Forgive for Joy's Sake (Part 1)
Close to two years later, the house was sold and I was a divorced woman. Through the grapevine, I'd heard that Jackson and Mel had a girl and were now living together. My mother, whose loyalties I now question, keeps in contact with Mel and decided to share with me that they were planning to get married.
"Ma, why do you feel the need to keep me updated on their happy life? I know you think of her as your other daughter, but don't you think you are being a bit unfair to your real daughter?” She was sitting at the kitchen table waiting as I made us lunch. She had popped in unannounced, something she knows I hated, and invited herself to lunch.
“In my mind she did you a favor. You never loved that boy anyway. The two of you were cheating each other out of real love because you were compatible and liked each other well enough. Now he knows better, and I hope one day you will too.” My mother was never one for holding her tongue and I found it to be more of a curse than a blessing.
“Anything else you feel you need to express about how great being betrayed by my best friend was for me? I would really like to get everything out before I sit down and eat. In fact, once I sit down and eat, I don’t want to talk about Jackson, Mel, or my love life for that matter. So if you have anything else to express about any of those subjects, you have ten minutes to do so.” I stirred the pot of black bean soup I was heating up to go with the sandwiches I’d made and waited for whatever would spill out of her mouth next.
“No, I don’t have anything else to say on any of those subjects. At least not right now. For the record though, I am looking forward to saying I told you so, when you find out I’m right. Now tell me how the new job is going. How do you like working from home? I think it would drive me crazy not having anyone to talk too.” Her phone rang and she pounced on it like the talking addict she was. “Hello.” Her eyes cut over to me. “Hold on a minute, I need to step away so I can hear you better.”
Quickly she stood and whispered to me, “I’ll be right back.” She rushed out the kitchen. A few moments later, I heard the door to my home office close. Not even two minutes later, she came rushing back into the kitchen. “Joy, I have to go. I’m sorry, but Mel—”
“Ma, enough with Mel already. If you need to go, then go. I don’t want to know what’s going on with her.” I walked over to the table where she had been sitting, picked up her designer purse, and handed it to her.
“But she—” Ma tried to override my wishes.
“No, Ma. I said whatever it is I don’t want to know. Please, just go do whatever you need to do without pulling me in. Can you do that for me?”
I could see the frustration on her face as she let out a breath. “Fine, but only because I need to leave now to get to the hospital.” She turned on her heels and hurried out the door.
I followed slowly behind her and locked the door. I knew my mother had intentionally mentioned the hospital. She knew it would peak my curiosity. Damn, it had worked. Was Mel in the hospital, and if so, why was she there? Part of me wanted to call my mother and find out, but my broken heart wouldn’t let me. It reminded me that the Mel I was so worried about, hadn’t thought enough of me not to sleep with my husband. She didn’t think enough of me to not get pregnant by my husband. On top of that, she hadn’t thought enough of me or our friendship to apologize for sticking a knife so deep in my back that even the hilt didn’t show.
It bothered me that I was bothered by her not even trying to contact me and say she was sorry. We had been like sisters, and she knew how her actions would affect me, but I guess her happiness mattered more. At least she could have given me the common courtesy of cursing her out. Now with my senses back I reminded myself that if Mel was in the hospital there was nothing I could do for her that my mother couldn’t. She was in good hands, and I was under no obligations to be concerned or do anything to help in whatever crisis she may be facing.
I wrapped up my mom’s sandwich and put it in the fridge, ladled some soup in a bowl, and poured myself some lemonade. I’d intended to sit and relax while I enjoyed my lunch, but I knew I needed to get back to work to keep my mind from straying, so I placed my meal on a tray and carried it into my home office. Instinct told me to silence my cell phone. If it was something serious there was no doubt Ma would try to use it as an opportunity to get me to help Mel out. She would blow up my phone until I answered and would be back on my doorstep laying on my doorbell if she couldn’t get me on the phone. I just hoped I had enough time to finish working and then head out for the evening. Thankfully, it was Friday and I could disappear for the weekend if need be.
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