30. Charlie
Ana’s standing at the top of the McCallums’ staircase, arms crossed over her chest and hip leaning against the banister. Gray’s right behind her, his face equally annoyed. I’m pretending I’m not hiding in the kitchen with Linda and Paul, Maddie sitting on the edge of the island clinging to her dad’s arm.
“I’m still pissed,” Ana calls down to her sister, who’s standing at the bottom of the stairs.
We let her cool off over the weekend, take some needed space, but she can’t live at the McCallum’s forever, however much she might want to right now.
“Swear jar!” Maddie yells, kicking her feet happily.
Paul shushes her, trying to avoid pulling Ana’s attention to us. Or really, to me. Gray’s parents are still in Ana’s good graces.
“You’re allowed to be pissed,” Gwen sighs. “Just be pissed off at home.”
Gray wraps his arm around Ana’s shoulder, protective like a brother.
“Ana’s welcome to stay here as long as she wants, right mom?” he declares.
Linda cringes.
“I’m not getting involved,” she calls, and Gray scoffs, whispering in Ana’s ear.
“Look, absolutely nothing is changing. Charlie and I are still married; we’re staying in the same home. You deserve an explanation, but you have to trust us that nothing has changed.”
Ana glares at Gwen for a few moments before turning on her heel and marching into Gray’s room, the sound of packing echoing down the hall. Linda and Paul both breathe out a sigh of relief.
“Sorry about this,” Gwen mutters, joining us in the kitchen and moving directly in front of Maddie.
The present is messy enough that I shouldn’t think of the future. But watching her pick up the toddler and balance her on her hip, making faces that cause Maddie to erupt in giggles, I can’t help it.
“Don’t worry, you handled the black hair dye incident of freshman year. We owed you one.” Linda and Gwen share a look before Ana comes stomping down the stairs, her bag under her arm.
“This does not mean I forgive you.”
Gwen and Ana are in the back seat together, as usual, but Ana will barely look at her sister.
“I promise, we’ll give you as much of an explanation as we can,” I say, watching her in the rearview mirror.
She huffs and rolls her eyes.
“Oh yeah, I’m totally looking forward to the story of how you blackmailed my sister into marrying you.”
I think about that first night at Catalina’s, when Gwen thought I was doing just that. Her grandmother’s watch still sits on her shelf in our office, surrounded by new books and old photos, all our memories.
“We already addressed that,” Gwen argues, her mom-voice in full force. “There was no blackmail involved.”
“Oh, and I’m just supposed to believe that? What if you have Stockholm Syndrome? What if he’s still threatening you?” Her voice climbs higher and higher, and I can’t tell if she’s actually afraid Gwen’s in trouble, or she’s just validating her own anger.
“Zane, pull over,” I order. Ana’s eyes catch mine in the rearview as Zane smoothly glides against the curb and puts the car in park. “Get out of the car.”
He and I both do, stepping out onto the suburban street. Both Gwen and Ana roll down their windows.
“What’s this?” I hear Ana ask, but she’s on the driver’s side of the car. Gwen’s suppressing a laugh while she stares at me.
“Gwen, you are free to go. The keys are in the ignition. If you are afraid, or I’ve blackmailed you, or whatever, please feel free to take the car and make your getaway.” I try to keep my tone serious, but the look on Gwen’s face is making it difficult. I glance over the roof of the car to see Zane with his arms crossed, staring at Ana like she’s being ridiculous.
“Fine! Gwen’s not a victim of extortion, I understand. Please get back in the car and turn on the AC,” she whines, and I lean through the window to kiss Gwen before getting back in the car.
As Zane starts back down the road toward the highway, I continue.“ As we said at the hospital, your sister and I had a mutual understanding.”
Gwen’s staring at Ana, who refuses to look at her.
“And this understanding included paying for my treatment?”
“Yes,” Gwen says, all the humor gone from her eyes. “I’m sorry, Ana, but our insurance didn’t cover the cost, and I didn’t know what else to do. Charlie’s offer was a miracle.”
Ana’s biting the inside of her cheek, staring at her feet. She looks so young. Too young to think about medical bills.
“I know you didn’t want Gwen to change her life for you, but that comes with the territory of being a parent,” I say, which has her head snapping up to meet my gaze.
“She’s not my mom,” Ana barks. Gwen’s face blanches, and for the first time, Ana looks guilty. She turns to her sister, tucking her bare feet under herself. “It’s not fair to you, having to do all this for me when I’m not even your kid.”
“You think I care?” Gwen replies, her voice on the edge of cracking. “You’re the most important person in the world to me. I’d do anything, and I mean anything, for you. I wouldn’t trade our relationship for anything.”
Ana purses her lips, taking deep breaths through her nose like she’s fighting tears.
“So he gave you the money, and you agreed to marry him?”
“Yes,” she replies simply, and I fear what question is coming next.
“Why?”
“We can’t tell you,” I say, watching the small amount of trust we just built with her leave her eyes. “I’m sorry, but there really are some things I can’t tell you until you’re an adult. But I swear that once you’re eighteen, if you want to know, Gwen and I will tell you.”
Ana looks down at her hands again. I know this is going to be hard for her. I wish I could make this easier. Life’s given her enough difficulty on its own. She shouldn’t have to be so strong.
“I’m assuming that’s also going to be the answer to why do I have a bodyguard?” she mumbles.
“Unfortunately, yes,” I admit, grimacing.
I know this is necessary, that she’s too young right now to fully understand the scope of the secrets she’ll have to keep if she knows. But I also know it hurts Gwen to keep these things from her.
“This is all my fault,” she mutters, tears dropping onto her lap.
“It’s not,” Gwen says, and I nod along with her. So does Zane. “It’s not your fault that you got cancer, and it’s not your fault that it costs money to treat it, and it’s not your fault I needed help to pay for it. The world isn’t always fair, but that doesn’t mean it’s your fault.”
“You already do so much for me,” Ana whispers, wiping the tears from her eyes with her sleeve. “And I thought this was finally for you, you know? I hate it was for me.”
They’re so alike, Gwen and Ana. So desperate to prove that they can do everything on their own, that no one needs to inconvenience themselves to support them. Gwen reaches out for her sister’s hand, and Ana lets her take it.
“I’m sorry we lied to you,” I say, and I mean it. Even though there was no logical way for us to tell Ana from the start, I’m still sorry. “And I’m sorry we can’t tell you everything now. But I promise moving forward, we’ll be as honest with you as we can.”
She collects herself for a minute, her eyes red-lined but dry as they meet mine.
“You really love her?” she demands, her voice wobbling a little. “You swear that you guys aren’t lying about that?”
“I’ve never lied to you about that,” I promise. “I loved your sister from the moment I saw her. I swear, Ana.”
Months ago, as we sat in a cafe, Ana gave me one of these looks. Like she was trying to find the lie she knew was there in my eyes. It had been easy to put on a facade, knowing it was necessary to make Gwen and I work.
But now, I give her the same grace I do Gwen. I don’t put up any walls or shows, I just let her see that I’m being honest. That I love Gwen, and I love Ana because Gwen loves her.
“Okay,” she whispers. And we drive home.