And so, thinking back on Winter Storm, I can see some interesting parallel's to Rebecca's story (and unfortunately, quoting lyrics is always such a hazard I'll just refer you back to your DVD to listen to Idina Menzel again). For all her life, Rebecca has been the "good girl", liked by everybody, fulfilling everyone's expectations, not making waves. Even her friends have barely looked beyond the surface, and when the truth comes out, denial is the first reaction. Her own, that of the people around her, family and even strangers who are used to a certain equilibrium in the small town. In Winter Storm, Rebecca is out and aware, but she and Callie still have a rocky road ahead. There are even trolls...well, not the good kind as in the Disney movie.
When Spring comes to Autumn Leaves in book 3 of the series, the ice is melting. Rebecca is no longer afraid, and this causes the ones closest to her to open their hearts and minds in return. Of course, there will always be those who can't find it in them to accept others the way they truly are, and we learned from Frozen, you just don't do business with them.
The good win. In the movie, and in my story. Sadly, it doesn't always work out that way in real life, but that's the beauty of fiction, escape for sure, but also the idea of a better future--in this case, a life more authentic.
But now, on to the promised excerpt:
Rebecca felt incredibly relieved after her meeting with the Tunisian couple who had opened their restaurant last fall. They had liked her work, didn’t require too many changes, and she had a check in her purse. Life was looking up. She didn’t look forward to the viewing of the house with David, but it had to be done at some point. Maybe they could get away with some cash even after paying David’s mother her share.
There was pain in handing over something that contained so many memories. In the end, though, she's always known that with the decisions she’d made, there would be consequences like this. She took her time looking at some dresses in a window, mentally calculating how long this check would last her, and how long until the next one.
When she turned, there was someone familiar coming her way. For some time, Betty had changed the sidewalk pretending not to notice Rebecca when they met in town, but it was too late for that now. She had wanted to talk after all.
“Rebecca,” she said stiffly. “I didn’t know you were back in town already.”
Rebecca had been angry at her, especially after she’d learned about the visit Betty had paid Callie last year, ranting about sin and punishment. At the moment, all she felt for her one-time friend was sympathy.
“We were just gone for a week,” she said. “I talked to Roz. Seems like a lot happened while we were gone.”
“Sure did,” Betty mumbled, looking around as if she was trying to see who witnessed her interaction. “How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Everything all right with Charles and the kids?”
“Of course. Look…Rebecca.” Finally, Betty met her eyes. “I know we have to talk at some point. I don’t like the way things are between us now. You’ve always been a good friend.”
“Okay. You know there’s still brunch on Saturdays. You could come.”
“Are you sure about that?” Betty asked, more hopeful. Actually, Rebecca wasn’t, but she couldn’t take back her offer now.
“It would be a start.”
“I’ll think about it. Can I call you?”
“Please do. It’s going to be the usual time.”
Betty smiled ruefully. “Thank you.” Rebecca watched her walk away, uncertain if their communication had been a successful one. In any case, she felt even more like spending a little money now.
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