Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
“There are six bedrooms in this house. What the fuck do you mean, Nadine’s not here and there’s no room?” Sky shouted at his mother but she held up a martini glass, shrugging at him and Sarina. His sister had her phone out and was texting feverishly, looking and sounding equally appalled.
“Didn’t she tell you?” Adele murmured and studied her nails.
“Nadine’s taking care of her sister after her angioplasty.
It’s just me and Irene and she’s not as spry as she used to be.
And you know she doesn’t cook.” She clicked her teeth at Sky.
“We didn’t think you’d be back any time soon so we used your room to hold my things while my new closets are being installed. ”
“Mom,” Sarina said through clenched teeth. “This isn’t helping.”
Apparently, Sarina had been under the impression that Sky had been warned that she was picking him up and had agreed to a truce.
A fucking truce?
Sky blinked at Adele, trying to understand why she would insist that he come and stay for three godforsaken weeks if she didn’t want him there. “What about the other rooms?”
“Your sister’s room is Sam’s room now and the bunk bed is rather small…
” She paused to take a sip of her martini and gasped in relief.
“All this talking,” she complained wearily.
“We took out the east wall in my closet and we’re expanding into the bedroom on the other side.
The blue guest room is my yoga studio and the small room at the end of the hall is where I do my makeup now.
The lighting really is the best so I had my vanity moved there and I got rid of the bed so I could put my new massage chair in there.
I use it when I’m wearing my masks and listening to audiobooks,” she informed them.
“No.” Sky shook his head and pulled out his phone. “I’m going home. I didn’t want to be here in the first place but I don’t like whatever this is.”
“Stop being such a baby, Skylar. You’ll stay with your sister and Mason. They have a guest room.”
“What?” Sarina rasped, gulping hard. “I mean, if he wants to but Sky probably doesn’t—”
“No, I fucking don’t,” he confirmed. “What about Sutton House?”
Sarina groaned. “Nana’s sisters and their husbands are staying there, along with a few others from that side of the family. I didn’t think you’d mind or that Mom would pull this,” she said to Sky apologetically.
“Why are you two making such a big deal about it? I thought you two decided to have a truce,” Adele said.
Sky shook his head. “You decided that but it isn’t happening. I’m going home,” he turned to leave but Sarina hooked her arm around his, halting him.
“Please, don’t! For Nana,” she added with big, watery eyes. “She said some things to Mason about you—and us—and I think she was worried.”
That knocked the wind out of Sky. “Worried? Why and why would she tell Mason?”
Sarina shook her head, sighing sadly. “I don’t know. He started spending more time with her after Uncle Lance passed. Mason said he wanted to keep her spirits up. I guess they bonded?” She cringed, looking dubious. “Whatever Nana said, it left him pretty shaken.”
“What about one of the inns?” Sky attempted hopefully but his mother laughed.
“They were booked months before your Nana passed.”
Sky pinched the bridge of his nose and shifted his weight from left to right, rocking slightly to ease his panic and the tightness in his chest. “I don’t want to do this and I don’t want to be here! I don’t want to stay with my sister!”
“I’m so sorry and we’ll do whatever we can to make this as easy on you as possible.” Sarina attempted to soothe Sky and threw Adele a hostile glance. “Of all the times, Mom.”
She raised a shoulder. “Too bad Nadine’s not here. I’m sure she’d know just what to do to make this all better.”
Sky turned to Sarina, dismissing Adele. “I’m at peace with this. Nana told me not to waste time crying or mourning her. I don’t think she’d want me to put up with this shit.”
“Probably not,” Sarina agreed. “Definitely not Mom’s shit, but Nana was worried and whatever she said to Mason was pretty serious. I think it’s giving him nightmares.”
Serves him right.
But as much as Sky resented all the lies and everything that happened between them, he hated the thought of Mason grieving and possibly being traumatized and he was curious to know what Nana was so worried about.
“Fine.” Sky narrowed his eyes at his sister. “But I’m out if it gets weird or anything happens,” he said tightly.
“Really?” Sarina muffled a squeal as she squeezed Sky’s arm.
He jerked it away, shaking his head. “Weird like that. This isn’t a truce.”
“Right.” She cleared her throat and nodded seriously. “I promise we’ll give you plenty of space. Oh! Think of all the time you’ll get to spend with Sam. He has been so excited since he heard you were coming back.”
“Sam?” Sky had almost forgotten about his nephew in all of Adele’s chaos. His mood suddenly lifted and the icky tickle in his center subsided. “Maybe this won’t be totally awful. I’ll hang out with Sam as much as I can.”
“There you go!” Sarina clapped and wiped the corner of her eye. “Mind if we stop and pick up a couple of pizzas on the way? Cheese for you and Sam?” she offered with a wobbly smile.
Sky shut his eyes and took a deep breath before nodding. “As long as it’s from Gino’s.”
“Where else?”
A little over half an hour later, Sky was having second thoughts as Sarina pulled her Range Rover into the driveway of a picture-perfect farmhouse-style home.
Mason’s old pickup truck was parked in the driveway and a faded, blue high school graduation tassel hung from the rear view mirror.
A tide of memories swept Sky back to his youth.
He had practiced driving in that truck and it was always there to save him from walking to school and back in the rain and snow.
Sky smelled the interior despite the pizza boxes on his lap.
Unlike the truck, the house was newer, having been completed right before Sam was born, and Sky had only seen it from a distance. He had never planned to step foot inside Mason and Sarina’s house of marital horrors but now it looked like he was trapped there for three weeks.
Not trapped. I can call a cab whenever I want.
“Hey.” Sarina touched his arm. “I’m so glad you agreed to give this a chance. Mason’s probably in shock but he’s going to be thrilled about this too.”
“I was doing okay until you brought him up.” Sky sneered at the house.
“Sky! Just give him a second chance. Whatever you think he’s done…” She bit into her lip, a tear rolled down her cheek as she stared at the house. “He didn’t. I know and…” She rolled a hand as she waited for Sky to guess the rest but he shook his head.
“No. I told you, there’s no trust and I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business and I’m hungry,” he said, raising the stack of hot pizza boxes before pushing the door open and getting out.
“I’ll have Mason get your bags.” She came around and hurried up the front steps. Sarina got the door and waved for Sky to come in. “I’m home and look what I’ve brought with me!” she called, smiling back at Sky as she tossed her keys and purse on a table by the door, then took the pizzas from him.
“Mommy!” a little boy cheered as he came streaking down the hall but laughed and changed course. “Uncle Sky!” He picked up speed and crashed into Sky’s legs, hugging them tight.
“This can’t be my Sam!” Sky lifted Sam and held him up so he could inspect the giggling boy. “You were just a little bean the last time I saw you.”
“I’m big! I'm gonna be four!” Sam declared.
“Are you?” It took Sky a moment, he had to work the catch out of his voice. He regretted missing so much of Sam’s life and wished there was a way he could have been more present without having to see Sarina and Mason. “That means you owe me four big hugs.”
“Okay!” Sam wound his arms around Sky’s neck and laughed as he squeezed four times.
The utter joy and Sam’s excitement was quickly making up for Sky’s dread and resentment. “I love you so much, Little Sam. Do you know that?” Sky whispered as he hugged Sam tighter, avoiding Sarina’s tearful smile. He was doing his best not to acknowledge Mason, hovering a few feet away.
“Welcome back, Sky. It’s really good to see you.” Mason offered him a quick wave.
“Hey! I’m starving,” Sky said to Sam. “Want to see if we can eat a whole cheese pizza by ourselves?” he asked him as he passed Mason and headed past the stairs and down a short hallway. “There’s the kitchen!” he said when they found it, making Sam giggle again. “Let’s find some plates.”
“Over there!” Sam pointed at a row of cabinets to the left of the wide, white farmhouse sink. The kitchen was white and modern but still cozy with a large butcher block island and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that opened onto a wide deck with a beautiful view of the beach.
Sky did his best to ignore Sarina and Mason as he chatted up his nephew over slices of pizza and glasses of fruit punch.
There was also beer and wine for the adults but Sky thought it was cool that he and Sam loved the exact same brand of fruit punch and passed on the alcohol.
After dinner, Sky got a tour of Sam’s room and all of his favorite books and toys.
“Bath time, Sammy,” Mason said as he leaned into Sam’s room, looking apologetic.
Sam pushed out his lip. “Do I have to? I want to stay with Sky.” he said and looked to Sky for support.
“Buddy…” Mason planted his hands on his hips, preparing to reason with him but Sky decided to help him out.
“Is that the time?” Sky checked his watch, then yawned loudly. “I better get unpacked so I can take a bath and go to bed. I’m pretty beat!”
“Me too,” Sam decided and went to pick out his pajamas. He gave Sky another hug and a goodnight kiss before following Mason.
In the hallway, Sarina was waiting to show Sky to his room. It was just across from Sam’s and he could hear the little boy splashing in the bathroom and asking Mason questions about Sky and their plans for the next day.
“He’s so great,” Sky said, mostly to himself.
“He’s pretty awesome,” Sarina agreed as she turned on the lamp and went to the closet and flicked a switch.
She peeked inside and nodded before turning back to him.
“Need help?” She gestured at Sky’s suitcase and backpack.
They had been left at the foot of the bed and Sky noted that the white duvet had been turned down and a bag of fruit snacks was resting on the pillow.
“No thanks. I don’t need you to hold my hand and you don’t have to hover. Just go about your evening and forget I’m here. I won’t be any trouble and I’ll stay out of your hair,” Sky said but her shoulder bounced as she scanned the room.
“It’s no trouble at all and this is long overdue. Right?” She flashed him a smile but Sky winced.
“We could probably let this go for another five to ten years. I don’t mind.” He unzipped his bag and grabbed a handful of socks and underwear.
“Sky…” She sighed as she lowered onto the corner of the bed. “I’ve missed you and a day hasn’t gone by where I haven’t hated myself for the things I said and for how much this has hurt you. It’s been lonely without you here and I wish I could take it all back.”
“You aren’t alone, you have Mason and Sam. Remember?”
“What about you?” Sarina countered, making Sky laugh.
“Neither of you know a thing about my life, but it sounds like you’ve decided I’m lonely.”
“Do you have someone?” Her voice rose hopefully. She wanted to reconnect so badly and Sky suspected she had been curious as well. “What’s your life been like in the big city?”
“I don’t know… Busy.” He went to the tall dresser and pulled open the small top drawer on the left and frowned.
It was already full of socks and boxers.
He opened the drawer under it and found neatly folded pajama pants and joggers.
“Um…” Sky turned, raising a brow at Sarina. “Is someone already staying in here?”
“What? No!” She laughed as she popped to her feet, her face red as she hurried to the dresser. “These are just…extras,” she finally said weakly. “In case you didn’t pack enough stuff.”
“In case?” Sky turned back to the dresser. “Nobody knew I was staying here until Mom told us.”
“Mason must have taken care of it. You know how thoughtful he is and how he likes to surprise people,” she added with an odd laugh.
Sky’s face pinched and he shook his head and went to check the other dresser. “I haven’t forgotten about Mason and his special surprises,” he said under his breath but Sarina sucked in a gasp.
“Please, Sky… Couldn’t we just…let it all go and move forward? We could be a family again and not just for Nana.”
“Hmmm…” That seemed like enough of a response without committing to anything or opening the door for another more awkward conversation. He would just ignore her and unpack faster.
“I meant what I said, Sky. I’ve missed you and I want us to be a family again.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” he said, still uninterested in investing or involving himself in her weird sham of a marriage. “I’m tired. I’m gonna take a shower and turn in.”
“Okay!” Sarina held up her hands and backed towards the door. “Today has been pretty wild and you need to decompress. There are fresh towels in the bathroom but let us know if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She smiled warmly, nodding. “I know. I love you and I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for giving this a chance.”
“Stop making it weird, Sarina.” Sky followed and ushered her out faster. “Goodnight.” He closed the door and fell back against it, rubbing his face. “This might be my worst nightmare.”