Chapter 21
Knowing that the kids had it out for her was one thing, but hearing that Stephanie had been the mastermind was completely different. Of course, she knew that they had planned most of it before Stephanie even knew it was her.
If Court had even an inkling that Stephanie was the Stephanie of her youth, she’d have let Rebel have her. Or probably warned Rebel off her as well. Getting involved with this family wasn’t something she wished on anyone.
Turning away from Stephanie, she dismissed her and just had to ignore the woman. Easy as pie with so many people around. The house was crawling with them. None that drew her in like her, but they were people just the same.
Going into the kitchen, Court saw that Calvin and Marlene were making pancakes.
The kids who were up were huddled around them, chatting and laughing.
It was a scene from the family sitcoms she had grown up watching.
But just like back then, she was on the outside looking in. Never really feeling like she belonged.
Not wanting to interfere, she went straight into the dining room and sat down.
Pulling out her phone, she checked the usual sites.
So far, there had been no texts from her friends.
Which wasn’t unusual for a Saturday morning.
Since Rebel had found a blonde and Ellis had a date with that bland lawyer that she was sure she could love.
Court had always found Ellis’s choice in men boring.
Even being gay, she could appreciate a nice guy for her friend.
But the ones her friend brought around had either lacked personality or never listened to anyone else’s opinion.
And the worst were the ones who tried to stifle Ellis’s outgoing personality.
Ellis had never seen that. She had been too hyper-focused on the outer man that she overlooked the inner man completely.
With nothing too interesting to do on her phone, she texted another friend for advice. Oddly, she hadn’t even talked to Ty Williams about this trip. And Ty would be the only person who would understand what she was going through right now. Ty had been rejected by her family at a young age, as well.
Without even a greeting, Court went into the situation. “Remember how my dad had a best friend who spent time with me when I was younger? He called and invited me to a weekend family get together with his wife and step-kids.”
This wasn’t the first call that Ty had gotten out of the blue, and it wouldn’t be the last. There’s was a friendship born in fire, and when life got hot, they turned to each other. Those times were few and far between now, but when they happened, Court knew Ty would be there, ready to help.
“When is the weekend happening?” Ty’s voice was calm and relaxing, as it always had been, even when they were teenagers. There had always been a calmness about her like no other. Becoming a therapist had been her calling. Even though it had taken a few bumps in the road to get there.
Ellis and Rebel were her best friends, but Ty was something deeper.
They had been to hell and back together, barely surviving.
Now, on the other side, they didn’t spend a significant amount of time together, but when they did, it was like they had just parted.
Court had always assumed that it was what having a sister would have been like.
And no matter how close she was with the Ellis sisters, it was different with Ty.
Their bond had been built on the scars they both carried.
Shrugging even if her friend couldn’t see her, she answered, “Now.”
“How do you feel about being there?” Ty, the therapist, asked. She was now officially a trained doctor of psychology, but she’d have had the same question when she was a decade younger. She was a nurturer by nature.
“Like it’s a waste of time. I think Calvin has said five words to me and his wife less. I should have said no, and we all know it. Now I’m stuck here while everyone waits for the weekend to end so we can all go back to our lives.”
“Seems odd. Why did you go? What was your motivation there?” Ty asked calmly. She had always had a way of getting to the heart of the situation.
Making sure nobody was coming into the room, she went on, “Ellis convinced me I needed closure and this was a way to get closure.”
Court could see Ty nodding her head in agreement.
“She’s right, you need closure. Though going to spend time with him may not achieve what you’re looking for.
Do you feel that anything he says will make what happened forgivable?
Forgettable? He’s only partially responsible for what happened.
Would him saying sorry for everything change how you feel? ”
“I don’t know if there’s anything that he could say.
But I think I need to hear his explanation, anyway.
Weather I ever see him again or not, I want to be able to know the truth behind that decision.
” Looking at her nails, she knew it was time to get them cut, but that wouldn’t be happening this weekend.
“Then you are where you need to be. Just talk to him and leave if it gets too much. There is no guarantee of closure. And you don’t need more trauma in your life during that time. There’s no shame in walking away. Sometimes it’s the healthier choice.”
“Right now, I don’t think I’m up for staying until tomorrow. I feel okay so far, knowing I don’t have to be here until the end. I make my own decisions now.”
“Listen to your gut. Get out if you need to protect yourself.” Ty said, because she was in the same boat of trying to leave the past behind her.
“I have to go, breakfast time.” She ended the call, which Ty would understand. After knowing each other as long as they did, formality was out the window long ago. Never say goodbye when that person is your only lifeline.
In the dining room, Dylan carried in a platter of bacon and his brother brought in one stack of pancakes, and Laura’s husband brought in another. It seemed the party was now moving in here. Which was fine. She wanted to get this day started so she could get it over with.
As the chairs filled in, she realized everyone seemed to be avoiding her, leaving those who were last to come into the room to sit by her.
And the last to show up turned out to be a freshly showered and still slightly damp Stephanie and her dry mom.
Neither seemed too excited to be forced to sit by her.
Probably for completely different reasons. Or so Court hoped.
As the meal was finishing up, Calvin announced, “I set up a tee time for us guys this morning. I’ve been practicing, so you boys are going to have a hard time winning this year.”
Dylan and Aaron instantly started arguing with their dad about their past wins and losses. It seemed the boys had been better than their father since they started playing. Though Calvin seemed to take their ribbing.
Stephanie jumped in from beside her. “Dad, why don’t you take Court with this year?”
Calvin stopped laughing at Dylan’s antics and turned to her, and by default, Court. “But I only signed four of us up. I can’t just add another at the last moment. You know that.”
Nobody else at the table said anything. All were looking between Calvin and Stephanie and sometimes at Court.
No way was Court jumping into a manly game of golf, not that she didn't play.
She had since college with the knowledge that some of her meetings might be on the course, and they had.
She even had a membership at a club not far from the office just to impress investors.
But she never went there for a leisurely game. It was always for work.
“I'm okay without playing today. But I do need to talk to Calvin before you guys go, if possible.” She said, because that was the most important thing today. Talking to Calvin. Then she could leave.
“Good, good.” Was all he said before talk of golf took over the other half of the table.
This end was mostly silent, except for the women planning a shopping trip while the guys were out.
Another activity Court wouldn’t take part in.
She had Clarise for a reason, and it worked for her.
Which kept her from doing that hated activity.
Before she was done eating, most of the girls had left in giggles and kisses for their men. Stephanie and her mom didn’t move, and no one asked if they were not going to. Which meant this was probably what happened every visit. The sexes separated for daily activities.
As soon as the girls were gone, the guys did the same, as if they couldn’t all leave at the same time. Court jumped to her feet hoping to head off Calvin for a few minutes. Then she could be gone before they came back.
“Calvin, can I talk to you?”
“Sure, Courtney, come out to the van. You can help me load the clubs. We can talk there.” Calvin barely looked at her as he waved her towards the door.
Following him to the garage, she watched him rearrange a few things to get to his clubs. “I was hoping we could talk about the fall after I ran away.” She started, because she didn’t know how to approach this. The time was seared in her mind, but he might not even remember it. Hadn’t been affected.
“Remember that black eye you had, Dylan? Didn’t you still have it for the first day of school?” Aaron said from behind them to his brother, who was obviously there as well. So much for time alone.
“Do you boys have your clubs?” Calvin asked the boys. Had he even cared that he hadn’t answered her question at all? Had he even heard? Or cared?
“In the van already, Dad,” Aaron said, as if reminding her who had been his priority all these years. As if she needed a reminder.
“Good job, boys.” Calvin grabbed his own clubs and walked away from her, not even noticing she was there. He said nothing as he walked away from her. No answer. Not even a goodbye.
By the time she left the garage, the van doors were open and everyone was getting in. Nobody noticed her, so she went back inside. Now she had to wait until they came back. Resolving nothing for now.
Back in the house, Stephanie was absent from any part of the house Court could see. Maybe she also had something else to do this morning. Which left her alone with Marlene, who was busy cleaning the dirty dishes that had been abandoned on the dining room table.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” With nothing else to do, she could help, since the room was a complete mess. If it had been her house, she’d have insisted every adult in the room do their own cleanup. It was the least they could do since Marlene had cooked everything.
“No, I have everything taken care of. You go and do whatever you want. Everyone else does.” Marlene stated gruffly as she stacked a few plates together and headed into the kitchen with them.
Deciding she could use help moving the dishes into the kitchen, Court picked up a few glasses and followed the woman. Sure, she didn’t want Court there any more than Court wanted to be there, but she didn’t have to do all this by herself.
In the kitchen, she saw Stephanie leaning against the counter looking at her phone, not paying attention to her mom. Not helping either.
“Stephanie Lynn, please grab some dishes for me, so I don’t have to clean up this mess all by myself.” Marlene barked at her daughter, snapping her to attention. “Nobody ever wants to help me.”
Court set the glasses she had been carrying on the counter, drawing everyone's attention. “I guess I will… who knows.”
Turning, she walked out of the house, wishing she had just grabbed all her stuff as she left. Closure wasn’t worth what she was putting herself through.