Returning to work Loril felt great about life and future. Donny has a stable job that could become permanent with benefits. The job applied for uncertain it demonstrates she's ready for something better.

Before getting behind the register Loril wanders the aisle with greeting cards. Selecting a decoratively embossed card with simple silhouette of mother cradling baby Loril takes three to write out what she told Debbie had been written.

Finally getting the third card to read satisfactorily Loril signs it from her and Donny.

Slipping the card into the envelope Loril spots Cheryl and Pattie about to enter the store. Swiftly Loril places the envelope and card under her counter, the two cards with mistakes in writing are tossed into a waste bin bellow.

Entering Pattie points out Loril and they exchange simple greetings. As the ladies gather items for Christmas projects they banter with Loril. The ladies latest project has Loril curious enough to inquire. As they are crafting ornaments to give out as personalized gifts, Loril relayed having considered doing that in past years. They again invite Loril to join them and she happily accepts taking down the address and time.

When the ladies left, Loril merely thought an amusing artsy night is to be had. It would be the beginning of a healthy and long lasting friendship for her.

After work Loril made the short trek over to Debbie and Rod's place. Approaching their door she became hesitant of possible negative conversation. Glimpsing their mailbox figured drop the card inside and run, raising the card to mailbox Rod opens the door.

Quickly dropping the arm Loril pastes on a smile to cover the surprised face, "Oh Rod hello."

"Oh hey Loril," He notices the yellow envelope in her hand, "oh just bringing the card by?" He points to the mailbox, "Could leave it there if you want. I'm just heading out to pick-up our dinner. If you want to talk to Debbie she's inside," He gestures for her to go on in.

A tad jittery about conversation Loril's willing to talk, "Oh I'll give this to her then,"

"Sure," Rod leans back in, "Debbie babe, Loril's here. She's coming in while I head out."

Debbie's a tad surprised Loril's at the door, "okay."

Rod steps aside, "back in a flash ladies."

"Okay," Debbie greets Loril at the door, "why hello, come on in."

"Hello Debbie, thanks," Loril enters extending the card to her, "thought I'd finally bring this by."

"Oh thank you," Debbie takes it debating to open it or not, "wasn't necessary. If you have time join me for a coffee. Can't have much else in intoxicants for awhile."

She's there and inside, "yeah alright," Loril pulls off the farm boots, "Saw your co-workers Cheryl and Pattie in the store today."

"They were saying," Debbie figures they reminded Loril about the card, "said you were joining them for their night of crazy crafts with our crazy folk art community." Able to feel the embossing on the card within the envelope makes her curious to it.

Debbie's tone clearly notes looking down on the craft night, Loril knows creativity was never Debbie's thing. "I can't watch TV ever night. Maybe they'll inspire me to get back to it more."

Debbie leads them to a small dinette off the kitchenette, "just throw your coat over a chair and have a seat I'll pour us up a couple cups. Do you still load it with sugar?"

Recalling teen-age ideas Loril smiles, "no just a couple small scoops is fine," she takes off the coat to hang over the back of the chair.

Quickly pouring up two mugs of coffee Debbie inquires, "you and Donny doing okay? Happy to have him back I'm sure. Just wondering." After they left she gave consideration her happy news might be a sad reminder to them. In the re-gifting moment she perceived it spiteful.

"Oh yes," Loril happily smiles taking a seat, "I think this new job of his is going to work out. And I don't want to say much to jinx it, but with him working I'm ready to find me a better job and in fact put out my first application today."

"Oh good for you," Debbie sweetens their coffees, "Almost couldn't believe the place Donny's working at. I mean his last arrest and all. But I hope it all works out for you two in the new year, Rod sure does."

"And how's Rod been with all this?" Loril's curious if Rod is behaving himself.

"You know what, really good," She brings over the coffees setting Loril's down first, "it's kinda cute to see him actually think about real life things."

"Yeah?" Sounds like he might be maturing to Loril, "anything in particular?"

"Yes," an odd one she's unsure about seeks other females' thoughts on, "he seems to be more worried about us having a girl than a boy and wants to know if there's anything that can be done to ensure the baby becomes a boy." Retrieving the yellow envelope Debbie sits at the table.

"Oh," Loril recalls some of Donny's youthful thoughts, "it's because they're males who now how crude males are to us females and doesn't want that for their daughter."

"I figured something like that," Debbie's now curious and comfortable enough to open the envelope and inspect card for quality of design and sentiment. "Was also hoping it a sign we could trust our men to play together again."

"Instead of scheming." Loril nods along taking the first sip of the coffee, carefully watching Debbie's reaction.

The card lovely receives immediate esthetic approval, Debbie opens it up reading the sentiment within written as Loril had spoken Sunday. Touching her more today enough for the eyes to well up, "This card is lovely Loril thank-you so much."

Again relieved for being well received Loril's able to relax more, "You're welcome, Donny and I wish you two all the best in this new episode of your lives."

The pregnancy hormones get to Debbie, "oh thank-you for saying so," she rises opening arms for a hug.

Loril's willing to meet her half-way and hug it out, "you're welcome."

Separating and returning to the seats Debbie queries, "what happened to us to get so distant?"

"What?" Loril has always thought it was Debbie who became distant, "I know my only part in it was being annoyed at you for not visiting me in the hospital, twelve years ago. Once I got out it was like you always had something else to do so I stopped trying."

Debbie recalls those days, stressed out over high-school marks being good enough for secondary education on top of working evenings at a local restaurant, "Oh yes I've always hated myself for not visiting you in the hospital. We both hated being in those places." Debbie lays some honesty out there, "Kathleen and I used to feel, way back then when we were teenagers and you and Donny started dating, you had no time for us anymore. We kind of got use to counting on each other. When you sprung the news on us you guys wanted run off to California to start new lives, Kath and I felt as if we didn't matter. Might have seen you for an hour every couple weeks for two years. So to not even discuss it with us figured all we could do was be happy for you and Donny and say good bye to our childhood friend."

"Oh?" Loril quickly realizes how true it was, "oh my Debbie, I never thought of it, then maybe not even til now. So sorry, you're right though." Her memories replay several moments she snuffed them off just to be with Donny. A few of those times Debbie and Kathleen attempted to state their feelings but she was blinded with young love, "I did always apologize but I get it. It's the same disappointment we get when our guys let us down. I'm sorry about those times Debbie. Sorry for being a dick to guys."

Water under the bridge to Debbie, "well having Rod in my life I understand how we prefer to be with the stupid stinky boys over our friends. I'm sorry I was too young and selfish to get over it and visit you in the hospital." She can only shake her head and shrug at the emotional rashness of their past youthfulness, "we get older we understand better. If I ended up in the hospital now I'd be pretty PO'd at those who didn't visit or call or something. I did at least call and we would visit when you got out."

"I remember," Loril can only shake her head and shrug back, "what can we do?"

Debbie's ready to leave the past now understanding each other, "forgive ourselves and each other and keep moving forward."

The mood causes Loril's eyes to well up, "yes and I do," she rises to hug it out.

Debbie reciprocates, "me too," meeting her halfway.

Finishing their coffees discus the up coming holidays.

When Rod returns Loril excuses herself despite an offer to share their dinner.