1. Hadley #2
“I’m safe and sound,” I say, stepping in and giving her a quick hug. “How can I help?” The kitchen smells heavenly, and my stomach growls, reminding me I forgot to eat lunch again today.
“Here,” my sister Evy says, passing me a bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Take these to the table.” She follows me with a dish of roasted asparagus and a tray of rolls.
Once we’re in the dining room and set the dishes onto the trivets on the table, she moves to the hallway and yells for the girls to wash up for dinner.
Coming home is like stepping back in time.
Most people get new furniture every few years, but my parents have had the same dining set since they got married.
The hutch in the corner overflows with china we only use for special occasions.
The solid wood table has been sanded and stained many times over the years, and still shines like it’s brand new.
Mom claims it’s the Old English polish she uses.
Who knows? My IKEA table is some laminate-type material.
I wipe it down with a cloth and some disinfectant and call it a day.
Arthur steps in from the back porch, sliding his phone into his back pocket. “Hey, you made it.” He pulls his chair out from the table and sits down, crossing his arms in front of him on the table. “I was just about to go look for you.”
Evy comes back into the dining room just as Mom puts the dish of roast onto the table. “Come on, dear,” she calls to my dad. “The food’s getting cold.”
Eloise and Clara rush into the dining room, rubbing wet hands on their dresses. “Grandpa is washing his hands,” Eloise says before sliding into her chair and snagging a roll and bringing it to her mouth.
“Eloise Sinclair,” Evy says, taking the roll and setting it on the plate. “You know not to eat before everyone’s at the table and we say grace.”
Eloise sighs. “It’s just a roll,” she mumbles.
“Mommy! She just back-talked,” Clara says, her little mouth hanging open.
“Did not!” Eloise yells before bursting into tears.
“Don’t yell at your sister, Eloise,” Arthur says. “Clara, it’s not nice to tattle.”
“But she did,” Clara says, sticking her bottom lip out.
What. Is. Happening?
“I’m sure she didn’t mean to,” I say to Clara as Evy tries to comfort Eloise. “She’s hangry.”
“What’s hangry mean, Aunt Hadley?” Clara’s eyebrows are drawn together so tight I wonder how she doesn’t give herself a headache.
“It’s when someone is so hungry in their tummy, they get cranky,” Dad says, taking his spot at the head of the table. “Are we ready to say grace now?”
Once everyone is seated, and Eloise is no longer crying, Dad bows his head and gives the blessing. Finally, the food is being passed around, and my stomach nearly weeps in relief when I take the first bite of pot roast.
“Did you hear Eli is moving back to Silver Creek?” Mom asks Dad as she spoons potatoes onto his plate.
“Is he now?” Dad asks, loading his fork with meat and potatoes. “I’m sure his parents are happy about that.”
Mom frowns and puts the bowl of potatoes back on the table. “They are. It must be nice to have your children all so close to home,” she says. “I always thought you’d come back after you finished your degree, Hadley.”
I swallow the food that suddenly feels like paste in my mouth. “Mom, we’ve been over this.”
Mom sighs. “I know. I just don’t understand why you want to live so far away.”
Dad chuckles. “Leave her alone, Martha. She only lives an hour away. It’s not like she’s halfway across the country.” He points to Eloise and grins. “How are the potatoes?”
And with that, the conversation moves on to Eloise and Clara, allowing me to finish my meal in peace.
It’s not that I don’t love being with my family.
When I first left for DC, I figured I’d come home and live close to my parents, just like Evy did when she finished college.
Except I fell in love with the city and didn’t want to leave.
When a job opened up at the Capitol City Public Library, I had to take it.
After dinner, Evy and I shoo Mom out of the kitchen and tackle the cleanup together, just like when we were teenagers. We pack the leftovers into random butter tubs and plastic containers Mom has saved to use as Tupperware. Then, Evy loads the dishwasher while I handwash the pots and pans.
“So,” Evy says, wiping down the counters, “will you be at the recital this weekend?”
I nod, reaching down to pull the plug out of the sink drain.
“Yep. I even ordered them both the little stuffed bears the studio was offering with ticket purchases. I hope they like them.” I chose one for each girl and even splurged for the little tutus for the bears in each girl’s favorite color—pink for Clara and purple for Eloise.
“That’s sweet. I’m sure they’ll love them. They’ve been very excited to be able to perform. Especially Clara.” She laughs. “Do you remember last summer when Eloise forgot the routine and just stood still on stage?”
“I do,” I say, chuckling at the memory. “I didn’t think she would want to sign up for dance again after that, to be honest. Especially when the little girl beside her accidentally knocked her down doing her wild pirouette.”
Evy shakes her head. “She didn’t. Until Clara asked to take dance classes. Then, she didn’t want to be left out.”
“That makes sense,” I say. Eloise is not one to let her little sister out-do her. “They are good girls, Evy. You’re doing an excellent job with them.”
Evy smiles. “Thank you. Being a mom… it’s everything.”
I don’t know what to say to that. Of course, I would love to get married and have a family one day.
Dream of it even, but I won’t settle for anything less than the heart-swooping, all-in love.
The kind you read about in romance novels.
The kind I secretly write about in my spare time.
If I can’t have the forever love that makes you want to expand your life to let someone else in, I don’t want it at all.
I’d rather stay single than rearrange my life for a ‘meh’ kind of love.
“Do you ever get out, Hadley? Besides work, I mean.” She leans against the counter and picks at her fingers, a sign she’s clearly not comfortable having this conversation. “Like to meet a nice man?”
I scoff. “I get out.” When Paige drags me out, but I’ll keep that part to myself. “I just don’t often meet anyone who catches my eye. You know I don’t want to date an up-and-coming politician.” I cringe. “After my internship, I’ll be happy to never have to talk about politics again.”
That draws a laugh from my sister. “I get it. I just worry that you’re going to look up from your books one day and realize life has passed you by.”
The truth is, in DC, it’s hard to find someone to connect with. Someone who values family and wants to put effort into building a relationship with more than just their possible constituents. Yes, I’m jaded. So what?
“Did Mom put you up to this?” I ask. “Seriously, I’m twenty-nine. Not eighty. I have plenty of time to meet someone and settle down. And, if I don’t, I’m okay with my books. I like my life, Evy. I promise. I’m okay.”
Evy shakes her head but smiles at me. “If you say so.”
“I do,” I say. “Now, let’s go play some Uno.
” I link my arm through hers and pull her into the living room.
“Someone go find the Uno cards. We have a game to play.” Everyone moves to the floor to sit around the giant solid oak coffee table that’s been in my parents' living room since before I was born.
“Can I be on your team, Aunt Hadley?” Clara asks, handing me the box of cards.
“Of course,” I say, making room for her to sit by me. I take the deck out of the box and shuffle them carefully before passing out the cards. Eloise has snuggled up with Mom, claiming her partner.
“I hope you’re ready to lose,” Dad says, pushing his glasses up on his nose. “I’ve been practicing.”
Eloise giggles. “Grandpa, you can’t practice at Uno. That’s not how it works. Daddy says it’s all the luck of the drawing.”
“The luck of the draw, sweetie,” Evy says, reorganizing her cards in her hand. “And he’s right, but it’s also a game of strategy.” She grins and lays the first card. “Green.”
Three rounds of Uno later, Clara is falling asleep and Eloise is yawning. “Well, I think I better head back,” I say, pushing up off the floor.
I kiss each girl on her head, give hugs to my family, and head out to the car. At this rate, it’ll be after ten o’clock when I get home. I grab my phone to set an extra alarm for the morning and see a missed text from Paige. After setting the alarm, I open the message.
Paige: Your life is about to be a whole lot more fun!
Hadley: What?
Paige: I’ll tell you Saturday. *winking emoji*
I groan and start the car. Knowing Paige, she’s probably signed us up for some half marathon for charity.
Hadley: I do not run. Remember that, Paige.
Paige: *laughing emoji’s* No running necessary. I promise.
With that, I put the car in reverse, pull out of the driveway, and head towards home. I can’t do anything about whatever Paige has planned tonight, and my bed is calling my name.