“Yeah, that is good,” I replied.
“It’s hard to smoke when you’re hooked up to an oxygen tank though.” He winked. I felt the wink all the way to my toes.
Dawson Phillips had his hand pressed against my lower back, and he’d just winked at me. I had only been in Parish Cove for less than twenty minutes, and already I felt like I was fifteen again pining after the boy who lived down the street.
I WAS LATE. SEEING Dawson had sidetracked me, and now I was closing in on being nearly thirty minutes late. It wasn’t all his fault though, because running into Millie and her kids had done the same. Regardless of my reason, it didn’t change the fact I was late to Emma’s engagement party. My stomach knotted as I thought about how pissed she would be with me for this.
Why the hell couldn’t I ever be on time?
As I barreled down Blue Jay Lane, I wondered if I should change in my driveway after I pulled up to my house. First impressions were important, which was why I wanted to be on time. Now that there was no possible way it was happening, the least I could do was be presentable. My cleavage-showing top and skinny jeans had been okay to drive in, but it wasn’t going to fly for Emma’s party.
I chewed my bottom lip as I rounded the last corner before our house, still debating with myself. If I did change, it would be into the coral dress. Sweet and cute would rectify my tardiness. If I wore the black dress I would seem like more trouble than I actually was¸ which wouldn’t be a good thing.
As our yellow one-story house came into view, I noticed there was only my sister’s vehicle parked in the driveway. My brain raced in an attempt to remember if the party was supposed to be somewhere else. Had Emma told me and I’d forgotten? Why the hell did I tune out every time I talked with her on the phone?
I came to a rolling stop beside my sister’s car, but didn’t cut the engine on mine right away. Instead, I stared at the house, trying to figure out what I should do next. If I sent Emma a text asking where the party was, she would flip out on me. If I tried to sit here and remember, I would be wasting time. I cut the engine on my car, and then leaned my forehead against the steering wheel. Once I had taken in a few deep, measured breaths, I reached for my cell. I needed to text her; there was no other choice. I just prayed she wouldn’t be too angry with me. The sound of the front door to the house opening caught my attention.
“What’s the matter? Rough ride?” Emma grinned from the porch.
She was here. Why was she here? My eyes skimmed over her. Why wasn’t she dressed up? She wore a plain cotton T-shirt and black yoga pants, which added more confusion to my flabbergasted mind.
“What is going on?” I climbed out of my car and slammed the door shut behind me. Questions pounded through my mind. Had I already missed the party? No. Emma wouldn’t be smiling if I had.
“Well, hello to you too.” Her grin grew.
“Hey.” I leaned against my car, and folded my arms over my chest. “What’s going on?”
She lifted her shoulders toward her ears in a slow shrug. “Nothing. I’ve just been hanging out.”
“Why aren’t you dressed for your party?” Had I gotten my weekends mixed up? Was her party next weekend? I tried to remember today’s date, but couldn’t.
“The party isn’t until tomorrow night,” my sister said, finally putting me out of my misery.
My mouth fell open. “What?”
She grinned. “I knew you would be late, so I lied and said it was tonight.”
I couldn’t believe her. “I raced all the way here thinking I was late. What if I had died?”
She laughed. “You didn’t die, so everything is okay.”
My lips twisted into a smile against my will. I wanted to be angry with her, but I couldn’t. She knew me too well. That was the problem.
“God.” I brought a hand up to swipe a few stray hairs away from my forehead. “I thought you were going to be so pissed at me. I freaked out, and was actually contemplating changing into my dress in the driveway so I wouldn’t embarrass you more when I walked in.”
“Aw, how sweet.” Her hands clasped the area over her heart in mock affection before she stepped off the porch and walked toward me. “You were gonna flash all the passersby for me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Only because I thought I was late.”
“Come here.” She pulled me into a hug. “Now I know you really love me.”
I wrapped my arms around her. Emma was taller than me by about four inches. Mom always said Emma got her height from our dad. I took after Mom, and was a little on the shorter side, topping out at five-foot-two. Other than the height difference and the length of our hair, we looked nearly identical. We were both blessed with our mom’s soft features and slender frame as well as her brown wavy hair. I had more freckles than Emma, and her eyes were more of a hazel color than my green ones.
“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” I said.
Emma released me from her bear hug and took a step back. Color darkened her cheeks, and I wondered what she must be feeling. Was this as strange for her as it was for me? “I know. Me too.”
“So, who is this mysterious lover of yours?” I tipped my head to the side. I’d thought about it until I’d given myself a headache, trying to figure out if she had mentioned anyone to me. Finally, I concluded she hadn’t. My sister had been keeping a secret from me. A big one. “I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out if I missed you mentioning him since I got your letter. Is he someone I know, or is he someone you managed to meet?”
A large smile swept across her face. Whoever he was, thinking about him made my sister light up. Warmth I hadn’t expected to feel during this trip filled me. Emma was happy. She had found someone who made her happy, and I loved that. She deserved it.
“Well, actually—” Her words were cut off as the screen door to the house flew open, drawing both of our attention to it. It slammed shut behind our mother as she rushed down the porch steps toward me.
The sight of her caused all sorts of emotions to stir within me. Maybe this was because she was dressed for a blizzard. Why was she dressed for a blizzard in late April? We lived in the south, not Alaska. It was chilly, but not that bad.
“There she is!” I was shocked at how normal this moment seemed, minus the ridiculous winter clothes. Mom’s voice was still as sweet as it had always been. Her hair was done in its usual style, and her makeup was neutral giving her the natural look I considered her trademark. Looking at her, you never would guess there was anything wrong.
This was why I didn’t come home often. It was why I couldn’t take care of Mom; she looked too normal. If my mother’s sickness was something I could see eating away at her, then maybe I could handle it. I liked to think, if that were the case, I would be right beside Emma, helping to take Mom to her appointments and watching over her when Emma needed a break.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t how this disease worked. It didn’t affect my mother’s physical appearance, only her state of mind.
“Hey, Mom.” My voice was small and weak, scared sounding. I cleared my throat. “How are you?”
“Good, good. How was your trip?” Her arms wrapped around me in an even stronger bear hug than what Emma had given. The scent of lilacs hit my nose, and I buried my face into her puffy jacket, loving the familiarity of the scent.
Warmth slipped through me. I had missed this. I had missed her. I’d even go so far as to say that I had missed Emma, even after the little stunt she pulled on me. Maybe coming home more often wouldn’t be so bad.
“Now, Debbie, I want to know everything about your trip. Don’t leave out any details. I’ve been wondering all day what it was like for you on that cruise,” Mom said as soon as she released me. “I’ve wanted to go on one myself, but never had the guts to be surrounded by water for so long.”