All of us - Short Story

All of us

“You’re my best friend” whispers Diana as a tear rolls down her face.

Still in a state of shock Rebecca asks “That’s what you are upset about?”

“The fact that right now, at my lowest point… I can’t even look at myself… You of all people are the closest thing to a friend….” Diana cannot hide the spite reflecting in her tone.

“I wouldn’t say friend” Rebecca mumbles. She is definitely not her friend. How could she be after all that has been said and done?

“Friend… is the wrong word” Diana looks at Rebecca wide eyed. Suddenly Rebecca laughs at the ridiculousness of the conversation taking place and shakes her head as she can’t help but to sympathize with the woman who has made her life a living hell for the past year.

 

Eleven months ago Rebecca and Neil where jolted out of bed by the lurid sound of a car horn beeping continuously as if it were stuck. The car was parked just outside Neil’s bedroom window.

Rebecca and Neil had finally spent the night together after dancing around each other for months. “For God sake, you two need to get a room” Andrew laughed at Neil the night before.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t even try to deny it. You two are driving us all crazy. You both pretend to tolerate the other but the constant fighting and the way you look at each other. That, my brother, is called bloody frustration. You want her so go for it”

Rebecca turns around to face Neil who is sitting up on the bed next to her “Who is that?”

“It’s my ex-wife. She is here to drop off my son”

Neil pulls his jeans on and walks to the front door signally that he will be a minute.

Leaving the front door open he goes back to his room to find a t-shirt.

 

“I’ll just be a second” he says as he leans down and gives Rebecca a chaste kiss. She looks up at him giving him a small smile.

 “What the hell is going on?”  Diana yells standing in the doorway holding on to Nathans hand. Nathan peeks up at his dad under his jet black fringe.

 

Rebecca looks at little Nathan, he can’t be more than four years old. Embarrassed she crawls out of bed and heads to the ensuite.

 

Relieved she is at least wearing Neil’s shirt she slams closed the bathroom door. She leans against it to hear the outburst of vulgarity spearing out of Diana’s mouth towards Neil.

“We are not married anymore Diana, I can do whatever I want” she hears him say.

She then can hear a small voice that must be Nathans but can’t make out what he has said. Whatever it was it has silenced his parents.

 After a few minutes there is a knock on the bathroom door “It’s safe to come out” Neil says in a resigned tone. He jiggles the door knob “Rebecca?”

Rebecca is sitting on the toilet lid looking at the doorknob her hand is covering her mouth. After a beat she gets up and walks out straight past Neil. Collecting her clothes off the bedroom floor she says nothing and listens to Neil explain that he cannot help that his ex-wife is insane.

As she turns around to speak she notices Nathan shyly peeps his head around the side of the door. She needs space to process what has just occurred.

“I will um talk to you later” she glances at him quickly turning away to pick up her hand bag and IPhone.

“Rebecca” Neil pleads

She turns around at the door way and ruffles Nathan’s bowl haircut “Have a great day with your daddy” she smiles. “I’ve got to go”

 

During the following weeks Rebecca and Neil grow very close and she quickly feels herself falling under his spell. Although at times they seem to get on each other’s nerves for the most part they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Rebecca stays out of sight whenever Nathan is being dropped off but she is never going to get used to the vicious yelling that accompanies every visit. Why won’t this woman just go away?

 

Rebecca has parked in their driveway as she unloads the groceries. She is planning a special dinner. A horrible honk makes her almost jump out of her skin and she drops the bottle of shiraz. It smashes and starts to run down the driveway.

“Crap” she says and steps out to see Diana parked behind her.

“Get in” she demands.

Rebecca’s curiosity is her weakness. Getting into the car she is a little nervous but thinks turning points don’t come around often perhaps this is one that can change things for the better.

Diana parks in front of a brick house four blocks away. She shows her text messages, it’s from Neil.

 

*Diana you know I love you too*

Rebecca can’t believe her eyes, he still loves his ex? She begins to cry as they both sit in the car and watch Neil pick up a little girl surely no more than six months old and carry her tenderly in his arms.

“Who is that?” Rebecca whispers

“My sister Lizzy” Diana replies so impassively it chills Rebecca.

‘NO’ gasping she reaches over and squeezes Diana’s hand.

Diana looks at hand and then back up to Rebecca. “He loves all of us. Am I supposed to accept this too?”