nothing is like it used to be

 Fan knew it would hurt Jody the most that Cara couldn't make it to the Thanksgiving dinner at Sal's bar.

"She misses you," she told her step-daughter while she was pacing the kitchen wishing there was something to drink, but Sal hid the beer from her. "Actually, I miss you to. How have you been?"

"Um, not so good," Cara told her. 

"Is it..your Dad?" She thought of  her soon to be ex, Charlie then. Wondering if he was down and out. Oh, she hoped he was down and out. She was about to say, "No way am I ever getting back together with him." But she bit her tongue. Cara didn't need to hear that.

"Well, Ned and I split up."

"What?" Fan blinked how was that possible. Cara had been dating that guy since high school. She'd dropped out of the University because of him.

"Too much in lockdown, I guess," Cara sounded indifferent about her significant other.

"I see." Fan nodded and instantly thought of her own daughter Jody with her brainy Andrew.

"We can't stand each other," she sighed. "I don't think it's me. I mean, I don't mind staying home, but Ned. Ned just can't take it. He's got his buddies and it's..I dunno what to say."

"Well, he's a lot like your father," Fan told her. Of course, she thought everyone was like Charlie these days. Especially, when she couldn't stand whatever they were doing. Even Jared. He must take after Charlie, Fan thought.

"Well, I'm sorry," Cara said. "I want to see you. I want to see your new place."

"There is nothing new about it," Fan chuckled. She looked around at the hand-me-downs she'd gotten from friends and family. Of course, Sal was the greatest friend of all. No telling what she might be doing right now if  he wasn't around.