Reconstructing Natalie by Laura Jensen Walker

Author:Laura Jensen Walker [Walker, Laura Jensen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2018-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

chapter sixteen

I always had the best boobs around. Even in high school.”

Faye took a sip of coffee from her Styrofoam cup, leaving a bright pink lip print on the rim. She shot a defiant look at all of us in the circle. “Everyone was jealous of me.” She patted her chest. “These babies have gotten me far. I won poise and appearance at our local Junior Miss pageant.”

I stole a glance at Rashida and rolled my eyes, but Constance was listening very intently to Faye’s monologue. Johnna was out sick that day, so Constance was running the meeting.

She had posed the probing question, how important are breasts?

And Faye had been first to reply, launching into the story of her life. “After modeling for a while, I became a flight attendant. That’s where I met my husband, Steve.” She drained the rest of her coffee and started playing with her empty cup. “But Steve was jealous of me flying with all those good-looking pilots, so after we got married, I stayed home and did the whole Junior League, country-club thing.”

She ripped off a piece of Styrofoam. “Everything was going great until this stupid cancer interfered.”

She ripped off another piece and furiously began shredding her cup. “It’s really wreaking havoc on my sex life.”

Thanks so much for sharing.

Constance laid her hand on Faye’s arm and said gently, “How does—”

Faye shook off Constance’s hand. “Don’t try your psychobabble on me. You want to know how it makes me feel?” She crumpled what remained of her cup. “Pissed off. That’s how I feel.”

“Me too,” Jane said softly. “I get pi—” She couldn’t bring herself to say the P-word. “I get angry a lot.”

I shot Jane a surprised look.

“You angry?” Faye dumped the shredded pile of Styrofoam from her skirt into the trash can next to her. “That’s rich. Tell us another one.”

Jane flushed. “I’ve never been pretty or popular like you, Faye.” She closed her eyes for a moment, her pale lids looking translucent in the light. “Most guys never gave me a second look in high school or college, so I’d pretty much decided I’d never get married.” She opened her eyes, and a sweet smile lit up her plain face. “And then—”

“And then you met the great love of your life, who swept you off your feet.” Faye snorted. “Spare me. I’ve seen it before on the Hallmark channel.”

Zoey and Rashida both gave Faye dirty looks. And I barely refrained from jumping up and slapping her silly.

“Shh,” Pat said. “We want to hear.”

Jane looked uncertainly at Constance. “Are you sure? I don’t want to take up the whole time . . .”

“Please.” Constance gave her an encouraging smile.

Jane took a deep breath. “Well, as I was saying . . . then one day I met Mitch, and to him I was beautiful. But it was never about my breasts.” She looked down at her slightly concave chest and thin, freckled arms and legs. “Or any part of my body, for that matter.” She said simply, “Loving Mitch made me beautiful.

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