Chapter Four
Rose walked into the Carmel dive bar, one locals loved and the rich tourists avoided. She cringed at the sound of some drunk belting out “Copacabana” at the top of his lungs, off pitch and off key, with a smile on his face and most of the crowd singing along.
Across the bar stood the one person who always had her back, who loved her like a sister, and who was currently waving her hands in the air like a madwoman to get Rose’s attention from across the crowded room.
Rose wound her way through the tables because the bar was packed just like she imagined it was every Friday night. She loved Maggie. She’d missed her a lot this past year when sixteen-hour workdays took over Rose’s life and Maggie’s fiancé, Marc, took all Maggie’s spare time.
They both worked in Silicon Valley, Rose as a programmer and Maggie in marketing. They braved the incessant traffic to get together for lunch once a week. But over time, and as their schedules got more packed, their lunches turned into everyother week, then once a month, then occasionally they’d catch up on the weekends.
It didn’t matter how much time passed between visits, they were forever best friends. No matter what day or time, if one of them texted or called, the other picked up.
When Maggie fell hard for Marc about eight months ago, no one was happier than Rose. Though, admittedly, Rose was also jealous of the love Maggie had found. She didn’t begrudge her friend spending time with her fiancé. She just missed her friend because Maggie had been so caught up with her guy.
For the first time in years, Rose felt disconnected from her best friend. And that probably had a lot to do with the fact they simply hadn’t seen each other in person in so long, and whenever there was a chance to meet Marc, somehow the plans fell through.
Of course Rose heard all about him, even talked to him on the phone several times when Maggie had her on speaker, but it wasn’t the same as seeing him face-to-face. Lately it felt like she and Maggie lived on different coasts and not just a few cities apart.
Rose flew into Maggie’s open arms and fiercely hugged her friend. “Promise me we will make a point to see each other more often.”
Maggie crushed her close. “Yes. Promise.” Maggie leaned back and took her by the shoulders. “I’m so glad you’re here. How are you?”
“I’m good.” She meant it. In general, Rose had a good thing going. She loved her job, she had a few close work friends shehung out with once in a while after work, she dated when she felt like it and took a break when she got discouraged. For the most part, she had a good life. “What’s the big emergency?”
Maggie waved that away and her eyes brightened with excitement. “I’m finally going to introduce you to Marc.” Maggie clutched her hands at her chest. “And Gray, his best man, is coming, too.”
“I can’t wait to meet the man who stole your heart.”
“How was seeing your mom and sister?” Maggie’s eyes filled with concern.
“Mom painted the kitchen cabinets.”
Maggie’s eyes went wide. “Did she get permission from your father from the grave?”
Rose chuckled. “She defied the order of things and did it herself.”
“Hell must have frozen over.”
Rose sighed. “We talked about him. I encouraged her to continue to do what she wants now. I don’t know how she stays in that house.”
Maggie rubbed her hand up and down Rose’s arm, comforting her the way she always did. “And Poppy? How was it seeing her after all this time?”
Rose pressed her lips tight. “She made it clear she hates me. Which is understandable. Except...”
Maggie motioned for her to take a stool at the high table. “Tell me,” she coaxed.
“She looks terrible. Like she’s a walking corpse. I don’t know why she hasn’t left that place, but it looks like it’s killing her.”
Maggie put her hand over hers. “Did you try to talk to her?”
“She wanted nothing to do with me. Mom’s worried about her.”
Maggie frowned. “I really thought after your father died things would get better for all of you.”
“I let him go. They’re still clinging to his ghost and the past and they’re just... trapped.”
“You were for a long time, too. It took you going away to school, putting distance between you, and a lot of time to get his voice out of your head.”
“It’s been more than three years since he passed. They need to start living their lives without worrying about what he’ll think if they change something in the house or do something he wouldn’t like. He’s gone. He can’t control them anymore.”