Chapter 141 Keeping Away from Men
Nora returned home to find Jenny emerging from Samantha's room.
"Jenny, is Samantha asleep?" she asked.
"I just got her to sleep," Jenny replied, gently closing the door behind her.
Nora glanced at the two adjacent rooms and asked, "Are Alex and Billy asleep too?"
"Yes," Jenny confirmed.
"Did they give you any trouble?"
It was the first night the three kids slept separately, and Nora was worried they might not be accustomed to it.
"Alex and Billy are pretty independent. They drifted off without any fuss. Samantha's a bit more clingy, though. Right before bedtime, she insisted on sleeping in her brothers' room," Jenny said with a laugh.
Nora smiled slightly. "Girls tend to be a bit more timid. She'll get used to it."
Jenny nodded in agreement.
"I'm going to take a shower. You should get some rest," Nora said.
"Nora, I'm not ready to sleep. Do we have any booze left?" Jenny's voice carried a trace of gloom.
"Yes, you feel like drinking? Aren't you worried about putting on weight?" Nora asked.
"What's there to worry about? No boyfriend to impress; no need to watch my figure just to look good for a man," Jenny said with a self-deprecating chuckle.
Nora sighed inwardly. "Jenny, self-neglect isn't the answer, but tonight, you can indulge. The alcohol is in the cabinet downstairs. Let me shower, and I'll join you after."
"Okay."
They went their separate ways. Nora to her shower, and Jenny to fetch the bottle from the liquor cabinet downstairs before going to the second-floor balcony.
The balcony was furnished with a chaise lounge, a table, and several chairs.
The serene moon hung in the treetops, casting a cool glow.
Jenny sat at the table, drinking alone.
When Nora finished her shower, she found Jenny had already polished off half the bottle.
"Jenny, didn't I ask you to wait for me? You've already had quite a bit," she said.
Jenny's cheeks were flushed. She gave a sheepish chuckle and poured another glass of wine from the empty cup.
"Nora, come on, join me," she invited.
Nora sat down, took the glass, and clinked it with Jenny's.
As Jenny downed her drink in one go, Nora said, "Slow down, Jenny. This is the only bottle we've got. After this, no more drinking."
Jenny nodded noncommittally, then slapping her forehead, blurted out, "Nora, how could Paul be into men? How could I be so blind not to see it after living with him for so long?"
Nora sipped her wine and sighed, "You know what they say, right? Love makes a woman's IQ drop to zero. Your love for him blinded you."
At this, Jenny pulled a face of disgust.
"Nora, I can't believe I fell for a gay guy. My luck couldn't be any worse!"
Nora patted her hand. "It's not your fault; Paul was too good at hiding it. With his kind and gentle demeanor, he seemed a lot like Jack, so of course, you'd be drawn to him. He's the sort of guy anyone would like."
Jenny chuckled and shook her head vehemently, "No, I'm just silly! Nora, I think I need to steer clear of men. I'm swearing off, guys, for good! Come on, let's drink!"
Steering clear of men can bring happiness; there's some truth to that.
Without them, you don't look for trouble or risk getting hurt by one someday.
But sometimes, don't we all seek trouble?
Nora curved her lips slightly and clinked glasses with Jenny.
Watching her friend down her drink in one gulp, Nora's brow furrowed with concern. "Jenny, slow down."
"Don't tell me what to do; I want to drink!"
Jenny poured herself another glass and filled Nora's, too. "Nora, you drink as well. We don't need men anymore. How about I spend my life with you and the kids?"
Nora chuckled softly and nodded in agreement, "Sure."
"Nora, do you think the kids will take care of me when I'm old?"
"Of course, they will. You're their godmother," Nora replied with a smile.
Tears welled up in Jenny's eyes, and her emotions crashed.
She threw herself into Nora's embrace, "Nora, my heart hurts so much."
Nora, with compassion in her eyes, patted her back.
"I know. Don't cry; he's not worth your tears."
Jenny sobbed twice, then sat up and sniffled.
"Right, Paul's a jerk! I won't cry over him!"
With that, she stumbled over to the railing and yelled into the air, "Paul, you jerk, drop dead!"
As night fell, the world was wrapped in silence.
Some leaves drifted down from the branches, likely shaken loose by Jenny's shout.
Nora knew her friend needed to vent and casually let her keep yelling.
After discharging her feelings, Jenny turned to Nora. "Nora, your turn."
Nora was silent.
"Jenny, maybe I should pass."
"No way, you're my best friend. Come join me!"
Jenny pulled Nora to the balcony railing without taking no for an answer.
Nora felt somewhat at a loss. "What should I even shout?"
"Don't you have anyone you want to curse?" Jenny asked.
Anyone she wanted to curse? Lucas? But that was all water under the bridge.
She had nearly forgotten about Lucas.
Nora blinked, and an image of a man flashed suddenly in her mind.
Brimming with alcohol, she blurted out, "Aaron, you jerk, why do you have to be such a jerk!"
She wanted to curse him with a fate worse than death, but the words never made it past her lips.
"Aaron didn't even offend her. Why would she curse him? Why lash out at Aaron? His flirtations are none of her business."
Beside her, Jenny seemed dazed, her mind fuzzy from the alcohol.
"Nora, who did you just cuss out? Wasn't it Lucas?"
Nora cleared her throat, "Okay, I'm done venting. I'm going to bed."
"Not so fast! I haven't finished yet!" Jenny said, holding onto Nora to keep her from leaving and then yelling into the thin air, "Paul, you shameless scoundrel, you can drop dead!"
Lights flickered on in the surrounding houses, and someone cracked open a window, shouting, "Who's making all that racket in the middle of the night? Are you crazy or what? Keep it up, and I'll have you committed!"
They had disturbed the neighbors.
Nora jerked to attention and quickly grabbed Jenny, "Let's go, Jenny, enough already."
"I'm not going anywhere! You're the crazy one!" Jenny retorted, wanting to shout back.
Nora clamped a hand over Jenny's mouth and got her inside the house with a mix of tugging and pulling.
Aaron sat in bed in another house, sneezing out of the blue.
Did he hear someone cursing him?
"Aaron, you okay?" The computer screen was alive with a video call from his mother, Mary.
Aaron's expression turned grave.
"Mom, did you go see Nora this afternoon?"
The smile faded from Mary's face.
"Did she complain to you? What else did she say?"
He had guessed right.
His mother did indeed visit Nora.
Aaron's face darkened, "She didn't say anything, Mom, I've told you, stay out of my business."
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