Chapter 4
FOUR
Located slightly north of South Haven on Lake Michigan, the six-bedroom lakefront rental provided the perfect backdrop for a family vacation.
Leah was no stranger to the property. In the two years she spent with Ariana—and the year prior to that as Grace’s plus-one—she had attended the Harrison pre-Thanksgiving extravaganza.
Leah found a last-minute flight to Michigan on Sunday evening, which gave her the option to travel with Grace; arriving solo simply wasn’t an option.
There was no pushback from her father—as long as she could check emails and answer the occasional phone call, she could work from pretty much anywhere.
The car journey went without a hiccup. Ezra slept the whole way.
Glimpses of sparkling water peeked through the trees, indicating their looming arrival.
She missed Michigan. She missed being close to her mom and her friends.
She missed the life she had, however briefly, in her late twenties.
She missed the lakes, the forests, the scenic countryside she’d taken for granted for so many years, and an atmosphere that differed considerably from the urban landscape of New York. She felt peaceful in Michigan.
They rounded the corner onto a large concrete driveway, and any peace instantly evaporated. They were the last to arrive. A flurry of activity surrounded the property as members of the Harrison family unpacked their belongings from crammed vehicles.
There were two children on the trip, not counting Ezra. The other two—Grace and Ariana’s older brother’s children—were twin boys aged eleven. With a burst of energy Leah thought impossible, they shot off toward the water and the sandy beach.
Grace’s brother was an ex-football player turned engineering expert.
A multitude of injuries prevented him from ever reaching the NFL.
He was so often the centre of attention in any room—his 6’5” frame, thick moustache, and overbearing biceps could probably curl a family-sized vehicle.
He tried to keep up with the twins, unloading food supplies, camping chairs, and bags at lightning speed, while his wife began her unwanted vlog of the trip.
Steven Harrison marched over to Grace and Leah, his body slightly hunched, a grimace on his face.
“Dad, are you okay?” Grace asked, concerned.
“Sure,” he waved her off. “Where’s my grandson?”
“He’s still sleeping.” Grace placed her hand against his back. “Dad, you’re standing like Quasimodo.”
“Gracey, I’m fine. I just pulled my back loading the car this morning—it’ll ease off,” Steven said.
He eyed Leah, slightly puzzled by her presence. “Hi, kid. I didn’t know you were coming.” He looked at Grace for an explanation.
“Dad, I told you in the group chat on Saturday that Johnathan couldn’t make it,” Grace challenged.
“I don’t think you did,” Steven laughed. “Anyway, it’s good to see you, Leah.” He reached out and enveloped her in a tight hug that felt reminiscent of her own father’s.
“Let me help you with some bags,” he offered.
Grace opened the group chat on her phone. “I swear I wrote it in here . . .”
Leah stood with her arms folded. Steven’s confusion concerned her. If he didn’t know about her arrival, neither did Ariana.
“Oh,” Grace gulped.
“What?”
“Erm . . .I accidentally forgot to press send,” she trailed off.
“Are you kidding? So nobody knows I’m coming?” Leah guessed.
“Well, my dad knows,” Grace scrunched her face.
“Now! He knows now! Christ, Grace, if this wasn’t going to be awkward enough, now Ariana and Hannah don’t even know I’m here.” Leah shook her head. “I actually can’t believe this.”
“I did wonder why nobody replied. I thought it was a bit odd, but I was busy packing and looking after a nine-month-old. I didn’t have time to question it—I’m sorry,” Grace sulked.
“Oh,” Grace’s head popped up from her phone again.
“What now?” Leah felt like she might hyperventilate.
“Turns out Hannah isn’t coming either,” Grace said, coyly.
“Oh, and you just happened to read that now?” Leah rolled her eyes.
“I saw a message last night that had Hannah’s name in it, but I didn’t open it,” she shrugged.
Steven reappeared with free hands. “I’ve put your things in your bedroom. Leah, you’re right next door to Grace,” he smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Dad, why isn’t Hannah coming?” Grace asked.
Steven shrugged. “Ask Ariana. You know I don’t like to get involved in your relationship drama.”
A female voice called from the doorway, followed by a half-hearted wave at Leah and Grace. The permanent scowl etched on her face was visible from four car lengths away.
“Hi, girls,” she screeched.
Kathy Harrison was equivocally unlikeable.
She was manipulative, constantly belittling, and as Grace became an adult, she quickly realised Kathy’s true intentions were always hidden behind a facade of fake sweetness.
She had others fooled—Steven included—and maybe even their older brother, Ryan.
But there was a dark shadow whenever she was around, a toxic presence that was difficult to put into words. Leah understood it too.
“Hi,” Grace mumbled, unenthusiastically.
“Do you think you should tell Ariana I’m here before we just bump into each other and then we have to do the whole awkward exchange of pleasantries and the ‘sorry I’m here crashing your family vacation’ speech?”
“Too late,” Grace mouthed. I’m sorry.
Ariana obliviously strolled from the rear of the property to her vehicle—the one parked directly in front of Grace and Leah.
She looked up to briefly acknowledge her dad.
Something on her phone caused a strain in her brow.
She was so effortlessly stylish in straight-leg joggers and a matching hoodie.
A grey beanie hat flattened her voluminous hair; curly strands exploded from underneath in every direction, negating the need for a scarf.
Leah’s pulse quickened. At any moment, Ariana was going to look up—
Three. Two. One.
Ariana hesitated. Her right foot kicked a raised paving slab as she looked blankly in Leah’s direction.
She stood frozen. A moment of awkward silence passed as they stared at each other.
The blank look swiftly turned to one of surprise.
Leah reached through the open car door for her backpack—the contents had fallen across the back seat, which normally would frustrate her, but now she welcomed the distraction.
The task required her to reach beneath the front seats to retrieve everything.
Get a grip of yourself, she mumbled.
She heard muffled conversation between Ariana and Grace, likely discussing Leah’s presence.
“Leah, are you okay in there?” Grace asked.
“Uh-huh,” Leah lifted her hand to flash a packet of spearmint gum. “Found my gum.”
God bless the American Indians who chewed resin made from the sap of spruce trees. Leah thought chewing gum would’ve been a fun thing to discover—way better than the light bulb, although she saw the much greater benefit of the latter.
She wanted to ask if the coast was clear. It was eerily silent outside the vehicle. Surely, Ariana wasn’t standing there waiting—
Leah slowly reversed her body from the car, trying not to bash her head on the doorframe or disturb a sleeping Ezra.
She collided suddenly—Ariana. Her hand went to Leah’s back to steady her. A nervous laugh escaped Leah’s lips. A hint of a flirtatious smile played on Ariana’s. They mirrored each other’s stance and expression. Amusement flickered in their eyes.
“Hi,” Ariana broke the silence, trying to keep her voice calm. “I didn’t mean to stand so close. I just wanted to . . .erm . . .break the ice, I guess.”
Leah chuckled softly. “You certainly did that.” She looked down at Ariana’s outstretched arm, still inadvertently touching her.
“Sorry,” Ariana said.
“I’m sorry you didn’t know I was coming.” Leah glared at Grace, who quickly looked away.
“It’s a pleasant surprise.” A faint but unmistakable smile tugged at Ariana’s lips.
“I know you’re lying,” Leah said with a nervous laugh.
“A week ago, maybe. But seeing you the other day made me realize how much I missed you—like, as a friend, y’know? I’m not trying to say I miss you, miss you . . .shit . . .I hope this isn’t coming across wrong,” Ariana said, adjusting the bottom of her beanie.
“You don’t need to worry. I’m not about to go and write in my diary that you miss me, miss me,” Leah replied.
There was a blush on Ariana’s cheeks. It could’ve passed as weather-related, but Leah knew better.
“Still keeping a diary?” Ariana asked.
Miss you, miss you.
It was a phrase they used to sign off cards, texts, the occasional phone call. Ariana had once said that one miss you wasn’t enough to express how deeply she longed for Leah. She couldn’t bring herself to write it anymore.
“Barely. Once it stopped being so depressing, I realised I didn’t have much to write about,” Leah laughed.
The diary had become an evening ritual in the months after their breakup—a cheaper form of therapy without the extortionate fees and silent judgment. Therapists said they didn’t judge, but they did. It was human nature.
“Yeah, erm,” Ariana rubbed her neck. “I’m sorry about that.”
“About breaking up with me?” Leah waved her off. “It’s water under the bridge. Almost like it never happened.”
A lie. But she was convincing in her delivery.
Who was she kidding?
She had clearly chosen the nonchalant approach to spending a week with the ex-love of her life.
Ariana eyed her, suspicious. “Okay.”
“I really should get my things inside—it’s cold out here,” Leah shivered.
“Do you need help?” Ariana asked politely.
“Nope, I’m all good.” Leah smiled, slung her backpack over one shoulder, and made a beeline for the front porch. She didn’t look back—not even to acknowledge Grace, who was busy lifting a stirring Ezra from his car seat.
“Third door down the hall on the left, kiddo,” Steven called out as Leah rushed through the door, narrowly avoiding a pile of luggage.
“Thank you,” she replied.