Free Sue and Tom by Buffy Andrews

father had spoiled her.
    I still got the occasional drunken call in the middle of the night, but she never, until yesterday, showed up at my house damn near naked.
    I needed to get out of the house. I couldn’t sit around any longer.
    I reached down to pet Klondike. “Want to go to the park, boy?”
    He barked and went to the door. Sometimes I think Klondike understands me better than anyone.
    I grabbed my keys off the counter and my cellphone, just in case Gina called while we were out.
     
    ***
     
    Sue
     
    I was about ready to jump in the shower when Chloe called.
    “Hey, Mom. Mind if I spend another night at Robin’s house?”
    “Is it okay with her mom?”
    “Yeah. She said she’d drop us off at the mall later. So can I?”
    I sat back down on the bed. “I don’t know. I’ve barely seen you this week.”
    “Please, Mom. Please. Please. Please.”
    I had to admit, being able to crawl back into bed was tempting. “Okay. What time do you want me to pick you up?”
    “Mrs. Matthews said she ’d drop me off on their way to church, unless I wanted to go with them, which I don’t.”
    “O kay, then I’ll see you tomorrow. Behave.”
    “Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
    “I love you, too.”
    No sooner had I crawled back under the covers when Gina called.
    “How’s my bestie this morning?” said Gina in a sickening sing-song voice.
    “You’re too happy. Stop it.”
    “Okay. How’s this then?” In her best Eeyore voice, Gina said, “Good morning.”
    “That’s too gloomy.”
    “I can’t win with you. Too happy. Too gloomy. Ugh. So are you still pissed off?”
    “Yes. Maybe even a little more than I was last night.”
    “How can that be?” Gina asked. “Time is supposed to make you less pissed, not more.”
    “I know. I know. But I kept thinking about the key and Rachel having the key and why Rachel had the key.”
    “So she had the key,” Gina said.
    “Well, don’t you think it’s odd she had the key? Like why didn’t Tom get the key back?”
    “Maybe he forgot she had it.”
    “Or maybe he wanted her to have it?”
    “Why?”
    “Maybe he was le aving the door open a crack,” I said. “You know, figuratively speaking.”
    “That doesn’t make sense,” Gina said. “Look , Sues, you know I love you. That I’d do anything for you. But I really think you’re mad at the wrong person. Be mad at Rachel. Hell, be furious with her. But not at Tom. I really don’t think you’re giving him a fair shake. You won’t even listen to his explanation?”
    “How do you know that?”
    “Because I know he called you and you didn’t return his call,” Gina explained.
    “Did he call you?” I asked.
    “Of course he called me. I’m your best friend. He’s worried about you.”
    “Well, you can tell him not to worry. I’m a big girl and I’ll be just fine.”
    “Are you going to talk to him? Answer the phone if he calls?”
    “Gina, I know Tom is your friend. But I’m your best friend. And right now I’m hurting. You’re probably right. What Rachel did wasn’t his fault. But it happened and it’s made me think twice about our relationship. Do I really want to take the chance and love again? When I saw Rachel, all I could think about was when I found Steve screwing little Miss Pierced Nipples. And I don’t want to go through that heartache again. Ever.”
    “What did you tell me about Mike?” Gina asked. “About second chances. Starting over. You should take your own advice.”
    “It was different between you and Mike. You two were torn apart by a horrible, horrible incident that no one knew about. You never stopped loving one another. I was just falling in love with Tom. Stopping it now means I won’t get hurt.”
    “But sometimes, Sues, you have to take chances. Do you want to live the rest of your life alone?”
    “I have Chloe.”
    “Yes, you have Chloe. Now. But one day she’ll go off on her own and you’ll be by yourself. And that’s fine if that’s what you want.