The Beginning of Again by Jessica Terry

Author:Jessica Terry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: African American fiction, African American family, Abandonment, Life after divorce, Rebuilding relationships
Publisher: Jessica Terry
Published: 2020-06-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Pat and Ronnie sat at the table, eating breakfast together. Grits and eggs for Pat, avocado toast for Ronnie. Their conversation was pleasant, if somewhat awkward.

"You likin' that job?" Pat asked her. He sipped his coffee.

"I am. It was a little rocky at first but I'm liking it a whole lot more now."

"What is it you do?"

"I'm the receptionist at a hair salon. Answer the phone, make appointments, that kind of stuff."

"That's what you went to college for?"

Ronnie paused, wondering if this was sarcasm. Opting to think positively, she replied, "No, I majored in sociology. But a lot of things are different now."

"Hmm."

"This is just something so I can get back on my feet and make my own money while I figure out what it is I really want to do."

"I see."

"My old classmate owns the salon and was kind enough to give me a shot."

"Give you a shot? It ain't hard to answer the phone, is it?"

"Well, when you've never had a real job, even the simplest things can seem difficult."

"I suppose."

"But don't worry; I'm saving most of my money so hopefully within a year, I'll be able to get out of your hair."

Pat glanced at her briefly, his cinnamon-colored face expressionless. Ronnie noticed that he didn't have many wrinkles. "No rush."

Smiling, Ronnie took another bite of her avocado toast, thankfully still unfazed by what Pat said it looked like when he first saw it.

After they both finished eating, Ronnie cleared their plates and announced that she had to go to the store that day.

"Again?"

"Fresh produce only lasts so long." Ronnie shrugged. "I try not to buy too much at a time so it won't spoil."

"Umph."

"You doing anything special today?"

"Got some errands to run."

Leaning against the counter, Ronnie looked at Pat curiously. "You like being retired, Dad?"

"Yeah."

"You don't get bored?"

"Nah. I keep myself occupied just fine."

"I'd get restless with nothing to do and nowhere to go."

"Didn't you used to be a housewife?"

"Yeah...but then I was tending to the house and taking care of my husband. That was my job."

"I guess."

"Edward worked to take care of me, so I tried to make sure he didn't have to worry about anything when he got home."

"How come y'all never had any kids?"

There it was. Ronnie had hoped this question wouldn't come up but she figured it was only a matter of time.

"I...just wasn't quite ready for kids yet," she finally answered. She twirled her foot around in a circle and eyed it as she did so.

"Was he?"

"Yes. He, um, he wanted to start a year or so after we got married. But I just kept asking him to wait."

"And he got tired of waitin'?"

This conversation was making Ronnie uncomfortable. She rubbed her arm. "That wasn't the reason we split up."

"Why did you split up, then?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, Dad."

"Fine." Pat threw up a hand and took another sip of his coffee.

Her mood shot, Ronnie quickly washed the breakfast dishes and retreated to her room, trying to put the conversation out of her mind.

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