Beyond Eighteen(20)

I was taking inventory of the room when my eyes met Calvin’s. I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear and tried to hide the fact that I wasn’t really ready to see him.

Calvin was leaning against the granite counter across from Max. His sheepish expression begged for forgiveness while his strong body language told me that Nancy and I were interrupting something important between him and Max.

“Wilson,” Calvin attempted as he looked down at the stack of papers in front of him and began to straighten them into a pile.

I didn’t want to answer him. Even though there was this tiny part of me that had already forgiven him for what he did, the rest of me really wanted to kick his ass. I wanted him to feel the pain he’d created in my life with his actions. But instead I played the bigger person and answered back.

“Calvin.”

Max noticed the tension between his brother and me and hurried to intercede.

“Sweetheart, it’s been a long day. Why don’t you head upstairs? I’ll grab your bag from the car.” Max strode toward me before bending down to take off my boots. I felt the heat of his hand against my thigh and the weight of my leg become light as he slipped off my Uggs one foot at a time.

“Let me fix something to eat for everyone,” Nancy piped up, looking at Max before nodding her head and heading around the island and into the kitchen.

“Okay, Ma, that sounds good. You hungry, Wilson?” Max said delicately, knowing that is exactly what his mom needed to do.

I nodded my head. I was a little hungry, and even though I wanted to go upstairs and be alone with Max, there was something making me stay down here and be a part of his family.

“It’s settled, then. Maxi, go out and get Wilson’s bags, then come back and be with us. Where’s Camille?” The Nancy that I remembered before Frank’s death began to shine through the Nancy who was grieving her losses.

“Who the hell knows? She’s just like Dan,” Calvin sneered.

I caught Nancy as she shot Calvin a look. He glanced over at me, cleared his throat, and agreed to go look for his sister. Max pushed his lips to my temple. His kiss was so warm, so inviting, I felt my body regret not following him. He exhaled as he pulled away, taking my breath with him.

“I’ll be right back. I love you,” he growled breathily before he exited into the garage.

“Wilson, come on over and help me,” Nancy said, snapping me out of the trance Max set me under. Her hands were filled with ingredients I couldn’t even begin to understand how to mix let alone make into something edible.

“Are you sure you want my help? I have burned water you know,” I answered sarcastically.

“Well, lucky for me, we aren’t fixing water tonight. Bend down to that cabinet and grab me the black-handled fry pan. I’m going to teach you how to make one of Frank and Maxi’s favorites: blackened sea bass,” she stated as she freed her hands from the garlic, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and olive oil—all the ingredients that must make cooking sea bass edible. “Oh, and grab me a couple of lemons out the fruit bowl,” she pitched her hand in the air, pointing toward the dining room table as she turned and grabbed a small container of paprika.

“Okay,” I answered, unsure as I set the fry pan on the front burner of the huge Viking stove and left to fetch the two lemons we needed for the sea bass.

I heard the door stretch open with its off-key song as it stopped and started again. Nancy’s voice filled the room with the pleasure of having a new pupil in the kitchen.

“Oh, honey, I am so excited…I’m teaching Wilson how to make you and your father’s—favorite,” her voice cracked.

“Macaroni and cheese?” Max teased.

I grabbed the lemons and was turning to enter the kitchen when I decided to lean against the doorway and watched them.

“No, guess again.”

“Frozen pizza?” Max asked sarcastically.

Nancy took a dish towel from the counter, wound it tight, and snapped it at his butt. “Wrong again, smarty,” she barked as I noticed tears starting to swell in her eyes.

“Hey, fine, Chinese chicken salad, but that’s my last guess,” he teased as he grabbed the dish towel. “Ha, what are you gonna do now?” Max was trying to make light of it the moment he realized she was starting to cry.

“I can’t believe you didn’t say—”

“Blackened sea bass?” Max interrupted her.

“Your dad’s favorite,” Nancy choked as she looked at him, tears streaming down her cheeks while her delicate hands tapped his chest. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. I watched as a moment of sadness radiated through her expression.