Greta’s hands curled around the cardboard cup, searching for
comfort as she breathed in the distinctive scent of coffee and chicory. They’d been in New Orleans for three days,
and she was half in love with the city, but the coffee made her think of
mornings with Drew.
A dusting of powdered sugar and the lingering scent of rum
replaced Cate’s carefully applied make-up and perfume. Wrinkling her nose a bit, Greta tested the café
au lait, cooled from scalding, knowing it would only compound the filmy feeling
in her mouth. Cate wasn’t the only one
radiating rum fumes.
Cate reached wordlessly for the cup, and it passed between
them like an embrace, recognizing years of familiarity.
Hours ago, as their other friends retreated back to the
hotel, Cate and Greta tightened their dancing circle until it was only the two
of them, shaking and squealing to every song, even the ones they were hearing
for the first time. Drawn in by short
dresses, impossible platforms, and laughter spilling from glossed lips, men found
their greetings received with a smile, then subtly dismissed.
“I want a girls’ weekend!” Cate had insisted, the last of
their small group to need a bachelorette party.
“A spa weekend?” Greta had questioned, already resigned to
the inevitable answer.
“Sure, we can hit a spa.
After we dance until our feet fall off,” Cate had replied, her
infectious giggle the reason Greta knew she would give Cate the bachelorette
weekend of her dreams.
Now, sitting on back to back benches, feet kicked up onto
armrests, Greta and Cate shared the third beignet and cup of coffee, swollen feet
only part of the reason they were watching the sun rise, humidity already
dampening the streets.
“Thanks G,” Cate spoke up suddenly, all of the rum gone from
her voice.
“Anytime C. Anytime,”
Greta answered absently, flexing her toes in her red heels, her head tilted
towards her friend’s curls.
“This must be a little awful,” Cate continued. “The wedding…”
Caffeine pushed Cate’s meaning through the fog of exhaustion into which Greta had settled.
“Oh, honey. No. Your wedding is amazing. Your groom is amazing,” Greta smiled, making
sure their eyes met and held as she passed the coffee yet again.
“He is, isn’t he?” Cate laughed as she swung her legs to the
ground, wincing a little. “I just
worried this would be a tough weekend for you.”
Greta’s fingers touched her purse briefly, the text message
she had received less than an hour ago memorized.
“You deserved the best dance party we could find. It wasn’t tough at all,” Greta reassured.
Going on our run and
missing you. I’m calling the movers
tomorrow. Xo
The balls of her feet flamed with each step as they began
the walk back to their hotel.
the prompt:
New Orleans...my favorite...
That last part is like the light at the end of the tunnel! :)
ReplyDelete"Caffeine pushed Cate's meaning through the fog..." beautifully put, WOW!
ReplyDeleteI love thinking of those two friends dancing and celebrating...their feet aching and their spirits high. I always miss John when we are apart, even if I really need that time away, even if I'm having a ball. I so felt these emotions with her.
ReplyDeleteyour writing was just fun and flowed so well.
I
Two best friends, They know each other so well, they finish each others sentences. Very nice.
ReplyDeletedrawn in.. loved it! more please?
ReplyDeleteFeels like a cliff hanger to me! More,please.
ReplyDeletenice writing!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I could really see everything that was happening. Now I'm going to have to read the rest of Greta's story. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely. I could feel their exhaustion. And their affection for one another. Well done!
ReplyDeleteLove: "Cate reached wordlessly for the cup, and it passed between them like an embrace, recognizing years of familiarity." and "...laughter spilling from glossed lips..." and "Caffeine pushed Cate’s meaning through the fog of exhaustion into which Greta had settled." I could really see the girls (okay, women, but when I see close friendships like that, that have been around for years, I tend to think of them as still the girls they once were....not from experience or anything! ;> lol) and their close friendship. And the text, its timing...ouch.
ReplyDeleteI love Greta already! Very nice piece. I'll need to check out the rest of Greta's story..
ReplyDeleteI love seeing Greta move into this new place in her life. And the images here are great. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot under the surface here. Greta's emotions, Drew's text--can't wait to see what happens... The surface is so true though, the balance between wanting a friend's happiness despite our own personal tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThere seemed to be a fog over their conversation. Lots of hidden meanings shared and not shared. Awesome descriptions--you made me crave a beignet!
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs a best friend like that!! Love your Greta story as usual :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Friends like that are absolutely necessary.
ReplyDeleteOh, me, too. It's unfortunate that the beignets are so far away from Michigan; I really wanted one after I wrote this LOL.
ReplyDeleteIt can be a tough juggling act, balancing our own feelings with our feelings about other people's current situations.
ReplyDeleteGood things better happen from the text. The poor girl has been through enough, I think.
Thank you! I am happy she is moving forward, too.
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks! I hope you like some of the other pieces as well!
ReplyDeleteThat kind of friendship can be more valuable than anything else in the world, right?
ReplyDeleteI still think of my girlfriends and I as "girls" :)
Dancing all night isn't as easy as it once was, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you like the rest of it, too :)
ReplyDeleteThere will be more :) I've been with her for a while, so I think I'll be following her to the close of this part of her life.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned...
ReplyDelete:) (Probably next Friday!)
Aren't friends like that the best?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny that even when you're having fun, that other person is still so present? (And now the kids, but that's a different feeling all together.)
ReplyDeleteOh thanks! It's a good thing for her :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Sometimes we all need a little extra caffeine in our lives ;)
ReplyDeleteI liked the easy camaraderie between these two women. It's obvious they've known each for some time. I liked how they shared the coffees and their thoughts. I agreed with others that there's a lot we're not quite seeing yet. Well written and a good read. Thank you for sharing this story:~)
ReplyDelete