“How have you been? I really should call more often,” I asked.
“Well, I have some great news, but I was hoping to save it for dinner time. In the meantime, I just finished boiling some water. Would you like some tea or cocoa?”
“Tea, please,” I replied.
We sat about, making polite conversation. We hadn’t seen each other for a few months, and I was the worst at keeping in touch. It sounded like she had stayed busy while I was gone, going to local meetups for adults, and meeting more new people to spend time with. It seemed she was doing all the things that I was distracting her from. She and I were best gal-pals, but as I grew up, we grew apart. I found solace in my books, and she took to practicing piano anytime it suited her fancy.
When I found a lull in the conversation, I excused myself to return to my room to put away my things. I had almost a month off from school and wanted to keep away from the vitriol of the school. The videos of me and the rink continued to make their way around the school, and thankfully I never saw the video that Rick took.
I had become something of a legend on the party scene, which was great for my popularity, but not for my solitude. There were so many people interested in having me come to their event, and I had even less interest than before.
I heard mom stamp up the hardwood steps of the tiny house, walking towards my bedroom. She knocked on the open door.
“Hey Casey, company will be here shortly,” she said.
I nodded but was still curious about this mysterious company that she’d be keeping. No matter, though; as it was probably just a few friends from a knitting group coming by for dinner.
I pulled on my comfiest sweater and joined her downstairs, with my book in hand. She knew my habits and had already cleared off my favorite chair for reading.
The doorbell rang loud in the living room, and I did my best to look casual. Mother hurriedly paced to the door and tore it open. The frame of the figure standing at the door was much larger than I expected.
“Hello, Gladys. I hope you don’t mind if I brought my boys along. They’re going to have to meet sooner or later, I figured now is as good a time as any,” said the man.
Such an odd way to phrase it, and I wondered what he meant by ‘sooner or later.'
I stood from my chair, attempting to peer around the door to see who might be talking. Then I saw Rick walk inside the house.
Rick.
“What the hell are you doing here,” I asked, with my mouth agape.
Rick turned to find the source of the voice and squared up when he saw me.
“You’re the last person I expected to see here, how do you know Gladys?” he asked.
“I’m her daughter,” I replied coldly.
I gave him a stare that would kill a rhino in its step, but he looked unfazed by it. Then another young man strode into the house hoisted up by a pair of crutches.
“Who’s this, Rick?” I prodded.
“You could just ask me,” he started, “I’m Trenton, nice to meet you.”
He seemed so upbeat; I reached out to his outstretched hand and gave it a shake.
“So, this is your brother, Rick?” I asked.
They did look quite similar, but Trenton was younger and had more childish features, but still the same piercing blue eyes.
“Did you want to sit down, Trenton,” I asked.
He nodded, so I showed him to my reading chair. I think he liked it quite a bit as he sat his crutches beside the fireplace.
I stood partially alone with Rick in the walkway.
“If you tell my mom about what happened I will seriously kill you,” I said.
“I haven’t told a soul and don’t intend to start now,” he replied.
I stormed off to the kitchen to click off the stove. Steam billowed from the noisy kettle, so I removed it from the burner and started pouring myself a glass. Then I remembered my manners.
“Trenton, Rick, would you guys like some tea,” I asked curtly.
“Just me,” replied Trenton.
I fixed him a nice warm cup and brought a glass of water back for Rick. As I walked into the living room where they sat, I saw Trenton holding Rick inside a headlock. Rick was doing his best impression of being stuck, but it didn’t fool me.
“Geez, Trenton, you keep working out and you’ll be laying everyone flat.”
Trenton giggled.
I handed them their drinks and sat on the couch opposite them. My mother and the stranger at the door continued to chat in whispers until she finally came into the living room.
“Okay, we’re just going to come out and say it,” my mom said.
“We’re getting married!” added the man I’d never seen before.
I stared at the two with an expression of disbelief.
“Okay, mom, whatever you say,” I said.