I smile. “Oh, Mitzy and Nellie are getting along just fine. Nellie is a bit of a diva. She gives Mitzy and I the stink eye all the time, but as soon as Oscar walks in the door, she’s all sweet and affectionate. But once in a while, I’ll catch her cuddling with Mitzy.”
“Men and their cats,” Maeve says.
“Men and their dogs,” Gabbie pipes in.
“Men and their cars,” Corrie ads, and we all laugh.
“So, I absolutely need to know,” Corrie says. “What’s the deal with your mom and that French hottie?”
I think about Mom and a smile traces my lips. She’s been glowing lately. She seems so young these days, full of life. “It’s going great. They’re engaged.”
Wide eyes all around. “No freaking way,” Corrie says. “That’s fantastic.”
“Yeah, she’s in Paris right now,” I tell them. “They’re going to split their time… spend six months in France, and six months here.”
“Wow,” Maeve says. “I wish I were your mom.”
Corrie laughs. “Me too.”
“Don’t we all,” I say. “The woman has a fabulous life.”
“Will you miss her when she’s away?” Gabbie asks. Charlotte is in her arms again, still fascinated by the ceiling.
My smile fades. “A little… but there’s Facetime and stuff. We’ll still be in touch. And I get her six months a year.”
“I bet she can’t wait to be a grandmother.”
I laugh. “She’ll have to wait a little longer.”
A beat of silence or two follows, the clatter and chatter of the crowd suddenly noticeable.
“So, what is this?” Maeve asks, breaking the silence. “A gossip club, or a journaling club?”
I laugh and rummage through my oversized bag for my notebook. “I’ve got something… my latest entry. I think you’ll all like it.
“Go for it, girl,” Corrie cheers.
I cross a leg over the other, I clear my throat, and start.
Friendship
Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.— Helen Keller
Wikipedia defines friendshipas a relationship of mutual affection between people, but it’s so much more than that.
A friend is there for you when you’re feeling down. A friend is someone you can talk to, the one who helps you get it all out. A friend is the person who looks out for you, and who will give you the right advice, whether it’s wanted or not. A true friend will always steer you in the right direction, and wants the best for you; happiness, prosperity and health.
A friend is a person who understands you, who ‘gets you’. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll find such a person, or possibly even more than one. You’ll find your ‘tribe’. And there won’t be a doubt in your mind when you do.
A friend makes you laugh, and can sometimes make you cry. Although it might not always be easy, true friends always come back to each other. You always have time for one another. You seek each other out. You understand each other.
A best friend is someone you feel comfortable enough to share all your secrets with. You can trust them, you can confide in them, and they will never betray you. You can also be vulnerable with them. You can show them all your bruises and sores, and they will stick a bandage on them, and help you heal them.
A best friend is someone you can spend countless hours with and never get bored. Your best friend is the person you want to text or call as soon as something great happens, and also as soon as something horrible happens.
Some people are never lucky enough to find a single one of these people. I’ve been very blessed that way. I found my tribe in Gabbie, Corrie and Maeve. They’re always there for me, and they just get me. And then there’s Oscar, my lover, my best friend, the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. He’s the most important person in my world.
I’ve been very blessed, indeed.
