Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Eva
My parents live in a town called Auburn, forty minutes south of Nevada City.
Auburn and Nevada City are very similar to one another; both have a small old-fashioned Main Street, surrounded by rolling hills and houses.
Although Auburn definitely comes with more amenities.
Most of the drive to and from takes place along a two-lane highway through tall trees and endless countryside.
Once I arrive in Auburn, a short drive through some of the old Main Street and up a few more rolling hills brings me to the home I grew up in.
My parents live in a suburban community called Ridge Crest. Huge houses sit side by side, perched up on hilltops, looking down on the people and cars passing through.
Beautiful gardens and winding driveways bring you to the most breathtaking custom-made homes you’ve ever seen.
Each home is charmingly perfect in its own way and makes a statement of money, power, and prestige.
As I turn into my parents’ driveway, I start to feel smaller and more insignificant the further I drive up it. Glancing at the clock, I see it is 5:08.
“Damn it,” I curse under my breath. “I’m late.”
The house looms over me as I pull up to the front porch. It’s almost as if it is watching and judging my every move. Standing on the massive front porch, judging me right along with the house, is my mother with a glass of wine in her hand. She harshly glares at me as I pull to a stop.
My mother doesn’t waste time, and is already descending the steps to meet me as I climb out of my car.
I take a deep breath, readying myself for a battle that’s obviously been brewing long before I even pulled up the driveway.
Although I love my mother, I don’t feel like having it out with her tonight.
“What are you wearing?” my mother demands. She reaches out and grabs a hold of my dress as I walk past, almost as if touching it will make her realize that I obviously didn’t follow her strict instructions.
“Oh my God!” She gasps. “Those shoes. Eva!” she shouts as I walk up to the front door.
“I brought you more wine, Mother,” I respond, waving the bottle in the air.
I continue walking, attempting to ignore the lecture that I know will pursue me if I dare pay her any attention.
A smile spreads across my face as I quickly walk up each step.
I know my mother is irate, but there is nothing she can do about my choices, either.
“We always have enough wine, Eva,” my mother snaps. “Is that why you’re late? Did you take time for an unnecessary stop? Seriously, Eva Anne, you can be so inconsiderate!”
Ignoring the harassing comment, I push open the front door and am immediately greeted by wagging tails and slobbery kisses.
A black Pit Bull-Lab mix and Golden Retriever run towards me.
The pair is very oddly matched but very much a part of the family.
I bend down and give each dog loving hugs and kisses.
Reaching into my purse, I pull out treats I always keep on hand when I know I am coming to my parents.
The dogs accept the treats enthusiastically and run off.
Frank Sinatra’s “Luck be a Lady” fills the background on the whole house speakers. It smells of Thanksgiving dinner and expensive scented candles. My dad comes out of the family room situated straight off the foyer. Scotch in hand, he grins from ear to ear.
“There she is,” he says, almost singing.
“Hey, Daddy!” I smile, hurrying towards him for the bear hug I know always awaits me. He smells like tobacco and Double mint gum. Like his hugs, the smell always offers a sense of comfort. He gives me a kiss on my forehead, and hugs me tight like he did when I was a little girl.
“She’s late, David,” my mother hisses, closing the front door.
She proceeds to stand there, tapping her foot on the tile, obviously waiting for my father to agree that being late is the most absurdly vile thing one could be. I roll my eyes and look at my father. He smiles with understanding.
“She didn’t miss anything, Cynthia,” he says without taking his eyes off mine. “Come on, now, let’s get you a drink, sweetheart.” He winks at me reassuringly and drapes his arm across my shoulders as he leads the way to the bar.
When we enter the family room, I notice most of the guests are spread out, and deep in conversation. Setting my purse down on the couch, I follow my dad to the bar in the back of the room. I sit down and roll my shoulders, trying to relax into the evening the best I can.
My brother, Michael, has brought a date, and is busy talking between her and his best friend, Rex Roberts.
Gloria and Don Roberts are in the corner talking to Trevor, and raise their glasses to me in a hello gesture.
Gwen’s parents stand alongside them, and wave to me as well.
Trevor looks over. The intense longing in his eyes makes me uneasy.
“Pick your poison, baby girl,” my father says, picking up a bottle of Johnny Walker and filling his glass to the brim.
“Red wine, Daddy, and keep them coming.”
He nods, setting my glass down and filling it almost to the very top. Winking, he leans in close. “A little liquid courage to deal with that hotheaded mother of yours.”
I laugh as I catch my mother’s very disapproving glance from across the room. My dad wanders off in my mother’s direction just as I’m joined by my brother, his date, and Rex. Rex comes up behind me, grabs me tightly around my waist, and kisses me on the cheek.
“Wow-wee, you get better looking every time I see you!” he hollers loud and obnoxiously.
“Really, Rex, that’s so gross. I don’t know where your lips have been,” I say, wiping his kiss away. “Besides, I’m like the little sister you never had.”
I roll my eyes and smack him on the arm.
“I just like to watch that one squirm.” Rex laughs, jabbing his thumb in the direction of Trevor, who is now hatefully staring back at his older brother. He kisses the top of my head in the most brotherly of ways and takes a seat next to me at the bar.
“You’re a twisted man, Rex Roberts,” I giggle.
He winks knowingly and continues taking very long sips off his beer while his gaze surveys the room.
He appears to be looking for something, or someone, which catches me as odd, and I wonder if he, too, might have brought a date.
Which would be completely out of character, seeing as I have only ever met one girl he’s ever brought home.
To say that they were actually dating is a long shot.
Rex and I have more of a brother-sister relationship than the one I have with my own brother.
We laugh and joke in ways Michael and I never do.
When my brother disapproves of my poor life choices, Rex is there for me as a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen to, and a best friend to kick anyone’s ass that ever dared to mess with me or my heart.
I have always thought our camaraderie was due to the fact that I am more like my father, and Michael is more like my condescending mother, always ready to look down on someone that wasn’t exactly up to their standards.
I never could understand why, being so different, the two boys got along so well.
I cherish the brotherly love Rex gives me. Rex is one of my most favorite people in the world. Nothing anywhere close to romance has ever happened between us, just pure love for each other in a best-friendship kind of way.
“So, little sister,” my brother Michael says, putting his arm around his date, “when did you get home?”
“About an hour and a half ago,” I say, taking a sip of my wine. “Who’s the girl?” I ask, staring straight at my brother and not his date.
I’m fully aware that the girl is, in fact, standing right in front of me and can hear me and answer for herself if she wanted to, but girls like her never do. They typically just stare off into space, dumbfounded.
“This is Amber,” he replies, staring straight down into Amber’s massive cleavage. Her tits are displayed so boldly I’m sure the neighbors can see them clearly if they really wanted to.
Amber just smiles, almost as oblivious to his staring at her fake boobs as she is to my rude question. Michael has a similar taste in women as Rex. Their motto is the stupider, the easier, the more fake and plastic, the better.
My theory is this is their protection against long-term commitment.
The girls Michael and Rex date are momentary pit stops on their life’s journey.
Neither one of them has any intention of making them last longer than a few weeks tops.
This apparent camaraderie, I’ve decided after all these years, is perhaps exactly what makes their life-long friendship last.
“So,” Michael continues. His focus now back on me. “How was the OC?”
“You were down south?” Rex butts in. “No way. I was there too, just got back last night.”
“I just went down to see Gwen,” I tell my brother. “Nothing big …”
Rex cuts me off as he rounds the bar. “Gwen. Really? How’s she doing?
Is she still dating that douchebag from a few years back?
” He pops open another beer and then goes through the motions of pouring me water.
He knows me too well; I pretend I can handle my liquor, but he’s taken care of me on one too many nights when I ended up more talk than show.
“Since when do you care?” I ask, then notice a hurt expression cross his face. “We spent last night at Longboards …”
“What the hell. We were there last night too,” Rex exclaims, cutting me off again. The mention of the “we” that escapes his lips doesn’t slip past me. “I didn’t see you guys, though.”
“Strange,” I question, wondering who he was with last night. “The place isn’t that big.”
“Well, I was kind of wasted,” Rex confesses. “I spent most of the night shackled up with some girl in a back booth, and now she won’t stop calling my phone…” he shudders, closing his eyes, obviously scarred from the experience “…but still, what the hell.”
“You already said what the hell,” I laugh as Rex rounds the bar and takes his seat next to me. He leans back against the counter as he surveys the room. Glancing back at me over his shoulder, he smiles a mischievous kind of smile that I have seen a few times before. One that always means trouble.
“We could’ve all hung out,” he persists. “Three’s a crowd, but four’s a party.”
He nudges me, trying to make a point, but I’m utterly and completely lost. I have absolutely no clue what he is talking about..
“You, me, and Gwen would still only make three, Rex,” I assert, annoyed. “Who, do you presume, would be the fourth?”
Turning around, I face the direction Rex is, just in time to see the one person I never thought I would ever see again. My cheeks flush. My hands spontaneously start to tremble.
I whip back around fast and sit down my glass. With wide eyes, I stare down at the bar top and wonder what’s the best next move to make. My heart thuds wildly against my chest and my palms sweat. Rex catches on to the sudden shift in my mood.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Rex asks. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Noah?” I whisper.