Free Finding My Way by Megan Keith Page B

her son-in-law so when things ended
I know that she felt that loss too.  “Of course Ethan has invited him to
the party… and he’ll be at Kat and Luke’s wedding too.  How are you going
to manage that Emma?  He’s their best man.”
    “I’ll muddle through. 
It’s not like we can’t be civil with each other you know.”  She eyes me
doubtfully as I try to reassure her.  “Besides I think I have moved into
the final stage of grief.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yes I have finally
moved from depression to acceptance… I didn’t have a choice really.” I pause
for a moment knowing that my next bit of information may hurt my mother. 
“Josh has met someone else.”
    Mum doesn’t respond
straight away and I know by the look on her face that this has come as a shock
to her.  Funnily enough, for me, it doesn’t hurt to say it though.
    “Well, Celia didn’t
mention it.  Are you sure?”  Celia is Josh’s mother.  Celia and
my Mum made friends with each other not long after Josh and I first got
together.  They’re still friends.
    “Yes I’m sure.  Josh
told Luke about it.  Celia may not know yet, apparently it’s only new.”
    “Right,” she seems at
a loss for words.  We remain silent for a moment and continue eyeing the
photos in front of us.  She pats me on the shoulder. “Well, it’s a good
thing that you are ready to move on then dear.  You deserve to be happy
too, I’m sure that everything will work out for the best.”  I don’t know
who she is trying to convince, me or herself.
    We continue looking
at the photos for a few more minutes, both of us mesmerized by so many happy
memories that are recorded in front of us.
    “So did you hear
Jake’s single again?”  When I shake my head she continues, “Apparently
Kelly dumped him for someone else.”
    “Oh
no, poor Jake.”   Being left for someone else isn’t much fun, I’m sure,
but I’m actually not really concerned.  Jake’s had so many girlfriends,
I’ve lost count.  With his beautiful friendly nature, dirty blond shaggy
surfer hair, green eyes like his sister, and muscular physique, Kat’s brother
has never stayed single for long.
    “Erin’s pleased, she never liked that girl much.”  I didn’t
think much of her on the couple of times that I met her either.  “He
deserves better anyway.”  She pauses for a moment.  “Speaking of… if
you’re ready to move on, I’ve always thought you and Jake would make a great
match.”  She looks at me expectantly.
    “Yuck!  No Mum!”
    “Why
not?   You could do a lot worse.  He’s a wonderful young man,
good looking too.”
    “Mum!  I’ve
known Jake like forever.  I could never see him that way.”  I would
never admit to anyone, especially my mother, and definitely not to Kat, but I
did have a little crush on him once.  It was before Josh, not long after
Kat’s family first moved here.  But I was young, it was so long ago and
now I’m embarrassed at the thought of it.  I would never, no, just yuck!
    “That’s a shame, you two would be so cute together.”
    “No it’s just plain
wrong!  He’s like a brother to me.”
    “But you would make
great babies.  Erin and I could be grandmothers together and-”
    “La la la !”  I say putting my
hands over my ears.
    “Okay! 
Okay!”  Mum says laughing, putting her hands up in defence as she leaves
the table.
    I say goodnight to
Mum soon after that.  I place a container of Mum’s delicious lasagne on
the back seat of the car and just as I open the driver’s door I notice a shadow
move on my left.  Then a hand thumps down on the roof of the car, right
beside my head.
    I let out an almighty
scream, before turning to see Ethan standing there.
    “Fuck!  You
idiot!  You scared me half to death!”  I scowl at him giving him a
shove in the chest.
    “Mind your
language!”  He says mocking me and then chuckles, looking very pleased
with himself for giving me such a fright.  “ You heading