“Me neither.”
Twenty minutes later, our friends pulled into the parking lot. Avery and I slid out of our car and three doors in the other opened. I wasn’t expecting Cheyenne to come—even though I had no idea they were coming at all—but I’d assumed it would only be Easton and Brooke given the circumstances.
“C.C.!” Avery boomed and rushed to her with open arms.
Cheyenne rolled her eyes. “Don’t call me that.”
“Shut up,” Avery stated and pulled her into his arms. “Your pre-teen shit isn’t going to work on me.”
“Uncle A!” she protested and pushed at his chest. He didn’t budge. “I’m almost thirteen. You can call me Chey.”
“I’ll call you whatever I want.” He gave her one final squeeze and released her. She rolled her eyes and pulled her phone from her back pocket.
“Teenagers,” Brooke said and opened her arms. We hugged while the guys greeted each other.
After pulling away from a hug with Brooke, I whispered, “Thank you.” Avery and I were married, loved each other, and knew we were there for the other, but I also knew that having his lifelong friend to help would be a blessing.
“So why are you guys at a bank?” Brooke asked.
“Nic found a safety deposit box key among my mom’s belongings, so we’re going to see what’s in it,” Avery replied.
“You don’t know?” Easton asked.
“Nope. That’s why we’re here.”
“You guys go ahead. We’re going to wait for Cheyenne’s grandfather out here,” Brooke advised.
“Oh, he’s coming to get her?” I asked, looking over at Chey who was still on her phone.
“Figured if we were coming all this way, I’d let Bill take her to see her mom,” Easton clarified.
It took me a second to understand what Easton meant. Avery had told me that when she visits her grandparents, she also visits her mom’s grave. It was sweet and sad all at the same time. Just like I couldn’t imagine losing my parents like Avery had less than a week ago, I couldn’t imagine growing up without my mother either.
“All right, we’ll be back.” Avery grabbed my hand, and we walked into the bank. We waited a few minutes for a banker to be available, and once one came over to us, Avery let him know what we needed. “We’d like to access a safety deposit box.”
“Sure, right this way.” We walked to his desk in a small cubicle and took a seat in the two chairs. “Let me just look up the account. Can I see your I.D.?”
“Sure.” Avery pulled out his wallet and then slid his driver’s license across the desk with the slip of paper that had the box number on it.
The banker typed something on his computer. “I’m sorry, Mr. Scott. This box isn’t under your name.”
“It’s my mother’s,” Avery advised him.
“Then she’ll need to come in with her I.D.”
“Unfortunately, she passed last Friday.”
The banker frowned slightly. “I’m sorry to hear that. To access the box, you’ll need a copy of her will—”
“Oh,” I piped up. “I have that.”
“And a copy of the death certificate,” the banker went on.
“We don’t have that,” Avery advised.
“Then I’m sorry. I can’t let you access it.”
“There’s nothing you can do?” I questioned.
The guy sat back in his chair, thinking. “Well, the only other thing would be if you have a note from the coroner.”
“Really?” Avery asked.
“Yeah. I’ll accept that if you can get it.”
Avery stood. “We’ll be back. Thank you.”
We told Brooke and Easton what was going on, and they decided to drive down to the beach to give us some time to sort things out. After running to the coroner’s office, we were able to get a signed letter from Arnold. He was more than happy to do it right away, given that he knew Denise.
“All right. Everything looks good,” the banker said once we returned with the letter. “Mr. Scott, if you’ll follow me.” I stood as well, ready to go with my husband. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Scott. I can only allow the person who’s willed the box into the back room.”
My gaze moved to Avery. “I’ll just grab whatever’s in there and bring it out for us to go through together,” he suggested.
“Okay,” I agreed with a smile. They were his belongings, and he could go through it without me, but my heart swelled when he suggested we go through it together. “I’ll text B and let her know we’re almost done.”
Avery turned and walked with the banker to what looked like a vault. I grabbed my phone out of my handbag and sent a text to Brooke: We’re almost done. Let’s do lunch. Come back to the bank, and we’ll take you guys to this taco stand that’s to die for.
I waited in the lobby area for Avery thinking about the tacos and what could be in the box. He wasn’t gone long, but the moment I saw a crestfallen look on his face, I sucked in a breath.
What the hell was in the box?
The banker took the key from me and opened the locked box before pulling the safety deposit box out of the slot and setting it on the table they had in the center of the vault. “Go ahead,” he instructed.
My plan was to grab whatever was inside and go out to look at it with Nicole. That was still my plan, but when I opened the lid, I was thrown off for a second by what I was looking at. I was expecting jewelry or money. Hell, a part of me thought it would be empty.
“Can I take everything?” I asked.
“Of course. It’s legally yours.”
I reached in to grab everything. “Did she have a bank account here?” I had yet to go over the entire will in detail. I knew there were bank accounts listed, but I had no clue if she had one here. I assumed she did since she had the safety deposit box.
“She did.”
“I’ll go ahead and close it and the safety deposit box.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Scott. While we know there’s a will naming you the sole beneficiary, we have to wait for a judge to grant you beneficiary status before you can close anything.”
“Really?” He nodded. “But I can take everything in a safety deposit box?”
“Yes.”
“That makes no sense.”
He smiled. “I know, but that’s the law.”
“Weird. How long does it take to grant me beneficiary status?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
“Okay. Well, then I’m ready to go.”
The banker put the box back and then gave me back the key to the now empty box. I put it in my pocket and turned to exit the vault.
“What’s wrong?” Nic asked.
I didn’t respond. I just held up the VHS tape and the stack of folded papers.
“What the—?”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Mr. Scott, please let me know if you need anything else and when you have the letter from the judge,” the banker stated.
“Thank you.”
We shook hands, and then Nic and I walked outside. Easton and Brooke were sitting in their rental car waiting for us. “So?” Easton asked as we walked up to the driver’s side window that was already down.
I held up the tape and papers again.
“What is it?” Easton asked the million dollar question.
“I don’t know. I just grabbed the stuff and left.”
“Can we see what the papers are?” Nic asked.
I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see what was on the papers. The last note from my mother was eye-opening, to say the least. “Let’s go grab beers and open them while I’m drinking.”
“Nic, you said we were going to get tacos. Can we do that there?” Brooke asked from the passenger’s seat.
“You did?” I questioned. It would be perfect because the taco joint had beers.
“I’ve been thinking about those tacos since we had them.” Nic shrugged.
Those tacos were amazing, and it would be fun to take some m
ore rounds in the cage, especially with Easton. “Yeah, let’s go there. You guys are in for some epic tacos.”
“Follow us,” Nic said and started to walk toward our car.
I tapped the hood of Easton’s rental car and went to my own, placing the VHS and folded papers in the backseat and away from Nic who I knew couldn’t wait to see what was on the papers. I was anxious too. It felt as though we were on some quest for me to learn who my parents really were.
I started the engine and pulled out of the driveway. Easton followed us toward the water. “You know I can’t wait,” Nic stated, reaching toward the backseat.
I slapped her arm playfully. “You can wait five minutes.”
“It’s only five minutes to the taco stand?”
It was probably ten or so. “About that.”
“You’re lying.”
I grinned. “You can wait.”
“What if it’s something private?”
I stopped at a red light and turned my gaze on her. “This is Easton and Brooke.”
“I know, but what if?”
“We’ve been friends with those two practically our entire lives. We don’t have secrets, right?”
“I know we have, and you’re right, but this is about your mom. I just want to make sure.”
“Whatever it is, I would tell Easton anyway. And I assume you’d tell Brooke too.” The light turned green.
“You’re right. I’m just anxious and want to know what it is already.”
I chuckled. “Me too, baby. But we can wait another few minutes.”
Having Nicole by my side through all of this was really what kept me sane. She had always been my breath of fresh air, the one to make me smile when everything around me felt as though it was crashing down. Since being together, we’d had a great life, an even better marriage, but there were days when the stress of running a business, or drama at work for her, would make us feel as though the odds were against us. She was the one who could get me through anything. This time in California was no different, and I fucking loved her.
Staring at her for a moment, I hoped and prayed that I wouldn’t turn out like my father. At some point, he had to have been a decent man for my mother to have fallen in love with him. Maybe I was a mistake. Maybe they never planned to have me. I didn’t know, but that thought made me nervous. Was there a switch waiting to be flipped when I became a father? Everyone more or less becomes their parents, right? Or take on some of their traits? What if this was a Scott trait?
I pulled into the parking lot of the batting cages and taco stand and Easton pulled in behind me. Just like the other day, there was a line. It made me think that we needed to open a taco stand/batting cage back in New York. That would be epic.
“You didn’t tell us it was at a batting cage,” Easton stated as he walked up to where Nic and I were getting out of the car.
“Surprise?” I laughed.
“Are they really good?” Brooke asked.
“Ah-maz-ing,” Nicole confirmed and opened the backseat door to grab the safety deposit box contents.
“Well, let’s go. I’m starving,” Brooke stated.
Nic tilted her head as she stared at B. “Are you pregnant?”
Brooke balked. “No. Why?”
Nic shrugged. “Just asking.”
I looked at Easton, and he shrugged too. Last I’d heard, B was still on her medications. I slapped Easton on the back. “Let’s go. They have beer too. After we eat, we can hit a few rounds in the cage.”
“Hell yeah,” he agreed.
Nicole put the papers into her purse, and I knew it was killing her to stand in line as we waited to place our order. “You want to go find us a seat?” I asked her.
She hesitated for a few moments. “Sure. B, want to go look at the menu and then just tell E what you want?”
“Sure,” Brooke agreed.
“Thank you for coming,” I said to Easton as our women walked away.
“Of course. I knew you’d do it for me,” he replied.
“Yeah, but Jimmy and Jane are like my parents. Circumstances would be different.”
“Still.” He shrugged. “You’re my best friend.”
I smiled warmly at him and slapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
Our women came back and told us what they wanted before going to grab a table under the covered patio area.
“So, give me all the details,” Easton prodded.
I did. While we waited in the line, I told him about the wills and what Edna had told us about my mother wanting to come to my wedding. I told him about the stark white house, the guest bedrooms that I was never offered a chance to stay in, and I told him how all of it made me hate my father. I’d never hated my dad before now, and I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because I just wanted his love. Most kids want that from their parents, and I was no different. I thought neither one loved me, but it appeared it was only my father who didn’t love me back.
“I’m sorry,” Easton said when I was done. “I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.”
We stepped up to the window and ordered our food. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was feeling. It seemed as though every emotion was coursing through my veins—even happiness. I was happy my friends were there to help, and I was also happy my father was dead and not controlling my mother any longer. Hopefully, she was up in heaven living her best afterlife, and my father was burning in hell.
After we ordered, Easton and I went to the girls and gave them their beers. “Can we read one?” Nic asked.
I took a big gulp of my beer. It was time to see what was on the folded papers. “Yeah.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out one of the folded pieces of white paper. She handed it to me, and I took a deep breath and then opened it.
* * *
Dee Dee,
When I think of you, my heart hurts.
When I think of you, my heart breaks.
When I think of you, my heart bleeds.
You’re all I think about.
All my love,
Avery
* * *
I dropped the paper, my eyes going wide.
“What is it?” Nicole asked.
I couldn’t get any words out. It wasn’t the words of the letter that left me speechless, but the name of the person who signed the handwritten note.
Nic grabbed the paper from my hands and gasped. “It’s a—”
“A what?” Brooke reached for it, and she and Easton read it at the same time as Easton leaned over her shoulder.
“Holy shit,” Easton muttered.
“You’re named after someone,” Nic stated, looking over at me with meaningful eyes.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I finished my beer in one gulp then stood and went to the machine to get tokens for an open cage. I wasn’t hungry any longer.
The guys went to the batting cage while Brooke and I continued to read the love letters.
* * *
Dee Dee,
When I think of you, I think about the day we met.
When I think of you, I think about the day I fell in love with you.
When I think of you, I think about the day you told me you loved me.
When I think of you, I think about the day you left me.
You’re all I think about.
All my love,
Avery
* * *
Dee Dee,
When I think of you, I think of your smile.
When I think of you, I think of your laugh.
When I think of you, I think of your beauty.
You’re all I think about.
All my love,
Avery
* * *
Dee Dee,
When I think of you, I think of our nights under the stars.
When I think of you, I think of our nights at the lake.
When I think of you, I think of the night when I told you to leave him.
You’re all I think about.
A
ll my love,
Avery
* * *
My heart broke with each note I read. It seemed that Avery’s mom was with another man at some point. But why did she stay with Doug? Was it because of Avery? I’d heard of women wanting to stay with their children’s fathers because they didn’t want a broken home, but wasn’t love better? I mean, who was to say this guy—who Avery was clearly named after—wouldn’t have loved Avery?
“Is this real life?” Brooke asked.
I looked up at her. “What?”
“How could a woman not stay with a man who pours his heart out like this?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “None of us know who these people were, and they’re my husband’s parents. It’s crazy.”
Avery was in the cage, letting off steam. He wasn’t smiling like the other day. This time, I knew he was pouring all of his anger and confusion into every swing. Thank god he now had Easton to do manly shit with and let out all of his frustration. I could only do so much.
“Do his parents have a VCR?”
“What?” I asked, looking back at Brooke.
She held up the tape. “Maybe the answers are on this tape.”
I thought for a moment. “I don’t recall even seeing a TV.”
“Really?”
“It’s weird, B. They have this nice house, but it’s stark white with no personal belongings except clothes and medical books.”
“No computer?” I shook my head. “Maybe some answers are on her phone then?”
“Shit. We need to head back to the house and see about cracking their phone passcodes.” I’d forgotten we needed to text people about the viewing.
“How are we going to do that?”
“I have no idea.”
When our tacos were ready, Avery was still in the cage, hitting round after round after round, so I got his to go. The entire drive back to the house, Avery was quiet. We both had a lot of questions with no answers.
“How about you and Easton grab some beers and play bocce ball while Brooke and I try to get into your mom’s phone?” I suggested, thinking he needed more stress relief.
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