Chapter 21
THE REUNION
Two weeks pass. I haven’t heard from Ry since our confrontation the other night, nor do I want to. While I’ve struggled with the possibility of never seeing him again, I think it is for the best. A little lie that I tell myself to keep from crumbling apart.
My only saving grace has been taking walks around the property and falling in love with every tree nook, every aroma coming from a mix of the bayou and the forest surrounding it, and every piece of cascading garland of Spanish moss above me.
I can see why my uncle never wanted to leave. It’s hard to find any other place as magical as this. It’s late October now, marking my three-month point of being down here. Safe to say I love it more every day.
I’ve been getting a couple of rooms ready for Ashton and Lollie.
It seems more urgent than ever to have their peaceful presence near.
I’ve been checking all the boxes and prepping the spare rooms with a diligent efficiency.
They both arrive together today, and the excitement within is helping me power through this day.
I can only imagine the amount of bickering and snide remarks that fills their car ride. I’m sure Lollie will all but jump out of the car when she gets here. Those two in small quarters for a twenty-hour drive, the Gods bless them both.
While I wait, I put some soup on and travel to the old willow tree, who always welcomes me by the sway of her boughs as I walk closer. I never feel more at home than when I am here in the presence of this majestic tree. Not even my mother’s shop in Detroit can conjure this feeling of belonging.
That’s because I am here, my love.
It is but a whisper in my ear. In some otherworldly dimension, I know it is my mother. I wrap the light sweater around my arms. Although it doesn’t get cold here like it does in Detroit, I still feel a slight breeze. Winds of change heralding a message that it is still peak hurricane season.
I am grateful I found some old sweaters among the boxes. Even they feel like my mother. Everything reminds me of her, which must be why I hallucinated her hushed uttering.
The past two weeks have increased my visions of her as well as others that aren’t as reassuring.
In one more recent vision, everyone I knew morphed into trees.
And when I traveled below their roots, whole worlds existed below.
Worlds fueled by my blood. I think my mind took that old book about the realms below the trees a little too seriously.
My mind wanders to Ry, still so bothered by the way he reacted.
Even more so, I am bothered by the part of me that still longs for his touch.
I even long for the roughness that he brought the last time I saw him.
It’s like no matter how toxic his traits are, they are a toxin I wouldn’t mind ingesting.
I want him close, and I’m afraid what that says about me.
The smell of him surrounds me then, and I look toward the direction of the old hickory. It is rather far, but I can still see its highest branches. I’ve had terrible nightmares about it since our fight. Nightmares that leave me wondering how this man could remind me so much of my favorite tree.
The vile aggression I got to see firsthand, and I can’t help but wonder if that is the real him.
But aren’t we all just varying shades of dark and light?
Part yin and part yang. Part branches reaching for the light of the sun as well as roots burrowing deeper to reach the darkness below the surface. Both equally necessary to grow.
I am about to be lured that way when I hear the crunching of wheels on the driveway. I smile right away knowing who is here, all but running. Lollie’s car comes into view. She waves her hands in delight.
It’s been too long since I’ve seen them, and I am overjoyed with the pleasure seeing them evokes. The car stops, and as expected, Lollie all but leaps from it’s open door. My feet move of their own accord, making my way to my best friends.
“Lol!” I yell in happiness, and we clutch each other like our lives depend on it.
“Oh. My. God, Jade! I have missed you so much. And look at you! Wow, maybe there is something to this Louisiana air because you look positively radiant!” Lollie gushes.
Ashton climbs out, approaching our over-the-top reunion like it’s a wildlife documentary, nonchalantly tossing the keys up in front of him. He may be trying to hide how thrilled he is, but the grin he is holding back is a dead giveaway.
“She’s not wrong, Jade. You look great.” Ashton says in a genuine but cautious manner. Like an older brother who can’t quite believe I am doing well here on my own.
I make my way over to him. We both lean into a much-needed embrace. My two greatest friends at my new favorite destination. Nothing could be better.
“I am so glad you guys are here. How was the car ride?” I look between the two of them.
They look at each other, and I think I notice a faint blush from Lollie, but then she puts her hands to her throat in a choking pose, dramatizing how she felt about the long journey.
There she is. I try to hold back my amusement for Ashton’s sake.
“Fine,” Ashton shrugs like no big deal.
“Yeah, no, it was fine. Buuuut what’s not fine is how starving I am.
Please tell me you have food here, Jade?
” Lollie looks at me in her ‘I need food now’ type of look.
I wink at her, because not only is there warm soup on the stove, but I stocked the pantry with all her favorite snacks knowing how much she needs to eat.
“Follow me,” I say. Right away Lollie is clearly speechless, her jaw to the floor.
“No fucking way. This is all yours?” She exclaims, thrill taking over as she spins around the foyer, taking it all in. She surprisingly fits right into the vibe of this house.
I can’t help but smile at her as I move them toward the kitchen and quickly put some soup into the brown vintage crock bowls I found hidden deep within the cupboards. We settle down around the countertop ready to have a major catch-up session.
Ashton, who is not much for words anyways, looks around and spots the basement door.
He eyes it nervously and looks to Lollie, who is fully immersed in the minestrone soup in front of her.
Something has changed between these two.
Maybe the drive gave them a chance to have the heart to heart they so desperately needed.
When we are down to the last spoonful in our bowls, I go on to tell them they have their choice of six bedrooms. There are three downstairs and three upstairs, each having its own unique style.
Either my uncle had a very varied decorating palette, or there were multiple people living here at one point.
Oddly enough, they both choose bedrooms on the bottom floor—directly across from each other.
Once Lollie is settled in her room, she comes up to mine, wanting to know all about my stay here thus far. In-depth details about what has transpired between me and Ry sit at the tip of my tongue, but thankfully I manage to keep them there. As well as any mentions of Cher and Que.
I’m not sure why I don’t divulge my new acquaintances to Lollie. I’ve always told her every aspect of my life, but I’m halted whenever I’m about to spill their names. Maybe it’s because Lollie has always been a bit of a jealous type. It has always been just she and I.
“So, you two were seeing a lot of each other, huh?” She continues to pry. In any normal situation I would tell her, but something about what Ry and I shared seems so intimate and I’d like to keep it that way.
“We were, but merely to talk business. He helped out a lot when I first came here. I haven’t seen him much lately, though. Oh, I found this really cool record shop. I have to take you there while you’re here!” I add in trying to divert the topic, and it works.
We talk more about my doings with the house and property, and she catches me up on the shop, which sounds like it is doing the same as when I left.
“Everything alright between you and Ash?” I flat out ask, knowing I am coming on a little strong. Something Lollie isn’t used to from me. Maybe this place has already changed me more than I know.
“Of course, why wouldn’t it be?” She says through a blush.
“I don’t know. You two just haven’t been bickering as much. I thought for sure that car ride would do you both in.” I tell her, and I think she is about to say something, but Ashton knocks at the door.
We both spin our heads around like we’re in middle school, and have been caught smoking cloves behind the gym. True story, by the way, and also how that little habit of mine started.
“Hey, Ash!” I say and try to act like we weren’t just talking about him.
“Hey,” he says, and eyes Lollie. “Are you guys ready to go explore the town?”
“Oh, is that plan, then? I see you don’t waste any time,” I say and jump up from the bed. “Let me get my coat!”
I leave the two of them to continue whatever weird vibe they are sending each other, and they take some time before meeting me downstairs. When they finally do, I don’t miss the subtle glimpse they make toward each other.
To ease this awkward exchange, I ask Ashton how his shop is doing, warmly missing the other shop people on our street. Our street is like a family. All the shop owners look out for each other. So, I listen intently as we load up into the car.
He tells me it’s been slower now that it’s gotten colder for fall.
Michigan weather is always tricky as you never know what you are going to get.
Snow and wind don’t bode well even for the most popular shops in our city.
But besides that, he tells me everyone is doing great.
Comforting knowledge for the place I used to call home.
Ashton’s car takes the drive with ease, then the topic flips yet again to what I’ve been hoping to avoid. The people I’ve met here. I’ve been here three months, so I guess it would be odd if I didn’t make at least one new friend.