Sins of Sevin(62)
Sevin apparently lived back at the guesthouse again. One of the conditions of my coming to see my parents was that it be done in the middle of the day when he was working. It was a cowardly move, but I just couldn’t handle seeing him. Daddy had left the plant early to meet with me.
When I got in my car to leave the property, I looked around, overcome by an immense feeling of nostalgia mixed with sadness. Everything looked the same, yet so much had changed. For a moment, it felt like no time had passed.
I became overtaken by an overwhelming need to see Addy despite being ashamed to face her. What I’d done to her was no different than my actions toward Sevin.
My heart sank when I pulled up to her house. The shop looked abandoned. Tears filled my eyes out of fear of what I was going to find when I knocked on that door.
The person who answered the door was not who I expected.
“Can I help you?” a handsome blond boy asked.
“Hi. I’m Evangeline, an old friend of Addy’s. Is she here?”
“You’re Evangeline?”
“Yes.”
He blinked a few times and seemed to be examining my face. “Wow. Um…she went to town to go food shopping.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Luke. Sevin’s brother.”
“Sevin’s brother?”
“Yes. I live here.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I was going through some stuff. I left home. Sevin told me I could come to him if I ever needed him, and I took him up on the offer. Adelaide found out I was here and offered me her spare room. I take care of everything around here for her in exchange for room and board.”
“Are she and Sevin close?”
“Yes. He’s like a son to her. So am I.”
The reality of how much I’d missed was difficult to swallow. “What happened to the shop?”
“It shut down. Two of the guys left for better jobs, and Addy couldn’t keep up with the demand. She lost a lot of regulars. She still does odd fixes here and there, mostly word of mouth.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Did she know you were coming over?”
“No. She has no clue.”
“She talks about you all of the time. She was heartbroken when you left.”
“What about Sevin? Did he ever mention me?”
“No. Anything I know of you came from Adelaide. Sevin won’t talk about you.”
“Yeah…” I nodded in understanding while my eyes felt heavier. “Can I wait here?”
“Sure.”
I sat on the couch and looked around. Everything was the same. The kettle was still at the same spot on the stove. The house still smelled like patchouli. A rush of emotions pummeled through me because this place was the real home I’d abandoned.
The door opened, and I immediately stood up.
Addy was carrying a paper shopping bag and froze. Her lips were trembling as she mindlessly placed the bag down on the table.
I stood there speechless as the tears I’d been holding fell freely.
She shook her head in disbelief and suddenly rushed toward me, pulling me into a warm embrace. Her shoulders were shaking up and down. I’d never seen Addy cry like that, not even after Lorraine died. It was a testament to how much she loved me. Luke left the room to give us some privacy.
After holding me for several minutes, she pulled back. “I didn’t know if you were dead or alive.”
“Sevin never mentioned that he saw me at the funeral?”
“No.”
I didn’t know where to begin. “Addy…”
“You know what I’m gonna ask, Vangie. And don’t you dare lie to me. Where the hell—”
“I’ve been living in Wichita.”
“Wichita? She repeated louder, “Wichita?”
“Yes.”
“All this time, and you’ve been right here in Kansas, just a few hours away?”
“I know you want an explanation, but I’m afraid I can’t give it to you. All I can say is that leaving you was one of the worst parts for me.”
“I know you felt like you had no choice, but Sevin…” She stopped speaking and looked down at the ground.
“What?”
“It completely wrecked him, Vangie. He’s not the same person.” Hearing that felt like a stab through my heart.
“I know. I could sense that. Not that I expected any different, but it’s hard to see it for myself.”
“Who are you living with?”
“I’m married.”
Her eyes widened. “Married? To who?”
“His name is Dean. I met him after I left. Daddy thinks I ran away to be with him, but you know that’s not true. I was on my own for a while, and then he sort of took me in.”