A Forever Love, Part 2

by Sharon Cummin

  “That's true,” Julia said, as she leaned forward and tickled Ava, “and I'm not good at making spaghetti. That's why we're having pizza.”

  “Can we have pizza with Noah?” Ava asked through her giggles. “He likes expensive pizza too.”

  “Expensive pizza,” Julia said, as her eyes shot in my direction.

  “Yep,” I said. “It turns out they both like expensive pizza.”

  “I don't even know where he lives,” Julia said.

  Before she could enjoy what she thought was going to be her out, Ava piped up.

  “Uncle Sawyer does.”

  “What makes you think that?” Julia asked.

  “He told me on the ride home,” Ava answered, and I thought I was a goner.

  “Oh yeah,” Julia said, looking from her daughter to me. “And how is that?”

  “He just does,” Ava said with a shrug, and then she saved me. “Noah's mommy's name is Grace. You know a Grace. You tell me the fun things you did with her all the time.”

  Julia took a deep breath before looking back at her daughter.

  “Noah's mommy is the same Grace,” Julia admitted, more to herself than to her daughter.

  “Oh wow!” Ava yelled out. “Then we have to go. She's your best friend.”

  “She used to be,” Julia said, reaching out to try to calm her daughter. “We haven't talked in a very long time, since before you were even born.”

  “Uncle Sawyer thinks we should go,” Ava said, looking up at me like I was going to make it happen.

  “Does he?” Julia asked, looking up, narrowing her eyes at me.

  “Yep!” Ava answered innocently. “It was his idea.”

  “Was it?” Julia growled out, not taking her eyes off of mine.

  “Ava,” I said, trying to warn her that she needed to back off, but it didn't work.

  “What?” she asked, with a shrug. “I'm just saying.”

  I shook my head, knowing that I was going down.

  “I thought it would be nice,” I said, trying to soften my sister up a little. “I figured that way they wouldn't be alone and Noah could have pizza.”

  Then I looked at the silly grin on my niece's face and knew I was taking her down with me.

  “Oh, and so Ava could have spaghetti that doesn't suck.”

  “Uncle Sawyer,” Ava snapped out.

  “What?” I asked innocently. “I'm just saying.”

  “I don't know,” Julia said. “What if she doesn't have enough? There are three of us.”

  “So we'll bring extra pizza,” I answered, as if it was no big deal that she was about to come face to face with her old best friend for the first time in years.

  She didn't respond, but I could tell she was thinking about it.

  “You two could talk,” I added.

  “What if she doesn't want to?” she asked. “She pulled away. I must have done something to upset her.”

  “I don't think that's true,” I said, knowing damn well it had nothing to do with her at all. “I think you could both use a friend.”

  “Come on, Mom,” Ava said, pleading with Julia. “Noah will be so happy to see me.”

  Julia let out a long breath.

  “Get your homework done and we'll go,” she said, in a quiet tone.

  “Yeah!” Ava yelled out, as she threw her fist up in victory before running off toward her room.

  “Maybe give her a bit of time,” I said, as I turned away from my sister and walked out of the room. “She mentioned she was just starting the sauce. Said something about being distracted today.”

  “Why do I think that has something to do with you?” Julia asked.

  I shrugged and kept right on walking.

  “Sawyer!” she yelled after me, but I didn't stop.

  There was no way I was explaining anything to her. I wasn't even sure what had happened myself. Well, I knew what happened. There was no way I would ever forget. I just wasn't sure exactly where that left us, me and Grace, but I was about to find out.

  Chapter 4

  Grace

  Julia wasn't moving, and neither was I. We were both frozen in place. It had been years since we'd seen each other.

  I could here Noah in the background. He was so excited.

  “I can't believe you're here,” he said. “How did you know where I live?”

  “Uncle Sawyer did,” Ava replied.

  “How did you know, Uncle Sawyer?” Noah asked, and I felt my whole body tense.

  Please don't say it, I thought, as I stared ahead at the only person I ever trusted. She was my best friend, and I knew, after being away for so long, that I'd never find another one like her.

  “Uh, oh, I was out for a ride earlier, and I saw your mom in the yard,” Sawyer said, as he stumbled around for the words.

  The look on Julia's face changed, and I closed my eyes. Time had passed, but I knew she'd know. She knew me better than anyone. How she'd missed my feelings for him growing up, I had no clue, but I wasn't about to chance her figuring it out at that moment.

  “Oh, that's good,” Noah said, and I felt my chest relax. “Since you don't like your mom's spaghetti, Ava, you can try my mom's. I helped her make it.”

  A smile filled Julia's face, and I couldn't help but smile too.

  “My spaghetti isn't that bad,” Julia said.

  “I was wondering what happened to you two,” Sawyer said. “It looks like the sauce exploded and covered you both.”

  “It was like a volcano,” Noah replied, with a laugh, “but it was so much fun.”

  “I can't believe you're here,” I said, not being able to take it a second longer.

  “I can't believe you're back,” Julia replied, “especially when I never knew you were leaving in the first place.”

  Sadness filled the air between us, but when she spoke again, I could hear a bit of anger as well.

  “I mean, I know I got pregnant, but you were my best friend. You know what, we should go. We shouldn't have come here. It was Sawyer's idea, and.”

  “It wasn't that,” I said, interrupting her. “It wasn't because you got pregnant. I promise. It was me. Please stay. I've missed you more than you will ever know.”

  “If it wasn't that, then what was it?” she asked.

  I didn't know what to say. The kids were both right there, and there was no way I could say the real reason in front of them. If I did tell her, then she'd know. She'd know that I had feelings for Sawyer all those years ago. Shit!

  “Are you two going to stand there all day, or are we going to eat this pizza and try this famous spaghetti?” Sawyer shouted out from behind us.

  “It's far from famous,” I said, as I turned around. “It's not even close.”

  When I turned back to Julia, she had a smile on her face again, and I felt relief.

  “Will you stay?” I asked.

  “Come on,” Sawyer shouted again. “I'm starving! I haven't eaten since breakfast.”

  “Come on,” Julia said, as she took a step forward into the house.

  “Well, that's not completely true,” Sawyer continued. “I did have the most delicious snack this afternoon.”

  I let out a gasp before I could stop myself, and Julia grabbed my arm.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, with a worried tone in her voice.

  “Yeah, I'm fine,” I said, narrowing my eyes at Sawyer. “Sorry.”

  “What did you have, Uncle Sawyer?” Ava asked. “Is it better than expensive pizza?”

  “You and your expensive pizza,” Julia said, as she laughed.

  “It was something I picked up at the grocery store this morning, and yes, it was better than expensive pizza,” he replied. “It was finger licking good.”

  “Come on,” I said, as I walked toward him, making sure he felt my next words. “I wouldn't want anyone to die of hunger.”

  Julia helped me grab some extra plates and fill them with spaghetti. I was lucky I had enough. I made a double batch every time I cooked it so that we'd
have leftovers for later in the week. It was a good thing I did.

  “There's a ton of pizza here,” I said, as we sat down and Sawyer opened the lid on the top box.

  “We brought extra since we were showing up unannounced,” Julia said. “I didn't want to spoil your dinner.”

  “Well, let me try a piece of the expensive stuff,” I said, with a laugh.

  “It's not funny,” Julia said, with a sad tone to her words.

  “Oh, it is,” I said, as I laughed again. “We only get the expensive stuff on special occasions. I'm actually excited.”

  We both burst into laughter, and Sawyer looked at us and shook his head.

  “You ladies have issues if this excites you,” he said. “I think I've gotten here just in time to save you both.”

  “Ha ha,” I said, as he set a piece of pizza on my plate. “I'm pretty sure we were both fine before you decided to come back, and I'm pretty sure we'll both be just fine once you're gone again.”

  “This is really good,” Julia said, as she took a bite of my spaghetti, totally missing the meaning of my words. “I can see why Noah likes it so much.”

  “It's too bad it took you so long to make it,” Sawyer said, with sarcasm filling his words.

  “Yeah, well, it would have been done much sooner if some asshole hadn't.”

  “Mom,” Noah yelped out, cutting me off. “That's a bad word. You never use those.”

  “Sorry!” I said, turning toward my son. “You're right. We don't talk that way.”

  Julia let out a laugh, and I turned toward her.

  “What?” I asked, rougher than I should have.

  “It's funny,” she said. “The only times you swore growing up was when my brother grated on your nerves.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess some things never change,” I said, as I looked over at Sawyer with narrowed eyes, and sadness filled me, “but many others do.”

  Before anyone had a chance to speak again, I stood up.

  “Excuse me,” I said. “I'll be back in a minute.”

  I walked into the kitchen and leaned up against my counter. Before I even had a second to think, he was right there.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “No,” I snapped out.

  “What?” he asked.

  “What the hell are you doing?” I growled out.

  A confused look covered his face, but I wasn't falling for his shit. There was no way.

  “Bringing them here?” he asked innocently.

  “No!” I snapped. “Bringing you here?”

  “I brought my niece to see her friend, her boyfriend,” he said.

  “Ugh!” I let out.

  “I brought my sister to see her best friend,” he continued. “She's not had another friend since. Did you know that?”

  “Yeah, well, neither have I,” I said, feeling deflated, but instantly feeling angry again. I stepped forward and poked my finger into his chest. “It's your fault. Everything is your fault. We'd still be friends if it weren't for you. You fucking left!”

  Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes before I could stop them.

  “You shouldn't have taken that out on her,” he said, as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in against his chest.

  “I had to,” I said, as I quickly pushed away from him and wiped away the tears I'd let break free. “Don't you get it.”

  Before he could say another thing, I turned and walked out of the room. There was no way I was letting him pull me in again, not a chance. He didn't want kids, and he surely wouldn't be sticking around. He could say he was, but he'd be lying. All of the feelings coming to the surface were bad. I needed to push them right back to where they came from and move on. I would not let Sawyer get to me, not again.

  “Everything okay?” Julia asked, in a concerned tone, as Sawyer followed behind me.

  “Yes!” I replied. “Perfect.”

  We sat back down, and I dug into my food. I wasn't hungry, but there was no way I was letting him see how he affected me.

  “So, Gracie,” Sawyer began, and I honestly felt like reaching across the table and knocking him the fuck out.

  “Oh, mom doesn't like to be called that,” Noah said. “One day, daddy said it being silly, and mommy got really upset. She said some “a” word used to call her that, and she even cried.”

  I could feel Julia looking at me, but there was no way I was looking up from my food.

  “What do you think of the pizza, Noah?” I asked, pulling him away from what he'd just said.

  “Oh, it's so good,” he answered. “We should order from where they did. It's better than our expensive pizza place.”

  “Isn't it the best?” Ava asked. “Uncle Sawyer let me pick what we got. It's my favorite.”

  Julia let out a laugh, and I looked up from my food at her.

  “She makes me sound so awful,” she said.

  “That's okay,” I said, as I reached over and touched her arm. “Noah does the same thing to me.”

  “You know kids,” Sawyer popped in, like he knew a damn thing about them. The man had only been around one for a month. “They speak the truth.”

  “Shut up!” both Julia and I spit out at the same time.

  We spent the rest of our meal listening to Noah and Ava go on about their day. They were so excited, and I instantly regretted not getting them together sooner. If I hadn't been so worried about the gossipy group of moms, I would have figured out who Ava was. I was sure of it.

  “Can we go play in my room?” Noah asked, as soon as their plates were empty. “I want to show Ava my motorcycles.”

  “Motorcycles?” Sawyer asked.

  “I collect them,” Noah said, as if he had fifty and not just three.

  I was pretty sure Sawyer was going to be highly disappointed if he saw them. They were just small toys Noah gotten while we were shopping for groceries.

  “Really?” Sawyer asked.

  “Yep!” Noah answered excitedly. “Want to see them?”

  “Of course I do,” Sawyer said, standing up and looking over at me. “I'm surprised your mom even let one in the house, with how dangerous they are and all.”

  “Their just toys, Uncle Sawyer,” Noah said.

  I glared at Sawyer the second the words came out of Noah's mouth.

  “I can have them,” Noah said, as he laughed before continuing. “I just can't ever ride one. Come on, I'll show you.”

  Noah grabbed Sawyer's hand in one of his and Ava's in the other, and off they went.

  When I took my eyes off of Sawyer and looked over at Julia, she was watching me. We both sat silent for a few minutes, and then she opened her mouth and shocked me.

  “You like him, don't you?”

  “What?” I asked, acting as if I had no idea what she was talking about.

  “My brother,” she said. “You like him.”

  “No, I don't,” I said sternly, hoping she'd let it go.

  “Yes, you do,” she said, as she shook her head. “How could I have missed it?”

  “You're crazy,” I said, as I looked away. “He's an.”

  “Asshole,” she spat out, before I could get the word out of my mouth. “I got that.”

  When my eyes connected with hers again, I felt as if my whole body deflated. I couldn't lie to her. There was no way. Not after being away from her for so long and just getting her back in my life. I couldn't ruin whatever chance I had of fixing what I'd done years ago, walking away from her when she needed her best friend the most.

  “How long has it been going on?” she asked.

  “Nothing is going on,” I snapped out, feeling defensive.

  “Okay! How long have you liked him?” she asked.

  When I didn't answer, she was right back at it.

  “Oh, come on! We're adults, Grace,” she said.

  “Our lives have all changed so much since high school,” I answered, more to myself than to her.

  “Answer the question,” she said, sternly.r />
  “Honestly?” I asked.

  “Of course,” she answered, as she reached over and touched my shoulder.

  “Forever,” I said, as my head fell down onto my arms that were crossed on the table. Then I mumbled like a fool. “Since the moment he punched that boy in the face for me.”

  Chapter 5

  Sawyer

  As we walked toward Noah's room, I thought about Julia and Grace, unsure of how they felt about being together again. I was the one that put them in the same room. They hadn't totally chosen to be there.

  “You know what,” I said, as I thought about how awkward they could be feeling, “go ahead and play. I'll be back to see your motorcycles in a few minutes.”

  I walked back toward the women, and just as I was about to round the corner, I heard my sister ask “How long have you liked him?”

  I stopped and listened carefully, waiting to see what kind of line Grace was going to come up with to get out of admitting it. Then she said the word that shocked me. “Forever.” I couldn't believe it. She'd said it. Of course she mentioned me punching that boy. He totally deserved it.

  I should have let them know I was there, but I didn't. Instead, I continued to listen.

  “What are you going to do?” Julia asked.

  “Nothing!” Grace answered quickly.

  “Nothing?” Julia asked. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, I'm serious,” Grace replied. “I've got a lot going on. I have Noah to think about. He's the only one that matters. Between the death of his father and me moving him closer to try to prove to my parents that I'm not the loser they've pegged me for, there's no way I'll let another thing shake my boy. We can't forget that sawyer is never having kids, and I already do."

  “What happened to your husband?” Julia asked, as if I hadn't already told her. “I'd heard through my mom gossiping that you were pregnant and getting married, but that was it. She never said anything else.”

  “That was when my parents decided they were done with me,” Grace answered, and I wanted so badly to beat their asses. Who gives up on their child? I didn't have any, and I knew that much.

  “So what happened?” Julia asked. “I've missed so much of your life.”

  “I know,” Grace answered. “That's my fault. I've missed so much of yours too. It started my first year in college...”