Page 58 of Ruin The Friendship
They should be back from Spain by now. I can’t help but wonder if maybe they will call me.
I sit at my desk to finish a few things I didn’t complete earlier, getting lost in the event graphic I’m making.
At the end of the day, when I’m leaving, my phone rings. For a brief moment, a flicker of hope burns within me, but it’s not my mom or dad. It’s Dottie. Which, to be honest, might be better.
“Hey! How are you?” I haven’t talked to her in a while.
To be honest, I’m not sure if Fletcher has told her about the shift in our relationship, and that we’re giving dating a try.
“I’m great. I just wanted to check in and see how you were feeling.”
“Pretty good. I’m not nearly as nauseous or tired anymore, which is definitely a perk.”
“And how have your appointments gone?”
“Good. I really like my doctor. She’s so nice.”
“How are you feeling about everything?” Dottie asks cautiously.
“What do you mean?”
Maybe Fletcher has told her?
“Becoming a mom. It’s a big life change. When I had our oldest, it was a lot. My mom had died the year before, so I was doing a lot of it on my own. Ron was working, and I was a stay-at-home mom. I also struggled with postpartum depression, so it was, overall, a hard time.”
Her words strike me, and a sadness for a young Dottie makes my eyes burn with tears. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s in the past. We made it through. Talking aboutthese things was taboo back then, but you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. There are people around you who will drop everything for you.”
As she speaks, I know exactly what I need. “I’ve been worried about what happens when the baby is born. I don’t know how to take care of a baby. My mom”—I swallow the lump in my throat—“My mom was never the loving type, and I’m scared I’m going to mess up.”
“Oh, honey. Youwillmess up. That’s just part of being a parent. But you’ll learn so much as you go.”
“Fletcher told me I can stay in the apartment, so that’s helpful, but I can’t rely on him for everything. What if he resents me?”
The worry tumbles out of my lips before I can stop it.
“He won’t. Never.”
“The baby is going to be born in the middle of playoffs. How could he not?” Everything I’ve been thinking bubbles to the surface. “I don’t think I can do this alone.”
The line goes quiet before Dottie replies. “Now, you can tell me if I’m overstepping, but would you like me to come spend some time up there once you have the baby?”
A sense of relief washes over my body, bathing me in peace. “Please? I’ll check with Fletcher, but I need you. I need all the help I can get. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“You check with Fletcher, and I’ll stay as long as you need, sweetie.”
“Thank you,” I breathe, my muscles relaxing.
“Absolutely. Now, tell me about your latest project at work.”
I appreciate the change in subject, since I was about three seconds from bursting into tears. I tell her all about the new grant I was approved for today, and she lets me talkher ear off about it for the next thirty minutes while I pick up my food and get home.
We hang up the phone just as Fletcher’s game is set to start, since we both will be distracted soon anyway.
At the game, Calvin got into a fight pretty much right away and spent five minutes in the penalty box. Thankfully, the boys were able to keep the other team from scoring on the power play, and Calvin hasn’t picked any more fights.
Yet.
