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Chapter 15
October 27, 2009 | Filed Under The Women | Leave a Comment
Meeghan rapped her short, nude fingernails on the cafe table. She glanced around the room waiting impatiently for her friends. Somehow she felt embarrassed to be sitting solo; it was as if there was a giant neon banner across the top of her head that read, “I”m going through a divorce and now I’ll really be alone.” Sitting in a full coffee shop at a table with three empty chairs felt like a cruel representation of her life.
She took a prescription bottle out of her purse and discreetly tapped out a small blue pill. By now she didn’t need water to help get it down.
Max had petitioned the court for an emergency hearing first thing tomorrow morning. Meeghan remembered when the worst thing that could happen on a Monday was an 8 AM anthropology midterm. Now she had to worry about the antics of a man with one of the best lawyers in the state.
Meeghan swallowed hard and willed herself not to cry as she thought of the possibility of spending only every other weekend with her kids.
She wished she hadn’t let it get this bad. She wished she’d tried harder to convince him that they’d needed counseling. Once more she frantically scanned the cafe. Where was everybody? Another pill.
A hand on her shoulder startled her. Meeghan nearly jumped out of her skin.
“Whoa there,” Lisa put her hands up, showing that they were empty of all sharp objects, “Someone got a head start on the espresso!”
She sat down.
Meeghan tossed her hair, “I’m so glad you’re finally here. I think the management was about to banish me to the counter.”
Lisa wasn’t sure what to say. “So…Dawn told me. How are you?”
“I’m as well as can be expected. My backbone and I are getting reacquainted but I’m anticipating the battle of the century from my dear soon-to-be-ex husband. The good news is that if it makes the Living section of The Chronicle I’ll have something for my scrapbook.”
Lisa raised an eyebrow.
A young, chestnut-haired college student with glasses appeared at the table ready to take their order.
“Hello, how can I help you ladies?”
Meeghan answered, “Lavender tea, a pot, and madeleines for four.”
“How many madeleines?”
Meeghan stared, “For four people. That means four cookies. We can’t all have the metabolism of a 20 year-old waitress and start binging on dessert, now can we?”
“O-kay,” the waitresses eyed Lisa, probably trying to determine if the crazy applied to both of them before leaving.
Before Lisa could speak River floated in and took a seat next to her.
“Good morning, mothers, caretakers of the world, keepers of humanity, ” River grinned angelically.
Lisa turned toward her bubbly friend, “Well! Someone either found a new job or got laid. I hope both. Do share.”
Meeghan forced a tight smile.
River placed her bag under the table and laced her fingers. “I’m starting a business.”
“Who’s starting a business?” Dawn asked as she sat next to Meeghan looking like a vision in suede.
River raised her hand shyly.
Lisa gave her a hug. “Congratulations! That is amazing! I’ve been waiting for you to use that quirky creativity for something other than beautiful but-kind-of useless lanyards, no offense, since forever.”
River smiled and waited for Meeghan and Dawn to shower encouragement.
“Great job, honey.” Meeghan tapped River’s hand.
River turned toward Dawn. She’d been most nervous about sharing the news with her uber-successful girlfriend but looked forward to her shrewd advice.
A fragrant glass pot of tea was placed on the table with a pretty ceramic plate of fresh madeleines. Dawn slowly poured herself a cup and blew before taking a short sip.
The atmosphere was getting more and more awkward by the second and River waited for her to speak.
“So…what do you think Mrs. CEO,” River said hopefully, “Do you have any words of wisdom to impart?”
Dawn placed her tea on the table.
“Is there a reason you don’t want to just get a job?”
River’s whole body tensed up. Meeghan looked away.
“Dawn! Are you serious? River just announced that she’s going to pour her heart into a venture the same way you did. Is it just against your nature to be supportive?”
Fighting words.
Lisa stared across the table at Dawn, wanting to say so many things, ask so many questions, but using every ounce of patience in her to wait.
“Against my nature to be supportive? Absolutely not. I just want to make sure she’s thought this through. Business isn’t for the faint of heart. Anything can happen at any time.”
River spoke up quietly, “I know that, I’m not some weakling. If you’ll remember before Green Helps I worked with some of the largest environmental watchdog organizations in the world…”
Dawn cut her off, “Yes, you ‘worked with,’ you didn’t own the company. It’s a completely different level of responsibility. I just don’t want to see you fail.” Dawn regretted the words as they came out of her mouth but couldn’t stop herself.
Lisa had hear enough. “Well we’re very lucky to have you here making sure no one gets what they want because yes, it would be a shame for you to have to watch them screw it up.”
River squinted her eyes at Dawn, trying to find her friend. She couldn’t even begin to feel angry. Just hurt.
Despite the emotional waves riding across their table, Meeghan found herself feeling relaxed, almost fluid. She took River’s hand.
“Honey, if you need anything, just ask. And by anything, I mean hug or a smile because by the time Max is through with me I’ll be renting out an illegally attached room in Hayward.”
River was determined not to let the increasingly odd behavior of her friends dampen her spirits. She had work to do if this businesses was going to get off the ground and needed every ounce of motivation she had.
She reached under the table and grabbed her bag. “Thanks Meeghan.” She glanced at Lisa, “I actually can’t stay, I just wanted to share my news. I’ll see you all later.”
Before she left she turned to look at Dawn who seemed to avoid her gaze.
Meeghan also stood up. She didn’t want to risk everyone bailing before her. No way she was sitting alone again.
“I really need to meet with my lawyer, it’s been great talking to you girls,” her voice was syrupy. She gave her two friends a shoulder hug before floating off.
Dawn finally spoke up as if she’d been in another world, “You know, I’d better go too. This is going to be a busy week…”
Lisa’s eyes were fixed like a laser on Dawn, making her uncomfortable. Dawn stood.
“Sit down.” Lisa spoke in a voice Dawn had never heard before. Low and serious. The RA and newbie college coed switched positions. “We need to talk.”
