The Day He Came Back

by Ward, Penelope

  We’d left things on such a strange note. He was still in shock when last I saw him, and I never saw him again after he left my house that day.

  I tried my best to return to my usual routine with Mr. M. Everything was normal, except Weldon was still here. He mostly kept to himself in the pool house, and I was pretty sure he was drinking. I suspected things hadn’t ended on a good note for him and Gavin, either.

  Then he showed up in Mr. M’s room one afternoon with his rolling suitcase.

  I stood up from my seat in surprise. “Are you leaving?”

  “’Bout time, right?”

  “I wasn’t going to say that.”

  He walked over to his father, who was sitting in his recliner.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  “Weldon?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wanted to talk to you before I go.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going back to California.”

  Mr. M placed his hand on Weldon’s arm. “Stay, son.”

  That warmed my heart.

  “Thanks, Dad. But I do have to leave. I’ll come back soon, though. I promise. It won’t be like before where years go by before you see me.” Weldon embraced his dad.

  “Such a good boy,” Mr. M muttered.

  Weldon shut his eyes tightly. “I promise the next time I’m here, I’ll give you something to be proud of.”

  Mr. M was oblivious to Weldon’s troubles. And that was probably a good thing.

  “Your mother and I are very proud of you, son.”

  Weldon glanced over at me, and I knew he wondered whether Mr. M had forgotten Ruth was dead. In that moment, I couldn’t be sure. Every day was different in terms of what he remembered.

  He patted his dad on the back. “Don’t give Renata any trouble, okay, you old geezer? You be good.”

  Weldon turned to whisper to me. “I have a car coming in a few minutes. Can I speak to you downstairs before I go?”

  “Of course.” I turned to his father. “Mr. M, I’m going to walk Weldon out. I’ll be back in a few.”

  Once downstairs, Weldon and I went to the kitchen.

  “So you’re really going back to Cali…”

  “Yeah. It’s time.”

  “What will you do when you get there?”

  “Gavin called a few places. He got me into a program in Laguna Beach. He didn’t trust me to take the initiative, and that was probably a good call. Three months. I promised him I’d go. It starts Monday, so...”

  “I’m really proud of you.”

  “I wanted to make sure you have all my information and the name of the place I’ll be staying.” He grabbed a pad of paper from the drawer and wrote some things down. “Please let me know if anything changes with Dad. I need to be more involved in his life. I want to be better for him.”

  “You will be.”

  He looked down at his feet, seeming a bit ashamed. “I’m really sorry about what I did—telling Gavin the truth. It wasn’t my secret to tell. I fucked that all up.”

  “There’s no need to apologize. You actually did me a favor. I’d decided to tell him before he left anyway, and you saved me from having to explain.”

  “I still feel guilty. I promised you I wouldn’t say anything.” He sighed. “What happened with you guys before he left?”

  “Gavin never said anything to you?”

  He shook his head. “I knew he’d gone to see you, and he came back to the house that day looking like he’d been hit by a truck. But he didn’t want to talk, other than making me promise to let him find a rehab place for me. He said he’d let me stay here a couple of weeks under that condition. I don’t think he would’ve thrown me out, but I went along with it anyway. I knew I needed the kick in the ass.” He rolled his suitcase toward the door. “You haven’t spoken to him?”

  “No. Not a word.”

  “I hope it works out, Raven. I hope he comes to his senses. He’ll be really missing out if he doesn’t.”

  “Thank you. I’m not sure anything will change in our lives, but I’m relieved he knows the truth. Please don’t feel guilty for anything. Just focus on getting yourself better. I know you can do it.”

  “Thanks for believing in me.” Weldon leaned in and gave me a hug. In his arms, I smiled. He was now one of my favorite people, despite our volatile history.

  I watched as he got into his Uber and took off.

  Things felt emptier the second he left. Having the brothers back together had been so nostalgic. Their presence had breathed life back into this place. Now it was back to being a virtual nursing home, albeit probably the world’s most beautiful one.

  ***

  Later that afternoon, Genevieve came across some old photo albums that had been collecting dust in a guest bedroom closet.

  “You think Mr. M might want to look through some of these?” she asked.

  “That might be a nice exercise to spark his memory. Yeah. I’ll take them.”

  Mr. M was sitting up in bed watching CNN when I walked in. I lowered the volume.

  “Genevieve found some old photos. Would you like to look through them?”

  He nodded.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and placed one of the albums in his lap.

  He began to flip through the pages. He stopped at a photo of Ruth standing in the garden. It had been taken probably twenty years ago. There was that diamond necklace she always wore, wrapped around her neck.

  “My beautiful wife.”

  I gritted my teeth. “Yes, she was, wasn’t she?”

  He resumed turning the pages. There were lots of snapshots of the boys when they were about six and ten years old.

  In one of the photos, my mother was standing to the right of Gavin, helping him cut a piece of his birthday cake. It took everything in me to keep from crying because it was an image I’d never seen before. Every memory of her was so precious now.

  He pointed to her face. “Who’s that?”

  My heart sped up a little. “That’s...me.”

  “I thought so.” He kept looking back and forth between the photo and me. It made me nervous that maybe he’d figured out the difference, but then he just turned the page.

  He stopped at a photo of Gavin and Weldon fishing.

  “Look at them. Such good boys.”

  “They are, Mr. M. You’re very lucky. You have two wonderful sons who love you very much.”

  He turned to me. “I’m lucky to have you, too.”

  I wrapped my arm around him. “The luck is all mine.”

  After we finished that album, we opened a second one. This album featured photos from when the boys were in high school.

  In one of them, Gavin was dressed in a tux, standing next to a blond girl in a long, red dress. Her hair was up with loose tendrils framing her face. It was from a dance, taken probably five years or so before I’d met him.

  “Who is that?” he asked.

  “That’s Gavin.”

  He seemed confused. “How old is Gavin now?”

  “He’s thirty-one.”

  “Where is he?”

  “London. But he was just here, remember?”

  “Oh, yes. This morning.”

  “No. That was Weldon. He went back to California today. Gavin was here for a month up until a couple of weeks ago. He spent a lot of time with you.”

  After a long moment of silence, he said, “Oh, yeah. That’s right.”

  Sadness washed over me as it did whenever he lost track of things. Sometimes it was only fleeting, but other times it wasn’t. It was hard to tell when he truly remembered something and when he was pretending. I wondered how much worse things might be the next time Gavin came home.

  I had to say, though, some days I wished I could take some of Mr. M’s forgetfulness off his shoulders. There were plenty of things I wished I didn’t have to remember.

  ***

  The days wore on, and still no word from Gavin. It had been almost a month since he left.

/>   I’d almost given up hope of hearing from him—until my cell phone rang one Wednesday afternoon. When I saw his name on the screen, I had to pause before answering. It was ironic, because the day he came back had also been a random Wednesday.

  A rush of adrenaline swept through me. I felt like my life was on the line.

  I cleared my throat. “Hello?”

  “Hey.” His deep voice shook me, making my pulse react.

  “Hi.”

  “How are things over there?” he asked. “I’ve been checking in with Genevieve, but I haven’t spoken to you in some time.”

  “Everything is good. Stable. Your dad is good.”

  He paused. “How are you?”

  “I’m...hanging in there.”

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch.”

  With each second that passed, more dread filled me.

  “That’s okay. I mean, I wasn’t necessarily expecting to hear from you.”

  “I needed some time to clear my head after Florida.”

  I swallowed. “Right…”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Do you trust me?”

  What does that mean? “I do.”

  “We need to talk...in person. I don’t want to do this over the phone. But I can’t leave England again right now. I was wondering if you could get on a plane and come here.”

  I felt my eyes widen. “To London. You want me to come to London?”

  “Yeah.” He chuckled. “Do you have a passport?”

  It took me a few seconds to process his question. “Believe it or not, even though I don’t go anywhere, I do have one, and I keep it up to date.”

  “Would you be okay with getting on a plane tonight?”

  My heart raced. I wanted to scream Yes! But I had so many questions. “How would that even be possible? I’d have to talk to work.”

  “I’ll call the agency, make arrangements for Dad. And of course, I’ll book your flight. If I can handle that, will you come?”

  How could I say no? The curiosity would kill me.

  “I…yeah. Yes! I’ll come.”

  He let out a breath into the phone. “Let me make a few calls, and I’ll be back in touch, okay?”

  Even though I could hardly breathe, I tried to sound calm. “Yep.”

  I hung up.

  What just happened?

  ***

  Needless to say, I had a difficult time concentrating the rest of the afternoon.

  When I couldn’t take the waiting anymore, I stepped out to the backyard while Mr. M napped.

  I dialed Marni.

  “What’s up?” she answered. “You don’t normally call me at this time.”

  “Marni, I’m freaking out.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “Gavin wants me to come to London…tonight.”

  “What? Tonight?”

  “He called me today, said he needs to talk to me in person, doesn’t want to do it over the phone. He can’t leave England right now, so he wants to fly me there. He’s making alternate arrangements for his father so I can leave tonight.”

  “Holy shit! That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Romantic? It’s terrifying!”

  “How can you think that?”

  “I have no evidence that this is about him wanting to get back together with me. Maybe he needs to see me in person to give me bad news. He hasn’t told me why he wants me there, except that we need to talk. It all sounded pretty ominous, if you ask me.”

  “I don’t believe that for a second.”

  “Maybe he’s still confused. Maybe he needs time with me to figure out what he wants? Or maybe he just wanted to see me one last time before he—”

  “Stop theorizing…”

  “He hasn’t contacted me in nearly a month, and now he wants me to come to London. I don’t know what to make of it.”

  “Don’t make anything of it. Just do it. Go. Take a risk, Raven. You’ve never even left the country. You deserve a break from your routine, and Lord knows, you deserve some closure where that man’s concerned. One way or the other, I think you’re gonna get it this time.”

  “I wish you could come with me.”

  “Nah. This trip is yours to do alone.”

  My phone beeped. I looked down. It was Gavin calling on the other line.

  “Oh my God. He’s calling.”

  “Go, go!” she said.

  I clicked over, attempting to sound casual. My hand was on my forehead. “Hello?”

  “Hey. I’ve spoken to the agency. They assured me they have someone who’s worked with Dad before lined up to take your place for at least a few days. They said they’d handle it for as long as needed, though. The replacement is on her way.”

  I walked back into the house and asked, “How did you manage that on such short notice?

  “Does it matter?”

  Things did not work that smoothly at my office. I wondered who he had to pay off.

  “Not really, I suppose.”

  “Explain to my dad that you have to go out of town. Assure him you’ll be back. I have a car coming to get you in a half hour. The driver will take you to your house so you can pack a bag. Then he’ll drive you to Palm Beach International. Leave your car parked at Dad’s. That way you don’t have to deal with parking at the airport.”

  “Why do I feel like I’m in the middle of a movie with all of these instructions?”

  “When you get into the car, there will be a suitcase with money in it. Take it to the alley and...” He laughed. “Kidding.”

  “Exactly! That’s exactly what this reminds me of!” I expelled a nervous breath. “What do I do when I get to London?”

  “Don’t worry. Someone will be there to pick you up.”

  “Okay. Um…this is really weird. And exciting. I’ve only flown once before. I’m freaking out a little.”

  “You’ll be fine. I promise.”

  “This is officially the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

  “Well, then, I’m glad to have a part in it.”

  I looked over at the clock. Holy shit, I’d be in London in a matter of hours. “I’ll see you soon, I guess.”

  “Raven…”

  “Yeah?”

  “Just breathe.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  * * *

  RAVEN

  I couldn’t remember ever being this anxious. Sitting on a British Airways jet and not knowing what I’d be facing on the ground was nerve-wracking.

  I spent a good majority of the flight reflecting on my life since Gavin’s return.

  Back when we were younger, Gavin and I used to talk about finding our purpose. I had definitely found mine in caring for Mr. M. I knew even after he was gone from this Earth, working with him would leave a lasting impact on me.

  I’m a lot more mature and settled than I was a decade ago, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the love in my heart for a man I believed I could never be with.

  Seeing Gavin again was a second chance I never dreamed I’d have. Even the worst-case scenario—that Gavin was moving on with his plans to marry Paige and wanted to let me down in person—was still going to bring me closure. And this was a trip across the world I never would have otherwise taken. This experience would undoubtedly change my life, one way or the other.

  The pilot came on the intercom.

  “We’re beginning our descent into Heathrow Airport. At this time, please ensure your seatbacks and tray tables are in an upright position and that your seatbelt is correctly fastened. Also, at this time, please ensure all electronic devices remain in airplane mode. We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for choosing British Airways.”

  I was so ready to exit this plane, but part of me wanted to stay in the air indefinitely. That would ensure I would always have this hope. It hit me that I was going to see Gavin tonight. Once I touched down and learned the truth, whatever it might be, there wo
uld be no going back.

  As I started to feel the plane descend, not only did my ears pop, but my heart raced beyond belief.

  “Nervous flier?” the guy sitting next to me asked. “We’ll be okay.”

  He’d misinterpreted my nervousness.

  Rather than explain, I simply said, “Thank you. I hope so.”

  When we touched down, my hands started to tremble.

  “You’re good. We’re safe.” He smiled.

  God bless this man for trying to pacify me, but it was going to take a lot more than that.

  After we pulled to the gate, I was grateful for the long line to get off of the plane. More fear filled me with every step I took. Stuck for a moment in aisle gridlock while a man helped an old lady retrieve her bags from the overhead, panic welled in my throat, but I managed to avert a full attack.

  Finally off the plane, I made my way to customs, where the process was surprisingly quick.

  After that, I took my time walking through the airport. My legs felt wobbly as I looked around. What was I looking for? A sign with my name? Gavin? Was he even picking me up, or would there be a driver?

  There was no one waiting for me as far as I could see.

  A name was called out on the overhead speaker. Someone was apparently looking for a lost loved one.

  I could relate.

  For a split second, I wondered if being here was all a dream. This would be a typical point to wake up, if that were the case.

  The man who’d been sitting next to me on the plane had reunited with whom I assumed were his wife and little girl. I smiled at the girl’s excitement to see her dad. But my happy thoughts quickly faded into another rush of anxiety.

  No one was here for me.

  I rode the escalator to baggage claim. Several flights must have landed at the same time because a swarm of people had gathered. All alone in a new country, I felt like a lost child searching for my parents in a sea of strangers. I couldn’t even find the conveyor belt assigned to my flight.

  At a loss, I broke out into tears. I knew it had nothing to do with being lost and everything to do with my fear of what was to come. Wiping my eyes, I looked to my left, and in the distance, I spotted him. His eyes had definitely been on me, which meant he’d likely seen me wipe my tears. My heart felt like it was leaping out of my chest to get to him. He wore a leather jacket reminiscent of the one he’d worn the very first day I saw him, and he began weaving in and out of people as fast as he could go.