Knotted Roots Read Free

them, but they gave me no choice.  In fact, they took away all
of my choices.
      As
we pulled up at the front of the airport, the heaviness in my heart grew
worse.  New Yorkers were not exactly known for their patience, so I knew that I
had only moments to say goodbye before the honks and cursing began all around
us.  I was sure I would miss the fast paced life of home.  I gripped my bag
tightly as I pulled out my ticket, and opened my door.  Stepping out of the car
felt more final than it should have.  Maybe my heart knew something that my
mind hadn’t grasped yet. 
    I
set my bag on the ground, leaned into my mother’s window and gave her a brief
hug.  We all said goodbye, tears streamed freely from their eyes.  I hadn’t
been able to shed a tear for them today.  That would mean that I would miss
them, which I had decided last night wasn’t going to happen.  I stood again and
picked up my bag.  I looked at them one last time before I turned and walked
away.  I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong, but I
chose instead to ignore it.  I had enough to deal with at the moment and didn’t
need the added worry about what the future would hold for all of us. 
    The
smell of dirt and grime assaulted my nose as I walked through the glass doors
of the airport.  I went through the process of check-in and found my terminal. 
The whole time I repeatedly glanced at my phone, hoping that Amber would text
me back.  Still nothing.  Screw it.  I had nothing to lose.  I typed in her
number and put the phone to my ear, listening to “Don’t Stop Believing” as it
rang on her end. 
    “Hello?”
Amber answered hesitantly.  Was that a hint of guilt I heard in her voice?
    “Amber?
Where the hell were you this morning?” I screeched.  The anger I was already
feeling at being stood up, plus what I felt towards my parents, finally spilled
out.  “I waited for you!  I looked like a complete idiot out there on the
stoop.”
    “Roxie,
I’m so sorry.  I had something that I had to deal with this morning,” she
sighed into the phone.  That didn’t sound like a sincere apology at all.
    “Really?
Like what?” I asked, my voice dripping sarcasm.
    “Don’t
do this.  Please.  Not right now.  Shouldn’t you be on a plane already?” I
heard laughter in the background.  And the voices were familiar.
    “A
party?  You’re at a party? You’ve got to be kidding me.” I was beyond spitting
mad at that point, red starting to cloud my vision.  “I can’t believe you stood
me up for a stupid party!”
    “It’s
not stupid! It’s Craig’s end of the year bash!  You knew that it was
today.”
    “Wow. 
Just wow.  You know what?  Screw you Amber!” I yelled before I angrily stabbed
the end button on my cell phone.  It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as slamming a
phone down in its cradle, but it would have to do.  The tears I wouldn’t shed
for my parents now poured down my face.  Amber was supposed to be by my side
until we were old and gray.  I hadn’t expected her to pick Craig’s party over
saying goodbye to me, but obviously I didn’t know her as well as I thought.  It
seemed that I didn’t know anyone as well as I once thought I did.  People
continued to disappoint me.
    I
sat there as the tears silently slid down my cheeks, at least until the
boarding call for my plane.  I angrily wiped the tears from my face as I stood
and grabbed my bag, viciously shoving my phone into my purse.  I walked slowly,
dragging my feet with each step.  I dreaded leaving, but after Amber’s quick
dismissal and my parents acting like complete idiots, I knew that getting away
was the best thing for me right now. 
    What
do you say to a woman that you barely know? Hey there, thanks for taking me
in.  Where the hell have you been the past 16 years? I had a feeling that wouldn’t go over very well with her.  Mom told me that Grandma Betty was a true
Southern woman.  Respect and manners