Crossing Paths (12 page)

“Thanks, Mom. I think I’m going to run out and sit with Dad while he finishes grilling.”

“Alright, dear. Addison and I are going to be sorting through some fall decorations. Come join us if you get bored.”

“Sounds good, Mom.”

Sorting through decorations sounds like a new form of torture I have no interest in submitting myself to. I step out the back door and pull a chair up close to where my dad is focused on the grill. Bear, the dog-horse, trots over and lies across my feet, his favorite spot. I lean forward, place my head in my hands, and sigh.

“What’s wrong, June? You look a little down. You feeling okay?”

“I guess so. Just a stressful week.”

I tell my dad about my business trip and the new contract, leaving out any information about Cohen. Leaving his post at the grill, he leans down to grasp both my shoulders. I swear he looks like he’s going to cry. He is always so proud of me.

One time, after I came in fifth place in a spelling bee at school, he took me out for dinner at my favorite restaurant, and he even bought me dessert. He didn’t care that I didn’t get a medal or ribbon, and he breezed right over the fact that I came in fifth out of only six kids.

“June, that is absolutely wonderful. I am so happy for you. I knew you would be great at whatever you chose to do.”

I bring my finger up to just below my eye and wipe away a fake tear. “Dad, it’s all because of your parenting skills and exceptional encouragement over the years,” I joke, trying to break out of this awkward moment.

He laughs and goes back to the grill.

“Dad, did you ever embarrass yourself when you first met Mom?”

“Sure, I did. The first time we ever went out on a date I dropped her ice cream down the front of her dress. Then, I did the classic move, trying to clean it up with a napkin, before I realized I was rubbing my hands all over her chest. It was extremely embarrassing, but it turned out to be a great story to tell at dinner parties.” He chuckles to himself as he flips a pork chop.

“Did you worry that she wouldn’t like you after that?”

“I guess, but I was too smitten with her to not give it a try. A couple days later, I asked her out on another date. I promised I would keep my hands to myself, and I’d let her get her own ice cream from then on. Why do you ask? Did someone make a fool of himself, trying to impress you?” He winks.

“Not exactly. It’s actually the other way around. My first impression wasn’t the best. I basically attacked him with a magazine. Then, I literally ran into him when we were walking into a business meeting. Later that day, he asked me to spend time with him. I don’t know if you would call it a date, but we ate lunch together, and then he sent me a note at work the other day.”

“It sounds to me like he’s interested. I wouldn’t worry about
attacking
him. I am quite sure he wouldn’t mind a sweet girl like you getting his attention in whatever way you choose. If you want to continue getting to know him, just be yourself.”

“Thanks, Dad. As always, good advice.”

“I do what I can. You know, being a family doctor lends itself to a lot of counseling,” he says, laughing. “Go let your mom and Addison know that dinner is ready.”

I go back inside to find them sitting in the middle of the foyer. It looks like a giant pumpkin threw up around them. I don’t envy those people who work at Hobby Lobby.
This is ridiculous.
Not wanting to get caught up in all the mess, I don’t say anything, and I walk back outside.

“They’re ready when you are, Dad.” Turning to walk back inside, I hesitate. “You know, you really are the best, Dad.”

“Don’t make me blush, June Bug,” he says, smiling. “Oh, before you go in, could you turn off the sprinkler?”

I walk over to turn off the hose, and then I brush a quick kiss against my dad’s cheek.

“Love you,” I say as I push against the door to the kitchen. Nothing happens, and I end up banging my shoulder into the door. I try again. Nothing. When I try the doorknob, it turns, so it’s not locked. “Dad, have you been having trouble with this door?”

About that time, I give one more big push. The door flies open, and I fall flat on my face. Looking up toward the ceiling, my brother comes into view. He has a huge grin spread across his face.
I should have known.

Sunday

I get up Sunday morning, go through my usual routines, and then proceed to stress out. This weekend could not have been more embarrassing. I’m trying to think of any excuse to avoid going to June’s house today, but nothing is coming to mind.
Did I really let Liam carry me? Was I that pathetic? How could I go from charity event beauty one night to drunken baseball spectator the next?
There is absolutely no recovery from this shame.

To top it all off, I can’t even talk to my best friend about the situation. I am now certain a reality show should be made about my life. It could be called
Undercover Idiot!!!
And yes, there should be three exclamation points along with loud horns that blast for emphasis as each one shows up on the screen.

I mope for about twenty more minutes until my phone chimes. Glancing at the screen, I see that I have three new text messages.

Save me. We’ll be home around 3:30 this afternoon. Please don’t leave me alone. —June

Ha!
It’s funny to watch June squirm under the influence of her mom and sister. I don’t know how she grew up in the same house but ended up being so different from them. I guess I should support my best friend despite hoping to never enter their beautiful home again. I send her a quick text back.

Late lunch with my bro at 1, and then I’ll head your way. You shall be saved. —Caroline

Thanks is not enough. Chocolate of any kind will be rewarded upon your arrival. —June

I scroll to the text below.

Caroline, this is your mom. Call me when you can. —Mom

She always sends text messages like she is leaving a phone message. Scrolling to the last message, I hesitate to open it. Of course, it’s from Liam.

Hope you are feeling okay today. See you for dinner at the fam’s house. —Liam

It would be more gentleman-like of him if he would stop contacting me. There’s no way he could be interested in a train wreck like me.

I dial my mom’s number and wait for her to answer.

“Hello?” Her voice sounds hoarse, and her normal cheery tone is gone.

She doesn’t sound good.
“Hey, Mom. I got your text. What’s up?”

“Just wanted to say hello to my sweetest baby girl, and I wasn’t sure if you had to work on the weekends.”

“Mom, you know you can call me anytime. I always have time for you. How are you doing? You sound down.”

“I’m okay, just feeling tired. I think I might have caught some kind of bug that’s going around.”

“Well, take care of yourself, Mom. I don’t want to have to call John, or better yet, fly up there and put you in line.”

“I doubt you or anyone else could put this woman in line.”

When she laughs lightly, it makes me smile.

“You’re probably right.”

“Will you be seeing your brother while he’s in town?”

“I’m actually headed out the door soon to meet him for lunch. It sounds like he has a pretty busy schedule while he’s here though.”

“He really needs to slow down.”

“I’ll tell him you said so, Mom, but he’ll probably want me to call you back and tell you the same thing.”

“Alright then. Well, you two enjoy your lunch. You should really think about coming home to visit soon. We would all love to see you.”

“I’ll try, but I’m not sure when I’ll get time off work.”

“I love you, Caroline.”

“Love you, too. Are you sure everything is okay?”

“Yes. It’s fine. Just enjoy yourself.”

“Okay. I’ll call you soon. Bye.”

“Bye.”

After we hang up, I still feel like something is off with her. Maybe my brother will have some insight. If he doesn’t, I’ll have to make sure and call John tonight.

Growing up, my brother and I were always really close. Much like Liam was for June, my brother was protective to the extreme, but he was also my biggest cheerleader. I’ll never forget the time I decided to run for student council in elementary school. He had to have known that my opponent was the most popular girl in school, so I had no chance of winning, but he still stayed up all night with me, making posters for my campaign. We agreed to hang them in the hallways at school. When he realized just how dismal my chances at winning were, he cut holes in the tops of two signs, attached them with rope, and wore them on the front and back of his body all day. I still lost the election, but it felt good to know I had his support.

After my downer of a weekend, it will be nice to see him.

We decided to meet at a diner near his hotel, and when I walk in the door, his huge grin greets me instantly. Taking quick steps toward his open arms, I accept his embrace like it’s the air I need to breathe. There’s no one in the world that can infuse joy in my heart like him.

We laugh through the entire meal. I take time to ask him about Mom, but he says he hasn’t noticed anything different when he talks with her. I should have known that a man probably wouldn’t have picked up on the subtle attitude changes of his mother. Plus, he has his own issues to deal with back home.

We talk about nothing of importance, and it feels nice to let go of all the stress I’ve been feeling over the past few days.

Before I’m ready, it’s time for me to leave and head to June’s house. My brother and I agree to try and catch up later this week before he heads back home. He gives me one more solid embrace before we both get into our respective cars.

Flipping on the radio, I begin my drive across town to meet June at her parents’ house. As I pull into the neighborhood, I slow down when I’m just a few houses away. I park against the curb, and lower my head down to the steering wheel.

I begin to talk out loud, going through the situations that might occur once I walk up the steps into their home.

“What if he ignores me? Should I say hi to him first or let him approach me? If he says something about us in front of his whole family, I might die. Then again, at least it would be out there, and we could move on, right? June would totally freak out. I’ll have to come up with a way to explain—”

A loud knock startles me.

I jerk my head toward the window and see Liam. He’s on the other side of the glass, grinning down at me. His muscular arms are crossed above his head, shadowing his face from the sun, as he leans on my car. I can see that his gray T-shirt is half-soaked in sweat, and his hair is glistening in the sunlight. I remind myself to close my mouth, so it doesn’t appear as if I have lost complete control just from the sight of him.

“You doing okay in there?” he asks with a slight laugh through the glass.

I lower my window. “Uh, yeah. Listen, I need to apologize about yesterday.”

“No need. I had a good time. See you at the house. You do remember which one is ours, right?” He’s still smiling as he leans further into my window.

“Yes, I remember.”

“Okay then, I’ll see you in a few.” He jogs away into the sun.

I watch him jog down the sidewalk, up the walkway, and into the front door. I replay our short conversation as I slowly drive up to their house. He basically dismissed my apology, but he wasn’t very specific about why he had a good time.
Did it have anything to do with me? Maybe he just enjoyed the game.

I walk up to the front door and knock as softly as possible. I’m hoping no one will hear it, and then I can pretend I thought no one was home, so I can leave. I hear a faint, “Come in,” and I open the door into an explosion of fall holiday decor strewn across the foyer floor.

June’s mother smiles. “Hi, Caroline! June is out back, supervising her father’s grill work. Get yourself something to drink in the kitchen on your way out.”

“Alright, thanks,” I say, trying to fake a smile. I glance up the stairway and around the corner as I head to the kitchen.
No sign of Liam.