Wait for the Rain Read Online Free Page B

She’d just stared blankly back at him, wondering how they’d gotten to this place, wondering what had happened to them, wondering how she could be married to this ma n . . . yet feel so completely alone.
    That night he’d packed a suitcase.
    “Daphne?”
    The sound of Skylar’s voice yanked Daphne back to the present. She blinked and looked at her friend.
    “I just want you to know that I’m really sorry it didn’t work out,” Skylar said.
    Daphne kept the smile on her face. “Thanks, but that’s all in the past now. I’m doing great, really great actually. Life goes on, right?” Where is my life going? Please don’t cry.
    “How’s Emma?”
    “She’s doing wonderfully. She’s almost as tall as I am now, can you believe it?” Daphne felt a surge of emotion at the thought of her daughter, a mixture of love and heartache as she realized Emma, Brian, and Alyssa would be well on their way to Utah now. She briefly looked over Skylar’s shoulder, unable to maintain extended eye contact, but her smile remained frozen. “She’s got a lot on her plate, juggling school and friends and all her extracurricular activities; you know how teenagers are. She’s spending this week at a resort in Park City with Brian.” And his fiancée. Why can’t you say it? Brian is getting remarried. Just say it! Just tell her!
    “How old is she now?” Skylar asked.
    “Who?”
    Skylar looked confused. “Emma.”
    Daphne swallowed. “Yes, of course, I’m sorry. She’s fifteen.”
    Skylar slightly narrowed her eyes. “Daphne, are you okay?”
    Daphne nodded. “Yep, I’m good, just a little tired from getting up at the crack of dawn.” Knowing she wouldn’t be able to fight off the tears much longer if she didn’t change the topic of conversation, she cleared her throat and pointed to a suitcase propped against the bar. The bright green bag had a sticker across it that said, “Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy.” “I’m guessing that’s KC’s?”
    Skylar laughed. “You think it’s mine ? My therapist would love that.”
    “Where is she?”
    “I’m right here, sweet cheeks.” Daphne felt a tap on her shoulder. She swung around to see her much shorter friend, smiling and freckled and looking as tan as if she’d already been on the island for a week. She was wearing a light blue baseball hat that read “USA Volleyball , ” her sandy-blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. Like Skylar, she looked older than the last time Daphne had seen her, with noticeable crinkles around her eyes when she smiled.
    Before Daphne could speak, KC practically hurled herself forward and wrapped her tiny arms around Daphne’s torso. “I’m just thrilled that we’re all together again. Thrilled! Poor Max has had to listen to me babble on and on about this trip for months. I think he’s as happy as I am that it’s finally here just so he can get some peace and quiet with the babies. He practically pushed me out of the car at the airport this morning.”
    “The babies?” Daphne asked.
    “Martha and Oreo, our kitties.” KC gestured to her purse. “Want to see a video? Cutest things you’ve ever seen.”
    Skylar sipped her drink. “We’ll take your word for it.”
    Daphne smiled at KC. “I’ve missed your random chatter. It makes me think of all those late nights we had in the dorms, talking about everything under the sun.”
    “And sometimes until the sun came up.” KC pointed to the ceiling. “Think how many pizzas we must have eaten.”
    The memory of those long-ago marathon conversations, which bounced effortlessly from topic to topic, from romance and religion to politics and pop culture, stirred up more internal angst for Daphne. Why don’t I engage with people like that anymore? What happened to me?
    “Where have you been?” Skylar asked KC. “Were you doing laps waiting for Daphne’s flight to get in? Or maybe some sit-ups?”
    KC smiled and put her hands on her hips. “You mock me now, but we’ll see