Chapter 4 - Unpleasant Encounter
The rain came down in buckets as the anticipated storm lived up to its expectations.
Willow’s favorite day of the week (most desirable after 5:00 p.m.) had finally arrived. It was one of those rainy nights that a take -n- bake pizza answered her call for guilty pleasures. As she pulled in to the parking lot of Murphy’s Pizza, she realized she was not alone with her thoughts. The place was packed, overflowing hungry patrons lined up outside as the blustery night took full effect. With her umbrella in hand and cell phone in pocket, she made her way to the line.
“Hey Honeybunches. I’m at Murphy’s – would you like the usual?”
“OOO yes…sounds good. I’ll build a fire. The boys are here…I’ll let them know you’re picking up pizza so they don’t ruin their appetite.”
Willows laughs as they share an inside joke of when their parents told them “you’ll ruin your appetite.”
“That’s right, your appetite will be ruined forever and you will never get your appetite back. Temporarily spoiled maybe.”
Steve laughs as he makes a menu request.
“Can you get one of those apple pies, too?”
“No problem. It will be awhile. The line here is pretty long.”
Willow’s son Louie had invited Charlie over for a sleepover and it would probably last throughout the weekend, which was fine with her as she enjoyed the happy distractions – much different than the work drama and court antics from her ex.
Back at the house Steve watched the boys play Madden Football – a PlayStation game they had become quite skilled at. It was their latest thing, at least for now, as these two have been close friends since third grade. They have experienced several story-worthy adventures with many more to come.
Louie and Charlie had both been through different kinds of family turmoil, sharing a unique understanding and friendship that has grown throughout the years. Willow felt a sense of calm when Charlie was around. The boys were a good balance for each other.
Steve starts to get the fire going when there is a knock on the door.
“Hello. Is Willow here?”
Steve appears somewhat suspicious as he does not recognize the rather young man at the door who seems to be in his late twenties.
“She’s not here at the moment. Can I help you?”
He hands out a business card that reads North Bay Driving School.
“Can you please give her my card? She owes me for a late bill.”
“Sure. I’ll be sure that she gets it.”
Steve sets the business card on the entry hall table and then gets back to tending the fire. Of course the curious monkeys are not too enthralled with their video games to ask questions…at least that’s what he thought.
“Who was that?”
Louie had always been the curious one – always asking questions from the time he could speak.
“Oh, just someone for your mom.”
Obviously Steve’s reply did not contain enough detail for curious Louie so he pops up from the couch and reads the business card.
“What does he want?”
“I don’t know. He wants to talk with your mom. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure your mom will take care of it.”
Charlie is now starting to get distracted, so Steve pulls him back into the game.
“Whose on your dream team Charlie?”
As Charlie tries to avoid being tackled in this realistic football game, he sways from left to right, quickly answering, "Edelman.”
…Just enough distraction to change the focus back to game. Steve gets back to the fire as their two dogs, Shadow and Bando, curl up by the fire before the last log is placed on top.
With the fire going and the oven preheated, all that’s missing is Willow and pizza.
Back at Murphy’s, Willow spots an unfriendly site and begins to fidget. Instantly she is filled with anxiety when she glances back at the parking lot. Just then the line moves forward and she is now inside and undercover from the rain.
Please don’t be him.
What seemed like five hours realistically took only five minutes as she reached the front counter to place her order.
“How can I help you?”
“One large veggie with no cheese, 1 large pepperoni, 1 mushroom & pineapple and 1 apple pie.”
“Will that be all?”
Willow’s attention is focused at the end of the line, becoming distracted by the possibility of it being him.
“Excuse me, Ma’am. Will that be all?”
“Yes. How long will that be?”
“We already have a pepperoni and apple pie made up. Not long.”
“Great. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
She pays for their Friday night feast and grabs a seat at the bench inside, pulling her hood over her head. As she patiently waits, the business door frequently opens with a touch a cold air blowing her way, chilling her bones.
From behind her, a rather large hand rests on her shoulder. She is momentarily paralyzed and pretends not to feel the presence of someone standing behind her.
“Willow, is that you?”
The voice is a pleasant one as it is her co-worker from past days of working at the cop shop. She slowly turns around, glancing at the front door and then up at her friend. She tries her best to form a smile but her nerves are getting the best of her.
“Hey Rhonda, I haven’t seen you in a while.”
Willow gets up from the bench as the two old friends share a friendly hug.
“Have things gotten any better or is he still giving you trouble?”
It seemed like everyone in this town knew of the drama between the two once lovebirds turned bitter enemies. Willow begins to whisper, while glancing at the front door.
“I was hoping that having a new girlfriend would help him move on and he would leave me alone but he will not be happy until I am dead.”
“Don’t think like that. Maybe he will move away and get on with his life.”
While Willow continued to keep her voice down, Rhonda’s voice was loud and carried throughout the store. Willow carefully placed her index finger to her lips, signaling that he may be inside the store. Rhonda tilts her head and seems confused, loudly asking, “What?”
Just when Willow is about to tell her to keep her voice down, a loud, obnoxious and oh so familiar tone echoes off.
“You talking shit about me?”
Rhonda is frozen as the pizza maker calls Willow’s name.
“Willow. Your order is ready.”
She was saved by the bell. Willow almost trips as she runs to the counter, jogging to the front door with a stack of pizza pies in her arms. She doesn’t waste time looking behind her when she hears his bellows again.
“This ain’t over!”
She throws the pizzas on the front seat and peels out of the parking lot, trying to catch her breath as her heart is still racing.
Breath. Breath, she tells herself as she turns down the radio in need of silence, cutting off the outside noise. She passes through downtown with the holiday lights sparkling, not seeming to care for the Christmas cheer as all she wants is to make it home safe.
When her cell phone rings she nearly jumps out of her skin. She waits at the light and sets her phone on the passenger seat.
“Hey Mom. When ya coming home?”
Willow catches her breath and is happy to hear her daughter’s voice. She is home from college this weekend to help cut down the holiday Christmas tree.
“Almost home. I hope you’re hungry.”
Britney senses the panic in her mother’s voice.
“Are you okay? You sound out of breath.”
“I’m fine, the phone just startled me. I can’t wait to see you.”
There is such a mix of emotions that consume her – joy, terror, relief, worry. She knows it will eventually catch up to her if she doesn’t get some professional help for her overload of anxiety.
As she pulls in her driveway, she notices Harvey parked in front of the house. Britney named her old tattered blue jeep, Harvey, her first vehicle and at this moment it brings a smile to Willow’s face.
“Who’s hungry?”
She tries her best to hide the incident from the kids, setting the pizzas on the counter, unwrapping the first one and placing it inside the warm oven. She gives Britney a long hug and asks about school, making small talk and trying to shake her nervous energy.
“Can Courtney come over later? We have a new Just Dance game we are dying to play!”
Willow peeks around the corner as the boys are still playing Madden.
“Did you hear that guys? After pizza, you can play Madden in your room. The girls are going to play Just Dance out here. There is not enough space in Brit’s room to play.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
This will be their first Christmas in their downsized and much smaller rented home. Willow and the kids had to move out of the only house the kids have known. Their father refused to pay his half of the house payments while Willow was left to pay 100% of the monthly house payments. At first she tried but it was impossible to make house payments and completely support the kids on a legal secretary’s salary. The monster would rather hire a divorce attorney than pay child support.
She knew her only option to save the home and hopefully pass it down to the kids one day would be to rent it out for now. Steve offered to do all of the handyman work and emergency house calls when needed. He came through and so far renting the home has saved it from foreclosure.
Willow knew this divorce would be nasty as Mitch cared more about his own skin than his own kids. She could care less if he did not want to pay her alimony (and he didn’t) but to take her to court and avoid supporting his own kids was pure selfish hatred.
While the pizza baked, Willow dragged her tired body to the bedroom, trading her heels for sneakers, putting on her favorite sweats and trying her best to reprogram her brain.
It seemed to take a couple days to unwind from the continual tension. Her fears never left and brief moments of happiness were always welcomed by the kids and Steve.
Steve and Willow had their struggles as all couples do but it seems Willow’s state of mind and insecurities seem to grow with the divorce turmoil…not to mention the antics at work.
And then Steve suffered from chronic pain, so even though their love was strong, there were moments of struggles filled with misunderstandings and a need for them both to find some sort of peace.
Outside the bedroom door, she could hear the boys laughing and Courtney make her way in. Courtney was practically family and there was no need to ring the doorbell.
All seemed right in the world…for the moment.