Chapter 20
I’ve always found the concept of friendship strange.
There you are, just a tiny insignificant blip in the universe minding your own business, and then this person comes barreling into your life at the speed of a freight train.
They crash into you without one single apology, and while you are saying, How dare you, they smile and give you a hug.
Now, despite Saffron saying, “Hey, no talking to Paris,” I had every intention, of course, of not listening to her, because that is just the high-strung person I am.
What can I say? I like to live dangerously.
In fact, I plan to shake up this entire town while being stranded here, u napologetically, of course.
So as I stand in front of the bar, I arm myself with the knowledge that most people are more inclined to spill their secrets to a stranger than someone they have known for years. At least I’m hoping for that.
This could completely crash and burn, but I’m still willing to try.
I enter Autumn’s pub for the second time this month, only this time, I feel more confident, like maybe, just maybe, I might belong there. It’s a feeling I didn’t have before, and one that startles me. My foot catches on the step, and for a hot second, I think I’m about to go down.
I don’t, thankfully, but as I enter the bar, laughter flows around me. My boots clack on the wood as I head to our usual little corner, only to pause.
Not only are the girls there, but they are also each fawning over my baby brother, who sits in my seat.
I can’t even call it my seat, because I’ve only been here once before, but I sat there. It’s mine. I claimed it in my head.
Marching like a woman on a mission, I charge right up to him and knock him right off the chair and sit down. My blood simmers as the girls laugh and my brother stares up at me from the floor.
“This is ladies’ night,” I hiss with venom, unsure who is coming out of my mouth, because surely a demon possessed me on the walk over.
Arlo and I hung out in the attic for quite some time yesterday, so one of those witches could have shown up. This is just an episode of body snatchers.
“Wren,” Robin whines, flopping on the floor and throwing an arm over his eyes, not bothering to get up.
“You were in my seat.” For that matter… “Why are you even here? I didn’t see you leave.”
“I snuck out the back.” He lifts an arm to peer at me. “Also, the ladies invited me.”
I eye Autumn, because this screams her. Holding up her hands, she pulls her lips inwards to keep from laughing at me. “Want me to invite Arlo?”
“How dare you?” I tap the tabletop, unimpressed with all of them infiltrating my life.
“Ah-ah-ah.” She smiles at me. “You two were in that attic for a long time.”
“Yeah, Wren, what were you two doing up there?” Robin emphasizes his question with a lewd wag of his eyebrows. He’s still on the floor, I might add. He’s milking the fact I flung him there, and there he will stay until this conversation is over. I just know it.
Tricky brother.
“Drinking wine.” I avoid his knowing glare. Wait. Nothing even happened aside from relationship building. I have no reason for the heat that spreads across my cheeks. If he’d watched any episode of Sex and the City, he would understand.
Heathen.
“Did he invite you on that third date?” Bloom nudges my elbow, then slides a margarita glass over to me.
“Yes and no,” I grumble.
“Trouble in paradise, sister?” I ignore Robin…until Autumn slides onto the floor beside him.
These two are going to be an issue, I can already tell. I don’t think there is actually any kind of love interest between them, just pure mischief, and that is even more terrifying.
Paris sits in the corner, watching the entire exchange with a pair of large white sunglasses resting on her button nose. She looks like Audrey Hepburn without the camera on her. In reality, she’s probably just trying to hide the dark circles under her eyes or trying to avoid us all together.
Darn it, I hate speculating. It makes me crazy. I blame my brother.
“Yeah, Wren, what’s the holdup?” Autumn chimes in from the floor. I dare to glance down at the two of them.
I regret looking. Autumn pours a shot of tequila in Robin’s mouth, then shoves in a lemon, which he promptly spits out and looks at her like she’s crazy. “Limes, you need limes.”
“We use lemons here, Southern boy.” Autumn shoves the lemon back in his mouth.
“I can’t look at you two,” I grumble and turn toward Bloom and Paris to avoid my insane brother.
“I’m sure he will plan that date.” Bloom reaches out, laying a comforting palm on my arm.
“Thanks.” Though that isn’t what I wanted to talk about tonight. I sip my margarita, heavy on the tequila, and tap the table to get Paris’ attention.
“I know.” She tips her sunglasses down to stare at me with red-rimmed eyes.
I instantly feel like a terrible person. “Paris.”
“Don’t.” She points a finger at me before grabbing the pitcher of drinks and pulling out a foot long straw. “I prepared for this. Though the Adonis was a surprise.” She jerks her head at my brother.
Ew.
Autumn and Robin climb up from the floor, sensing the seriousness of the moment. Robin grabs an extra chair and flips it around, sitting beside me.
“Adonis, at your service,” Robin says, then nods his head like a Southern gentleman, though his accent is almost nonexistent.
“All right.” Paris sniffles a little before tossing her sunglasses on the table. “Kayden’s birthday is Thursday.” She sips the pitcher of margarita through her foot long straw before wiping her eyes with her pink sleeves.
“Paris, you don’t owe any of us an explanation.” Bloom reaches across the table, gathering one of her hands in her own and rubbing comforting circles across her knuckles.
“No, I mean yes.” Paris growls at herself. “Let me start over.” She looks up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and her brown hair spilling from her bun. “If Wren can do it, so can I.”
Robin nudges me gently, but I don’t look over. I know what his facial expression will be—pride. In some way, I know he will be proud of me for opening up to someone other than him or a therapist that I saw only once.
“Kayden deserves a birthday, and this will be his fifth birthday that I didn’t celebrate.
” She blows out a breath. “I couldn’t. I just couldn’t celebrate a day that hurt me so much.
But I’ve only harmed Kayden in the process, and that—” Tears fall freely from her eyes, and she takes a moment to sip her pitcher, just letting those salty tears flow down her face.
Autumn twitches in her chair, tilting her head up toward the ceiling as she struggles for composure. For all her gruff exterior, Autumn cares deeply for her friends, and I suspect she loves far greater than any of us gave her credit for.
“Wren, I want you to celebrate Thanksgiving. I want the town to celebrate Thanksgiving. I want Kayden to have cake, and I want him to pin the tail on the turkey. I want these things for him. It just felt wrong to celebrate a birth that should have been a celebration between us.” Paris rubs her chest as she swallows over and over.
“Kayden never suffered, sweetheart.” Bloom reaches out to her friend once more. “He has you, and you’ve been an incredible mama to his sweet little face all this time. You may not have celebrated his birthday on the day, but you always made up for it in your own way.”
“I distinctly remember taking him to that water park for his half birthday last year.” Autumn looks at her friend, her eyes spilling over with tears.
“Even the weekend of,” Kenzie says as she sits down on the other end of the table. She’s fashionably late, as always, but she squeezes Paris to her side. All that matters is that she is here.
“I know, but Thanksgiving is on his birthday this year. Is there still a chance to celebrate it?” Paris dries her eyes. “I know everyone is busy getting ready for Wonderland, but can we spare a few days for Kayden?”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Bloom smiles, already tapping away on her phone. “Consider it done.”
“I’m thinking a parade,” Kenzie adds, punching her phone with intent.
Even Autumn gets in on it. “I’ll take care of the cake. Sandwiches are on me and Mom, and Arlo is going to work on the float tomorrow.”
“I don’t have that much to offer, but…” What is there for me to offer? I trace lines on the table, wanting to help in any way possible. “I have story time on Wednesday, and Robin was going to dress up as a turkey.”
Paris outright laughs. “Yeah?”
“And I can do anything else that’s needed. Lark doesn’t have school this week, so both of us are at your service.” My heart throbs at the fact that I can help this woman and her son heal in some way. We each mourn differently, taking a path that works for us.
I went one way, and Paris shut down.
“I think it’s time I start living.” Paris inhales deeply before looking at each of us. “Matt would want that.”
Kenzie gasps, and Autumn chuckles.
“I’m so proud of you.” Bloom beams, and I can only guess that Paris hasn’t uttered his name in those five years.
“I want to finish school,” Paris adds, “and finally open the clinic.”
“Oh, I’m so pleased by this.” Kenzie sighs. “Call me selfish, but driving Milo an hour away for a vet is tedious.”
“It’s okay to feel selfish, it gives me the motivation I need to succeed.” Paris nods before pulling the nachos over to herself. “As long as Robin stands in a corner shirtless, then I’ll be capable of anything.”
“There she is.” Autumn sighs in relief, drumming her knuckles on the table.
I look over at Robin, who’s sitting beside me with his arms over one another on the chair, his head cocked to the side as he watches each of us in silence. Ever so slowly, he drops his head, his green eyes flicking over to mine before he shakes himself out of it and looks at Paris.
“Anything you need, baby girl. I’ll be here all week.” Robin lays on the Southern charm as thick as possible, surprising not just me, but all of us.
The only sound is the slurping of Paris’ straw.