Free That Was Then... by Melody Carlson Page B

you want things to change. The bad news is that it’s probably not likely that you can move out. But you can still take control of your life—and your weight. It’s not that hard to lose weight, if you really want to, that is. Mostly it takes eating a sensible diet with things like fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low fat proteins, combined with a lot of exercise—which can be as simple as just walking. I suggest you see your family doctor and get some professional advice about these things, and then stick to a program. Then let your family know you’re serious about losing weight, and maybe they’ll decide it’s time for them to change their lifestyle as well.
    Just Jamie

Eight
Saturday, December 2
    I didn’t have much success talking to Nat this week. It felt like she was trying to shut me out, acting like everything between her and Ben was perfectly fine and good and brushing off any questions that got too close.
    And when I talked to her yesterday, she actually sounded pretty good. She told me how she and Ben had gone to his parents for Thanksgiving and how great it had been and how cool it was to be part of their family. “Josh and Caitlin were there too,” she gushed. “And everyone is getting so excited about the baby. And it sounds like Caitlin is going to give me a baby shower.”
    Well, I must admit that’s a relief.
    So what was to prepare me for what happens today? On second thought, it might be better not to expect these kinds of things. Anyway, it starts off with afrantic phone call, early in the morning. My dad sleepily brings the phone to my room, telling me it’s Natalie.
    “Kim,” she says in a frantic voice. “I need help!”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Can you come over?”
    “I—uh—I guess.”
    “Right now?”
    “I’m not even dressed.”
    “Please, Kim. I need you right now.”
    “What’s wrong?” I ask again. “Is it the baby?”
    “I’ll tell you when you get here.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Just hurry.”
    So I’m feeling a little freaked as I pull on some clothes and rush through the house.
    “Anything wrong?” my dad asks as he measures out the coffee.
    “I don’t know. Natalie sounds pretty upset.”
    “Is she having the baby?”
    “I don’t think so,” I say as I dig in my bag for my keys. “She wouldn’t say what was wrong. She just wanted me to come.”
    He frowns. “Hopefully she’s just being dramatic.”
    “Hopefully,” I say as I leave.
    But as I drive downtown I feel fairly sure that she’s not just being dramatic. And when I go into her apartment, it’s obvious that something is wrong. Really wrong. Although there’s no vomit on the floor this time, the place is a wreck, and I see what appear to be brokendishes swept into a pile in a comer and a broken chair that’s sitting in a heap.
    “What happened?” I ask in a voice that’s much calmer than I feel.
    “Ben flipped out.” She’s pacing back and forth in the tiny living room now, wringing her hands as tears pour down her face. “He was drunk—and—and he was being mean—and—and he told me he hated me and that he didn’t want to be married and that he’d—he’d rather be dead.”
    “Oh, Nat.” I go over and put my arms around her, and I’m amazed at how big her stomach has gotten. But she is shaking, and it feels like she’s about to fall completely apart.
    “I—I don’t know what to do, Kim.”
    “Sit down,” I tell her as I lead her to the futon, which is still in one piece. “Just sit here and try to breathe.” Then I go to the kitchen, where the cupboard doors are hanging open, some by only one hinge, and I find a glass and fill it with water. Who knows why I do this? But I take it back and tell her to drink it slowly. And she does.
    I glance toward the closed bedroom door. “Is Ben in there?”
    She shakes her head and hands me back the glass. “He left.”
    “In his car?”
    She shrugs.
    “He was driving his car, Nat? Drunk?”
    “I