Rita
“I know it’s been tough lately,” Cait says softly, her face filling the frame. “Why don’t you come out here? Use some vacation time. Or maybe just visit for a weekend? I can fly you out-”
“Please don’t offer to pay for things,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut. “I love you to pieces, I just can’t.”
“Okay, that’s okay, I totally understand.” She hesitates a second. “Why don’t I come out there?”
“You’re pregnant. You have a kid. There are a million reasons why not.”
Cait lets out a long sigh. “I miss you,” she says, whispering now. “I miss the way things used to be. I know I seem like things are great, but seriously, Rita, sometimes I want to rip my own fucking hair out. Do you know where the closest mall is?”
I shake my head. “No clue.”
“Three hours away. Our closest neighbor is fifteen minutes. There’s a town, but god, it’s like literally three buildings and maybe ten horses. I love this place. It’s absolutely beautiful. But I’m so fucking bored.”
I shouldn’t smile, but I can’t help it. Misery really does love company. “Really? You always seem so happy.”
“I am happy. I can’t really pretend like I’m not. But we’re isolated. All I have is Joshua for company. Then there’s Dylan, and he’s amazing, but it is not easy doing nothing but parenting. And being a wife. And gardening.”
“Sounds like you need my visit more than I need it.”
She laughs, nodding. “Absolutely. I’m serious too. I miss sitting around, drinking wine, and shit talking. I miss just being friends, no pressure. Not even shit talking anyone we know, just talking about nothing. I miss pizza. I miss tacos.”
“I can bring you pizza.”
“Please. I’m begging you. Don’t tease me.”
I grin at her, leaning back in my big fluffy bed. “Scott’s really engaged, huh?”
“I’m sorry. He’s a little needle-dicked loser, right?”
“The needle-est of all dicks. Just a straight line.”
“Screw him.” She grins at me. “You okay, Rita?”
“No, I’m not, but I’ll survive.”
There’s more barking in the background. “Shit. I gotta go. Rex is doing it again and Joshua’s waving for me to come back.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too. Fuck Scott. Rex!!-” The call disconnects and my phone goes silent.
I stare at it for a long moment. All those ugly feelings are still inside, but Cait’s admission makes me feel better.
Not because she’s suffering. Honestly, I feel so guilty that I’ve been thinking her life is perfect and resenting her for it, when secretly she’s been struggling.
It’s more that it’s nice to hear that someone in my stupid life needs me, at least a little bit.
I grab the room’s phone and dial room service on a whim. I order a plate of fries-two plates of fries-and an expensive bottle of champagne. “Charge it to the card on file, please.”
“Right away, Mrs. Scarfoni.”
I grimace, but don’t correct him.
Scar might be pissed about the expense, but whatever, he can afford it. Right now, I’m only concerned about getting through the night without losing my mind.
My ex-boyfriend is engaged. My apartment burned down. My best friend is having a hard time. Everything seems to be conspired against me, like I’m slowly spiraling out of control, getting closer and closer to the ground.
Ready to break into pieces.
My phone rings. I jump slightly, expecting Scar.
But instead, it’s my mother.
I answer, a strange sense of hope blossoming in my chest. “Hey, Mom.”
“Sweetie.” She sounds distant and there’s noise in the background. “Honey, listen, I can’t talk but I needed to call before we take off.”
“Take off?” I narrow my eyes. “You’re not checking in about the fire?”
“What? Fire? No, honey, your father and I have some important news. We’re leaving for Paris in five minutes with a couple we’ve been seeing lately. We decided we’re entering into a relationship with them, a real four-way relationship. I’m in love, honey. Your father’s in love too.”
My jaw works. I blink rapidly, trying to assimilate this new information. “You called to tell me you’re in some weird four-way relationship with another married couple? And you’re flying to Paris?”
“To celebrate!” she yells over more noise, which I now realize is an airport. “We’re in a quadrople! A quad couple! We’re working on the name, but honey, Michael has a private plane. Really, it’s all amazing. I just wanted to let you know that we’ll be gone for two weeks, so if you need anything, wait until we’re back!”
“Mom, my apartment burned down. I have no money. I have nowhere to sleep. All my stuff is gone. I don’t know-”
“Shit, sweetie, I’m so sorry! I meant to Venmo you that fifty. I’ll do it right now before we leave. Love you so much!”
The phone goes dead.
Then vibrates a second later. A notification from Venmo.
Twenty-five dollars from Mom with a big-heart-eyes emoji.
What the actual fuck is happening to me? I throw the phone on the floor and curl up in the bed.
My parents are in a quadrople. They’re flying to Paris, on a private plane, and my mom couldn’t even send me fifty bucks like she promised. Meanwhile, I’m in a room I can’t afford, my apartment is a blackened, charred wreck, and I don’t know where I’m going to sleep tomorrow.
There’s a loud knock at the door. I shoot up, leaping to my feet.
Champagne. French fries.
I’m such a mess, but at least there’s champagne. At least there are fries. I’m already mentally ordering a second bottle as I yank open the door-
To find one of the Callahan brothers from back in Boston standing on the threshold.
“Hello, Mrs. Scarfoni,” he says, his face strangely deadpan. “My name is Gregory Callahan. I was wondering if we could have a conversation.”