Just Friends

CHAPTER- 9

THE REUNION

Susan opened the front door to see her best friend Amanda and Jade, Amanda's daughter standing over there.

She squealed and hugged Amanda though they had met just the previous day for lunch.

Then she pulled Jade into a tight hug.

"Hello Mrs Carter!"

Jade laughed when she held her at arms length.

It's had been too long since she had met Jade.

Her dark brown, almost black hair had grown out in curls and her green eyes were still sparkly.

Susan still remembered when Alec had got Jade over for the first time, both of them laughing and joking, wearing their kindergarten uniforms.

Jade had changed a lot since then, but she was still her Jady, she was still like a daughter to her.

"Hello Jade!"

"Now Mrs Carter, soon I'll start looking older than you. Have some pity on the minors!"

Susan laughed, "Flattering me won't help. I've not met you for days. And you calling me Mrs Carter even after so many years makes me feel like I'm 90."

Jade had this thing with Susan, as a rule she never called her anything but Mrs Carter.

It always irritated her.

"Nope. I like calling you Mrs Carter."

They laughed.

"See who's here."

Julia stepped into the living room with a huge smile on her face.

"Juliana Ashby!"

The girls hugged.

"You look pretty!"

Julia said once they separated.

"You don't look too bad yourself. I love that dress. Is it the one Steve got for you?"

Though they had not met for almost 2 years now, the girls had made it a point to keep in touch through phone calls and mails.

"Yes."

"Steve surely gets extra points in my book for that dress. He's got quite a good taste."

"He chose me, didn't he?"

Jade laughed.

"Now who's keeping the guests at the door?"

Susan asked coming to stand behind Julia with her hands on her hips.

"Since when are Amanda and Jade guests in our house?"

Julia asked, letting them enter and go towards the living room.

"So you noticed me? I thought that in your excitement to see Jade you forgot all about me."

Amanda mock frowned. She had always had a soft corner for Susan's elder daughter.

Out of all the kids she had liked reading the most. Julia had spent days in the library reading till her eyes watered during her high school and college years.

"How can I forget you, Amanda? Is it even possible?"

Julia smiled and hugged her.

"I'm meeting you'll after so long." Jade sighed and plopped onto the sofa in the familiar living room.

She knew this house almost as well as her own.

"Is Jade Marie Tucker becoming sentimental?"

Jade turned in the direction of the stairs leading to the floors above at the sound of the familiar voice she had missed so much.