Wishes and Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel

Author:Lurlene McDaniel [McDaniel, Lurlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-385-37334-0
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2014-05-13T04:00:00+00:00

“There you are!” Eden came beside Ciana breathlessly. “I couldn’t find you. When did you cut out?”

“I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I had to get out of there.”

“You could have told me.”

“It happened fast. I just ducked and ran. Sorry.”

They were together in the Riverfront Park on the banks of the great Cumberland River flowing through downtown Nashville, just blocks from the nightclub. The concrete path had been designed especially for joggers, walkers, and bike riders. On summer evenings it was usually crowded, but because of the rain, Ciana was pretty much by herself, which was how Eden had found her so quickly.

“Was the guy you danced with a complete jerk?” Eden hooked her arm through Ciana’s.

“No. He was turning out to be a nice guy. I … I just wasn’t interested. How about your guy? Did I ruin it for you?”

“No. Turns out I wasn’t very interested in him either. Guess it wasn’t such a good idea to come out tonight after all.”

“I’m just a party pooper.”

“But that’s always been the case.”

Ciana snickered. “Please don’t sugarcoat your words on my account.”

The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and humidity settled on them like a cloak. “What were you thinking about so hard? You looked a million miles away when I came up.”

Ciana stared out across the water, watched the droplets hitting the river’s surface fracture the lights reflected from downtown buildings. Tears from heaven, she thought. “Believe it or not, I was thinking back to the day we graduated. We were like, ‘Hey, world, here we come. Get out of the way!’ ”

“Hard to believe that was two years ago. But you’re right. We thought we owned the world. It was a great day. Even my looney mother behaved herself.” At Eden’s urging, they began to stroll.

“And my parents and grandmother were there. And remember how Arie—” Ciana stopped abruptly, unable to finish the sentence. It was crazy how grief could so easily blindside her these days. She could be thinking happy thoughts and without warning sadness would sneak up and get her in a choke hold. She cleared her throat. “Well, that was then. This is now.”

“You know what we should do?” Eden didn’t wait for an answer. “We should go back to Bellmeade and break out another bottle of good Italian wine, watch a sad movie, and cry like thirteen-year-olds.”

Ciana smiled because Eden understood. Both of them had learned that grief was a far lighter burden when it was shared between friends. “I think that’s a great idea.”

As the rain started falling more intensely. Eden glanced heavenward. “We should start toward the parking garage. Let’s hurry.”

“Why? Can’t get any wetter.”

Eden shrugged. “I suppose you’re right.”

They looped arms and walked slowly back to Eden’s car.

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