It's a Waverly Life

by Maria Murnane

  It wasn’t that late, but it was long past dark when I finally made it to Virginia Highlands. I turned left on Jake’s street and caught my breath when I saw his house up the road, the memories of our weekend together flooding my brain—and heart. As I approached his place, everything about it was exactly the same as I remembered.

  There was just one little glitch.

  A car was parked on the street in front of his house, but his dark green Tahoe wasn’t in the driveway.

  It was nearly seven.

  Maybe the Tahoe was in the garage? Did he have two cars?

  Please don’t let him be out of town.

  Just as I’d done at his sister’s, I drove past the house and parked down the street, trying to ignore the fact that this was the second time in less than twenty-four hours I’d engaged in semi-stalker behavior. (Or full-blown stalker behavior, depending on whom you asked.) I checked my face in the rearview mirror, then retrieved the small bouquet of hyacinths I’d bought on the way. Given how hard I found it to speak English when I was nervous, I thought I might as well try speaking in flower.

  I got out of the car and walked toward his house, part of me hoping he was home, part of me hoping he wasn’t, and part of me wondering if the crazy police were going to show up and haul me away. As I neared the front door, I practiced the beginning of my little speech in my head. As long as I could remember the beginning, I knew I could get through the rest. Hi, Jake, before you say anything, I have something to tell you…

  I reached for the doorbell but stopped just short.

  I squeezed the bouquet, took a deep breath, and pressed the button.

  Then I waited.

  And waited.

  And waited.

  Is the doorbell broken?

  I knocked on the door, but still he didn’t answer. Hoping maybe he was in the shower, I gave it five minutes and knocked again, but still no answer.

  Crap.

  I exhaled and sat down on the front step, wrapping my coat around me. I’d always had a secret fantasy of coming home from a long day at work to find a guy I liked sitting on the steps to my building, holding a flower, or maybe even a whole bouquet. I’d walk up and smile, and before I could speak he would stand up and smile back at me, then apologize, or say he missed me, or maybe even that he loved me. I’d never thought too much about the details because the fantasy never really got past the part where I saw him sitting there. (It also had never happened. But hope springs eternal.)

  It was now seven thirty.

  I decided to call McKenna. I was doubtful that I’d actually reach her, but if anyone could calm me down, she could. Lucky for me, she answered.

  “Hey, Wave, where are you?”

  “Atlanta. I’m sitting in the dark on the front step of Jake’s house, waiting for him to come home. Oh my God, that sounds SO stalkerish when I say it out loud.”

  “You’re really sitting on his doorstep?”

  “I kid you not, I’m literally sitting on his doorstep, in the dark, holding a bouquet of flowers.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  “I feel ridiculous, Mackie.”

  “It’s sweet. Do not feel ridiculous.”

  “I love you for saying that. Can I just tell you that?”

  “I love you too. So when is he getting home?”

  “No idea.” I set the flowers down and wrapped my arms around myself. “I just hope it’s soon. It’s getting really cold out here.”

  “He’ll be so happy that you’re there.”

  “You think?”

  “How could he not? It’s so romantic.”

  “I like to think it’s romantic. That keeps me from thinking it’s ridiculous.”

  “I promise, he’ll love it.”

  “So what’s up with you? All good on the baby front?”

  “Actually, I have a little news.”

  “News? Good news, I hope?”

  “Definitely good news. We’re having a girl!”

  “Oh my gosh, a baby girl?”

  “Yep, can you believe it?”

  “Wow, that’s so exciting. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. We’re so happy. And there’s one other thing…”

  “One other thing?”

  Silence.

  “You sure nothing’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Nothing’s wrong.”

  “Then what?”

  “It’s just that…I think we’re going to move to Mill Valley.”

  “NO!” I covered my mouth and hoped I hadn’t disturbed the neighbors. “You said you’d never leave the city.”

  “I know, I know, but Hunter and I have been talking about it a lot lately, and it will make things so much easier. I mean, a baby in the city would be really hard. I love our apartment, but I just can’t imagine raising a child three floors up with no elevator. Plus I feel like she deserves to have a real yard, to run around and feel the grass under her feet, you know? I think it would be selfish for us to stay in the city.”

  “You could make it work.”

  She laughed. “Mill Valley is ten minutes over the Golden Gate Bridge, Waverly.”

  “I know. But what about Dino’s? What about the Kilkenny?”

  “We will always go to Dino’s for pizza and frosted mugs of Bud Light, no matter what. Just maybe not every week, okay?”

  I sighed. “I just wish things could stay the same, Mackie. You know I don’t handle change very well. If it were up to me, we’d all still be living within a block of each other when we’re old and gray.”

  “Nothing can stay the same forever, you know that. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure we have an extra bedroom so you can come have a slumber party anytime you like. You know you’re family to us.”

  “I know, but I’m just really going to miss seeing you all the time.”

  She sighed. “Can we please put the dramatics to bed? It’s not like I’m moving across the country. I’m not dropping off the face of the earth. I’m having a baby. I’ll be ten minutes away. We’ll just be shopping for baby clothes instead of getting mani-pedis. Deal with it.”

  I laughed. “Okay, okay, I get it. I will learn to embrace life change.”

  “There you go. There’s the Waverly Bryson I love.”

  “Actually, that reminds me. I’ve been thinking about a new—”

  Just then I saw the lights of a car pulling up to the house. “Oh Jesus, he’s here, Mackie. I gotta go.”

  “Okay, good luck! I love you!”

  “Love you too. Bye.” I hung up and threw my phone into my purse. Then I scrambled to stand up and collect myself. As Jake’s car pulled into the driveway and out of my line of sight, I smoothed my hand over my hair and reached down to pick up the flowers.

  I heard the sound of a car door opening and shutting.

  Then I heard the sound of another car door opening and shutting.

  I heard the sound of Jake’s voice.

  Then I heard the sound of a woman’s voice.

  OH MY GOD.

  I had to get out of there. The only route away from them was to the side of the house, so I sprinted toward the side yard. When I got to the end of the house, I turned left out of their view.

  Or so I hoped.

  As I rounded the corner, I bit my lip.

  Then I bit it.

  I slammed right into a trash can and sent it flying, me along with it. I banged my knees against the cement and landed on my chest with a painful thud. The trash can was empty, but it was very loud, and it clanked and clattered as it rolled along the cement walkway. I managed to get myself up quickly and ran to the can to right it—and shut it up. But it was too late. Jake had heard the commotion, and I could already hear him headed toward me.

  Sweet holy mother of Jesus.

  I had to hide.

  In the darkness all I could see was an enormous tree in his neighbor’s yard, about ten feet away. I made a run for it and flattened myself against its back side. The trunk was big enough to shield my entire body.
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  Breathing deeply, I held my arms tightly against my chest and prayed Jake wouldn’t see me. Or hear me.

  A moment later I heard footsteps. Jake was walking along the side of the house to check out the scene. Then I heard the click of high heels on the cement.

  “What was it?” a female voiced asked. She sounded a bit scared.

  “I’m not sure. I think maybe a raccoon.”

  A raccoon! I thought. Yes! Please think it was a raccoon!

  “What are those?” the female voice asked.

  “What are what?”

  “Right there, on the ground. Are those flowers?”

  I looked down at my hands, one of which was holding my purse. The other was holding half of a tattered bouquet of hyacinths.

  Oh no.

  “Stay here,” I heard Jake say.

  Then I heard footsteps on the grass.

  They grew louder as he approached the tree.

  “Is someone there?” he said tentatively. His voice sounded so close.

  I didn’t speak and didn’t breathe. All I could bring myself to do was close my eyes.

  Then I heard footsteps again, walking around the huge tree.

  “Waverly?”

  I opened my eyes, and there he was, standing right in front of me. The look on his face was a combination of confusion and surprise.

  I tried to smile. “Surprise?” I whispered.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Now that is a great question.”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, the woman’s voice called out from the side of the house. “Jake? Are you okay?”

  He held a finger to his lips. “Don’t move,” he said softly.

  The sound of his voice faded as he approached the side of the house, so I couldn’t tell what he was saying. A few moments later, I heard two sets of footsteps heading toward the front yard.

  I didn’t know what to do, so I just stood there and waited. Was he coming back? Was he mad at me? What was going on? I was tempted to pull out my phone and call McKenna, but I knew that would only make the situation worse. I slid down the side of the tree and sat down on the ground. The grass was damp, but I didn’t care. My coat was probably ruined from my fall anyway. My knees hurt, and I wondered how badly I’d scraped them underneath my jeans.

  After what seemed like a long time, I heard the sound of a car door opening and shutting, then a car driving away. A single pair of footsteps came back around the side of the house.

  “Okay, Marco Polo, you can come out now,” Jake said.

  I stood up and wiped the grass off my backside as I emerged from behind the tree.

  “Hi there.” I waved nervously at him. “Fancy running into you here.”

  “What are you doing here?” I could tell he wasn’t angry, just curious.

  I looked at the remnants of my broken bouquet, the memory of my carefully prepared speech also shattered. “I came to say I’m sorry.” I held the flowers up. “Hyacinths mean I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for what?”

  “For everything, I guess.” I smiled, but I could feel tears slowly forming in the corner of my eyes.

  “Let’s go talk inside.” He gestured toward the house. “It’s cold out here.”

  I followed him to the front door, but I couldn’t bring myself to keep quiet for long. “I got your roses, but not until the day after I was on The Today Show.”

  He didn’t say a word. He pulled out his keys to unlock the door, then held it open for me. I took a step inside and spoke again.

  “I’m so sorry for the mix-up. And I’m so sorry for your sister. I’m so sorry for…everything.”

  He passed through the foyer and turned on a floor lamp, still not saying anything.

  The silence was killing me. I felt a few tears trickling down my cheeks.

  He turned to face me, and behind him I noticed a big suitcase in the hallway. I wondered exactly how long he’d been back in town.

  “Jake? Will you please say something?”

  For a moment he stood still.

  And then my dreams were answered.

  He hugged me.

  “You came all the way to Atlanta to tell me you’re sorry?” he said softly.

  I nodded through my tears. “I’m so sorry.”

  He smoothed my hair and held me close. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s okay.”

  I closed my eyes and leaned against him, so relieved to be in his arms again. I inhaled deeply to take in the scent of his skin, but quickly stopped at the unfamiliarity of it.

  He smelled like…perfume.

  I stiffened.

  “Jake?”

  “Yes?”

  “Tonight, were you…on a date?” I kept my eyes closed tight, not really wanting to know the answer.

  He smoothed my hair again but didn’t say anything.

  “Jake?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  My heart sank.

  “Is she…is she the girl in the picture?”

  “What picture?”

  “The picture on your mantel. The one with…your whole family?”

  He broke our embrace and walked toward the living room. He took off his coat, then sat on the couch and leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. I followed him and took a seat, next to him but not touching him.

  He looked at the mantel, then at me.

  “Yes,” he finally said.

  “Oh.” I hoped he couldn’t see the strain in my face. “Is she…is she the girl you took to Cynthia and Dale’s wedding last year?”

  “Yes.”

  I swallowed.

  “Her name is Holly. Our families were friends growing up.”

  “But you dated her?”

  “On and off.”

  “And…now?”

  He sighed. “She’s been a good friend to me, especially lately, with everything that’s been going on with my sister, because she knows my family so well. So we’ve been…talking.”

  I could feel a lump forming in my throat.

  “She lives in Atlanta?”

  “She does now.”

  “Oh.”

  I probably didn’t have the right to ask the next question, but I did anyway.

  “Are you…getting back together?”

  He looked at the ceiling.

  “That isn’t something we’ve talked about.”

  “Do you think she wants to?”

  He hesitated a moment before answering.

  “Yes.”

  “Do…you want to?” I whispered.

  “I don’t want to have this conversation right now. It’s late, and I have a lot to do tonight.”

  I tried to smile. “I guess I don’t have very good timing.”

  “I’ll give you that,” he said, sort of laughing.

  I reached over and put my hand on his arm. “What I said on The Today Show wasn’t true.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “About those dates I’d been on? It wasn’t true.”

  He still didn’t respond, so I removed my hand and looked away.

  My voice began to crack. “I mean…I went on the dates, but a long time ago. I don’t know why I blurted them out like that, or didn’t explain it better. I…I guess I sort of choked.”

  “It’s okay, you don’t owe me anything.”

  “But I…I want to owe you something. I do want to be your Valentine, Jake. I hope it’s not too late for that.” I searched his eyes, hoping they would tell me I hadn’t ruined everything. I wanted to throw my arms around him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Regardless of what my heart was feeling, my body was literally frozen by fear.

  He sighed, then stood up and went into the kitchen, returning a few moments later with two glasses of water. He handed me one, then took a sip of his and put it on the coffee table. “I need to ask you something,” he said.

  “Sure, Jake, anything.”

  He paused for a moment, then looked at me.r />
  “Did you take a pregnancy test?”

  I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.

  “What?”

  “Did you take a pregnancy test?”

  “How did you know that?”

  He didn’t respond.

  “How did you know that?” I said again.

  “Shane said you told Kristina about it when you were in New York.”

  I looked at the glass in my hands.

  He scratched his eyebrow and sighed. “Were you planning to tell me?”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t think of the right words. He stood up and smoothed his hands down the front of his jeans, then picked up his glass and returned to the kitchen.

  I put my water down and followed him. “I was going to tell you. But then your sister lost her baby, and I…I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to upset you more.”

  He emptied his glass into the sink and leaned again the counter. “Kristina said you were really scared. Is that true?”

  A few tears trickled down my cheeks, and I used both hands to wipe them away. “Yes.”

  He put his hands on my shoulders. “You were scared and didn’t feel you could tell me?”

  “I just…didn’t want to burden you, that’s all.”

  He removed his hands and put them on his head. For a second I thought he might pull his hair out. Then he walked back into the living room.

  I followed him again, determined to make things right. He picked up the big suitcase in the hall and went into his room.

  “What are you doing?”

  He put the suitcase on the floor by his bed and opened it. It was empty. “I’m packing.”

  “Packing? Are you leaving with the team again?”

  He stood up and looked at me.

  “I took the job.”

  “What job?”

  “The one in Argentina, in Buenos Aires.”

  “What? When are you leaving?”

  “The day after tomorrow.”

  “For how long?”

  “Three or four months, maybe more.”