10
JILLIE
After introducing everyone that I care to introduce, everyone heads for the food. I grab a Diet Coke, fruit salad, a half of a ham sandwich, and a couple different desserts.
Audrey looks at my plate and raises a brow. “Careful. You might gain some pounds.”
Leo scoffs. “She could use some. She’s too thin.”
“Oh boy. I’ve just been keeping myself busy mucking stalls and stuff, so I’m not losing weight, I’m gaining muscle.”
Leo looks skeptical. “Uh huh.”
“Eddie,” I call out and he makes his way over. “Have I or have I not been gaining muscle mucking stalls?”
He nods. “It’s true. It’ll get rid of fat and firm your muscles right up.”
I give Leo a smug smile.
“Fine, but you could still stand to gain some pounds.”
I roll my eyes at him.
Before Eddie walks away, he makes like he’s going to tell us all a secret so we all lean in.
“A barefooted boy with shoes on was sitting in the grass, along came a snake and bit him in the—ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.” With that, he turns and walks away.
I snort at the confused looks on everyone else’s faces.
“What,” Audrey begins, “the hell was that?”
“That, my friend, is Eddie who loves to tell jokes and ditties.”
Isla looks at me. “I’m so confused.”
I smirk and I realize I’ve been smiling a lot with my friends here.
“Thanks for coming, you guys and for beingnormal. Everyone’s walking on egg shells around me, and I don’t need that. I know there’s nothing to say, but hearing ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ isn’t quite accurate. It’s not just loss. It’s devastation and heartbreak, loneliness and fear,” I admit to them, and it’s something I’d not admitted to myself until now.
“She so needed us to be here,” Audrey says aloud.
“And I didn’t even realize it until now. I apologize for not responding to—”
“Oh no, you don’t. Don’t apologize for needing time to yourself. That’s bullshit. Like we wouldn’t understand,” Elan says.
“Where’d you come from!” I turn and give him a hug, trying not to spill my food.
“Late flight. Sorry I missed the service.”
“Stop,” Leo says. “Seriously,” he adds, pulling us apart, “stop.”
Isla and Audrey laugh.
“Jealous much?” Elan asks.
Leo shrugs.
“Then I shouldn’t tell you that Trey, my ex, has come over a couple days this week and helped me muck stalls,” I confess.
