She hadn’t mentioned to Jack that it was a fake-out bee. HIPAA probably covered this information somehow—at least that’s what she told herself.
Now, at least symbolically, April’s ducks were marching on the same side of the street. Not in a row yet, but they were at least in a huddle.
Last night she did what she could to scrub her life. Mostly, her house. Also, for reasons that had nothing to do with Jack, she shaved her legs.
Hey, it was a start.
Also, April made her bed pre-breakfast that morning—for the first time in months.
No, it was not because Jack was in her shower, thanks to the magic of Kitty.
Making her bed just used to be the first thing she did back when things were better, and the routine used to bring peace. But when the peace had gone, so had the habits she’d formed. The alignment she’d worked so hard for turned upside down and sideways.
But that morning she’d even smoothed the corners of the sheet covering the king-size extra-soft mattress she’d bought as soon as the divorce was final. The new bed took up a good deal of the bedroom, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t like she needed space for anything but sleep. And she loved the feel of stretching out in her own area at night.
Her phone dinged on the countertop.
Simone:Good morning, chickadee. Morning check-in!
A warm feeling that always came when Simone did this wound through April. Nearly every morning—except on the days that April beat her to it—Simone would check in with her. Just to be sure she was, and she was quoting here, “Still breathing.”
April appreciated having a hey-are-you-still-breathing friend. She lifted her phone and swiped her thumb over the screen to reply.
April:Morning.
Simone:I saw your Jack out for a run wicked early.
Jack was a runner?Huh.But it wasn’t like April knew much about him or his fitness habits or any of his habits. Still, she tucked that tidbit away. Even though she wasn’t really sure why.
April:Fitness is important.
Simone:Indeed it is.
April:He’s currently in my shower.
Simone:WHAT?
April:Kitty. Don’t ask.
Simone:…
April:Tell Yelena I’m using the mascara she bought me for my birthday.
Simone:!!! What, may I tell my wife, is the reason you’re wearing mascara?
April:No reason.
And all the reasons.
Simone:This is Y. I want to see.
April moved back to her bedroom and pulled open the curtains and the blinds. Sure enough, just as she knew they’d be, Simone and Yelena stood at the window opposite April’s room. Yelena was dressed in her scrubs, so it must’ve been hospital rotation day for her. Simone was still in her purple bathrobe—the one April and Harmony had picked out for Christmas last year.
April held her palm over the unfinished eye and did a Queen of England wave.
Yelena grinned, then gave her a thumbs-up before leaving Simone alone at the window.
Simone’s eyebrows were raised. High. She glanced to her screen, tapping out another message.
