Sweet Bits Read Free

No, not quite.
     
    “Hey, remember that lemon chiffon cake you made for my mom on Mother’s Day that year? You know she still talks about that cake.”
     
    “Oh, yeah, I remember. That was a good one,” agreed Ali.
     
    More awkward silence. Each struggled with what to say.
     
    “So, where are you living,” asked Ben.
     
    “I have an apartment at 12 th and Sunrise. It’s pretty small, but it’s got a good kitchen.”
     
    “Yeah, I know that area. I live over at Crosswood and Bonaventure.”
     
    “Oh, swanky,” said Ali.
     
    Ben laughed. “Yeah, it’s pretty nice. No biggie.”
     
    “You still say that? No biggie?” She remembered he used to say it all the time. People started calling him No Biggie Ben.
     
    Ben laughed. “Yeah, I guess old habits you know.”
     
    Ali laughed. It was so good to talk to him. They had been so close. Hearing his voice was like a soft, warm blanket.
     
    “Well, you want to get together and catch up?”
     
    “I thought we just did,” teased Ali.
     
    “You know what I mean. I’d love to take you to dinner and see you.” He suddenly realized he didn’t know if she was already involved or married.
     
    “Oh, uh, I mean if that’s OK. If you don’t have a jealous boyfriend or husband or something.”
     
    “No, not jealous anything. Not even a cat,” she chuckled. Sometime she felt like she was becoming the stereotypical old maid. All she needed was the cat. “I’d love to Ben,” said Ali. He could hear the warm sincerity in her voice and for the first time since dialing he felt good about the call.
     
    She hung up and sat in a large, overstuffed chair in her living room. She grabbed the throw pillow and hugged it close.
     
    Ben Harper.
     
    She thought about the last time they saw each other. It had been so many years ago…six? Yikes. Where had the time gone? She could see him, his dark hair ruffling in the wind. His blue eyes crinkled, his brow furrowed as he stood next to his old Chevy packed and ready to leave.
     
    He’d left for college six months early. His high grades had gotten him a scholarship and early acceptance to a good school and his father had made him take it. His dream was to have his son follow in his footsteps as an attorney and even though Ben wasn’t quite sure it was the right path for him, it was what his father wanted, so he did it.
     
    They’d parted on a windy day that had threatened rain. She had gone to his house to see him off. It hadn’t gone well. She wanted nothing more than to wish him well and let him know she would support his decision.
     
    Until that day, all their decisions had been made by consulting each other. They’d been best friends for years. Ever since the day Tommy Jagger had pushed her down and stole her lunch in second grade. Ben had helped her up and threatened Tommy Jagger that if he ever did that again he’d have him to contend with. Tommy was skinny and stood about two inches under Ben’s taller, athletic build, and it was all but written in stone since that day that if you messed with Ali, Ben would come calling.
     
    But when Ben had decided to take the scholarship and go to school and then law school, Ali couldn’t stay silent. “Ben, you don’t want to be a lawyer. You know you don’t!” she cried. “You’re an amazing guy. You told me you wanted to be a teacher and work with kids; maybe even be a counselor one day.”
     
    “I know, Ali, but that’s not my reality. I need to think of my future. This is a great offer.”
     
    “You’re going because of your dad and you know it.”
     
    “So what’s wrong with that?” Ben got indignant.
     
    “Nothing, but you know it’s not for you. You’ve told me so many times.”
     
    “Well, maybe it is. Maybe it’s just exactly for me,” said Ben. He didn’t want to even sort of entertain the fact that Ali could be right. It was too painful and he’d forced himself to put those thoughts away. His Dad had all but laughed at the idea