“Why don’t you wash your hands and help me chop them? I tried calling you so you would get chocolate chips fromthe store but you didn’t answer my calls, so I decided to use chocolate bars instead. The cookies will taste great nonetheless.”
Carrie nodded and hurried to the double sink. As she headed back to the island and Helen returned to the spot where she was mixing, Helen asked, “What did you and Emma fight about?”
Carrie’s hand skipped a beat but she regained herself and resumed chopping. Quietly, she asked, “Why do you think we fought? Did she call you?”
“No, your face says it all. Also, Emma’s was the only place you were headed to. You didn’t pick your calls when you were returning, you don’t pick calls when you’re angry so that means her apartment was the source of your anger. So, are you going to deny it?”
Carrie sighed and set the knife down on the chopping board. She looked up at her sister as she said, “She is just being so stupid, and I cannot stand it.”
“Why do you say so?”
Carrie walked to her sister and set the chopping board with the chopped chocolate beside her. She said, “She is getting back together with the buffoon that got her pregnant. Can you believe it? I told you how crudely he behaved, right? And when he comes knocking, she just waltzes into his hands? It’s so infuriating!”
“I bet she did not just waltz into his hands, he must have given an explanation,” Helen said carefully.
Carrie rolled her eyes, “Yeah he did, some trash about wanting to be with her for the baby and being scared and blahblah blah, but she loves him and will of course believe any boloney he throws her way.”
“Is that what she told you? Is it just because she loves him that she is allowing him into her life?”
“Well… no. she says her child needs a father but of course I told her that not all children need a father to survive and...”
Helen set the spatula down and stared pointedly at her sister. In a disbelieving tone, she said, “Did you actually tell your friend who is pregnant, who did not grow up in a conventional family with a mom and dad that? Come on, Carrie, that was very insensitive of you.”
“But I was just trying to make her see that she is making a stupid decision,” Carrie argued.
“I do understand that, but have you tried to look at it from where she is standing? Do you honestly think that insulting her and being so tough is going to help the situation? Emma has been through a lot, she is going through a lot, and it is certainly not going to be over anytime soon, what she needs is a friend who will stand by her, not someone who will judge her and the decisions she makes, not someone who chooses to be close-minded and think from only one view.”
Carrie kept silent as she thought of all her sister just said. Quietly, she said, “Emma said I would not understand because I come from a perfect family.”
“Exactly my point. I understand that you feel what you think is best and you are probably right but at the same time, you cannot impose your opinion on her. She wants to try to give her child a complete family, there is nothing wrong with that. But the guy just might not be the best option, you feel this,and you won’t accept him but you have to stand by your friend, understand her reasons and hope that she realizes this in time. And when she realizes this, be there for her, not with an I-told-you-so but rather a hug. And if he turns out to be a good guy, fine, she made the right choice. But you have got to stop berating her, else, she will continue to see you as the enemy.”
“I get what you mean, Helen, but it’s not going to be easy because I worry. I need her to know now that he is no good for her.”
Helen shrugged, “Then maybe get proof that says he is not what he claims to be. But be careful that you are not making a mistake and letting first impressions cloud your judgment.”
“Thanks, Helen.”
Carrie headed up the stairs, feeling a little bit better than when she entered the house. She went straight to her room and pulled out her phone. As she settled onto her bed, she scrolled through her favorite contacts. Her finger hovered over ‘Bestie’. She shook her head of whitish blonde hair and tossed the phone on the bed beside her. She laid back and stared at the ceiling. She was exhausted with all that was happening. This was supposed to be their final year, a year of fun and excitement, a year that they were supposed to look back on and reminisce about, but it had all been derailed. If only she had not pulled them away from her parents’ party. She blamed herself so much. Emma said it was not her fault, but she felt awfully responsible. Emma would not have gone with her if she had not pestered her so much. And then, they would not have met Johnny and she would not have ended the night in his arms. It was all connected.
Her hand grabbed the phone and she dialed. She got her voicemail. “Hi, Emma. I just wanted to say that I am sorry. Ishould not have berated you like I did. It’s just I care about you, my friend. And I don’t want to see any harm come to you. I saw how he hurt you, Emma, and though I do not like or trust him, I trust you. And I will respect the decision you have taken. I will always be here. Call me if you need me. Please forgive me, okay? And hey, my parents invited you over for dinner. With all that was happening, it slipped my mind. I hope you make it. I love you, dear.”
Just as she was about to hang up, she heard a beep and then, Emma’s voice, “I love you too, Carrie. Let’s forget all this nonsense, all right? I’ll come over for dinner.”
“And a sleepover,” Carrie added with a grin.
“Sure.”
For a moment after she hung up, Carrie laid on the bed doing nothing. Then, she suddenly sat up and grabbed her laptop that was on the bedside table. As soon as it powered on, she headed to the search engine and typed in ‘John Rollings’.
*
“You are going to bore a hole into that picture if you keep staring,” Maria said as she set the mug of sencha green tea on the desk in front of Maxwell Price.
He looked up hurriedly. He set the picture frame he was holding face-down in the top drawer of the desk and shut it. It was a picture of him and Emma during the horse fair the previous year.
“That will be all, Maria. Thank you,” he said quietly as he picked up the mug.
“She misses you too, Maxwell,” Maria said quietly.
