5. Wren

5

WREN

" I owe you one, Kate." I wiped at my sweaty brow as I stared down at the three full bags of clothes and essentials I had packed.

"No, you don't. I'd do anything for you, you know that," she responded, pulling a smile from me.

"Yeah, well, if you ever need anything, you let me know."

I rose to my feet and looked around my tiny living room for any forgotten items. Then once I concluded that I had everything I needed, I sauntered into my kitchen where took a seat on my table.

"I will." Kate sighed. "Now, hurry up and get here, I miss you."

Laughing, I swung my legs as my feet dangled just above the floor.

"I miss you too," I said. "And I'll be there tomorrow. Late tomorrow."

"Good, I'll be waiting. Just let me know when you leave and give me updates along the way so I know you're okay."

"I will." I chuckled.

Still the same worried Kate.

Saying our goodbyes, I set my phone down once we hung up, then hopped off the table. I had one last thing I needed to do today. Though, for some reason, I was dreading it like most things lately. I knew I had to do it.

Still in my ratty, lounge clothes, I quickly fixed my ponytail and headed outside toward Alice's house. On this beautiful, sunny day, of course I found her outside once again watering her plants.

"Don't you think those plants have enough water?" I laughed while climbing up the stairs of her front porch. Dressed in her favorite matching purple outfit, her short curls were covered with a ball cap. She looked cute today.

Better than me.

"It's always better to have more than not enough," she responded without looking at me. Crouched down low, she tipped her watering can over the last plant, then slowly lifted herself up with the assistance of the porch railing.

"Can't argue with you there." I leaned back against the banister and crossed my arms over my chest. "You have any plans today?"

"When do I ever have plans?" She chuckled while taking slow steps over to her chair before dropping herself into it. A deep, tired-like sigh escaped from her mouth and her eyes finally found mine. "I'm guessing you don't have plans either."

Wow.

Brutal.

"Uh, excuse you." I chuckled while uncrossing my arms and motioning my hands down my choice of clothes. "This happens to be my favorite ugly outfit I own."

Some cutoff shorts that I made myself, an oversized tee that had too many stains to count, and my famous, beyond-cozy blue socks that put it all together.

What's not to love?

"You look like a bum."

One thing about Alice is, she was brutally honest. Never sugarcoated anything despite how bad it sounded.

"A cute bum?" My brow rose.

"The cutest," she replied. "But that hair needs a little work."

Having long hair was exhausting. Especially when mine required a brush through it every hour or so. Unfortunately, today I neglected it and left it in a ratty ponytail, so I could only imagine how it looked now after six hours of cleaning and packing.

"Yeah, I could use a shower." I giggled while playing with the end of my ponytail.

Ugh, it even felt gross.

"What have you been doing all day anyway? I saw you bustling around your house like a madwoman."

"Well, that's why I wanted to come over here." I peered up from my lashes at her. "I'm going away for a bit. To Seattle, actually."

Her eyes widened in surprise. I didn't blame her for having that reaction. I rarely went outside of the city unless I had to make the long drive to my doctor. Other than that, I never went far.

"Wow. I didn't expect that." She laughed. "What are you going there for?"

She knew about Mal. Not much, but she knew the name and the basics.

Would she understand? I guess it didn't matter if she did or not, but I hoped she would.

"It was sort of a last-minute thing." I shrugged my shoulders. "When Shelia came over the other day, she brought up Mal."

Her head lifted slightly. "Hayes's friend Mal?"

My throat went dry.

"Yes." I nodded. "To make a long story short, he hasn't spoken to Greg or Shelia since Hayes passed away. So, I'm hoping if I go there, I can convince him to come back home."

Her face was void of any emotion, but her stare never faltered from mine.

"And you think you can convince him?"

"I don't know. Maybe?"

Though my gut was telling me no, I didn't say that. You couldn't have the mindset of thinking you're going to lose before you even started. Though the odds may be stacked against me, nothing was impossible. Even if it seemed that way.

"I hope I can," I continued. "I know it won't be easy, but I won't know unless I try."

"And how do you feel about him? Is it just Greg and Shelia that want him home?"

Her question caught me off guard because, how did I feel about him? Anger and confusion were what came to mind first, but it was as if every time I thought about how I felt toward him, those feelings would change. I despised him one moment, then the next I was more understanding. I hated how he could manipulate my emotions without even knowing it.

It was beyond frustrating, and even now I couldn't decide how to answer.

"It doesn't matter what I want or how I feel. I can't let ten more years pass without them having Mal in their lives."

She gave me a sad smile in return.

"Of course it matters. Just because you're doing it for them doesn't mean it won't affect you. Your feelings are just as important too."

Alice always knew what to say to get me in my feelings. She validated me every time I needed it and right now all I could think about was how much I was going to miss her. How I'd miss waking up every morning to her watering those damn plants, or just walking over to her house because I wanted to see her. She was the constant in my life I never knew I needed and I was so grateful to have her.

"Just promise me you'll be okay? Don't let that grump get to you. If he gets mad or says anything hurtful, just know he doesn't mean it. All that a misunderstood man needs in his life is a woman who will do her best to understand."

My skin caught fire. I didn't want to be that woman. I was there for one reason and one reason only, and that was to bring him back.

"Alice, that's the absolute last thing on my mind. I don't want to understand him, I just want to go there, do what I have to do, and come back. That's it."

Nodding, she still didn't look convinced.

"I'm just saying, Joe was like that when I met him. Short-tempered, with a chip on his shoulder." She grinned. "Took him a while to warm up to me, but really all he needed was someone who understood why he was the way he was. Without judgement."

I appreciated everything she was telling me, but it wasn't the same. I wasn't going there to make amends with Mal. Whether he would warm up to me or not didn't matter. I wasn't going to be that person who would solve Mal. If even that were a possibility, I wouldn't have the strength to do it.

All my courage was stripped away when Hayes died.

"Yes, I know." I smiled sadly. "And maybe someday Mal will meet that person. If anything, I think that's what he needs, but it won't be me."

I could sense she had more to say and if it were any other topic, I wouldn't object to letting her continue. But I had no energy or the desire to talk about Mal more than I already had to.

"You have an idea on how long you'll be gone for?"

Sighing, I let my hands fall from around my waist.

"I'm hoping not for too long, but really, it all depends on him."

Nodding, she gave me a brief smile. One full of understanding and hope.

"Well, it'll be strange not having you around." She kicked off her feet, causing her to rock back in her chair. "I think I might miss you a little."

Laughing, I couldn't help but let a tear fall.

"A little, huh?" I chuckled. "That's it?"

"Okay, maybe more than a little, but don't tell anyone I told you that."

I smiled.

"I won't. Don't want anyone to know that you're actually a sweet, crazy plant lady, right?"

She started to shake her head on a chuckle as she closed in on me.

"You have the crazy plant lady part right."

She closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around my middle for a hug. Then closing my eyes, I mustered up one last goodbye to the woman who had become my rock.

"Be strong, Wren."

On a smile, I nodded.

Always.