Thursdays At Eight Read Online Free
Author: Debbie Macomber
years was dead. My life hasnât been the same since; itâll never be the same again. Iâm still trying to accept the fact that Steve wonât come bursting through the front door wearing his sexy grin. Even now, I sleep on the far right side of the bed. Steveâs half remains undisturbed.
The last three months have been hard. I knew when Amy phoned to tell me Jack had been transferred to Tulsa that being separated from my daughter and grandchildren was going to be difficult. What I didnât realize was how difficult. Spending time with Andrew and Annie was what kept me sane after losing Steve. I miss them so much! And then, as if my daughter and her family moving to another state wasnât bad enough, Brian had to go and move out on his own. My son always did display impeccable timing.
He got a great job offer and I donât begrudge his taking itfor a minute. And yet I have to admit I wish it hadnât happened quite so soon. It was hard to let him go and keep a smile on my face. Iâm glad heâs happy, though, and adjusting to life in Orange County. At the same time, Iâm sorry heâs living so far from Willow Grove. A couple of hours doesnât sound like much, but I know my son and heâs far more interested in his social life than in visiting his widowed mother. Thatâs the way it should be, I suppose, only I canât help feeling abandoned. First Amy, Jack and the grandkids, then Brianâand all at once Iâm alone. Really alone.
I understand why I went to bed with thoughts of Steve. All my distractions have moved away. Even with the champagne, I couldnât sleep. After an hour I gave up trying. I sat in the dark with an afghan wrapped around my legs and contemplated my future. During the holidays I put on a brave front, acting as though Iâm okay about being alone. I didnât want the kids to know how wretched I was feeling. Brian was here for Christmas, but he has friends he wanted to see and thereâs a new girl in his life. I wonder if that son of mine is ever going to settle down. I guess heâs one step closer now, living on his own; at least thatâs what I tell myself. Amy and I talked, but she phoned me and I know that with a single income and a large mortgage, theyâre on a tight budget, so the conversation was short. Normally I wouldâve called back but it sounded so hectic there with the kids opening their gifts and all the craziness of Christmas morning. I put phoning off until later and then just didnât.
As for New Yearâs Eve, spending it alone was my choice. Sean Jamison casually suggested we get together for dinner. The problem with this doctor is that outside of his work, everythingâs casual with him. Iâm not going to make the mistake of getting involved with a man who has a reputation as a womanizer (although I readily admit his interest flatters my ego).
Besides, Iâm older than he is. Not by much, six years, maybe seven, just enough to make me a little uncomfortableâ¦not that Iâd seriously consider dating him, anyway. My major complaint, in addition to the age difference, is that heâs the exact opposite of Steve, who was genuine and unassuming. The good doctor is stuck on himself.
Still, heâs obviously an interesting man. I wouldnât mind talking to him on a strictly-friends basis. Nothing romantic or sexual. Just conversation, maybe over coffee or a drink. After all, everyone can use another friend.
Speaking of friends, when Clare, Julia, Karen and I met after our last journal-writing class, we decided to continue the friendship by meeting for breakfast every Thursday. I came up with the suggestion that we should each take a word for the year. A word to live by, to help us focus our thoughts. A word to reflect whatâs happening in our lives and what we want to do and be. Iâm not sure where that idea came from, probably some article I read, but it struck a
The last three months have been hard. I knew when Amy phoned to tell me Jack had been transferred to Tulsa that being separated from my daughter and grandchildren was going to be difficult. What I didnât realize was how difficult. Spending time with Andrew and Annie was what kept me sane after losing Steve. I miss them so much! And then, as if my daughter and her family moving to another state wasnât bad enough, Brian had to go and move out on his own. My son always did display impeccable timing.
He got a great job offer and I donât begrudge his taking itfor a minute. And yet I have to admit I wish it hadnât happened quite so soon. It was hard to let him go and keep a smile on my face. Iâm glad heâs happy, though, and adjusting to life in Orange County. At the same time, Iâm sorry heâs living so far from Willow Grove. A couple of hours doesnât sound like much, but I know my son and heâs far more interested in his social life than in visiting his widowed mother. Thatâs the way it should be, I suppose, only I canât help feeling abandoned. First Amy, Jack and the grandkids, then Brianâand all at once Iâm alone. Really alone.
I understand why I went to bed with thoughts of Steve. All my distractions have moved away. Even with the champagne, I couldnât sleep. After an hour I gave up trying. I sat in the dark with an afghan wrapped around my legs and contemplated my future. During the holidays I put on a brave front, acting as though Iâm okay about being alone. I didnât want the kids to know how wretched I was feeling. Brian was here for Christmas, but he has friends he wanted to see and thereâs a new girl in his life. I wonder if that son of mine is ever going to settle down. I guess heâs one step closer now, living on his own; at least thatâs what I tell myself. Amy and I talked, but she phoned me and I know that with a single income and a large mortgage, theyâre on a tight budget, so the conversation was short. Normally I wouldâve called back but it sounded so hectic there with the kids opening their gifts and all the craziness of Christmas morning. I put phoning off until later and then just didnât.
As for New Yearâs Eve, spending it alone was my choice. Sean Jamison casually suggested we get together for dinner. The problem with this doctor is that outside of his work, everythingâs casual with him. Iâm not going to make the mistake of getting involved with a man who has a reputation as a womanizer (although I readily admit his interest flatters my ego).
Besides, Iâm older than he is. Not by much, six years, maybe seven, just enough to make me a little uncomfortableâ¦not that Iâd seriously consider dating him, anyway. My major complaint, in addition to the age difference, is that heâs the exact opposite of Steve, who was genuine and unassuming. The good doctor is stuck on himself.
Still, heâs obviously an interesting man. I wouldnât mind talking to him on a strictly-friends basis. Nothing romantic or sexual. Just conversation, maybe over coffee or a drink. After all, everyone can use another friend.
Speaking of friends, when Clare, Julia, Karen and I met after our last journal-writing class, we decided to continue the friendship by meeting for breakfast every Thursday. I came up with the suggestion that we should each take a word for the year. A word to live by, to help us focus our thoughts. A word to reflect whatâs happening in our lives and what we want to do and be. Iâm not sure where that idea came from, probably some article I read, but it struck a
Readers choose
Kate Serine
Oasis
Evelyn Rosado
Mark McCann
Jennifer Hayden
Jeanette Baker
Katherine John
Jessica Rosberg