“Bet he did it on purpose, so she’d go back to the motel,” says TB.
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“Aw, here we go. Why are you defending him, Athena? The guy left you.”
“The guy left this town, and I just happened to be in it. He wanted to be an actor, you can’t do that here.”
“Whatever,” says TB with a flick of his wrist.
Todd clears his throat. “This is really good paella, Mrs. Boswell.”
Mom smiles widely at him. “Thank you, Todd. How was work today?”
And just like that, the conversation is diffused as Mom and Todd discuss the events in our small town. Mechanically, I fill my plate, grateful that Sophia and Kris have departed.
Dad leans in. “Are you okay, buttercup?”
I nod. “Yeah, Dad.”
“He looks the same, only older.” I nod, not wanting to talk about Kris. “He was a fool and look what he ended up with.”
I look up to his kind face, and Dad winks at me.
Laughing, I smile widely at him. “I love you, Dad.”
He pats my arm then looks down at his plate. “Betty, can we eat?”
Todd starts coughing. “Are we waiting?”
“Heavens no. He might not come back, let’s eat,” replies Mom.
I wink at Mom and then look at TB. “Do you realize that soon you’ll be an old married couple?”
Ashlea’s face goes all soft, and she looks at TB, a loving smile on her lips. “Yes, we will.”
“We will not be an old married couple. We will be a hot, young, married couple.”
Ashlea grabs his face and kisses him.
“All right, that’s enough, you two. I’m trying to eat,” teases Dad.
“It’s really good, Mom,” says Ashlea.
Mom’s face goes red, and her eyes become bright with tears. “I get a new daughter.”
“Aww!” says Todd with his fork paused mid-air. “That’s so sweet.”
Mom nods and looks down at her plate. She’s always been the practical one, so seeing this kind of emotional display is completely out of character.
“Mom, are you okay?” I ask.
“It’s nice having all of my kids home.”
She’s talking about Kris. I guess it never occurred to me that she’d miss him too. He was an important part of our family for years. When his mother died, he practically moved in here and slept in TB’s room.
TB looks at me and raises his eyebrows. In return, I slightly shake my head and shrug.
“How did the final fitting for your dress go?” asks Ashlea.
“Mom’s done. It looks fabulous.”
“Ashlea, she looks like an angel in it,” says Mom.
“Yes, she does,” agrees Dad. “Of course, you’ll be the shining light on the day.”
Ashlea blushes at Dad’s compliment. “I hope so.”
“Dad’s right, all eyes are going to be on you. Is everything organized?” I ask.
TB grabs Ashlea’s hand and raises it to his lips, kissing it.
She looks at him and smiles as she answers my question, “Yes, we’re all set. We just have to get to the chapel on time.”
“I’ll be there waiting.” TB kisses her lightly, a smile on his lips as he pulls away and stares into her eyes.
It’s like there’s no one else in the room. They exist only for each other. Inside, I turn a shade of green. I’m happy for TB, and I never thought he’d find someone, but Ashlea is perfect for him. She calls him out on his bullshit, and she’s his biggest supporter. I’ve seen her do an all-day shift at the medical center, then work at the café at night when a waitress doesn’t turn up. And TB, well, he’d do anything for her. It’s all about give and take and being there for each other. I’m not sure I’ve ever had that.
***
Two hours later, and I’m in the kitchen putting everything into the dishwasher. Todd and my dad have disappeared into his workshop out back to look at Dad’s latest wood carving. It’s something he started the day he retired, much to Mom’s amusement. His works of art are definitely interesting. Mom has retreated into her sewing room, and TB and Ashlea are sitting on the front deck enjoying each other’s company.
“Do you need help?”
I freeze. His voice runs over me like an old song, and my body responds to him like it always did.
“Athena?”
I make myself stand tall, straighten my shoulders, turn around, and shake my head. Kris is standing so close, I could reach out and touch him. He places a hand to the back of his neck, an old tell when he’s feeling uncomfortable.
“Are there leftovers? Your mom’s paella is the best.”
“Y-You remember?”
The hand drops, and he places both of them in his pockets rocking back on his heels. “Of course, I remember. I remember everything, Athena.”
I cock my head to the side. “In the fridge.” I turn back around and continue stacking the dishwasher.
The refrigerator door opens, and I hear him getting a plate out of the cupboard. When I turn back around, he’s pouring himself a glass of milk.
“I’ve missed this.”
“Mom’s food?”
Kris shakes his head, holds up his hand, and makes a circle in the air. “No this... this house, the people in it, the food, the town, and most of all… you.”
I swear my heart is beating so loudly that everyone in town can probably hear it. I’m staring at him standing there in jeans, a white shirt, and a black jacket, and I feel like that seventeen-year-old girl again, totally enamored with the only boy who ever made her feel like she was precious.
Todd walks in and clears his throat. “Athena, love, are you ready to go?”
Love?
Todd places both his hands on my shoulders, blocking my view of Kris. “I have an early shift tomorrow, and didn’t you want to finish those last chapters of your current book?”
“Y-Yes, yes, I did.”
Todd kisses my forehead and drops his hands, taking one of mine in his, then he turns around and smiles broadly at Kris.
“Nice meeting you, Kris. Athena has told me a lot about you.” Todd smiles at him and holds out his hand.
Kris grasps it, and I can tell this is not a friendly handshake. Both men plaster fake smiles on their faces.
“Nice meeting you, too,” replies Kris.
They break the handshake, and Todd smiles down at me. “Come on, buttercup, time to hit the road.”
I glance at Kris who looks taken aback at Todd using Dad’s nickname for me.
“See you, Kris,” I mumble as Todd drags me from the room.
“Bye, Athena.”
I don’t look back, instead keeping my eyes fixed straight ahead. TB and Ashlea are still on the front deck when Todd drags me out there.
“Night you two, I’m taking Athena home.”
“Night, Todd,” they say in unison.
I give them a wave as I somehow make it down the stairs and into Todd’s cruiser.
Todd says nothing on the way home. I glance at him. He’s gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles are white, and his mouth is in a straight line. When we arrive at my home, he turns off the cruiser and jogs around it to open my door.