TWO
KAITLYN
“Oh my goodness, what smells so good in here?”
I lift my gaze from the cucumber I’m cutting up for the salad, and the wide grin on my aunt’s face makes my lips stretch into a smile. She strides to the kitchen island, where I’ve been preparing lunch for the past hour.
“I already know we’re in for a real treat,” she says, snatching a piece of the vegetable. “What are we having?”
“Pesto and Parmesan Chicken.” I point behind me. “It’s in the oven and almost ready. And the cookies for later are cooling on that rack over there.” I tilt my head to my left at the chocolate chip cookies I made earlier.
“Ah, Kaitlyn, you spoil me. I’m inclined to stay home and have you cook for me all summer.”
“No, Aunt Jannie.” I laugh. “You’ll go on your wildlife trip, and I’ll enjoy the peace and quiet here—and do some sightseeing.”
She chuckles. “About time, I’d say. How many times have you visited me? And you still haven’t been to Coney Island or the Statue of Liberty.”
“It’s on my list.”
Jannie walks over to the rack with the cookies to taste one. “Hmmm,” she murmurs after taking a bite. “Delicious. You’re such an awesome cook and baker. I seriously can’t grasp how you’re still single. ”
I shrug. “I haven’t found the one who is worthy of my awesome food.”
She winks at me. “That guy’s gonna be one lucky bastard.”
I guffaw. “Oh, I don’t know about that. But Nan living with us all my life sure had its perks. I learned everything from her.”
“Yeah, Mom is a superb cook. You certainly inherited her talent.” Even though she smiles when she says it, she can’t hide a hint of sadness in her eyes. Family matters are a sensitive topic. My family is very close; my dad and aunt are twins and, at fifty-one, the youngest of five kids. My entire family lives in the same town in rural North Carolina, and I grew up in the same house my grandparents lived in.
Aunt Jannie is the odd one out. She never married and never had kids. She was the first to move to another state and choose a job that her parents considered unsteady and unpredictable: she picked a career in wildlife photography. It caused a bit of an outrage, and for many years, she was the black sheep.
I was one of the few people who kept in close touch with her. But with time, my grandparents—and the rest of the family—came to accept her life choices. They still don’t talk much, but they are on okay terms. It probably helped that Aunt Jannie is excellent at what she does and is very successful too. This summer, she’s going on a two-and-a-half month-long wildlife tour throughout South America.
“Jannie?” A male voice echoes through the hallway.
“Kitchen,” my aunt calls back, and a moment later, Philip walks in. He’s my aunt’s next-door neighbor, and I met him a few times when I visited Jannie. He’s a middle-aged guy who comes to see my aunt regularly. I don’t know much about him, only that he’s a widower with two grown sons. But he seems nice. I’ve always suspected him of having a crush on my aunt, which she secretly returns but, of course, denies.
“Hey, Phil.” Jannie beams at him, and I bite my lips to suppress a chuckle. “You’ve met my niece, haven’t you?”
He stretches out his hand. “Yes. Hi, Kaitlyn.”
I wipe my hands on the kitchen towel to shake his. “Hey, Philip.”
“Are you hungry?” Jannie asks. “Lunch is almost ready.”
“What are you having?”
“Pesto and Parmesan Chicken,” I tell him. “And this salad.”
Philip frowns. “Oh, damn. It smells amazing, but I shouldn’t eat this.” He looks at me and adds, “I have diabetes.”
“Really?” My lips stretch into a smile, and I raise my eyebrows. “I know lots of dishes that would be great for you. I used to cook for my granddad all the time. He had diabetes too.”
With an appreciative sigh, he grins. “That sounds awesome. I know plenty of those, but I’m usually too lazy to cook.”
Jannie laughs. “Yeah, that’s why you always show up here at lunchtime.”
Philip joins in with her laughter. “You got me there.”
“So you’re staying?” my aunt asks .
He shrugs. “Sure. I can’t say no to a pretty lady—let alone two.” He winks at Jannie, and her cheeks tinge with a tiny bit of pink.
“Aw, cut it out, you big flirt,” she says with a chuckle, and it’s an actual struggle to keep in a loud laugh. Ah, young love. It’s always the same whether you’re in your twenties or fifties.
Luckily, the kitchen timer goes off before they tickle and playfully shove each other. While I check on the chicken, Phil and my aunt set the table. Once the food is served, we sit in the dining room and dig in.
“Wow, Kaitlyn, this is delicious,” Philip says after taking the first few bites.
“It is, isn’t it?” Jannie beams at me. “My niece here is so talented in the kitchen.”
Philip nods. “I agree. You’ve got some serious competition, Jan.” He turns to me. “How long are you staying? Will I be able to enjoy more of your awesome cooking?”
I roll my eyes with a laugh. “Stop it, guys. You’re making my ego swell. But to answer your question: I’m spending my summer break here. I’ll house-sit for Jannie while she’s gone.”
“Ugh, yes, your job thing.” A frown forms on Philip’s forehead. “What am I gonna do without you all summer?”
Jannie laughs. “You’ll survive. Invite the kids over; they’ll keep you busy.”
“I will. Once Ben and Amy return from their honeymoon.”
“Ah, that’s right. You never told me about the wedding.” Jannie pouts. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it. ”
Philip shrugs. “I understand; you had to work. The wedding was beautiful. And guess what?” He sits up straight, his eyes sparkling. “They’re expecting another baby.”
“Oh, how wonderful! Your grandchildren will surely keep you on your toes.” Jannie turns to me. “You haven’t met Bella, have you? Phil’s one-year-old granddaughter?”
I shake my head in between bites. “I don’t think so.”
“She’s the cutest little girl,” my aunt says. “You’ll love her. Where did you say they went for their honeymoon?” she asks Philip.
“Aruba. But they’re only gone for a week,” he explains. “They didn’t take Bella with them. Amy’s parents are looking after her while they’re away.”
We continue chatting throughout the meal. My heart swells when I watch my aunt and Phil act so comfortable around each other. They make a great pair, and I’m sure it won’t be long until they admit it to themselves as well.
We clean up after lunch and sit on the porch with a cold drink. It’s unusually warm for mid-June, so this summer is bound to be a hot one.
“Ugh, too bad we can’t use your pool.” Aunt Jannie groans. “When is Aaron coming by to fix the filter system?”
Philip shrugs. “Sometime in the next few days. Probably not before you leave, though.”
Jannie grimaces. “Hmm, I might as well get used to the heat and lack of cooling now. That’s what I’ll be dealing with on my trip. But good for you, Kaitlyn,” she says with a wide smile. “Whenever it’s too hot, I’m sure you’re welcome to use Phil’s pool.”
“Of course. Come by anytime. And bring cookies,” he says with a mischievous grin.
“If that’s the only payment, I’ll be happy to do that,” I tell him with a smile of my own.
Jannie laughs. “That way, you’ll meet Ben and Aaron too—his sons.” She points to Phil, who nods.
“Certainly. I’ll be glad to introduce you next time they visit.”
“They’re your age,” my aunt adds. “I’m sure you’ll like them. Ben’s wife, Amy, is amazing; she can show you the best places to go shopping or do other girly stuff. Right, Phil?”
“Yup,” he says. “She’s a doll. She’ll have many ideas for things to do over the summer.” He tilts his head, tapping his chin. “How come you’re spending two-and-a-half months here, anyway? What do you do?”
“I’m an elementary school teacher,” I say. “I didn’t want to spend the summer tutoring, and I needed to get out of North Carolina. So I jumped at the chance to house-sit for Jannie while she’s gone.”
“Don’t forget you’re writing a book as well,” my aunt throws in.
“You’re a writer?” Philip’s eyes widen.
I shrug. “I wouldn’t call myself that yet. It’s more of a hobby.”
“A hobby?” Janie snorts. “Dear, you have an offer from an agent, which is awesome considering the fact that you’re only twenty-six.”
“I don’t know yet if I’m gonna accept that offer. ”
Well, technically, that’s a lie. I already accepted the offer but haven’t told my parents yet. My aunt and my best friend are the only ones who I let in on my plans, mainly because my parents won’t be happy. Their daughter, a writer? No way! And they won’t be happy, either, that I’ve quit my job at the elementary school. I expect this to cause a similar scene to my aunt’s decision to become a photographer.
I’ve only worked in my job for a year, but writing has always been my true passion. Maybe I should gain more work experience before considering being a full-time writer, but this offer dropped into my lap, and I couldn’t refuse. All my life, I did what my parents expected of me—just as my aunt did until her mid-twenties. Now, I feel like she did then, which is why she’s the one I confided in.
My parents are both teachers, so it was a given that this would also be my profession. I love my job and will continue tutoring to earn extra money, but I love writing even more. So, on the spur of the moment, I did something totally out of character. I’ve never taken any risks; I’ve always played it safe. I’ve never left my comfort zone and always followed the rules. It’s time to change that. I only need to figure out how to break the news to my family.
But I have all summer to do that.