24. Winona
Winona
A dream is a wish your heart makes.
~ Walt Disney
“So, how was the birthday party?” Cass asks.
She had a work function last night, and I had Winona for Hire things this morning, so we haven’t talked since yesterday.
We’re driving to Declan’s for a football watch party. At least that’s what I’m calling it. He said it’s just people coming over to watch the game. But he included my sister and his brother and Daisy. Maeve, Walker and the girls might come by at halftime. I say that’s a party.
“It was fine,” I say.
“Fine?” She raises her brows. “Nothing is ever fine with you, Winona. It’s either great or amazing or wonderful … some superlative.”
She’s not wrong.
“What happened?”
“His parents aren’t fans.”
“Of yours?”
“Yep.”
“So they don’t love the idea of you and Declan.”
“That would be still up for grabs.”
“What did they say?”
“They didn’t say anything. We’re not telling them we’re dating yet.”
I proceed to tell Cass how Declan thinks it’s best to keep the news of our relationship hidden from his parents until a more optimal time.
“He’s not ashamed of me,” I assure her. “He’s just strategizing. His parents are pretty invested in his image.”
“That’s …” She pauses and I can tell she’s trying to choose her words in a way that doesn’t upset me. “Not great.”
“It’s fine.”
“Double fine. This is bad.”
“You know what?” I tell her. “If I were Declan’s parents and he had gone through a smear campaign? I would probably be a little protective too.”
“You’re way too forgiving.”
“What’s the alternative? Being skeptical? Resentful? Closed off to people? Most people are just doing their best.”
“I wish I had your magnanimous view of humanity.”
“It’s true. And Declan’s parents don’t dislike me.
They don’t even know me. I just wish they were more like Mom and Dad—for Declan’s sake too.
His dad is impressive. So focused and driven.
But it feels like he puts a lot of pressure on Declan to practically be perfect.
He means well. I just can’t imagine if our parents were like that. ”
“Mom and Dad are national treasures.”
“They are.”
We pull into Declan’s driveway.
Cass’s eyes go wide. “Wow. This is more than I pictured. Even after your description.”
I shrug. Is it weird that I’ve gotten used to the opulence of Declan’s home?
Cass grabs the seven-layer dip we brought, balancing the bag of tortilla chips on top. We approach the door and she busts out laughing.
“The goose!”
“Geese Witherspoon?” I ask, looking at Geese. She’s wearing a blue football jersey with orange trim and a little silver helmet. “Oh my gosh! Where did he get that?”
“He dresses the goose?” Cass asks.
I just smile. He does. And Darlene does, but I don’t bring Darlene into the mix. Cass would just go on about how nice it must be to have hired help.
I am hired help. Literally.
I laugh softly to myself over the irony.
I push in the code and open the door.
Cass just stares at me. “You just walk right in?”
“Yeah. I got used to it when I was caring for him and he couldn’t get to the door. I just never stopped.”
“Okay, girlfriend,” she teases.
“Try not to drool on the marble floors, okay?” I whisper, nudging her hip with mine.
“I’m cool,” she whispers back. “No drooling. I promise.”
She says that, but her eyes are literally bugging as she looks around the expansive entryway, up the grand staircase and along the coffered ceilings.
Declan swings out through the doorway of the front room with a broad smile on his face. He aims right for me and places a kiss on my cheek.
His eyes fix on mine and he says, “Good to see you.”
The way he says it always sends a little rush through me, as if he was holding his breath and now he can breathe.
I haven’t known what to make of his blatant shows of affection, but I’m getting used to them over time.
I’m even starting to look forward to his compliments, the constant touches, and the way he acts like he can’t live without seeing me.
“Hey, Cass,” Declan says, backing away from me and giving my sister one of his killer smiles. “Sorry. I just left you standing there holding a casserole. Kitchen is this way.”
He pivots and propels toward the kitchen.
Cass’s eyes go wide and she silently mouths, “Oh my gosh! He’s so into you!”
I just shake my head softly. Truth is, I’m so into him too.
Cass sets the dip on the island among a bunch of other food: mini tacos, hot pretzels, cheese dip, wings, pizza bites.
“This is so not a party,” I tease Declan.
“Claudette insisted on fixing some snacks.”
“Claudette?” Cass asks, her brow drawing in. She glances at me, preemptively jealous on my behalf.
“My chef,” Declan says, as if everyone has a chef.
“Your …”
“Let’s get this over with,” I say. “Declan has a housekeeper and a chef … gardeners …” I look at Declan. “Anything else?”
“No one I want to mention right now,” he says with a smile. “I have too much time on my hands right now, but during the season, it’s just easier if someone cleans and cooks for me.”
“Yeah. It’s never easier for me if someone does those things,” Cass jokes. “I was saying to Winona just the other day, ‘Winona, I never want a chef. Or a housekeeper. I love doing my own chores.’”
Declan cracks up. “It’s not normal. I know.” He looks at me. “Also, Pierce is here. He’s in the front room. He pulled his hamstring, so he’s out for a game, maybe two. He’s got to ice and elevate, so I told him, join the club. We can elevate together while we watch the game.”
Cass might have stopped breathing. She finally eeks out, “Jaxon Pierce? The safety? He’s in this house?”
Declan nods, sizing up my sister’s reaction for exactly what it is: nuclear-level fangirling with no attempt to tone it down in the least.
“Is that going to be a problem?” Declan asks, his brows raising slightly.
“No problem. Not a one,” Cass answers. She turns to me, shaking her hands out. “Jaxon freaking Pierce is in the house.”
“We established that,” I say. “We also established that this won’t be a problem.”
She’s flushed. I laugh softly and look at Declan. “Give her a minute. She’ll be fine.”
“I’m fine. So fine. Jaxon Pierce. O.M.goodness. Okay. No. No. Okay. It’s okay.”
She fans herself.
“Give us a second alone here,” I tell Declan. “We’ll be in when we gather our wits.”
He just chuckles, then he propels past me, leaning in to kiss my cheek on his way out. “Patrick and Daisy are on their way.”
I glance into his eyes and our gazes hold. He smiles a private smile and then he leaves me with my sister.
“Sorry,” Cass says. “I don’t mean to get all weird.”
“You’re fine.” I smile at her. “You know I eat lunch with Jaxon at least once a week. He’s totally normal. Just another guy.”
“I know. I know. I’m just … give me a minute.” She blows out a breath. “Normal guy. Normal. Pro football safety who happens to wear a Super Bowl ring and who was selected to play in multiple Pro Bowls.”
“I think we’re heading in reverse,” I say. “We’re aiming for calm, normal-person reaction territory, not …” I wave my hand toward her face. “Whatever this is.”
“I’m good. I’ll be so calm and normal. I’m just walking in there like a bunch of people are watching the game together.”
“Because that’s what’s happening?”
“Exactly. Yes. That’s what’s happening.”
“So, we’re good? Cleared to walk into the other room without you fangirling?”
“We’re good.”
I study Cass for another moment. She’s breathing normally. Back to her usual self, so it seems.
I lead the way out of the kitchen, through the hallway and into Declan’s front room.
Jaxon’s there with his leg propped up. He’s sitting in the chair I usually sit in, the one next to the couch. I glance around, recalibrating where I’ll sit.
“Come sit with me,” Declan says.
I walk toward him.
Cass comes in behind me.
Her face flushes again. She stares at Jaxon with her mouth forming an “O,” eyes wide, frozen like a statue with an inscription Epic Level Fangirl with Zero Chill.
When she speaks, her voice comes out practically an octave higher than normal, rapid and squeaky with emotion. Kind of like she’s auditioning for Alvin and the Chipmunks.
“Jaxon. Pierce. Jax-on Pierce. Safety for the Thunder. Hi. I’m Cass.”
She shakes her head and I think she’s about to course-correct, but she barrels forward. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
“I’m Winona’s normal sister. Sister. Not her normal sister. I am normal. But … yeah. The sister. Of hers.” She finishes her self-introduction by pointing at me.
Declan snorts and then covers his face with his hand. His laughter feeds mine. I’m biting the inside of my cheek to keep from bursting into hysterics. I’m torn between compassion for Cass’s self-induced predicament, second-hand mortification, and the deep urge to rescue her from herself.
Cass shoots me and Declan a scolding look.
“Nice to meet you, normal sister,” Jaxon says.
Cass squeezes her eyes shut.
Then she smiles brightly at each one of us—even Jaxon—and settles into a chair.
Declan unmutes the volume. We’re still in pregame. Four guys are on the screen discussing their thoughts about the Bears and the Thunder.
I think Cass is done with her bizarre reaction to Jaxon, but then she suddenly shakes her head once and stands up, looking at me with a meet me in the bathroom type of expression.
I start to get up, but then, as quickly as she stood up, she sits back down, inhales deeply, blows out a breath and seems to attempt to focus on the screen.
Declan squeezes my arm. I can’t even look at him for fear I’ll lose it. I settle into his hold on me.
A second later, Cass pops up again, stepping away from her chair.
I ease to the edge of the sofa, ready to join her.
Her brow furrows and she plops back down.
“You know what?” she asks no one in particular. “So what. You’re Jaxon Pierce. So what.” She crosses her arms over her chest and bobs her head definitively.