by Lisa Lace
“Actually, that’s why I was calling.”
“Why?”
“I went to see Laura this evening. She’s asked me for a favor.”
“Uh-huh.”
“She thinks I should move in with you guys for a while, to help keep an eye on the kids.”
“To lay down the law when Megan completely ignores me?”
“Megan’s a tough kid to get through to. Don’t blame yourself; she can be a challenge. Laura thinks that maybe she’ll listen to me because she knows me better.”
“Does Laura know about us?”
“She remembers you not coming home the night before the accident.”
“Oh.”
“Mm-hmm. I told her that things were complicated between us right now.”
“To be honest with you, Zoe: I’m completely out of my depth. I’m with Laura. You should move in.”
I expected at least some resistance from Tom, so I’m surprised. I don’t know if he’s so keen for me to move in because he’s struggling with the kids, or because he’s missing me.
“Are you sure?” I ask him. “We’d have to keep our distance from each other. We don’t want to make the kids uncomfortable.”
“I can control myself. As long as you keep that little black robe in your closet.”
“I’ll bring my ugliest pajamas.”
Tom laughs. “I think it’s a great idea. Help me, please.”
“Okay. I’ll come by after work tomorrow.”
I finish the call and hang up. My stomach is filled with nervous butterflies. I feel excited to know I’m going to be near Tom again, but I also feel wary. It’s going to be hard to resist him. If I catch the scent of that cologne on his skin, I’ll lose it.
I wonder if a tiny bit of Laura is still trying to push us into each other’s arms. I smile. I’m onto you, Laura.
Tom
Zoe arrives with a cross-stitched floral bag that looks like a thrift-store find.
“Nice bag.”
“Thanks. It was my granny’s. She used to bring it with her every time she visited. There were always at least three packs of cookies inside.” She holds it up to me. “It still smells like shortbread.”
I smile at the anecdote. She’s right; it smells like shortbread.
Zoe narrows her eyes, but she’s grinning. “You hate it, don’t you?”
“No! I think it’s cute.”
“You’re such a bad liar. Sorry, it’s not Louis Vuitton.”
Even when I don’t say anything, I come across as an arrogant prick. You’ve really got to figure out how to stop doing that, Tom.
“Let me take that for you.” I hold out my hand for the bag. “I’ve changed the sheets on Laura’s bed for you. I thought it would be best if you slept upstairs, near the kids.”
“Where are you going to sleep?”
“Sofa.”
She smiles at me. I can see the appreciation in her eyes. She hands me her bag, then follows me upstairs.
I’ve tried to make the room nice for her. The clean patchwork bedding smells like fabric softener, and I brought up the house plant from Laura’s kitchen to put on the bedside table.
Zoe smiles and points it out. “Is this the one from the kitchen windowsill?”
“You know this house too well. I was trying to make the room homier for you. I thought a flower might do the trick.”
“Thank you. That’s really sweet.”
“You hate it, don’t you? I know I killed the flowers, but it’s still kind of green.”
Zoe bursts out laughing. “It’s the thought that counts. Didn’t you water it?”
“Three times a day.”
She covers her mouth with her hand to hide her smile. “I love it.”
I take a step closer to her. The smile falls from her face, replaced with a look that is a mixture of longing and resistance. Her lips part slightly, and she bows her head.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say.
She glances up. “Me, too.”
I step closer still. Zoe takes in a sharp breath but doesn’t step back. She’s frozen, torn between her desire to run and her desire to fall into my arms.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a close hug; but nothing more. Her body relaxes against me. I can feel a week’s tension falling away. She lets her head rest against my chest.
“You’re better at this than you know,” she tells me.
“What’s that?”
“Stepping up.” She looks up at me and smiles. “All this time you’ve tried to stay away, but I think you’re pretty good at holding everyone together.”
I laugh. “I’m not so sure about that. You’re one thing. The kids and Laura are another.”
“I couldn’t have done this alone.”
“Don’t be stupid. Of course, you could have, and if I hadn’t have been here, that’s exactly what would have happened.”
I step back from Zoe, letting out a long breath. I run a hand through my hair. Guilt punches me in the gut again. A lot of guilt has been catching up with me since I returned to Maine.
I sit on the edge of the bed and pat the mattress beside me, inviting Zoe to sit with me.
“This week has been tough,” I tell her. “It makes me realize how strong Laura is. It’s one thing keeping a company together, but a family’s another thing.”
“You’ve always been a lone wolf, haven’t you?”
I laugh and shake my head. “Not by choice. I’m not good with relationships. Other people always seem to be able to read signs, tap into emotions, and know what to say to each other. I never got a copy of that instruction manual.”
Zoe smiles at me fondly and nudges me. “There’s no manual, Tom.”
I lie back on the bed, my arms above my head, and stare at Laura’s cracked ceiling. “In business, it’s easy. You don’t have to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings. If a job is beyond you, you delegate. You can’t delegate family drama.”
She falls back beside me, fiddling with the neckline of her sweater. She looks calmer than I’ve seen her since I’ve been in town; almost content. There’s a smile playing on her face.
“I miss the family drama. My parents took off traveling when I was twenty-one. I hardly see them now. I’d love to have a weekend listening to them bicker and then flirt, for my mom to demand when I’m going to have kids, for my father to tell me that I’m not running my business properly. All that criticism is annoying as hell at the time, but I kind of miss having people who care enough to criticize.”
“You think it’s a sign of caring?”
“Sure! That’s what families do. They drive each other nuts.”
“Aunt Zoe?”
We both sit up. Megan is standing in the doorway, looking at us both lying on the bed. Her face twists into an expression of disapproval. She raises her eyebrows and folds her arms across her chest.
“I didn’t know you were here already.”
“I just got here.” Megan steps in and leans against the wall, casting her gaze around the room. “You’re staying in Mom’s room?”
“Is that okay?”
She shrugs. “I guess.”
Zoe stands and crosses the room to Megan. She pulls her toward her and kisses her forehead. Megan’s attitude slips a little, and her lips twist into a reluctant smile.
“Did Mom send you here?”
“She sure did. She said that your Uncle Tom was a terrible cook with awful taste in movies. She begged me to come save you.”
Megan laughs, but bites down on her smile, like she doesn’t want us to catch on to the fact that she’s glad Zoe’s here. She nods. “I’m old enough to take care of myself, you know.”
“I know. But who’s going to take care of your Uncle Tom?”
Her eyebrows lift again. “Is that what you’re doing?”
Zoe chuckles and gives Megan a playful shove, pulling her back into a one-armed hug. “Enough of that, young lady. You’ll have to wait until your next visit with your
mom to have a good gossip. In this house, we’re not going to say a word about what you may or may not know about your Uncle Tom and me.”
Megan grins, and I’m left astounded by Zoe’s ability to get her on her side so easily.
“Tell me, Meg, what do you want for dinner tonight?”
“I’m going to Justin’s.”
“You know, I haven’t seen Justin in a while. Tell him to come here. We’ll order a pizza; then you two can disappear upstairs and have your privacy for a couple of hours. We’ll even stay off the Netflix so you can watch whatever you want. How does that sound?”
Megan seems unsure. She hesitates.
Zoe strokes back Megan’s hair behind her ear in a motherly fashion. “Please, Meg. I promised your mom I’d keep an eye on you. How can I do that if you’re all the way over at Justin’s? Besides, you told me that Justin’s house smells like spaghetti and cats.”
“It does.”
“It’s decided, then. Justin will come here tonight. Agreed?”
Reluctantly, Megan gives in. “Fine. I’ll call him.”
“Thank you, sweetie. Why don’t you call the pizza place while you’re at it? Whatever’s your favorite.”
Megan disappears downstairs to make her calls, and Zoe looks at me triumphantly, trying to hide her victorious smirk. She sits back down beside me, holding in that smile.
I shake my head. “How did you manage that?”
“Years of practice.”
“I told her to order her favorite pizza the other day, and she told me I was trying to bribe her.”
Zoe rests her hand on my knee and offers me a sympathetic smile. “Give it time. Megan’s still getting to know you.”
“I should thank you, you know.”
“For what?”
“For everything.”
Zoe fixes me with an earnest stare. “It’s Laura. I’d do anything for her. She’s my best friend.”
“Not just since the accident. Always. You’ve been there for her.”
“She’s been there for me too.”
“I should have been here more.”
“You’re here now. It’s never too late to make a change.” She stands up and holds a hand out to help me up. “One down, one to go. Come on—let’s pry that Xbox controller out of Jack’s hands and make him play Kerplunk.”
I take her hand and stand. I follow her downstairs to the living room where Jack is playing. All the while, I’m watching her every move, admiring her; that kind smile, those bright eyes, her vibrant red hair.
With Zoe, I don’t feel like an outsider anymore. She makes this place feel like home.
Zoe
It’s early on Sunday morning. I was out late last night, catching up on work. I’m almost back up to speed and have had customers practically knocking down my door with orders. Apart from around Valentine’s Day, the weeks before Christmas are my busiest time of year.
I’m curled up in my blankets like a sushi roll. Downstairs, I can hear some music video on the television, and Jack’s mischievous laughter echoing at something or other. I smile. I love the sounds of a family home. All that’s missing is Laura.
I stretch, my toes poking out from the end of the covers, my hands reaching above my head. My whole body feels relaxed and rested. This is the best night’s sleep I’ve had since Laura was injured.
Maybe it’s the peace of mind of having heard Laura’s voice and seen her smile, knowing she’s on the mend. It could be from living in a house with other people, rather than alone. Maybe it’s knowing that Tom is downstairs.
I turn to my left, and my smile widens when I spot the wilted house plant, yellowed and half-dead, although it’s starting to grow a little stronger since I took over the watering. It’s the thought that counts.
I sit up, immediately hearing a knock at the door.
“Hello?”
Jack rushes in and bounces on my bed. “Aunt Zoe! Uncle Tom says we’re going out today.”
I bring my knees up to my chest and pull my covers over them. “He did, did he? And where did he say we’re going?”
“He said it’s a surprise! Get up! He’s making pancakes.”
I can smell them through the open door. “Mmm. I’ll be right there. Save me a plate.”
Jack grins and dashes back downstairs. I’m filled with a warm, happy feeling, picturing Tom playing Super-Uncle downstairs, making pancakes and planning a day out. Super-Uncle suits him.
I wrap my fluffy pink robe around me, slip on my polka-dot slippers, and head downstairs. Tom is standing at the stove with pancakes frying, a dishtowel thrown over his shoulder. He looks refreshed and content, and throws me a smile when I appear.
I slip into a seat at the table beside Megan, who’s texting someone. Even she’s smiling.
I grin at Tom. “Something smells good.”
“Just getting us fueled for our big adventure.”
“Which is?”
He winks at me. “Whatever you want it to be. Maybe we should put it to a vote. Whatever you guys want to do. I thought we could visit your mom this morning, then go have a fun day out somewhere. It’s been a stressful week. Let’s go let our hair down.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” I say. I give Megan a nudge. “Your mom will be thrilled if you spend some time with your Uncle Tom, and it’ll give us something to tell her all about when we get back. What do you say?”
“Fine,” she says at last. “I know it’s what Mom wants.”
I take her by the shoulders and kiss her on the top of the head. “It’ll be good for you to have the chance to take your mind off things for a while, sweetie. You’ve had a lot on your plate. I know your Mom’s really proud of how strong you’ve been.”
She smiles, gratitude in her eyes. She needs someone who understands.
“Now we just have to think of somewhere that’s fun for all of us,” Tom says, laying a plate piled high with pancakes on the table, plonking down a giant bottle of syrup beside it. “Eat up, guys.”
The pancakes are fantastic; warm and fluffy. I smile at Tom—this life suits him. We finish breakfast and discuss what we should do. We decide to go to a theme park in Saco.
Jack is barely able to contain his excitement. Megan smiles at him. I look over at Tom, and he grins at me. I’m ready to have a wonderful day.
We get ready and pile into Tom’s Mercedes. We swing by the hospital for a visit with Laura, and she’s thrilled when she hears our plans for the day. “That sounds wonderful, guys! Have a great time, and take lots of pictures for me.”
Less than an hour later, we’re at Splashtown. It’s too cold for the waterpark, so we head straight for the rides.
Tom buys tickets, and Megan and Jack stroll ahead of us, looking around and making a list of the rides they want to go on.
Grinning, Tom nudges me. “Do you remember when you, me, Mike and Laura came here?”
I have to search my memory back to my teenage years, but as I look around the sweeping rollercoasters and other rides, I remember. “Laura freaked out on the Thunderbolt and Mike took her to get some cotton candy and calm down.”
“But we both wanted to go on Excalibur. Laura wouldn’t go, and Mike wouldn’t come without her, so we went on together. Remember?”
I do remember—Tom flashing a grin before we fell over the edge of the tallest part of the ride, me screaming. Then hearing it turn to laughter as we came rushing down, us grinning at each other like crazy when we put our feet back on solid ground.
I smile. “That was a lifetime ago.”
“Yet here we are again.”
I keep my eyes on the kids. Megan and Jack are over at a map of the park, looking at all the rides and talking about the best route around the park. Jack says something that sends Megan into peals of laughter, wearing a half-toothed grin as he chats to her.
“They’re good kids. It’s great to see them smiling.”
Tom holds out his hand to me. I look up at him, wondering where my priorities should b
e. I glance from Tom’s earnest smile to the kids laughing ahead and take his hand. I’m filled with butterflies when his fingers close around mine.
This day is like a bittersweet fantasy. It’s wonderful to be with Tom, my hand in his, leading the kids around a theme park, taking pictures and watching them enjoy themselves, but none of it feels real.
I’ve stolen Laura’s life for a day. These aren’t my kids, and Tom isn’t my boyfriend. Soon, he’ll be going back to New York. I didn’t realize how much I’d been yearning for a romance and family of my own until I stepped into her shoes.
Tom is a dream. He goes with Jack on all the kid’s rides while Megan and I watch, waving and taking pictures.
The highlight of the day is when we all ride the Wild Mouse Roller Coaster together.
Jack wants to sit at the very front of the carriage. Megan sits behind him; I’m behind her, and Tom is in the back seat.
I’m on top of the world as we climb up the rails, and when we tumble over the top and drop through the air, I laugh with everything in me. I can hear Megan shrieking and Jack screaming with joy. Behind me, Tom laughs like he’s having the best day of his life.
Afterward, we crowd around the photo booth to see our picture at the top of the ride. Jack has his hands flying through the air with a massive grin on his face at the front of the log, Megan has her eyes squeezed shut, screaming; I have my head thrown back in a laugh, and Tom is grinning like I’ve never seen him smile before.
Anyone would think this was our family.
Tom buys three copies of the picture—one for him, one for Laura, and one for me. He hands me mine with a smile. “A day to remember, huh?”
Yes—when you’ve gone back to New York, and this happy day is only a memory.
Tom
Ten days later, and it’s the first Thursday of November. Thanksgiving.
I’m in a stand-off with Megan. We’re leaning over a list at the kitchen counter. I have a pen in my hand, hovering over the paper. Megan has one hand on the counter, the other waving in the air.
Megan’s complaining is so loud that it carries upstairs. Moments later, Zoe appears in the kitchen in her robe, sleepy-eyed. She looks from Megan to me. “Happy Thanksgiving, guys. What’s going on?”