Chapter 3 #2
She was the one who had left. Yes, because her trip had been over, but she hadn’t shown up when we planned to meet.
She had decided no.
So it wasn’t my fault.
But laying blame wasn’t going to help this current predicament.
My cousin smiled. “Oh, you’re not going to cook for us.
That casserole that I brought over is for you tomorrow.
That way, you don’t have to cook tomorrow, either.
However, I have something in the crockpot over at my house that I have been watching with the camera I have on in my kitchen, so you guys will come over and eat.
” Lake nodded quickly as if she were ordering soldiers and she was the general.
Brooke blinked as she stared at Lake. “You seriously don’t need to do that. I just met you. You’re kind, I swear. But we can order in, or indeed have that casserole.”
“Think nothing of it. Let me make you a home-cooked meal and thank you for letting me help organize. You have no idea how much that helps me.” My cousin winked, then stared at me as if willing me to say something.
I shrugged. “She’s not lying. If she could organize the world, she would. I think she gets it from my aunt.”
“Your aunt, as in her mom?” Brooke asked, looking between the two of us.
Lake and I looked at each other and laughed. “No, technically, Lake is the daughter of my father’s cousin.”
“I have no idea what that means,” Brooke said, her voice dry. “So, you guys are like, second cousins, or first cousins once removed?”
“These are questions we do not ask,” Lake said solemnly, though her eyes danced.
“Exactly. All of us in this generation are just cousins. Getting too technical hurts our heads, and we were raised practically as siblings, so it doesn’t matter.
But my aunt, and hers, since that’s what we call her, is into planners and organizing.
Lake is just like her. And is, indeed, taking over the world with her business. ”
“What do you do?” Luke asked, dancing on his toes.
“You see? These are things we should discuss over dinner. You can relax. And then you can sleep in your own home and get on with the rest of your lives, knowing that you have a busybody neighbor next door who is always willing to help.” Lake beamed, and I just laughed, knowing that there was no way that Brooke and Luke were getting out of this.
Lake wanted to help, and frankly, I figured she wanted a friend. And I wanted answers.
“Plus, you know, we’re not technically strangers. And I’m not just talking about all of the sweat and tears thrown out today. It seems you know my cousin.” Lake winked at Brooke, and I cursed under my breath, trying not to be too loud since Luke was standing right next to me.
Brooke pressed her lips together while pointedly not looking at me. “Oh. Well, that was a long time ago.”
“What was a long time ago, Mommy?” Luke asked, his voice curious.
There was nothing but curiosity in how Lake was looking at me as if she needed answers, and Brooke was glaring daggers at the both of us.
“Dinner sounds lovely. I guess it would be nice to catch up,” Brooke said, her voice clipped.
What had I done all those years ago? Did she hate me? I sure as hell hoped not. I wasn’t sure what else I was supposed to do. And fuck yes, I was going to catch up on something we should’ve done nearly ten years ago.
We left Brooke and Luke to make up their sleeping bags and have some alone time as I followed Lake over to her house.
Her place smelled like pulled pork and I groaned.
“Did you make the brioche rolls?” I asked, my mouth watering.
“Of course, I did. And coleslaw and baked beans. I should make a salad or something. Don’t kids need vegetables?”
I just shook my head. “I think coleslaw is a vegetable.”
“It’s covered in sauce. I don’t think that counts. You would think I would know that since we have so many kids in the family.”
“This feels new, doesn’t it?” I asked, feeling odd.
I leaned against the counter, wondering if I should have a beer.
Should I drink in front of the kid? It just reminded me that I didn’t know this Brooke.
I knew the eighteen-year-old Brooke, back in the day when we had been kids.
Both of us had learned that wine was delicious and available in Paris.
We weren’t those kids anymore, and now she was a mom, seemingly living out here on her own, and I felt like I was running in place.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
I shook my head. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean, Leif. You guys knew each other. From when?”
“From a long time ago, Lake.”
She cleared her throat and bit her lip. “Luke isn’t yours, is he?”
I blinked at her before I scoffed. “You know exactly how I came into this family, Lake. How my birth mom hid me from my dad, and I showed up when Mom was gone, and I had no one else. Dad didn’t even know I existed.
He didn’t ignore me, didn’t push me away, didn’t abandon me.
I lost time with him because I didn’t know who he was.
Do you think I would do that to another kid?
Do you think I would act the way that I did just then, trying to be as casual as fuck when it comes to her, if I thought for a second that was my kid?
Jesus Christ, Lake. You know me better than that. ”
Lake blushed. “I’m sorry. It was just the first thing that popped into my mind when a single mom shows up at the house, and you guys look like you know each other. That was wrong of me. I didn’t think that all the way through.” Lake moved forward, hugged me tight. “I’m sorry.”
She stepped away and went to get a bottle of wine out of the fridge, as well as the sparkling juice.
“It’s okay. I did the math myself. It’s been over ten years, though. Luke isn’t mine.”
“Wait, that means you knew her in what, Paris? Oh my God. The Paris girl?” Her voice got high-pitched and I saw hope in her eyes.
“Yes, it’s the Paris girl. That also means she’s the girl who never showed up when she was supposed to. The girl that chose another life over wanting anything more with me. That’s that Brooke. But don’t worry, things won’t be weird.”
“Well, that’s a lie.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, even though I knew what she meant.
“Because things are already weird. You should talk to her.”
I took the glass of wine she handed me and shook my head.
“Yes, I’m totally going to ask her why she didn’t show up when she was supposed to.
Why we never made a go of things, especially when she’s exhausted after moving and possibly driving for who knows how many days to get here?
I don’t even know the whole story because I don’t know her.
But yes, I should totally ask these questions when she’s in front of her kid and my cousin. Makes total sense.”
Lake blinked slowly. “You know, I feel like you’re getting more sarcastic in your old age.”
“I’m not old. Watch your tone,” I teased.
“Is that a gray hair in your beard? I bet you that’s why the kid was so in awe of it. Because it’s gray.”
I scowled then froze as the doorbell rang.
“There they are. Are you ready for this?” she asked.
“I’m going to go with no. Let’s do it.”
Lake gave me a weird look and set her glass down. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Leif. You’re my best friend.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. “It’s just a girl from the past. A girl, from the looks of it, who needs help.
She said she was a single mom? Maybe she doesn’t have a support system.
Especially if we are the only ones that showed up to help her today, we can be her friends.
I’ll get over whatever the hell’s going on in my mind. I promise. I always do.”
“Maybe that’s the problem, Leif. You’re good at getting over it. I’m quite sure you know what that means.”
My cousin kissed me on the cheek and then went to answer the door, Luke’s laughter filling the house faster than anything I thought possible.
And I stood there, wondering if I was making a mistake. If I should just go.
But as I looked at Brooke and her wide eyes, I knew I couldn’t go.
I couldn’t before. I wasn’t going to do it now.