I walked back into the house and felt relieved when it seemed empty. I hopped into the shower and tried to fix my appearance before I got to work. I dressed in my favorite yoga pants and a t-shirt, setting up my desk just as I liked it, so I could write. I grabbed some cold brew coffee and water, leaving the door cracked so I could hear if someone came home. I was surprised at how well my emotions flowed into the story I was writing, easing my pain slightly. I looked out at the beach and knew that this was why I loved writing. It got my thoughts out and released my emotions, good and bad. I smiled weakly and realized how lucky I was to have that.
I worked all day, eating a salad for a late lunch and enjoying some cookies for energy. I hadn’t heard from Remy all day and it concerned me since there were usually a few texts at the very least. I glanced at the clock and realized that he might be home soon, hearing movement downstairs. I assumed that Melinda was making dinner and moved to help her. I’d gotten a lot of words in and needed a break and perhaps to talk to her about this.
I wandered downstairs and looked forward to see her moving around in the kitchen as expected. “Need any help?” I asked as she looked up at me with a warm smile.
“I wasn’t sure if you were going to come out of there today. Is everything okay?” She asked as I bit my lip nervously.
“Well, I think I had a fight with Remy. Something like that,” I replied as she shot me a curious look.
“What happened?” She asked as I moved beside her to help.
“You know he works with his ex,” I said as she nodded. “I’ve felt like he might have feelings for her or something and it hit me hard last night. She sent a message that suggested that even though he assured me that she was seeing his boss and it was meant for him.” I pulled the potatoes over to me and started chopping them. “Has he told you about her?”
“Not much but I know he’s with you. Completely with you,” Melinda told me as she looked at me. “I can’t say that she might not want him back because he is my son, but I don’t think he’s looking for anything with anybody else. I have seen that version of him.”
“I hope not.” I replied as I focused on the potatoes. I chopped them and boiled them for mashed potatoes to go with the roast she was making, helping with salad after that. Thomas came in just before six and I looked at the clock. Where was Remy?
Melinda moved towards her phone on the counter behind us, typing something out. She set it down and pulled the roast out as I stared at the phone. It chimed, and she reached for it, reading a message, and looking at me. “He’s on his way.”
I wasn’t the kind of girl that expected him to always touch bases with me. I never had been that kind of person but today I would have liked a text or call that told me he was coming home. He had options now, and I felt sick as I tossed the lettuce with the vegetables.
We were sitting down when Remy walked in. He went to the fridge and got a beer before he joined us at the table, greeting his parents and kissing my cheek. I shot him a curious look, but he asked us how our day went as Melinda answered him. She gave me an odd look and as she did, I set my fork down, dreading the end of the meal.
I helped clean the table while Remy excused himself to change. Melinda helped me, and we whispered about the weird dinner. She had no idea what was happening, and I was waiting for Remy to come back as much as I was dreading it. He came into the kitchen dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, looking amazing. He got another beer and looked at me as I wiped my hands on a towel. “Want to take a walk?” He asked, and I nodded with a weak smile.
We left through the back door and headed to the sand. I didn’t say anything, too scared of what he was going to say. I looked down and then at the crashing waves as he cleared his throat. “I spoke to Rick today and told him about how Amy has been acting towards me. He knew that we had a past but not too much more and was oblivious to the fact she was still hitting on me.” He looked at me as I widened my eyes. “Nothing ever happened. I told her to cut the shit or else she was going to be gone, which was probably when she started sleeping with Rick. I was stupid enough to assume that everything would be fine, but she’s screwing it all up. I told him that I needed her gone and broke down what was going on.”