The Long Way Home by Karen McQuestion Read Free Book Online Page B

Marnie said. “When I text he answers with one or two words. And when I call, it’s never a good time. He always seems like he’s in a big hurry and he wants to get off the phone. The last time he sounded like he was mad almost. I finally told him he should call me when he’s ready.” She paused. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. All I know is that I miss him.”
    “That’s terrible,” a woman said. “You poor thing.” All the women agreed that Marnie had been wronged, which validated her pain. The only other time she’d mentioned the situation with Troy, it was at a family gathering, and her sister had said, “Well, what do you expect? She’s his mother. You’re really nothing to him.” The words were a dagger thrust through Marnie’s heart.
    “So what are you going to do about it?” Leticia asked.
    Marnie shrugged. “What can I do?”
    “I know what I’d do,” Jazzy said, looking around the circle. “I’d go to Las Vegas and see Troy. I’d get to the bottom of things.” One of the women clapped while a few others murmured in agreement.
    “Oh, I couldn’t do that,” Marnie said.
    “Why not?”
    Jazzy’s tone was encouraging. How simple she made it sound. Marnie exhaled. “Legally I don’t have a leg to stand on. And if I just showed up like that she’d probably tell me to leave.” Nothing good could come of it. Troy had probably already adjusted to his new house and new neighborhood and she would be an unwelcome intrusion.
    “You could get on a plane tomorrow and be there in four hours,” Jazzy said, not giving up. Her brow furrowed. “Or maybe three. I’m not sure how long the flights are, but it has to be somewhere in there.”
    Now Marnie felt pushed. “I don’t fly,” she said firmly. “Never, ever. I have a huge problem with planes.”
    “You could drive,” Jazzy said. “I would go with you.” She turned to the group. “Is anyone else game? Who wants to go?” The room was suddenly quiet. “Rita, how about you? Do you like road trips?”
    “I used to go on road trips all the time,” Rita said wistfully. “But I haven’t for years.”
    Jazzy gestured enthusiastically. “It sounds like you’re due for one then. Have you ever been to Las Vegas?”
    Rita shook her head. “My daughter and I talked about going, but we never got around to it.”
    “Well, see,” Jazzy said to Marnie. “Now there are two of us who could go with you.”
    “That’s really nice of you,” Marnie said. “But I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
    “You weren’t asking. We offered.” Jazzy ran her fingers through her hair. “It’s really no big deal. What is it—a twelve-hour drive or so?”
    “Double or triple that if you want a more accurate number,” Rita said. “But still, it’s manageable. You could do it in two or three days, if you were motivated.”
    Jazzy said. “I love car trips. Some good snack food, good tunes, you’re there in no time.”
    Marnie shook her head. “No, I’m not going to drive to Las Vegas. I appreciate the offer, though.”
    The room grew silent. By looking at their faces, Marnie thought she could almost read their minds. Some of the women thought she should go to Las Vegas, make a ruckus, and try to convince Troy to come back with her. Others thought she should let go and move on with her life. But all of them were sympathetic because they were women and they understood. It seemed to her that men coped better with loss, or maybe they just didn’t show it in the same way. This group understood what she was going through.
    Marnie cleared her throat. “I’ve taken up enough time.” She looked around the room. “Who’s next?”
    “Rita,” Jazzy said. “I don’t think you’ve shared your heart’s desire yet.”
    “Oh, Jazzy,” Rita said, sadly. “I showed you photos of my heart’s desire. My daughter was the world to me. There’s no getting her back.”
    “Still,” Jazzy said. “You must have hopes and dreams that