“Your daddy?” My heart shudders to a stop as I grab a kitchen chair for support. It can’t be.
“That’s what he said, Mommy.” Lori takes a bite of her sandwich, watching me like I’m about to perform a magic trick. I’d like to disappear but that isn’t possible.
I don’t even know how long I was sleeping on this couch. A glance at the clock tells me the truth. I lay down around supper time yesterday and it’s suppertime again. Poor dog, I look with extreme guilt at Rex. He hasn’t had a thing to eat all day.
Why would Colin show up here? Why now? I haven’t heard from him in seven years. I didn’t even ask him for child support. I didn’t want to be tied to him for even one little thing once he walked out.
The scratchiness in my throat won’t go away. I keep checking my temperature and it’s 97.8. I unwrap the little oximeter I ordered from Amazon to check the oxygen level in my blood. Clipped on my forefinger, it registers 99. Not perfect but this isn’t a third grade spelling test.
Here is the audio version of Chapter 16—Jessica: They do, Dan: Trouble. Jessica officiates at her friend Hanna’s wedding, witnessed by everyone else on Zoom. Meanwhile, on a boring Saturday afternoon, Dan misses Jessica. Next Wednesday: Chapter 17—Jessica: Jesus and vodka I’m looking for your ideas! Every Monday I’ll post a new written chapter of FALLING…
“So you’re telling me you don’t have anyone to officiate at the wedding?”
“Nope. I know an internet officiant but he lives too far away. Matt’s sister has two little kids so she can’t do it.”
“What do you need?”
“Can you do it?”
Chapter 16April 18, 2020, 3:20 p.m.Jessica: THEY DO My hands tremble and shine with a slick sheen of sweat. I tighten my hold on the notebook where I’ve written the service for this afternoon. I’m excited to officiate at my first wedding—and this wedding especially. As I wait with the pensive groom, birdsong fills the…
Here is the audio version of Chapter 14: Jessica: Bad news first. This one, the story of Jessica’s obituary about a couple who died from Covid-19, was very hard to read. I really did make myself sniffle. When Jessica tells Dan about her latest story, an obit of a couple who died from Covid-19, Dan…
Here (a little late, sorry about that) is the audio version of Chapter 12 Dan: April showers, Jessica: Puzzles and promises In the next chapter of my #pandemic #romance, Dan gets up the nerve to call Jessica—this time it’s personal. To Jessica’s surprise, he’s got an ally—Lori. Next Wednesday: Chapter 13—A Zoom wedding. I’m looking for…
April 13, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Jessica: A Zoom wedding A text from Hanna flashes on my phone while I’m deep in conversation with Claire about my story. I’ve been working for her for nearly a month and I still can’t figure out what she wants. I get the stories—all except that one where none of…
Mary K. Tilghman, writer 