Destiny by chance: A Contemporary Romance Fiction Novel Read Free

corner.
    “Nothing’s ever going to be okay again,” he hollered. 
    She turned to him, startled by his sudden outburst.  When Andy dropped his head into his hands, Lisa walked to him and stood before him.  It was as though he felt her there, for he turned, moved his head to her shoulder and wept. 

Chapter 2
    The second morning after burying her son and husband, Destiny woke up to a silent house.  It felt like she was in a fog.  Usually, the house was bustling at this hour; either Phillip was running on the treadmill or Rhett was playing video games in his room.  She looked around, disoriented.  The water in the bathroom started running.  Then she heard it abruptly stop.  Thank God.   It was all a horrible dream.   Destiny smiled slightly, closing her eyes again.  Thank God.  “Phillip,” she murmured in a raspy voice.  The bed moved around her.
    “Good morning.”
    Destiny opened her eyes, slowly focusing on the voice as she swallowed hard.
    Lisa lay on the pillow beside her, facing her.  Her delicately colored locks of turquoise, blue and purple made it look like she was laying on a bed of peacock feathers.  “Good morning, Dee.”
    Destiny focused on the person before her as her smile faded.
    Lisa brushed her hand over her friend’s face, a sad smile on her own.  “Hey, Honey.”
    A single tear slid onto Destiny’s pillow.
    “You have to get up, Dee,” she smiled, brushing the hair from her friend’s cheek.  “You have to eat.”
    “I’m not hungry,” she replied meekly.
    “Either I feed you here, or I haul your butt to the hospital, and we hook you up to an IV,” Lisa stated matter-of-factly.  “Your choice.”
    Destiny blinked once.  “I’ll eat,” she whispered.
    “Good girl.” Lisa raised her eyebrows.  “Oatmeal?  Biscuits and gravy?  Cream of Wheat?”
    Destiny nodded.
    “Cream of Wheat it is.  Now get up.  You need to take a shower.”
    “I don’t feel like taking a shower,” Destiny moaned.
    “It’s been three days, Honey.  Trust me, you need to take a shower.” Lisa rolled off the bed before disappearing into the hallway.
    Destiny turned over slowly, then crawled out of bed and dragged to the bathroom.  As she stood before the mirror; it was a stranger looking back at her.  She didn’t recognize herself.  Small scratches and cuts on the right side of her face were healing well.  Fading remnants of bruising still blotched her cheek and arm.  The brown eyes in her reflection blinked back at her.  All she saw was an older version of herself.  A much sadder version of herself.  Destiny moved her hand to her toothbrush and hesitated. Phillip’s still stood beside hers in the ceramic holder.  Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, then brushed her teeth and took a shower.
    Lisa was just adding the finishing touches of butter and sugar to their bowls when Destiny walked into the room in a t-shirt and sweat pants.  She watched her best friend hobble to the table and then set the steaming bowl before her.  They sat in silence, Lisa casting glances at Destiny as she ate.
    Feeling Lisa’s eyes on her, she cut her eyes upward.  “I’m eating,” she remarked defensively.
    “I’ll feel better when I know you’ve put a few pounds back on.”
    “Only because you want me to stay out of your clothes.”
    “You look good in my clothes.” Lisa rose, carrying her dishes to the sink and rinsing them.  She poured herself and Destiny each a cup of coffee before sitting back down beside her.  “However, I would like that chic blue cap dress back.”  Lisa smiled behind her coffee cup.  “I have a date Saturday.”
    “Is this the restaurant guy from Austin or the Dellionaire from Round Rock?”
    Lisa rolled her eyes.  “I should be so lucky.”  She sipped, then set down her coffee.  “No, this guy is a marketing exec for a one of the leading-edge tech companies in the world.”
    Destiny smiled weakly.  “Was that his sales pitch?”
    Lisa