The Love List by Elana Johnson

Author:Elana Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AEJ Creative Works
Published: 2022-03-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Fifteen

Bea sat straight up in bed, her eyes darting back to the beginning of her text. The purple bubble blurred, and she couldn’t jab at the phone icon because she couldn’t see it.

Don’t call, Joy said next, and Bea pulled back on the anguish and adrenaline speeding through her. One, it’s Saturday morning and no one should be awake this early. Two, I’m okay and don’t want to interrupt your beach trip. Three, I don’t want to talk about it again.

Bea sniffled and sank back into the pillows. For a rental, they were fluffy and comfortable, and she could see why Grant got great reviews on his beach cottage.

“Again,” she murmured. That single word meant Joy had already spent all of her energy telling everyone else in the Supper Club about her recent separation from her husband. They’d met for lunch or dinner or desserts, and Joy had told them all, and Bea had missed it.

She pressed her eyes closed and let her phone fall to her chest. Stings and burns coated the backs of her eyelids, and Bea couldn’t help the spiraling, out-of-control feeling whizzing through her.

She’d missed out on something major in one of her best friends’ lives. And for what? A walk on the beach? To fly a kite? To dance in the arms of a handsome man at a bonfire?

It all seemed a tad insignificant now, though Bea knew Joy would never want her to feel that way.

I’m so sorry, Bea said, her eyes focusing as her fingers flew. When did you guys get together? I could’ve listened via video. She hoped that didn’t make her sound whiny or accusatory. She didn’t want to be either. She only wanted to provide the same comfort, support, and love Joy had always given to her. I miss you, and I wish I was there to hug you and feed you.

Bea could picture Joy’s bright blue eyes as they danced the way fire did. They’d crinkle along the edges as she laughed, even in the most difficult of circumstances. It’s fine, she’d say. But if you are going to go to the trouble, make the fried mac-and-cheese balls, please.

All the fried macaroni and cheese you want, she added just before Joy’s response came in.

She’d started with a smiley face, and then she’d said, I’ve eaten so much this week. I don’t think I could take another bite, even if you made one of your brisket grilled cheese sandwiches.

Another item Bea was known for in her friend group. A little onion jam, two big slices of cheese—one provolone and one muenster—and a pile of chopped brisket, crisped up with plenty of butter on the bread—mmm. Bea wanted something that rich and savory right now. She wasn’t much of a breakfast eater, so she and Grant had set up a brunch date for that morning, wherein Bea would introduce him to Lauren.

She still hadn’t told him she’d love to meet his sister, and she suddenly had a lot of texts to send.

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