“Oh honey, of course you needed it. I’m so glad you’re feeling invigorated. And you’ll be done in no time, ready to start your new career as a psychologist. Dr. Julie Brown—I can just picture you now in that cap and gown.” Rita smiled.
Her niece had been through a lot in her twenty-six years of life. It brought tears to Rita’s eyes to know she was finally happy and thriving again after a difficult patch over the past year. They chatted for another minute, and then Rita hung up the phone with a smile on her face.
“You look positively giddy,” Cathy said dryly after she took a sip of coffee.
Rita picked up her cup. “I feel good. Julie is back in school and doin’ well. I’m finally done with chemo and back to my old self. Tyler is on his way home.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s comin’ up soon, isn’t it?”
Rita gulped the coffee, and it scalded her tongue and throat. She set the cup down and reached for a glass of water. “Tomorrow. I can’t believe it. Eight years serving in the Navy, and he’s finally on his way home.”
“I know you’re excited to see him,” Cathy replied.
“Beyond excited. I can’t wait. I feel like bustin’ out of my skin. He’s gonna stay with me in the lake house, at least for a while until he gets on his feet.”
“Are you worried about him finding his way?” Cathy asked, one eyebrow quirked.
Rita sighed. “Of course I am. I don’t know what he’s gonna do with himself. All this time, he’s served our country, but he doesn’t have many marketable job skills. Well, not exactly. I think he’d be great at just about anything he put his mind to. The discipline they teach them in the Navy is incredible, and he’s great in a team. But I wonder if it’ll be enough. I told him he can work at the café, but he says he doesn’t want to. He’s not concerned. He’s assured me that he’ll be fine and can figure it out on his own.” She raised a hand as if to wave their worries away. “So, I’m gonna let him do that. Heaven knows he doesn’t want his momma to interfere in his life. He’s a twenty-eight-year-old man.”
Cathy laughed. “I hear that. My kids are the same way. It seems I don’t know anything after all these years living on God’s green earth. They tell me that all the time.”
Rita rolled her eyes. “Good heavens. I don’t know how we manage to get ourselves out of bed in the morning.”
They both laughed. Then Cathy pursed her lips before she spoke again. “I wanted to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
She inhaled a deep breath. “I’ve decided to start dating.”
Rita choked on a mouthful of coffee. She sputtered for a good minute before she could speak again. “You what now?”
“I’m putting myself out there.”
“Words I never thought I’d hear from your mouth,” Rita replied. “You don’t think it’s a little soon?”
Cathy frowned. “Is it too soon? I don’t know.”
“Well, your divorce was only finalised a few months ago. My husband died years ago, and I’m still not ready to date.”
“But you were lucky. You had a husband who really loved you. I want that.”
“That’s true—I was lucky.”
“And besides, I’m not saying I’m ready. I don’t know if I am. But I’ve got to get out there so I can figure it out.”
“I suppose so… I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
Cathy squeezed Rita’s hand. “And I appreciate that, Rita. You’re a good friend.”
“Besides all of that, I wouldn’t know how to date even if I wanted to. What will you do?”
“I’m joining one of those apps.”
“Apps?”
“You know, an online dating thingy.”
“Oh. Wow.”
