Chapter One
by Carolynn Bjorkman
“What is it, Jenna?” she asked in amazement. “Did you get fired or something? Did that yutz of a boss of yours try it again?” Being that it was the end of the day, Eve thought that her good friend possibly got pink-slipped at the close of the day. She’d been relating stories of the overly friendly manager for weeks now, and how unsure she was about reporting his unwanted advances. Jenna was about to take her three weeks vacation, and job-hunting was not how to have to spend it.
Jenna, threw her belongings down, stood there with her eyes closed, strongly trying to calm herself down. She found herself failing. She also found tears streaming down her face. And she never knew she’d begun crying, as angry as she’d been.
Eve came up to her and noticed the tears. She quickly rummaged around the small kitchen and found the kettle. Without taking her eyes off her friend and roommate, she filled it up and put it on the stove, then began rummaging around for some chamomile tea. Eva knew that always soothed Jenna, when her temper flared. In fact, Eve was so in tune to Jenna, she ran to the stereo and popped in the music she knew would calm Jenna’s soul.
Walking back over to her friend, Eve never took her eyes off of Jenna’s face. Finally, Jenna looked up, her faced etched in emotional pain, and began sobbing uncontrollably. Eva ran around the counter and hugged her. This was something more than a creepy boss.
“Tell me all about it, Jenna”, she whispered. Jenna was shaking. She was certain her heart was exploding into smithereens. It hurt so badly.
“Brad”was all she said as she broke into fresh wails and tears. Eve understood immediately. Jenna had been remarking lately about problems with planning a wedding to Brad. It seemed there was one delay after another and whenever she’d tried to discuss it, Brad never seemed to have an answer. Until now.
“What happened, Jen? What did Brad do?” Eva coaxed her quietly. The kettle began whistling. Eve let go of Jenna reluctantly, and said, “Hold that thought and don’t move!” Getting two mugs out, she poured the hot water over the tea bags, scurried to get the honey and spoons out, and returned to the counter where Jenna still stood, stiff as a statue. Eve went around to her friend and encouraged her to sit. Doing so, Jenna breathed in a wracked, labored breath. Eve could tell it hurt.
“Shhh. You’ll be fine,” she whispered and managed a slight smile. “Have a sip of tea, first, then tell me what happened.” She reached across the counter top and gave Jenna’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
Jenna breathed in the aroma of the relaxing tea. Bless her heart, she thought, Eve always knows how to handle things. Taking in a deep breath of courage, Jenna managed, “He ‘decided’ things weren’t working out well between us. The thing is, is that he had help making up his mind. Remember I told you about the cold shoulder his mother gave me?” Eve nodded and understood. Jenna continued. “Bingo. Mumsy convinced him I was far beneath his standing. I have no idea what she bases all this hostility on, but Brad swallowed it down. Every single drop.”
Eve nodded. “Some moms are just like that, Jen. I don’t know what’s worse: a parent that’s trying like heck to marry you off, or the type that won’t be happy with anyone their kid chooses.”
Jenna felt the anger starting to rise again. “Oh but what amazes me is that Brad tried to somehow pin this all on me! The unbelievable….what’s that word you always use?”
“Chutzpah?” Eve offered.
“Excactly! Somehow mumsypoo got it into his head that I’m some sort of run-around sleaze! And he believed it! No asking me! He just takes his ma at her word!”
Eve watched her. Brad seemed like a wimp to her a long time ago, but how could she betray her best friend by dissing her fiancée`? Jenna had seemed to write off the behavior Brad displayed as something that somehow made sense. And as long as Jenna felt certain, Eve did not want to question it. But she had to find a way to distract her friend.
“Hey! Listen up, hon. At least he showed SOME minute degree of consideration. You’ve got three weeks vacation. Use it to your advantage. Splurge! Go out and buy yourself something outrageous. Or whatever it takes to work this out of you. You are NOT going to sit around here and wallow in grief for that jerk!”
Jenna looked up at Eve, who was now smiling warmly and encouragingly at her. “You’re right! Dagnabbit you’re right! I’m getting out of here a.s.a.p.” She jumped up and headed for her room, yanked out her rucksack and started putting things in it. Eve walked in and watched her. Sunglasses, CD player, CD’s, suntan oil, towel.
“Where are you going?” she asked Jenna, who was busy changing into jeans and a T-shirt.
“I won’t be gone long. But I’m going out towards the hills. I know this one place where there’s a hot springs pool. Just the ticket! I’ll be back later and THEN decide how to spend vacation. But I gotta get out of here.”
Eve nodded. “Just don’t break your neck getting there, okay? You want to borrow my cell-phone? JUST in case!”
Jenna smiled. “Yeah, sure. I pity any cop that tries to stop me, though.” Grabbing her bags, she stopped as she passed Eve, then dropped everything and hugged her. “Thanks, girlfriend. I’ll see you later.”
Eve heard a slight squeal of tires as her roommate pulled out. She knew she’d be okay. Looking out the window, she saw the little green Mustang take off, Jenna’s blond hair blowing back behind her as she disappeared out of town. Eve felt a tingle of…something. It felt as if a big change were right on the horizon. The horizon was where Jenna was headed.
