Chapter 16 Reese
REESE
Almost a year after the fateful night at the gala, Reese sat on one end of the long dining room table in the house she now shared with Roan.
She was Mrs. Hayes now. Mother of two. Wife to her perfect match.
Keeper of the home that Roan and Jason’s mother had so carefully tended.
Sometimes, like tonight, she could feel Caroline Hayes in the house.
The woman who had given Roan life and loved him so well that her death had nearly wrecked him.
But he’d survived. He’d come back to the place where he belonged. To whom he belonged.
Reese had spent the afternoon preparing the lasagna and tiramisu she’d learned to make in cooking classes. Grace had brought homemade rolls that Reese knew would be gone by the end of the night. Teenage boys ate a lot. She couldn’t quite believe how much.
It was mid-November, just before Thanksgiving, and Reese had asked everyone to come for dinner to celebrate the anniversary of The Bridge Program before they all got busy with holiday festivities.
Unfortunately, Pastor David had been called at the last minute to visit one of his flock at the hospital.
Mrs. Chen had come down with a cold. But Walter and Grace and the kids were all gathered around their table, like the stitched together family they all were.
Even though Walter and Grace had their own grandchildren, they’d fallen into that role with all four of the teenagers, enthusiastically attending school functions and sports activities.
Julia sat to Reese’s left, with baby Nora in a high chair next to her mother, happily gumming tiny pieces of soft lasagna noodles, more ending up on her bib than in her mouth.
The sweet baby was eight and a half months old now, all chubby cheeks and bright eyes, wearing a little dress that Grace had sewn.
Julia had named her Nora Reese—a combination of Roan and Reese’s names, she’d explained tearfully in the hospital.
“You both saved my life. I want her to carry that with her always.”
She’d also asked if they would be Nora’s godparents, which they’d happily accepted.
Julia looked completely different from the scared, pregnant teenager who’d shown up to The Bridge Program.
She had makeup on that brought out her pretty eyes, and her hair was styled in shiny waves down her back.
All in all, she’d recovered very well after the pregnancy and the challenges of caring for an infant.
Emma sat across from Julia, animated and glowing. Marcus was beside her, quieter but no less present. And Cody sat next to Roan at the head of the table, his shoulders broader than they’d been last winter, his face more open.
Grace and Walter flanked the other end. Mauve had squeezed in between Emma and Grace, looking elegant in a long skirt and pink blouse, her blonde hair in a high pony tail.
Reese picked up her water glass and tapped it gently with her fork. “Okay, everyone. Before we dig into dessert, I want to go around the table. Tell us one good thing that’s happening in your life right now. Something you’re excited about or proud of.”
“Oh, I love this,” Grace said, clasping her hands together.
“I’ll start,” Julia said. “As you all know, I graduated from beauty school last month. Today, Tangle & Shine offered me a chair in their salon. It’s a rental fee for the chair, so I’m basically going to be running my own business.
” She looked over at Reese. “I might need some help figuring all that out.”
“I’m here for you,” Reese said.
“And I need to find clients, obviously,” Julia said. “But it’s a start. Which I couldn’t have done without everyone at this table.”
“That’s wonderful, honey,” Grace said.
“Congratulations,” Reese added. “You’ve worked hard, under difficult circumstances. We’re all very proud of you.”
Julia looked down at Nora, her voice softening. “I was so scared when I found out I was pregnant, but now, I wouldn’t trade this one for anything in the world.” She looked up at Reese. “And I love our little cottage. It feels like home.”
When Reese married Roan and moved into his farmhouse, she’d offered her house to Julia rent free until she got on her feet. In addition, an anonymous donation had paid for Nora’s first year of childcare and Julia’s beauty school fees.
“I don’t know what I would have done with you guys and whoever’s paying for school and Nora’s childcare,” Julia said. “I hope someday to pay it forward.”
“Did you ever figure out if it was Jason who did it?” Cody asked.
“Jason said it wasn’t him.” Mauve’s cheeks flushed pink. “But I don’t believe him.”
“Me either,” Roan said. “It had to be him.”
“He’s such a softie,” Mauve said, smiling.
Reese hid a smile of her own by taking a sip of wine.
Mauve was headed out to L.A. in a few days to see Jason on set.
She’d kept her promise and outbid everyone at the auction.
Although she claimed she and Jason were just good friends, the constant texting and phone calls between them told a different story.
Whether they would give in and admit it to each other and themselves was still in question.
Reese really hoped Jason would make his move while Mauve was out visiting him.
Then Mauve would be her sister for real.
Reese turned to Emma. “Your turn. Anything special happening with you?” Reese already knew the answer, but she loved to see how Emma’s face lit up when she asked the question.
“I’m taking advanced dance classes four times a week, working with Reese on technique,” Emma said. “Which I absolutely live for.”
“Plus she helps me out with some of the younger classes,” Reese said. “She’s wonderful with the children.”
“Thanks, Reese.” Her grin widened. “And I’m back on track at school.
All A’s. My mom’s doing a lot better too.
She joined a singles adventure club to get her out of the house.
She’s met some new friends and she even has a date next week.
But the biggest thing is that Marcus and I got cast in the spring musical.
Footloose. I’m playing Ariel, and Marcus is Ren. ”
“The leads?” Grace exclaimed. “Oh, that’s amazing.”
Marcus looked embarrassed but pleased. “Reese helped us prepare for the audition. We did it together—one of the dance numbers for the callback, and I guess they liked it.”
“They loved it,” Emma said, bouncing in her chair. “The director said he’d never seen a better audition.”
“He did say that.” Marcus dabbed at his mouth with his napkin, looking down at his plate for a moment. “Ren’s a lot like me. Lost his parents. Loves to dance.”
“You’re going to be amazing,” Emma said. “And all the drama kids love you. We get to be ourselves with them, right?”
“They get me,” Marcus said, smiling, as he made jazz hands.
Last March, they’d gotten the call about Marcus’s mom.
She’d died in a crackhouse in Burlington.
Overdose. Fentanyl, the authorities has said.
Marcus had taken it hard. With Reese and Roan’s encouragement, Marcus had been in therapy, working through issues and grief about his mother.
Reese was amazed how well he was doing, considering. This play would be just what he needed.
Still, there would always be a hint of sadness in Marcus’s eyes.
Losing his mother wasn’t something he would just get over simply because things were going better for him.
Roan could attest to that. Regardless, Reese had observed how Roan knew exactly how to draw Marcus out and get him to talk about what was really going on inside of him.
Cody had stepped up too, acting like a big brother, taking Marcus with him wherever he went, letting him just be instead of acting like everything was fine.
Sadly, Cody knew the pain of losing a mother too.
She wished neither of them had suffered in that way, but she and Roan were doing their best to make sure the boys felt loved in their home.
“Your mom would be proud of you,” Grace said to Marcus. “The lead in the play. Doing so well in school.”
Marcus nodded, his brown eyes soft. “Yeah, I think so too. At least the person she was before the drugs took over her life.” He looked at Roan, then at Reese, before addressing the rest of the table.
“I’m learning in therapy that her addiction didn’t mean she didn’t love me.
She hadn’t meant for it all to go that way when the doctor prescribed pain killers for her broken leg.
That’s when it all started. Before that, she was a good mom. She loved me.”
“Of course she loved you,” Reese said, her voice thick. “And you’re honoring her memory by living your best life. Chasing your passions. Doing well in school.”
Marcus nodded slowly. “If it weren’t for you and Roan, I don’t know what would have happened to me.” He looked around the table. “You’re all like family to me now. I hope you’ll all come to see our play.”
“We’ll be in the front row,” Roan promised.
“Oh my, yes, we will,” Grace said, dabbing at the corners of her eyes. “The entire Hayes clan will be there.”
“We better get our tickets now,” Walter said. “Our clan seems to be growing by the day.”
Reese turned to Cody. “Your turn, superstar.”
Cody rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “You guys know what mine is. I won state in cross country last week. Placed first in the 5K.”
The table erupted in cheers, even though they’d all been there when he crossed the finish line. Baby Nora startled at the sudden noise, looking around until she found her mother’s eyes.
“It’s all right, sweetie,” Julia said. “That’s just your loud family.”
Nora grinned and reached for another noodle.
“First in the entire state,” Roan said, his voice full of pride. “Recruiting letters are coming in from colleges. UVM, Syracuse, Boston College. Schools want him.”
“That’s incredible, Cody,” Mauve said. “What are you thinking? Do you want to run in college?”