Chapter 17

Natalie and Sheila hung out on the porch until it became too dark to be out there anymore. Both went inside to find Amber on the couch consuming her favorite chocolate mint ice cream with a big spoon and holding the tub. It had surprised both Natalie and Sheila that Amber didn’t come out to the porch with them. Natalie watched Amber place the ice cream tub down then looked at them both. Natalie’s alarms went off on what could be next?

“You two honestly don’t have to be here all the time. Natalie, I am sure you have work to catch up on from New York. Sheila, you need to get work and get out of my house.” Amber said bluntly.

Sheila laughed, shaking her head. Natalie worried what she could do so far out in the middle of nowhere to do whatever her boss required in New York. Natalie couldn’t understand what was going on at all? Sheila acted like this isn’t the first time Amber has overreacted to her best friend living in her home. Natalie watched Amber pick up her ice cream and focused on her show. Natalie took the chance walking over to Amber then stood in front of the television with her arms crossing over her breasts not that she had much to boost them up.

“Honey, can you please move?” Amber asked shooing Natalie away.

“One minute you call me Natalie, next I am whatever nickname you come up with, and you expect me to call my ex-boss and demand work that I don’t have. Amber, it takes two to make this work. You may have had a free life with Sarah but with me, we are both going job hunting and so is Sheila. Now go put that ice cream up and let’s go job hunting.” Natalie replied smirking.

“My job is here on the farm that my family left me, I don’t need anything else and I still have enough money to live on for the rest of my life from my parents’ deaths. Now, I would never ask you to stay here and be bored but you can go look for work all you want.” Amber responded looking at Natalie with a smirk in return.

Natalie sat down beside Amber as she laid her head down on Amber’s shoulder then sighing as they heard Sheila come running down the stairs with squealing in her voice.

“Natalie, whatever you do, don’t kill me.” Sheila said with more excitement behind her voice.

Natalie sat up and turned herself around to look at Sheila.

“Sheila, whatever it is you did, I couldn’t kill you but what is going on?” Natalie asked with a raised eyebrow.

Sheila looked panicked as she realized that both of them were looking at her. Natalie knew in her gut this is going to be bad and it isn’t going to be pretty with whatever happened.

“Um, nevermind, I will pack my bags and go. Thank you for letting me stay, Amber. I will catch up with you both another time.” Sheila replied as she bounded back up the stairs.

Natalie didn’t like this one bit that is when her cell phone went off in her pocket. It is the last message she never expected from someone back in New York.

“SHEILA!! WHY IS DANA COMING HERE?!” Natalie yelled.

Natalie got off the couch, running up the stairs to catch Sheila fixing to leave her room with a shy redness across her cheeks. Natalie didn’t like Dana after their last interaction. This isn’t what her love life would become with her new friend doing something she might regret.

“Sheila, I am going to say this to protect you but she is straight and has kids. I am begging you, please, do not get into her. You will find someone just not her.” Natalie pleaded.

“She is right. We are going to protect you. Dana is homophobic, Sheila and it isn’t worth heartache.” Amber replied holding Natalie’s hand.

“Who the hell is going to want me? I have been single since Jolene cheated on me with a guy and I am damn sure not wanting to listen to you two love birds going at it every chance you get. I need someone, anyone, anyone but Jolene.” Sheila pleaded with tears streaming down her face.

Natalie took Sheila in the bedroom with Amber behind her as they all took a deep breath and Natalie finally spoke once more.

“You will find someone but get a job first so you can impress them women. You have a home here at any time. The only way you are going to find someone is going out there.”

Natalie looked at Amber for some more encouragement though it seemed Amber has never left her home to find someone her own self, this has become a task in its own self to find Sheila her own happiness without being with her ex friend Dana. As if timing had to be predictable the doorbell rang, startling them from the conversation, and the way Sheila looked seemed to tell us more than what she did tell us. Natalie wasn’t wanting to go downstairs, at this point what more could go wrong here in Texas from family appearing.

Natalie got up from Sheila’s bed then ran downstairs to answer that damn door since the bell kept going off. It annoyed her when people did that shit as she threw open the door, Dana stood their smiling with divorce papers in her hand and no kids in tow that means she left her husband for Sheila within a week or so. Natalie wanted to be so sick that Dana got divorced before she could and she has been trying for months to get out of it with Aaron to be with Amber, this whole mess has been more she can handle. Natalie felt Amber come up behind her and Sheila bolted into Dana’s arms while kissing her with passion. Natalie wanted to gag. Natalie and Amber went back inside slamming the door on them knowing that this will lead to more than what either of them looked forward too in the coming months and now she has to deal with Dana’s homophobic hatred in front of her face while trying to convince Sheila that she isn’t worth this.