High Hopes
Eleanor parked her new official car in front of a sprawling mansion downtown. She hesitated for a moment, taking in the grandeur of the house. She couldn't believe that Emily lived here all by herself. She grabbed her purse and stepped out of the car, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. As she approached the front door, Eleanor couldn't help but admire the well-manicured lawn and the elegant architecture of the house. She rang the doorbell, and a few moments later, Emily opened the door, wearing a silk robe and a welcoming smile.
"Hey, Eleanor! So glad you could make it.. Welcome to my humble abode," Emily greeted her, stepping aside to let her in. "Come on in!"Eleanor stepped into the foyer, marveling at the spaciousness of the entrance hall. She followed Emily through the house, taking in the luxurious furnishings and tasteful décor.
"Wow, your house is amazing," Eleanor exclaimed, unable to hide her awe.
"Thanks! It's been in the family for generations," Emily replied with a hint of pride. "Can I get you something to drink? Wine, perhaps?"
"That sounds perfect," Eleanor replied, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in her stomach. As Emily disappeared into the kitchen to fetch the wine, Eleanor took a moment to look around the living room. She noticed several framed photographs displayed on the mantel, and her curiosity got the better of her. She walked over to take a closer look. To her surprise, she saw photographs of Emily with her husband (she supposed) and two kids, a boy and a girl. Emily returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses, oblivious to the turmoil brewing inside Eleanor. She poured them each a glass and handed one to Eleanor, who accepted it with a forced smile.
"Cheers to new friendships," Emily said, raising her glass.
"Cheers," Eleanor echoed, clinking her glass against Emily's.
Eleanor took a sip, trying to calm the nervous flutter in her stomach.
"So, tell me about your family," Eleanor said, trying to keep her tone casual.
Emily smiled warmly. "Well, I have a husband, John, and two adorable kids – Jane and Jack. They're the light of my life."
Eleanor's heart sank as she realized that Emily was married and had a family. She felt a pang of guilt for being here, knowing that Emily was just a married woman looking for some fun.
."That sounds wonderful," Eleanor replied, forcing a smile.
"How long have you been married?"
Emily hesitated for a moment, her smile faltering slightly.
"Oh, we've been married for about ten years now."
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, surprised by Emily's hesitation.
"And your husband? Is he here tonight?"
Emily shook her head. "No, he's away on a business trip. He travels a lot for work, so I'm used to being alone most of the time."
Eleanor felt a knot forming in her stomach as she realized the implications of Emily's words. She had assumed that Emily was single, but it was clear now that she was very much married.
"Why didn't you mention that you were married?" Eleanor blurted out, unable to contain her curiosity.
Emily's expression turned somber, and she looked down at her hands, twirling the wine glass nervously. "I guess I didn't want to scare you off. You know we just met, and I don't want to complicate things."
"Okay that's fine," Eleanor said softly, reaching out to touch Emily's arm. "It doesn't really matter anyways."
As the evening wore on, Eleanor found herself enjoying Emily's company more and more. They shared another glass of wine, delving into deeper conversations about their hopes, dreams, and fears.
"I never imagined I'd end up here," Emily admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "Married, with a family, sometimes I feel like I'm living someone else's life."
Eleanor nodded sympathetically, understanding the weight of Emily's words. "I know what you mean. I feel that way too, but I guess I'll figure it out along the way."
Emily looked at Eleanor with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "I know right, but don't try to fight it, just accept it and you'll be free."
Eleanor smiled warmly, touched by Emily's vulnerability. "Okay, thanks....noted, I guess I'll need to learn from you."
Emily poured herself a glass of wine and gestured towards the couch.
"Make yourself comfortable," she said warmly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Eleanor hesitated, feeling a flutter of nerves in her stomach.
"Thanks," she replied, sinking onto the plush cushions beside Emily. As Emily took a sip of her wine, she leaned back against the couch, regarding Eleanor with a curious expression.
"So, tell me," she began, her voice low and inviting. "Have you ever tried weed before?"
Eleanor shook her head, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep into her cheeks.
"No, I haven't," she admitted, shifting uncomfortably under Emily's gaze.Emily's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Well, tonight might be your lucky night," she teased, reaching into her pocket and producing a small bag of marijuana.
Eleanor's eyes widened in surprise as Emily held up the bag, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
"Are you serious?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emily nodded, her expression serious. "Absolutely," she replied, her tone reassuring. "But only if you're comfortable with it, of course. There's no pressure."
Eleanor chewed nervously on her bottom lip, her mind whirling with uncertainty. She had always been curious about weed, but the idea of trying it for the first time with Emily felt both exhilarating and intimidating.
Taking a deep breath, she met Emily's gaze with determination. "Okay," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "I'll try it."
A smile spread across Emily's face, her eyes alight with excitement. "Great!" she exclaimed, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small joint.
"Let's make this a night to remember."
As Emily lit the joint and took a long drag as Eleanor watched with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. She was skeptical for a moment as Emily passed her the joint. She had never tried weed before, but the atmosphere in Emily's luxurious house felt relaxed and inviting.
Taking a deep breath, she accepted the joint and brought it to her lips.The smoke felt harsh as she inhaled, causing her to cough slightly. Emily chuckled, taking another drag before passing Eleanor a glass of water.
"Take it slow," she advised, her eyes twinkling with amusement. As Eleanor took another cautious puff, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her. The tension in her muscles seemed to melt away, and a sense of calm settled over her. She leaned back against the couch, feeling more relaxed than she had in ages.
Emily watched her with a knowing smile, the smoke swirling around her like a halo. "Feeling it yet?" she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.Eleanor nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Yeah, I think so," she murmured, feeling a lightness in her chest. For the next hour, they passed the joint back and forth, sharing stories and laughter as they let the weed work its magic. Eleanor found herself opening up to Emily in ways she never had before, the barriers between them crumbling away with each puff of smoke.
As the evening wore on, Eleanor's worries and insecurities seemed to fade into the background. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly at peace, surrounded by the warmth and camaraderie of her new friend.
Eventually, the joint burned down to the filter, and Emily stretched languidly, a contented smile on her face.
"Well, that was fun," she remarked, her eyes glinting mischievously.
Eleanor nodded, a sleepy smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Yeah, it was," she agreed, feeling lighter than usual.
In that moment, time seemed to pause between them as they maintained eye contact for seconds. As if being pulled toward each other, they both moved their faces forward to meet at a common point.Just then, Eleanor's phone rang loudly, interrupting the moment. She picked up randomly without looking at the caller ID.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, it's me... Whitney," came the shaking voice from the other end.
Eleanor's heart skipped a beat. She paused, looked at Emily, and said, "I'm sorry, I have to go," while moving towards the exit.