Leaving Normal by Stef Holm (whitelam books txt) 📗

The Mexican-inspired decor at Cafe Fiesta created a fun ambience. Green-and-white painted walls, red vinyl booths, velvet paintings hung on the walls. And a neon Corona Beer sign hung in the window. When it was a patron's birthday, an oversize gold-and-black sombrero was put on their head and the servers sang "Feliz Cumpleanos" to them. Natalie knew this firsthand, as she'd had it sung to her on her last birthday when Sarah and her dad had taken her here.

She and Sarah had snuck out for a quick lunch at the restaurant, taking a break from Hat and Garden and leaving Meagan and her dad minding the shop.

"Why not?" Sarah brushed salt off the tiled table surface. "You told me you think he's good-looking, intelligent, nice, considerate, and now he's going through a divorce, so he'll be single."

"That's even worse. I refuse to be his rebound woman."

"Maybe you wouldn't be. Maybe you two would be perfect for one another."

"I hardly think that. He's got to deal with being divorced first, then there's the age thing."

Sarah lowered her voice but remained distinctly optimistic. "I know you hyperventilated when you told me before—how old is he again?"

In a smothered groan, Natalie responded, "Thirty-four."

"Nine years isn't so big a gap."

"Maybe not if he was nine years older than me."

Leaning into the booth, Sarah crossed her arms beneath her breasts, her expression sour, as if she'd sucked on a lime before a shot of tequila. "How long are you going to do this?"

"What?"

"How long are you going to resist falling in love again?"

Swallowing the heaviness in her throat, Natalie said, "Every mistake I could have made as a newly dating divorcee, I made with Michael. I lost my identity I forgot what I liked, what I wanted to do because I wanted to be in love so badly." With a shake of her head, she sighed. "Stupid. I was too nice, I was too available. He chased me, he won me over—heart, mind and soul— then he threw me away for someone new. It hurt."

"I know. I was there with you every day," Sarah sympathized. "But that's in the past. You're over him— aren't you?"

"Yes…yes." Natalie said it almost in disgust. "I hate the man for what he did to me, to Cassie and to his daughter, Brook. He came across as so wonderful, said all the right things."

"He's a jerk. A serial monogamist. You and I have covered this ground before. He never sleeps with two women at the same time, but he never stays with the same woman for more than a few months. He has classic commitment phobia, and the man couldn't communicate his feelings until you wanted answers from him about why he backed away from you after your trip to Hawaii. You don't need his baggage and lame excuses. He needs a good therapist and a reality check. He's got low self-esteem and moves from pretty woman to pretty woman—all to feed his ego."

Sarah gave a wan smile, one that spoke volumes: compassion, love, empathy, faith and hope. "Natalie, it's understandable why you fell for the guy. You didn't have love in your marriage for a long time. We all want to have those feelings."

"I know." Natalie fought the sting of tears that gathered in her eyes, mad that she even allowed herself to feel such vulnerability. "I want them again. But I am afraid to get hurt. It was horrible with Michael. The worst thing I ever went through." She pulled in a shaky breath.

"Maybe now's not the time to be asking, but what's going on with you and Jonathon Falco?"

"We're on for tonight—no matter what." Natalie gave a half laugh. "He's had to reschedule three times. His two sons are the center of his world, something I find very admirable, but fitting me in between their sporting events at school has been a challenge for him."

"I am so glad I had girls. I was watching BreeAnn dance at halftime during a boys' basketball game, and those boys are sweaty and aggressive. I can't even think about one of them with one of my girls."

"I understand. I don't like the idea of Austin and Cassie together."

"What's new on that front?"

"They had a fight a few days ago. I can only hope they'll break up."

"A fight about what?"

"She wouldn't tell me, but I have the worst feeling it has to do with sex and, if it does, a part of me doesn't want to know."

"It's the nature of men. They all want sex. I remember I had this blind date once. I made arrangements in advance with the bartender so that if things weren't going the way I wanted, he would call me a cab." Sarah smiled in remembrance. "I had a code for 'help.'"

"A code?"

"Yes. If I suddenly ordered a screwdriver, that meant I needed a cab sent around to the back of the bar so I could be picked up. I barely lasted fifteen minutes before I was ordering that drink. The man was vulgar."

"I would have never thought to do that."

"Because you were married younger than I was. I was a seasoned dater before I met Steve."

"I wish I could find someone without all the dating. You know, like maybe meeting my best friend."

"The fireman is already your neighbor, and neighborly friendship is a very good place to start." Before Natalie could deny that probability, Sarah asked, "Where are you and Jonathon going?"

"We're meeting at the Stonehouse. It's walking distance from Hat and Garden and, since I sometimes run-late closing, I didn't want him to be inconvenienced and have to pick me up."

"Men need to be inconvenienced, Natalie. It makes them appreciate us more. Take my word on this one. Promise me."

Natalie put her hand on her heart, and said in fun, "Of course. Yes. You are the expert."

Sarah laughed, then raised her eyebrows as if she'd just remembered something important. "Your hand over your boob reminds me—I made our mammogram appointments for the first week in