Chapter 26
LILA
My emotions have been all over the place for the last month, ever since we found out Amos left town.
I’m still angry, but my new relationship with Sutton has me elated.
It’s so much better being able to do what we want without hiding anything.
Don’t get me wrong, I want Amos to come back.
He needs to take care of his baby. But I don’t give one shit about how he will feel about us being together.
All of this has opened my eyes to things my friends have tried to point out over the years.
Amos isn’t my responsibility. I’m trying hard to let go of that but it’s hard when I’ve always been expected to look after him.
But I’ve realized that I can’t force him to grow up, and the fact that he can always run to me or Sutton when things fall apart isn’t helping him.
We’ve been enabling his irresponsible behavior.
It’s time to shove him out of all the nests.
Needless to say, Mom doesn’t agree. Our last visit ended in an argument when I told her that he wouldn’t be welcome to stay with me in the future and that he’d forfeited the trailer when he left.
She’s convinced that he’s just scared and once he has some time to adjust to the idea of being a father, he’ll come back to raise her grandchild.
The way she went on as if we should feel sorry for him was infuriating.
The victim in this isn’t Amos, it’s Mandy and her child.
I visited her yesterday and it was a relief to see that she has a lot of family on her side.
Her two sisters are thrilled with the news and already arguing over who will get to stay with her after the birth to help out.
We’re keeping in touch and I can’t wait to spoil my niece or nephew rotten.
Sutton and I have spent most of the day apart, doing our own thing and it’s ridiculous how eager I am to see him when I lock up my place for the night then head back to the trailer. He hasn’t arrived yet, which means I can claim the first shower before we head over to the party for Pops and Archie.
Sutton had a little setback with his solar panels once the city electric was connected, but he finally got it working today.
We’ve been staying at my apartment most of the time, but we’re spending tonight at the trailer since it’ll be the last. We promised to hand over the keys tomorrow.
All of my things have been moved except for some clothes, and Sutton will get the last of his stuff moved tomorrow.
Everything is in disarray and I can’t find the sweater I planned to wear tonight.
Thinking it may have accidentally ended up hung in Sutton’s closet, I take a look.
The sweater is there, tucked between two of his hoodies, but another object catches my eye on the top shelf. I can’t help but laugh even as I’m cursing him in my head. He’s going to pay for this later.
I’m in the shower when Dusty’s bark lets me know Sutton’s home.
He’s always so excited to see him. It should be a fun night, hanging out with my neighbors and friends.
I’m in my own little world, picturing what I want to do to Sutton after the party when he scares the shit out of me by whipping back the shower curtain.
“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I exclaim, and splash some water at him.
“Ah! Why do you have the water set on lava, you demon? Do you miss the hellfire?”
“It’s not even that hot, you big baby. And don’t start anything with me.” His gaze is crawling over my body and I know what he’s thinking. “Save it for tonight. The party starts in less than an hour.”
“Psh, I can make you come three times before then. You’d just have to walk around with your legs all rubbery.”
“Go away,” I laugh. “We won’t stay long. We’ll pop in for an hour or so, congratulate the happy couple then come back here. I have plans for you.”
His eyebrows rise. “Is that so?”
“Yep.”
“Now I’m excited.”
So am I.
The whole neighborhood has turned out for Pops and Archie’s party.
The main room of the community building has been transformed with a makeshift bar and dance floor.
Folding tables in the next room are overflowing with food and drink.
Teenagers have taken over the last room.
Maren’s idea of having a gaming room with a virtual reality setup for them was a great one. Maybe it’ll keep them out of trouble.
In true Happy Haven fashion, the party has spilled outside, despite the cold. Multiple bonfires burn in portable pits outside the community building. We stop to congratulate Pops and Archie, then grab a plate and join Cara, Maren, Rita, and Holly at one of the tables.
“They look so happy,” I remark.
“They are.” Maren beams at her grandfather. “I’m glad so many people came.”
“Pops was the neighborhood grandpa. They miss him.”
Rita nods her agreement. “He was.” She glances over at me. “Are you going to miss this place?”
Looking around, my answer is obvious. “Of course I will.” It occurs to me that this is my last party here.
At least as a resident. It’s a good way to say goodbye.
I’ve had some great times here, even when it was a rundown mess.
It’s the people that make a place home and I’ll miss them. “But I’ll be around to visit.”
“Are you both still moving out tomorrow?” Holly asks.
“That’s the plan,” Sutton replies, sliding an arm around me.
As we’re finishing our meal, I’m surprised to see Susan wander over. She’s the neighborhood Karen and more likely to call the police on a party than join in.
“Do you know when bingo starts?” she asks Maren.
“Ah, you’d have to ask Louise. She’s running it.”
Rita stands up. “Come on, I’ll go with you.”
“Bingo at a party?” Sutton says after they walk away.
Cara and Maren grin at each other. “Baked bingo. It was Pop’s idea. Louise is taking some people over to her trailer to smoke before it starts.”
“Not Karen?”
“No way, but she can still play with them when they get back.”
After everyone has eaten, Pops grabs my arm and pulls me into one of the storage areas where a large canister sits in a tub of ice. “VIP section. Grab you and your man a cup.”
It’s a fruit punch mix with tiny chunks of fruit floating in it.
It’s delicious but it packs a kick. I stick to taking a few sips, since I have too much to do tomorrow to be hungover, but I grab Sutton a cup to try.
“What’s a wedding reception without some Hunch Punch?
” I chuckle, and we make our way back outside.
I take the opportunity to give Pops my wedding gift. He opens the envelope to reveal the gift certificate to a local nursery. “I don’t know anything about houseplants but Maren said you’re trying to grow a jungle in your sunroom.”
“Thank you! Archie is going to love it too. He’s the one with the green thumb. I just follow directions and hope I don’t murder any.”
“I’m sorry Amos couldn’t make it.”
Wise eyes look over at me. “You don’t need to apologize for him. I reckon you’ve done enough of that to last you a lifetime.”
“That’s true.”
“Maren told me what’s going on. I raised a son a lot like Amos. Do you want some advice?” Maren’s parents abandoned her with him when she was little. He knows what he’s talking about.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Don’t build a porch on someone else’s mess.
You’ve done what you can do. The rest is up to him.
You can’t make his life better. It’ll only make yours worse.
He’s still young and he might get it together, but if he doesn’t, that’s not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
It’s time to focus on making yourself happy. Not him or your mother.”
Maren approaches quietly as I reply. “I don’t think he’ll ever hold a job or pay his own way. I just don’t understand it.”
Pops nods, and rubs a hand over his chin. “Some people are so lazy they’d shit the bed and push it out with their feet. I don’t get it either.”
“Pops!” Maren exclaims as I burst out laughing. “That’s gross.”
“I’m sharing priceless advice over here, young lady.”
“He is,” I reply, and give him a hug. “Thank you. And congratulations on your marriage.”
Jarrett’s son, Ethan, runs up to ask if he can invite a friend of his from school. “You can invite whoever you want, kid. Have fun,” Pops replies.
The party takes off as the alcohol starts flowing. It’s a really good time. Sutton pulls me out to the dance floor with a wide smile on his face. “That punch is strong.”
“That would be the moonshine. Don’t overdo it. I have plans for you later.”
“I’m counting down the minutes. But now I want the dance I was promised at the bar.”
I’d forgotten all about that. “You got a lot more than a dance,” I chuckle, pulling him closer and moving to the beat.
Of course he can dance. No man who moves like him in bed could be a bad dancer.
By the end of the song, I swear the number of people in the room has tripled and it’s starting to get hot.
“Do you want to go outside?” I ask, and he nods, leading the way. We grab our coats and step into the chilly night.
“What the hell?” I exclaim, stopping in my tracks. There are people everywhere. The street is lined with cars on both sides.
Maren and Cara spot us and make their way over. “How big was the guest list?” I laugh.
“Not this big,” Maren replies. “Half the damn town seems to be here.”
Everyone is having a great time but people keep showing up until the community building is at capacity. The street and yards are full of partygoers. They haven’t all come empty handed. Games of cornhole have been set up on two of the lawns, and beer pong tables are now blocking the street.
Pops and Archie join our group at one of the bonfires. Both are smiling ear to ear as Archie says, “You really threw one hell of a party, Maren.”
Maren glances around. “Thank you. I didn’t invite most of these people, though.”
Pops raises his eyebrows, looking around. “We didn’t either. There’s old Frankie. I can’t stand him. What’s he doing here?”
A cheer goes up from the cornhole game as Cara grabs a boy walking by who doesn’t look more than seventeen years old. She plucks a bottle of beer out of his hand.
“Hey!” he protests.
“Who are you?” she demands.
An instant smile darts across his face. “Brendan. And yes, I’m single.”
Cara rolls her eyes. “Who invited you? I know you don’t live here.”
“I saw Evan’s livestream.”
We all look at each other before I ask, “What are you talking about?”
“Evan went live on social media. He said there’s a party at his place and everyone is invited.” He pulls up his phone and shows us Evan’s page. Sure enough, there’s an open invite and multiple videos of the festivities. “So, can I have your phone number?”
“Get out of here, you fetus,” Cara scoffs, shoving him away and making a beeline for Jarrett. We watch as she shows him her phone. After a lot of gesturing, he takes off inside the community building.
“Somebody’s in deep shit,” Sutton says, chuckling.
“We’re going to be too if we don’t get all these underage drinkers out of here,” Maren points out.
Pops and Archie think it’s the funniest thing ever, but agree that it’s time to end the party early. Maren stands up on one of the chairs and shouts that the party is over and everyone needs to go, but it’s too loud for her to be heard.
Cooper goes inside to shut down the music. Donna waves at Maren and shoves a canister into her hand. “I was going to use this the next time Milton tried to sleep all day but it looks like you need it.”
It’s an air horn and it does its job. The music stops at the same time that Maren blasts it and everyone freezes, looking her direction. “The party is over! If you don’t live here, it’s time to go! Cops are on their way.”
The last part is clearly a lie but it does send the underage kids scrambling to dispose of their drinks. Before she can continue, Jarrett bursts out through the front doors, dragging his drunk fifteen year old son by the front of his hoodie.
Cheers go up from the crowd, and Evan beams at the shouts of encouragement and praise he gets for “his” party. He clamps his hands together and shakes them above his head as if he’s won a boxing match.
His father halts his steps, infuriated, and starts lecturing him. It’s cut short when Evan abruptly projectile vomits. I swear, it comes out like a garden hose aimed right at his dad’s feet.
The cheers turn to uproarious laughter and Evan goes from celebrating his newfound celebrity to looking like he’s praying for a hole to open up and swallow him.
“Poor kid,” Sutton whispers in my ear, still laughing. “He’s never going to see daylight again.”
“Grounded until he’s forty,” I agree.
“Okay.” Maren tries again to end things as Jarrett drags Evan home. “Show is over! Time to go!”
Three loud pops make everyone duck and start to run. My initial fear of gunshots is quickly relieved by a guy’s frantic shout.
“Oh shit! The box of fireworks! It’s on fire!”
I’m not sure who brought fireworks but they’ve placed them way too close to one of the firepits. Within seconds, the air is full of whistling rockets, sky spinners, and explosions.
Bedlam breaks out. Those first few pops had most of the crowd making a break for it, but it’s total chaos now with people running every which way and trying to take shelter. Maren hops down from the chair and runs inside along with Archie and Pops.
Sutton grabs my hand and we end up crawling underneath a nearby van. Cara, Holly, and Theo—one of our teenage neighbors—join us.
“Are you okay?” I ask him.
“I’m good. Felt one whiz past my ear though.”
It turns out that flying fire can do what Maren’s announcement couldn’t. People scatter like roaches when the lights come on. It seems to take forever for it to stop while we lie on our stomachs on the cold driveway.
Cara looks over at me when I start cracking up laughing. “I’m really going to miss this place.”