“Was that Alyssa?” Mom asks.
“No, it was Kyle. I met him yesterday at the market. He goes to the same high school. He invited me to a party tonight—he said all the seniors are going and I could meet everyone before school starts.”
“Did he seem to be a nice person?”
“Nice enough.”
“Then you should go, make new friends.” She gives me an encouraging nod. “You’ll be happier here if you have some.”
“We’ll see.”
Mom walks up to me and holds my chin so I’ll look at her. Sometimes I swear she can read my mind. “You have been doing great lately,” she says. “You’ve been spending less time in your room, you’ve traveled with friends, and I’m proud of you for putting yourself out there. Go make some friends and enjoy your last year in school; you’ll miss it when it’s over.”
When I’m done in the kitchen, I head to my closet to try on some clothes for tonight. Mom has a point and I do need to meet some people, but all the while, I’m telling myself that there is absolutely nothing wrong with movie night at home.
6 Adam
I arrive late to Coupeville General Hospital. I’ve been volunteering here during the summer. My position here is to “reach out and read.” In other words, I read books to patients, mostly the elderly. I enjoy it because every time I walk into a room, someone’s face lights up. It’s rewarding and humbling. I’ve also learned a lot from them, because they like to share their experiences with me and give me advice on what I should or shouldn’t do with my life. I don’t mind listening to their suggestions. They remind me of Grandpa.
Today I’m reading to Mrs. Owens. She is seventy-five years old and suffering from lung cancer. She told me she has been smoking since she was seventeen and she wishes she could go back in time and change the bad choices she made in life. Now, she is in her final days and she won’t be able to see her grandkids graduate from high school.
As I walk into her room, a huge smile overtakes her face, but her smile is not wide enough to hide her pain; every time I come in here, her skin looks grayer and more like waxed paper than before. She presses a button on her bed to bring her to a sitting position. Her room is decorated with flowers and family pictures.
“Hello, Adam! I’ve been waiting for you all morning. I can’t wait for us to finish the book. I’ve been thinking nonstop about Noah and Allie, I need to know if they’ll stay together.” Her voice travels across the room like a cracked melody.
“I’ve got it here, Mrs. Owens. We should be done with it today.” I have never seen someone who loves stories so much.
We’ve been reading The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. On the way here today, I bought her the movie, that way she can watch it once we are done with the book. I’m not a type of guy who normally reads romance novels, but I admit that I’m hooked.
When we’re done with the book, Mrs. Owens is still dabbing at her eyes. “Thank you Adam.” she says. “You’ve made my day with this story. You’re a kind young man, you know? I hope you find a love like this one.”
I smile to cover any disappointment that might be apparent on my face; this kind of love will never happen to me. “It would definitely be nice, Mrs. Owens, but I believe love like this is on its way out.”
“No my dear, you’ll find yours one day.” She starts to tilt her bed back again.
“Mrs. Owens, it’s not over.”
She looks at me, confused, worried that she misheard.
“I got you the movie since you liked the characters so much. This way, you’ll always have them with you.”
“Oh, Adam! That’s so nice of you.” She holds her hands together and smiles. “Before you leave, could you put this in the DVD player for me? I don’t know how those things work.”
I put the movie in place and give her a hug goodbye. I’m glad I could make her day a little better. So far, I had a good day myself, if it weren’t for my mind, which keeps bringing me back to Livia in the barn this morning.
I wanted to invite her to the party tonight; there’s something about her that intrigues me. But I could feel some anger surfacing from her. Not strong, but it was still there. So I didn’t have the guts to invite her after all, and I didn’t feel like getting blown off.
In the hallway, I hear a guy shouting at Kim, the nurse tech at the front desk. I immediately feel his overpowering rage in the air. I stop by the door to check if she needs any help, but at the same time, two security guys walk in.
“There’s no need for that!” I hear the man saying. “I’m not looking for trouble. I just need a word with Doctor Cooper, and then I’ll leave.”
“I’ve already informed you that he’s not working today,” Kim answers him.
“Fine! I’ll figure out another way.” He turns on his heel and leaves the wing, and I watch with confusion as he walks away.
“Adam?” Kim sees me and frowns. I give her a questioning look—that man was after my dad, after all. “He’s been here before and your dad asked me to send him away. He just wants to cause trouble, no matter what he says.”
I shake my head and turn to leave. Intriguing or not, it’s none of my business. If I hurry home, maybe I can sneak a nap in before dinnertime.
7 Livia
After trying on five different outfits, I go for a mini-dress. Short sleeve, round neck, allover print, curved hem, and open at the lower back. It’s not fancy but it’s New York chic. I don’t know what girls here wear to parties, so I don’t want to be over or underdressed. I put on mid-high wedges, long, slender gold earrings, and matching bracelets. I straighten my hair and put just enough make up on to give some color to my pale face. I take one more look in the mirror and head downstairs.
“Livia, how nice!” Mom exclaims when she sees me.
“There is a big hole in your dress.” Gabe says, hanging out from the balustrade behind me.
“A hole? Oh, no! I didn’t see any… Gabe, where is it?” I am freaking out. I don’t have time to go try on five more outfits.
“Here!” Gabe says touching my spine. “I can see a big part of your back.”
Half-relieved, half-irritated, I tell him, “It’s not a hole, honey; that’s how the dress is.”
“If you say so!” he says, raising his eyebrows and putting up his hands in surrender.
When we leave for the Coopers’, I drive my own car in case I go to the party afterward. When I pull into their driveway, Mr. Cooper is at the front door, welcoming my parents.
“Nickolas! Laura! It’s nice to have you over and finally meet your family.”
“Thanks for having us, William,” my mom says.
“Come on in and make yourselves at home,” Mr. Cooper says, shaking hands with my parents and patting my brothers on the head. I enter last. “You must be Livia, right? Nice meeting you!”
“Nice meeting you, too.” I give him a shy smile—I’m getting a weird vibe from him. He has emotional scars, bad ones. Something has happened in his life that was disturbing enough to wound him forever.