All the First Pages

Chapter 7

My house was a good 30 minutes away from my parents'. 15 minutes to downtown, and then 15 minutes from there. My thoughts didn't stray too far from Indie, her smirk would forever leave an imprint in my memory. Not to mention those freckles...

God damn!

I almost missed my turn! Indie's clouding my thoughts too much and distracted me. I chuckled at my own foolishness and pulled into the drive. I wasn't used to the empty spot next to my car. I had only been here once since the divorce to settle who would take what and other divorce-like issues. I sighed as I shut the car door, walked up to the door, and shoved my key in the hole, with more force than I intended. The house smelled dusty and unused. I walked through the hall, running my hand over the bare walls as I went. Jill had kept whatever decorations we had, since they were her's I guess. This left the house looking bare and again, like I said, unused.

I walked into my room and looked at the bed, or mattress rather. Shit, she had even taken the comforter.

"Well," I sighed to myself. I got a sheet, a quilt, and two pillow covers. I quickly, but with fair neatness, made the bed and plopped on my stomach. Whatever inkling of happiness I felt was gone, the house probably brought it out of me. I turned on my left side, and there on the nightstand was a tiny picture frame. I reached for it and picked it up. The inside contained a Polaroid flipped backwards, Andrew was written in Jill's bubbly cursive. I popped open the picture frame and five pictures flopped out. I picked up the first, the one with my name, and it was of me and Jill in high school. She was punching my arm as I flinched away with a smile. The second was of my and Jill's first date. We had visited some small family-run bistro. She was sucking up an alfredo covered noodle as I laughed at the sauce that flicked up on her face. The third was of our wedding, it was our first dance and she nuzzled her head into my neck. The fourth was of us in front of our first place together, way before I could afford the house that was now solely mine. The final one was of Loki as a puppy, she had written on the back:

"Andrew,

You didn't think I'd leave you with nothing did you? I'm sorry to have left you like this. I just didn't feel the way I did when we met, dated, married, moved in together, and when we got Loki. (See what I did with the pictures?) I know you'll be fine. You were always the steady one in the relationship.

You were and are the best friend I've ever had.

I love you.

- Jill."

I found myself smiling. That 'I love you.' meant something totally different then what it had. It was the best friend kind of love, and that was comforting. I placed them back on the nightstand and rolled over on my right. I felt crumpling in my pocket. I pulled out the post-it Indie's number was scribbled on. I had almost forgot! I got up and walked out to the porch, pulled out my phone and saved her as a contact. I leaned on the rail and looked out on the lake that neighbored my house.

"Out with the old, and in with the new."