Chapter Three
Shae
THE GLASS DOOR CLICKED softly behind Shae as she stepped onto the back patio. The heat of the morning hadn’t fully settled in yet, but the air was thick with the feeling of summer, the smell of chlorine, and the faint scent of sunscreen baked into the cushions.
She dropped her plate on the side table and sank into one of the lounge chairs, twisting her legs up beneath her.
She scooped the first bite of eggs into her mouth and chewed methodically, not tasting anything, barely noticing the pool shimmering merely feet away.
She wasn’t even hungry, if she was being honest. Her thoughts kept drift-ing like tidewater back to Em, to her eyes, to last night on the bal-cony, to now in the kitchen.
Lennon opened the back door, peeking out the littlest bit before strolling over, two mugs of coffee in her hand.
She extended one cup in Shae’s direction, her lips stretched laterally in an apologet-ic smile.
Shae hesitated a moment but eventually took the cup, cradling one hand below it, careful not to spill.
“Thanks,” she mumbled.
Lennon lowered herself into the chair next to hers, not saying much. The quiet was suffocating, interrupted only by the sound of the ocean and seagulls in the distance.
“I’m sorry.” Lennon broke the silence. “For yesterday. For springing Em on you like that. I didn’t think it’d be a big deal. I kinda hoped you’d be ok with it, but…” she let her words trail off.
Shae didn’t answer right away. She stared down at the swirling black coffee, its steam curling into the air.
“I should’ve told you sooner,” Lennon continued. “But I also didn’t want you to bail on coming here. I really do want our sister time together this summer. It's been so long since we’ve had that.”
That had been Shae’s whole reason for coming, for time with Lennon.
She’d asked her several times to visit her in Italy.
She imagined showing her around Florence and touring the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Palatine.
Going to clubs and cafes, showing her all her favorite places, but she never came.
There was always some excuse, and Shae couldn’t help but feel like maybe they weren’t close anymore and maybe they’d never be again.
Like Lennon had learned how to live fully in her absence.
Where Shae held on, Lennon let go… and that worked as kids, but not across oceans.
“I just thought… maybe it’d be good. For you. For both of you to squash this… whatever it is between the two of you. I know how much she—”
“Don’t,” Shae cut in, but there was no bite in her voice. Only exhaustion. “Don’t try to explain her to me.”
“I’m not.” Lennon shifted in her seat to face Shae. “I’m explaining me. I missed you. And I hated that you two fell out and no one ever said what needed to be said. It puts me in the middle of it, and I hate always feeling like I need to choose between my best friend and my sister.”
“Should be an easy choice.” Shae countered.
“That’s not fair.” Lennon bent over and set her drink on the cement in front of them. Getting up to take a seat closer to Shae.
“You’ve always been the one who leaves first, Shae… an argument, the country.”
Shae bristled. “And… that’s fair?”
“I didn’t say it to hurt you,” Lennon’s tone softened even more.
“Ok, let’s back up.” Lennon paused, placing a hand on Shae’s knee.
“You’re my sister. My Twinkie. I know you.
You walk away to protect yourself. And I get it, I even admire it sometimes.
But this… this thing with Em… you didn’t protect yourself.
You shut down. And it hurts to watch. You moved to another country, Shae! ”
“That wasn’t just about her, and you know it. Getting accepted into Florence University of the Arts was a huge opportunity for me.” Shae stabbed at her eggs with her fork, but she didn’t take a bite. Her jaw clenched, then released. “Italy was for me.”
“Okay, I know. I was happy for you!”
“Were you? You never made a point to visit me.”
“You’re right, and I wanted to,” Lennon’s tone was resolute.
“But I blinked, and life started piling up—classes, internships, Brodie. Every time I thought about booking a flight, it all felt like too much. Then time passed, and it was like you didn’t need me anymore.
So I just… didn’t.” Lennon paused, as if giving Shae a chance to feel it.
“I felt the same way,” Shae admitted. “I thought you didn’t care.”
“You never came to visit me at Mount Holyoke, Shae. Not even when you came back for the holidays. You didn’t seem interested in what I was doing.
You hated my new friends—Claire. I thought you didn’t care.
” Lennon breathed in slowly before continuing, “Look, I did care. Okay? I got all the news and pictures from Mom and Dad. I just… didn’t want you to know I cared. ”
Shae laughed, incredulously, “We are something else.”
“You are,” Lennon said, nudging her with her shoulder.
“Look, maybe Em messed up. Maybe you did too. But it’s been years. You both have scars you’ve been trying to pretend don’t exist.”
“I’m not pretending anything,” Shae said, her voice low. “I just… prefer my space.”
They sat in silence again, the hum of the world rising between them.
“I want my sister back,” Lennon said, her words cutting into the quiet. “You’ve been on the run from your feelings, and you’re missing out. You’re so full of life, Shae.”
Shae relaxed her shoulders, rolling her neck from side to side. Hearing Lennon say she wanted her back chipped away at her facade… that’s all Shae wanted, too.
There had been a chasm forming between herself and Lennon over the past few years, and she’d come here this summer to bridge the gap, to get close again. She refused to let Em being here spoil that for her, for them.
Shae rubbed at her forehead. “I’m trying.”
“I know,” Lennon cut in. “And for what it’s worth... we’re all trying. That includes Em.”
Shae didn’t reply, but her grip around the mug loosened slightly. She took a sip. It was hot, but not unbearable.
From the window, Claire’s reflection passed behind the glass as she talked loudly on her phone. Shae and Lennon both glanced over, then back at each other.
Lennon gave a little smirk. “Still think she’s the most annoying person you’ve ever met?”
Shae cracked the corner of a smile. “By far, but you’re up there pretty high too.”
“What?” Lennon nudged her shoulder lightly, a knowing look on her face.
Claire caught their eyes in the glass, offering a tiny wave and warm smile before stepping away, giving them space.
Lennon shook her head, covering her face with her hands and peeking through her fingers back at Shae.
“Well, she’s obsessed with you—you’ve got your hands full,” she said, slapping her sister’s knee. She paused before adding, "She has her moments. So do you!”
“I’m a peach,” Shae retorted, lowering her glasses over her eyes and leaning back on her chair.
“Hmmm, I know quite a few people who would disagree with that statement!”
Shae quirked up the corner of her nose and stuck out her tongue.
“I’m glad we settled this,” Lennon offered.
“Me too.”
“Love you, Twinkie,” Lennon said, wrapping her arms around Shae’s legs. Shae leaned in, resting her forehead against her sister’s.
“Ditto.”
As the conversation between Shae and Lennon settled into something more light-hearted, the back door flew open with a dramatic whoosh.
“Okay, is this a funeral or a vacation?” Seth said, parading out in his lemon-printed button-up and tight white shorts, sunglasses propped up on his blonde curls. He was carrying two iced drinks in cocktail glasses, “I demand joy. Or at least a mimosa.”
Shae’s face instantly lit up. “Hey, heyyy!”
“Oh, honey, you think I was gonna let any time go by with-out seeing your dramatic ass in person? Not a chance.” He made a show of handing one drink to Lennon and then snatching the coffee from Shae’s hands with a gasp.
“No. Ma’am. Absolutely not. Coffee is canceled. It’s almost ten a.m., and I’m gay, it’s brunch hour.”
Shae laughed, actually laughed, and took a sip of whatever citrusy concoction he gave her.
“God, I missed you. I’m sorry I was such an ass last night.”
“Forgiven. And I missed this face,” Seth said, booping her on the nose before dropping dramatically into the lounge chair next to her.
“Girl, your tattoos and your body. Umm, I’m jealous.
Gimme some tips, alright?” He sank back in his seat, making himself comfortable.
“Now tell me everything about Europe. Who’d you fall in love with?
You sleep with an Italian artist or four? ”
“Not quite,” Shae chuckled, a grin lingering on her face.
“Well, you slept with someone. Four years, girl, you did something scandalous. I mean… look at you.”
Before she could reply, the screen door slid open again, and Brodie stepped outside, beer in hand. “Morning, party people,” he hooted in a deep voice reminiscent of that of a football game announcer.
“Don’t even start,” Seth warned, waving a lazy finger in his direction. “I already claimed my morning gossip rights.”
Brodie ignored him and crept up behind Em, who had stepped outside behind him in a t-shirt and shorts. She was cradling a coffee mug, looking like she was deciding whether to engage or dis-appear back into the house.
“Don’t you dare,” Em warned, eyeing him. “Brodie, I’m holding coffee.”
“Too late. Hold tight then,” he grinned, and before anyone could stop him, he scooped her up, her coffee splashing caramel brown onto the pavement. He launched her into the deep end, a giant splash echoing across the yard.
“Oh my God!” Lennon shouted, stepping outside with an expression that was somewhere between horrified and amused.
“You’re next,” he said, rushing toward her and sweeping her up.
“Brodie!” she squealed as he threw her into the air. She splashed into the water, fully soaking Em again. “I hate you, Brodie Taylor!”
“You were gonna get wet anyhow!” He retorted, his face beaming.