “That may be true, but that was a solid decade ago. I don’t drink like that anymore” I told her. Hallie gave me a soft smile and said “No one said you have to. But I was thinking a jug of margaritas would go good with a book by the dock …… and we both know you have a few romance novels in your bag. We will just sit by the water, have a drink and read all week.” I looked at her “Knowing us that will last half of the first day. Once the margaritas hit our system one of us, and I will always blame you, will come up with something ridiculous we should do and the next thing we know we will think we are 20 years old. If I had to guess I am going to wake up with a hangover on day 2 that will remind me I’m old and should have learned to not drink with you by now.” Austin snickered and Hallie shot him a knowing smile. “Did Fisher ever give you the final guest list for this week?” I asked Hallie. Hallie went quiet and gave Austin a worried look. “What was that look about” I asked. Again I got silence. “Hallie, when have you ever been a quiet woman? What are you not telling me?” I said looking between Hallie and Austin. Austin looked at Hallie and said “Seeing as we are almost there, you should probably tell her.” My brows knit together as Hallie turned around and looked at me. She looked like she was not looking forward to saying whatever was going to come out of her mouth. “Well this ought to be good” I said. “Fisher sent me the guest list yesterday” Hallie replied. “And” I said getting a little flustered. Hallie pulled up a text on her phone and started to read the list. It consisted of Fisher’s college roommate Alex and his girlfriend Gloria, our friends Peter and Laura and Fisher’s friend Kyle from High School and his wife Percy. “What’s the big issue with that list?” I asked. “I wasn’t done reading, there is one other name on the list.” Hallie replied. “Are you waiting for a drum roll?” I said. Austin smirked in the front seat. With a sigh Hallie looked me in the eye and said “Casey is coming too.” I froze. I didn’t think I had heard her right. “Pardon” I said. With a little more confidence Hallie said “Casey is coming too.” I didn’t move. My heart started to feel like it was trying to beat its way out of my chest. What the f**k Fisher! If there is anyone I don’t want to spend my vacation week with it’s Casey Steel. I took a deep breath and looked at Hallie. “It‘a been a decade, I think we can tolerate each other for a week” I said trying not to let her see how unhappy I was with this revelation. Hallie studied me for a minute, but didn’t reply. I know she could see through me, but her optimistic side was winning out and rather than digging into my emotions she turned back around and busied herself with being Austin’s navigator for the rest of the drive.