Something Great (Sequel to Something Borrowed)

Chapter 1: Almost Is Never Enough

 A/N:Here's the sequel you all have been waiting on!! I hope you'll like it

“I promise Brooke, we’ll be there.” I assured my younger sister who chatted away on the other line. I tried my hardest to multitask listening to her and trying not to burn dinner. I wasn’t the greatest cook and usually required total focus. I loved my baby sister, but she was really talking my ear off.

I tucked a stray strand of hair away from my face before lazily dumping a pot of spaghetti into the strainer. I shifted the phone   to my other ear. “I’m thinking about putting the kids in private school, what do you think??” Brooke asked. I rolled my eyes while reaching in my cupboard for plates to set the table.  I missed the days where Brooke and I could just talk about girl things. Those days were long behind us though. For the past twelve years, all I ever heard Brooke discuss was the proper nutrition, the proper education and the proper parenting. She was constantly rubbing her perfect life in my face.

“Sounds good to me.” I replied. My nose caught a whiff of a familiar smell and I groaned. So much for dinner. My spaghetti sauce was ruined.

“Hey, Brooke can I talk to you tomorrow?” I asked wiping a hand against my damp forehead. “I just burned my sauce.” I declared with a sigh. “Oops. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget!” She replied. “I won’t, tell Mike and the girls I said hi.” I spoke. “Will Do! Catch you later Rin!”  Brooke replied in her usually happy tone. “Okay, bye.”  I hung up the phone with a sigh. It’s been 15 years and I still think about how it could have been me.

I was never one to believe in happily ever afters so I wasn’t completely disappointed when I didn’t get to ride off into the sunset with Prince Charming who also happened to be my best friend. I was much too devastated to be disappointed. But I had to put it behind me and move on with my life. That’s just what I did. In the years following that heart breaking event, life has taken me many places and I don’t regret any of it.

As I set the table, the door of my apartment comes crashing open and in walks the gangly boy I’m proud to call my son. Who would have thought that I, free-spirited, apathetic and stubborn Erin Shields would be fit for motherhood? I didn’t think so either, but I’ve learned so much from being a mother and it’s certainly the best thing that’s happened to me yet. “Mom I’m home!! Hey, something’s burning.”  My fourteen year old, Harry, shouts from the door way. He throws his soccer bag down as always and walks into the kitchen. Harry grins widely, his dimples showing and his green eyes twinkling. A mess of brown curls sticks to his sweaty forehead.

“Looks like you’ve done it again Mom. I’d be nice to have dinner that wasn’t burned for once” Harry teases taking a seat at the table. I smile shaking my head. “Looks like it kiddo. How was practice?” I asked. “I’m exhausted!” He exclaims dramatically. I smiled. “That’s what happens when you become Captain of the Junior Varsity squad.” I replied reaching over to ruffle his hair before making myself comfortable at the table. Brooke bragged about her children all the time but I’d say that I some deserved bragging rights too. Harry was a pretty exceptional kid. In addition to being captain of the Junior Varsity soccer team he stayed on honor roll and he was the sweetest son you could ask for.

Harry was all that I had. It used to be three of us. Harry, Leif and I. But two years after Harry’s birth, Leif decided that he was not cut out for fatherhood and left. It was totally devastating. When you put all your heart and soul into someone and they walk out and leave.  I often wonder what my life would be like today if Michael had never taken vows with Brooke and married me. I figure I’d be much happier but then I remember I’d never have Harry.

“We’re going to Jersey tomorrow.” I announced sticking my fork into my plate after saying Grace. “Really?” Harry asked before shoving a fork full of spaghetti in his mouth. “Yeah, your Aunt Brooke and Uncle Michael are having a little get together at their house so we have to get up early.” He nodded swallowing his food. “Didn’t they have one of those like Saturday before last?” He asked.  I shrugged. “They did. It just seems like your Aunt Brooke wants the family to get together more.”  I replied twirling a strand of spaghetti onto my fork. Harry suddenly looks down at his half eaten plate of pasta and sighs.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. He looks up at me with those green eyes. “It’s just that, sometimes I wish we had a big family like Uncle Michael and Aunt Brooke. It gets kind of lonely with just us two, ya know?” Harry replied. I sighed. He was right.  Sometimes it was just too quite in this apartment, especially with me getting off work before Harry comes home. “Oh honey, we’re our own perfect little family. Just me and you. Got that?” I assured him gently placing my hand over his. Harry nodded smiling slightly though not wide or hard enough to show his dimples.

Who was I kidding? Even if I did have Harry, I was still really lonely. It’d been forever since I’d had a boyfriend. I promised myself I wouldn’t choose a man over my son. Then there was always Michael but he was just a friend, not to mention my sister’s husband.  He could’ve been more. He was almost more. But almost is never enough.