Free Between Us Girls by Sally John Page A

since the tornado ripped a dividing line into her life. Before the tornado. After the tornado. Everything fell on one side or the other. The two did not meet.
    How long was long enough before the After enveloped the Before and she could get on with life? Was it happening now? Did that explain the warm fuzzy attack? The fact that she had stopped counting? Or simply could stop counting.
    â€œHonestly, I didn’t realize today’s date.”
    â€œSorry for bringing it up.” Quinn’s tone didn’t match the apology. She was seriously grumpy. “At least you heard it from me instead of being smacked by some reminder while you’re standing in line at the grocery store or something. Remember how you got blindsided that day in Farm ’n Fleet by a pair of rain boots? I practically had to carry you out to the car.”
    It was true. Odd things triggered memories. She would be reminded of a possession that was gone, completely gone. Then she would totally lose it.
    â€œBut for me not to get all anxious about the date is a good thing, right?”
    â€œSure, if it’s for real. I mean, you’re still on vacation in La-La Land where apparently the wonders never cease. Even months and days go bye-bye.”
    â€œWhy are you being so snarky?”
    Quinn didn’t reply for a moment. “I guess I just miss you. You’ve been gone a long time.”
    â€œFour weeks on Saturday. You knew that was my plan from the start. And you know that’s when I’m coming home.”
    â€œYeah. Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
    â€œI needed a break, Quinn. I just needed a break.”
    â€œYeah.”
    Their goodbye felt awkward.
    Jasmyn set her mug on the counter, walked into the adjoining living room, and sat in the rocker.
    Six months of loss. It might have felt a breath less devastating as five months. Except…
    Except it now seemed that Quinn’s friendship might be added to the loss.
    They had had their moments since kindergarten. Annoyances, disagreements, awkwardness, moodiness. But never the outright and senseless jealousy she’d just heard in Quinn’s voice.
    Maybe it was understandable. Jasmyn had been able to stop counting the months of loss because a group of strangers in a strange land loved on her.
    And her best friend was not part of that equation.
    A deep exhaustion hit her. It was familiar, all too familiar. It came out of nowhere, like those memories. It sapped her of all strength, all energy, all emotion.
    She made her way to the bedroom, laid down on the little rollaway, and went back to sleep.

Fourteen
    Liv’s teapot was empty. A choir of morning birds sang at the top of their tiny lungs, and the first shaft of sunlight lit the upper fronds of the tallest palm. Tobi sprang from Liv’s lap and wandered back indoors, her little love tank all filled up for the day.
    And still Jasmyn was nowhere in sight.
    â€œHmm.”
    Jasmyn had lived at the Casa for only two weeks, but they had a morning ritual going. Usually by now the two of them would have chatted and planned some event, if only an afternoon walk to Jitters coffee shop for a latte. Liv would have prodded a bit and been given another peek or two inside the young woman’s heart.
    It seemed somewhat of a lonely place despite Jasmyn’s cheery description of life in her small hometown. Her family was gone. She loved her job at the restaurant and had a good friend, but since the tornado, things in Valley Oaks seemed to have lost their glow.
    â€œGood morning, Liv.”
    She turned toward the voice and saw Samantha approach, a highly unusual Monday morning sight. She wore blue jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt, also an odd thing.
    â€œWell, good morning to you, Samantha, dear.”
    She stopped near Liv’s chair. “I just wanted to let you know I’ll be out of town for a few days. Probably until Friday.”
    â€œWork related?” The woman never went