Chapter 11
NOW
June
Wren called me the next day, and our phone call quickly turned into a FaceTime.
Mia’s smile filled the screen as she showed off her adorable smile.
“Do you think they’ll say I need braces?
” she asked as she pulled back one side of her lips to show me a side view.
As if I hadn’t seen the girl twenty four hours ago, and forgot what her teeth looked like.
“Only the orthodontist can give you an answer,” I said with a smile.
Most of the time Mia felt like a little sister, and Wren like my older sister, or a mother figure.
She was thirty-four when she had Mia, so she was almost fifty now.
I swear she still didn’t look a day over thirty.
Wren stole the phone back from Mia. “It’s been such a drag without you,” Wren said dramatically.
“How will you ever survive?” I teased as I opened a bag of Chex Mix. Jackson’s snacks from yesterday were still on the table. I’d had a bag of sour gummy worms for dinner last night.
“Mia has never been to Michigan, so we’re planning a trip because we miss you so much.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get me excited!”
“We’re serious!” Mia squealed. “We’re flying up tomorrow; we rented a lake house. Dad already took off work!”
“George actually requested off work?” I said in disbelief.
Wren stole the phone back. “You better believe it. We land at nine tomorrow morning. We’ll pick you up on our way. I’ll send you the address. It’s somewhere on Lake Huron.”
The thought of already getting a break from being at the house, plus getting to spend time with Wren, George, and Mia sounded fantastic. “How many days?”
“Just three—it’s all George could get off. We’re renting a car so you don’t have to pick us up or anything.”
“You guys are insane. I can’t wait, though,” I added excitedly. It felt good to know it had barely been two days, and this family missed me just as much as I missed them. See, this is what people who love you do.
“We have to see if the sunrises are better up there,” Wren said with a wink. “Alright, I gotta help this toothy girl finish packing before her ortho appointment. See you tomorrow!” We said our goodbyes, and I sunk back into the couch. The rest of the house could wait.
***
The next morning, the Wilsons picked me up in their rental car and we drove for an hour and a half to Port Huron. The cabin they rented was less than a block from the waterfront, and we could see the Blue Water Bridge from our window.
“Let’s get coffee first. George hasn’t had a drop yet, and he’s about to get cranky,” Wren said when we finished taking our bags inside.
“I already have a café saved in Google Maps,” George said good-naturedly. He picked up Mia with one arm, swinging her in a circle as she giggled.
We got coffees downtown, then walked along the waterfront on Lake Huron. We found a sunny spot to rest, and Mia and George played behind us on the grass while Wren and I sat on a bench together, staring out at the water.
“So, how was the house?” Wren asked.
I took a sip from my iced coffee, swatting away a mayfly in the process. “Exactly as I expected—a dump.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do about it?”
A cloud covered the sun, and I lifted my sunglasses to the top of my head. “Probably fix it up a bit and sell it.”
“All by yourself? I hate that you’re alone,” Wren said with an over-exaggerated pout.
I lowered my sunglasses to perch back on my nose, averting my eyes. “Someone offered to help me.”
I could feel Wren staring at me. “Yeah?”
I kicked my feet back and forth, feeling like a little kid about to admit they had a crush. Except this wasn’t a crush. I didn’t even know exactly what it was I was feeling, but I was feeling something, alright.
Like a sick joke from the universe, my phone vibrated on the bench between us, and Wren bent down to read the text. “I’ll bet his name is Jackson,” Wren said in a sing-song voice.
I snatched my phone up, reading a text from Jackson that said, I came by the house but you didn’t answer. Is everything okay?
“God, he’s so annoying,” I mumbled. “I never even gave him my number. He must’ve texted himself from my phone when he added himself to my contacts.” I texted Jackson back that I was out of town for a few days, taking a break from the house.
“Okay, I’m waiting. Explain,” Wren said.
In the ten years I had known her, I had never told her about Jackson. I gave her pieces here and there about Peter and my mom, but even that took literal years for me to finally share. It wasn’t something I liked to talk about—or remember, for that matter.
I let out a long breath of air. “Some guy I worked with in high school. He owns the restaurant we used to work at. I ran into him in town and he offered to help. I don’t know how I feel about it yet.”
Wren smiled at me. “Well, it’s about time you started dating again.
You and Phoenix have been broken up for almost two years now.
” Phoenix and I dated for almost a year, and it wasn’t a pretty year.
We had a lot of ups and downs, a continuous cycle of harmony and chaos.
He was an addict, and having lived with one growing up, I thought it was my duty to fix him.
I couldn’t, and he reminded me way too much of Peter in his reactions to conflict.
Finally, I let him go, because his behavior was exactly what I’d run from in the first place.
I let out an exaggerated laugh. “Well, this guy is engaged. So dating is a no.”
“Buggers,” Wren said with another frown. “How well did you know Jackson back then?”
I paused for a while. Well, I’ve seen him naked.
“I mean, pretty well. I was close with his family.” I couldn’t meet her eyes, thankful I still had my sunglasses on to block my face.
Wren was still staring at me, waiting for me to go on. Her eyes were boring into me like a spotlight. “Okay! Fine! I was in love with the guy. Can you just stop looking at me like that?”
Wren let out a laugh and patted my knee. “Love isn’t a bad word.” She stood up from the bench. “Come on, let’s play tag with George and Mia, burn off that sexual energy.”
I shook my head, but a laugh escaped me. “You’re sick.”
***
We spent the next three days visiting the lighthouse on the water, roaming antique shops, and swimming in the water when we weren’t being attacked by mayflies.
On our way back home we were all starving, and Wren suggested we stop at Delvecchios’, to see where I worked before moving to North Carolina.
Their flight wasn’t until later, and it would be better than an airport dinner, so I agreed.
Jackson had told me he was rarely at the restaurant, so I wasn’t nervous about bumping into him.
I was, however, worried I might run into Sophie, but I figured she’d rather ignore me than force a conversation.
We walked into Delvecchios’, that typical blast of A/C hitting us as we approached the hostess stand.
“Well, if it isn’t Addison Bianchi.” I squinted at the face in front of me until recognition hit.
“Rami!” I wrapped my arms around his neck and he swung me around in a circle.
“It’s so good to see you!” we both said at the same time.
“You’ve hardly aged a day. You look exactly the same,” Rami said as he looked me up and down.
“And you’re looking bulkier than ever.” I squeezed one of his biceps and he flexed.
“I’m half-manager, half-security here.” He winked before turning toward the Wilsons.
I introduced him to the family, and Rami grabbed four menus.
I noticed Mia staring longingly at the stack of coloring sheets beside the hostess stand, and I grabbed one for her, along with a box of crayons.
When I was her age, I’d already lost all semblance of a childhood; if Mia wanted to cling to hers for a little bit longer, I’d happily help her do so.
“These are new,” I said, holding the coloring sheet up to Rami as we followed him to a booth.
“We got them after Sam had kids. We let them pick out the sheets. It’s the first thing they ask for whenever they visit.
” I wondered how much Sam had actually come to visit, especially after he got married and had kids.
He was the Delvecchio I knew the least, since he had lived in New York the entire time I knew them.
Rami asked for our drink orders, then motioned for me to follow him.
“Let me show you around—we’ve made some good changes.
” I slid out the booth to follow him around the restaurant.
Not much was different until we got to the kitchen.
Most of the appliances had been updated, and everything looked so sleek and modern.
The corkboard of Polaroids was still on the far wall, and I slowly walked over.
There were plenty of new pictures, and Rami pointed out one that had Sam’s kids in it.
They looked about four and six in the photo, with gap-toothed grins, and slices of pizza in their hands.
There was a photo of Julie and a woman who I assumed to be her wife, and next to it, one of Phil with his arms draped over Marie, his chin resting on her head.
The photo beneath it was of Jackson and Sophie kissing. I averted my eyes.
Rami reached forward and tapped one of the photos.
It was the picture of me, Julie, and Jackson from that first Christmas party.
I smiled, taking out my phone and snapping a picture of it.
My gaze drifted down to the photo directly beneath it, and I gasped.
It was the Polaroid of me and Jackson; the one where he was looking down at me, smiling while he made me laugh.
Why hadn’t he ever taken it down? Why didn’t Sophie at least throw it away?
Jackson probably wouldn’t have even noticed if it went missing.
That wasn’t even the picture that rocked me the most—I continued scanning the board, and one picture made my heart completely stop.
There was a photo of me and Jackson from our high school graduation, tacked to the board in the lower left-hand corner.
I was on his back, both our diplomas in my hands as I held them over my head.
I couldn’t remember a time I had smiled that large since then.
It was the last picture we had ever taken together, because it was the last day I had seen him.
I would’ve burned that picture if I was Sophie.
I cleared my throat and turned back to Rami.
“You guys did really great with the place. You should be proud,” I said.
“Thanks, Addie.” I walked back to the table, burying the feelings of nostalgia back into my chest.
***
I split a pizza with Mia, and I hardly ate more than three bites. My stomach was a mess after seeing those pictures in the kitchen.
George was signing the check when three cannoli were dropped off at our table.
“Oh, we didn’t order these.” I looked up to see Jackson, a smile on his face with his hands clasped in front of him. My stomach knotted even tighter.
“Gift from the owner.” He winked at Mia, and she giggled. Oh Mia, you little traitor. Don’t fall for his charm!
He introduced himself to George and Wren since I had been rendered mute, the shock of seeing him leaving me feeling like I had been tased.
“Jackson? The famous Jackson Delvecchio?” Wren said with a Cheshire cat grin. I kicked her under the table.
“It’s very nice to meet you. I’ve heard great things about you guys,” Jackson added. Bitch! I told you about them ONE time, don’t act like we’re best friends!
“I thought you were never here,” I blurted. Everyone at the table laughed at my outburst, and it took everything in me not to kick George and Wren simultaneously.
“Special visit,” Jackson teased. Fucking Rami probably texted him.
“We have to get to the airport; we were just leaving.” I scrambled out of the booth, not waiting for the Wilsons as I ran out onto the sidewalk.
Stupid Jackson. Stupid fiancée-having Jackson.
I placed a hand over my stomach, sure I was about to puke up my three bites of pizza.
I should’ve ripped those photos off the corkboard myself, and burned them to a crisp along with Peter’s house.
After a few minutes, Wren, George, and Mia walked out of the restaurant with the three cannoli in a takeout box.
“Addie, that was crazy! I’ve never seen you act so weird,” Mia said as she grabbed my hand to cross the street.
“I’m just not feeling well,” I said as we got in the car.
Wren met my eyes in the rearview mirror, giving me a sad smile. “He was cuter than I expected,” she admitted.
I groaned and leaned my head against the window, letting the cold pane cool down my overheated body.
“He was nice. I love cannoli,” Mia added.
I ran a hand through her hair, untangling one of her curls, which was knotted by her ear.
“It’s tough when they’re cute and nice,” Wren said as she grabbed George’s hand to kiss it before setting it down in her lap.
“I’m really gonna miss you guys when you leave,” I said sarcastically, but they knew I meant it. It wasn’t enough time. I hardly ever spent multiple days away from them. Their good-natured humor and teasing were my favorite things about them.
When we got to Peter’s house, we all hugged goodbye, Wren promising to call me as soon as they landed. I watched as they backed out the driveway, then I slipped into the house and fell asleep on the couch.