Subtle Reminders

by D. J. Pierson

  “Go ahead. My best friend’s mom works in the office. I’ll just have her change mine to wherever she puts you,” I informed her. “Right, Vince?” I patted him on the back.

  He looked at BC. “Unfortunately, my mom likes him, so she’d probably do it.” Ah, he always had my back.

  “My life sucks,” she mumbled as the teacher walked into the room. Mindy whispered something to her I didn’t catch, making BC roll her eyes.

  “Maybe it did before, but now that you’ve met me, it’s about to get a whole lot better.”

  “I’m going to throw up.” She leaned over, putting her forehead on her folded arms, her hair falling to cover her face.

  I smirked. “I highly doubt it, Buttercup,” I said softly, but she definitely heard me.

  Ever since that day, she was my first thought when I woke up in the morning and my last before falling asleep at night. Hell, even my dreams were about her. Being apart didn’t change a damn thing. Watching her scramble to get away from me as quickly as possible hurt like a bitch. Did she hate me so much she couldn’t stand to be near me? What could I have done to make her feel that way? As my heart began to splinter even more than it already was, Lex came over to me.

  “Okay. I’m in,” she whispered.

  “Huh?”

  “With your plan. I’m in,” she repeated. I glanced over to see BC’s back to me.

  “I’m pretty sure there’s no need.”

  After Lex saw why I said that, she grinned. “Don’t let her fool you, Sully. Trust me.”

  “Please don’t fuck with me, Lex. I said I could handle it, but…” I started to walk away, but the stubborn little witch grabbed my arm.

  “I honestly believe this has a chance.”

  “How?”

  “I’m asking you to trust me right now, okay?”

  I peeked at BC, who was still huddled with her mom. “I don’t know. Maybe it was just wishful thinking.”

  “Do you still love her?” she asked. I couldn’t answer, but she could see it in my eyes. “Then you have to at least give this a shot. What if you never get another chance and you end up regretting it for the rest of your life?”

  “What if I end up in more pain than before?”

  “Then you have a decision to make. Is she worth the risk?” She definitely was. I nodded once. Lex took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

  “Well, boss, what’s the plan?” I attempted to relax, but that wasn’t happening.

  “We’re doing this in baby steps. The first thing you are going to do is pick up Shannon.”

  “Do you have any idea what in the hell you’re doing?” I asked, suddenly doubtful.

  “Yup.”

  Dismissing me, she handed out jobs to everyone else in the house. It was about an hour until the party and there was still a lot to do. Her parents were given the task of setting up the food. Vince was sent to shower. She gave BC a bag of decorations and told her to make outside “look pretty”. The party hostess shot me a look, daring me not to do as she instructed. I went up the steps two at a time to change. Deciding I was too sweaty after moving all those tables and chairs around, I took a quick shower in the guest bathroom. No one else ever used it, so I knew where everything was.

  By the time I got back downstairs, everything was just about ready. Damn. When Alexa Watson wanted something done, it got done. As I grabbed my keys off the counter, Lex motioned for me to join her over at the sink. Afraid to ask what she wanted, I slowly went to her side.

  “Go look out in the backyard,” she said. “I don’t think you needed me at all.”

  After asking if anyone needed anything while I was out, I exited through the back door. The bag of decorations Lex had given her sister was sitting untouched on the first table. I didn’t have to look far to find BC. She was standing by the yard next door, laughing as Maddie ran to her carrying a toy we played fetch with when we visited. Maddie gently placed the toy in BC’s hand and waited for it to be thrown again. BC reached over to pet her and she rolled onto her back, wriggling all four legs in the air. She quickly flipped over to her feet as soon as BC kneeled down. The crazy dog was instantly in her face, but she didn’t care. I watched as the two of them played together for another minute, then whistled for Maddie. She looked at me and started to trot in my direction, but stopped to wait for BC.

  “Come on, Maddie,” she said, jogging with the dog. “Sorry. She brought me the toy and I couldn’t tell her no. I had to throw it.”

  “She’s bossy, just like your sister.”

  BC smiled. “Yeah, I guess she is.”

  “I have to run out. I’ll be back in a few.”

  “You mean you’re going to hide so you don’t have to do any more chores.” BC seemed a little nervous around me, but the feeling of hatred I had sensed inside the house was gone.

  “That, too.” I winked, as if she was in on a secret. “Want to go for a ride, Maddie?” The dog loved the car and immediately walked with me to the corner of the house. When she realized BC wasn’t coming, she stopped in her tracks. “Come on,” I commanded. For the first time in months, my dog didn’t do what I told her to do. The little shit even barked at me and started running toward BC. “Damn it, Maddie,” I grumbled.

  BC had opened the bag and pulled out some of the decorations as Maddie bounced up to her. “Hey, baby girl.” BC’s hand fell on the dog’s head.

  “Maddie,” I called out, embarrassed she didn’t listen.

  “She can stay here. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

  “Are you sure? She can be quite a handful.”

  “Positive. Go do whatever it is you have to do,” she said, my dog trailing behind her.

  Good girl, Maddie, I thought to myself. You’re the best dog in the entire world.

  Playing with Maddie seemed like a lot more fun than doing the chores Lex had assigned. However, if they weren’t finished by the time she came outside, my little sister would be royally pissed. There was no way in hell I was going to be the one responsible for messing up her day. She’d been looking forward to this housewarming party since before they closed.

  In between opening packets of confetti, centerpieces, and other decorations, I tossed the toy or played tug with the dog as I wondered about Joey. Too many questions floated in my head. How was he doing? Ever since he understood what his dad did at work every day, he wanted to be a police officer. Did he love it as much as he thought he would? Was he being safe? Was Jack watching out for him? Why did he get Maddie? He loved his Wrangler. What was with the new SUV? Was his girlfriend pregnant? Were they planning on getting married? Would Lex have told me? Ugh! I tried not to think about that because I knew he was probably on his way to pick her up and I’d be forced to look at her for the rest of the day. It wasn’t right, but I disliked her already.

  Lex mentioned something about Joey living with his brother. Did Jack drive him crazy? I laughed to myself. Of course he did. Jack lived to torture Joey on a daily basis. He used to say it was his punishment for breaking one of Jack’s favorite toys. It happened before Joey could walk and he had absolutely no recollection of it, but Jack held a grudge. Maybe it was only an excuse to be a bastard to his younger sibling. Either way, he didn’t let him live it down.

  Did Joey still play baseball? He grew up playing the sport year-round. After high school, he and some of his teammates joined a league. Even if we were at home simply hanging out, Joey always had his glove with him. It used to be a running joke among our friends that he slept and showered with the raggedy old thing. He’d get new gloves as gifts, but he had a soft spot for that one in particular. Late one night, as we lay on a blanket under the starlit sky, he made me promise to make sure he was buried with it when the time came. I brought up the possibility I may go first, so he should tell someone other than me. He said there was no reason to because he’d never be able to live in a world that didn’t have me in it. My heart melted, which led to one of the most memorable make out sessions in history. A little morbid? Not if
you saw the look in his eyes when he said it. No one would ever love me the way Joey Sullivan did. What I wouldn’t give to change the course of events that led me to say goodbye.

  “Hey, Brie. Are you okay?” A voice cut through my thoughts. How long was I daydreaming? It took a few blinks and a small shake of my head to clear it. “I called your name, like, four times.” Concern filled Vince’s face.

  “Sorry, Vince.” I collected the trash in front of me. “I was just thinking about…something. Do you think my decorating will pass inspection?”

  “Honestly, your sister is so happy to have you home, anything you did would be perfect.”

  “We’re both talking about Alexa, right?”

  “Yes.” He laughed, taking the garbage from my hands and shoving it into the can by the deck. “Come on.” My soon-to-be brother-in-law put his arm over my shoulders and directed me toward the house. “Your aunt and uncle just pulled up with your grandmother. She’s been talking about seeing you for weeks.”

  “It’s that late already?” My thoughts held me captive longer than I originally imagined.

  “Almost.”

  “Oh, wait. Maddie!” I called. She was at the back edge of the yard, sniffing at something in the brush. She looked up and started to trot toward us.

  “Sully’s back?” He whistled and the dog started running.

  “I’m not sure. Maddie didn’t want to go with him, so I said I’d watch her. She must’ve been having too much fun running around.”

  “That’s weird,” he remarked, opening the door to the kitchen. The dog jumped in front of us and went right to the ceramic bowl full of water.

  “What is?”

  “She didn’t want to go. Maddie loves the car. That’s why Sully got the SUV. Once she got bigger, it was too hard to get her in and out of the Wrangler.” I didn’t bother hiding the smile on my face. It was nice to know he didn’t get it for any other reason.

  “Is she here yet?”

  “Yes, Mom,” I heard my dad reply. “Vince went outside to get her. She should be in the kitchen any minute.”

  “I got Maddie for a few minutes,” Vince offered. “Please, go see your grandmother.”

  Pushing off the counter, I went to stand in the doorway to the foyer. Maddie followed and sat by my feet when I stopped, wagging her tail as I scratched behind her ears.

  “Brielle!” my grandmother said.

  “Hi, Grandma.” She shoved my dad’s supporting hand off of her arm and reached for me. He sighed, probably feeling unappreciated. What was it with people and tight hugs? Had they been so forceful my whole life and it took some time away for me to realize it?

  “I can’t believe you’re here! Let me get a good look at you.” She smiled as she held me at arm’s length, then embraced me again. “You are so beautiful. How long has it been since I’ve seen you? Ten years?”

  “Not that long, Grandma.”

  “Like hell it hasn’t been! How could you stay away from your family? I’m an old woman! I could die any day now.”

  “You’re healthier than anyone I know. You aren’t going anywhere for a long time.” The comment stung because, in a way, she was right. We never knew how much time we had and I selfishly hid from everyone to avoid the pain. Leave it to my grandmother to lay on the guilt. If she knew why, she’d understand. I didn’t want her to know, though. If she knew, she’d hurt, too.

  She gave me the “Don’t argue with me. I know better than you because I’m older and have lived longer” look. “Well, I don’t give a damn about this doctor you’re seeing up there in Connecticut. You get your ass home more often or I’ll come up there. Do you want me to get behind the wheel of a car, Brielle? I haven’t driven in years, but if my oldest granddaughter can’t even come visit me, I’ll have no choice but to go see her. Maybe I’ll hitchhike. Do you think I’d make it safely? What is so damn special about this guy anyway? He hasn’t even given you a ring, but he’s more important than your grandmother who has loved you since before you were born?”

  “He doesn’t have anything to do with it. I have to work as much as I can to pay my mortgage. I’ll make an effort to come see you more. I promise.”

  “You shouldn’t have to work so hard, Brielle,” she said sadly. “You can’t possibly be enjoying your life if you spend all of your time at work.”

  “I love what I do, Grandma.”

  “I’m sure you do, dear. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so proud of what you do and know you’re very good at it, but there’s more to life than a paycheck. You can’t forget the people who love you. Without them, life doesn’t really mean all that much. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “Yes,” I whispered, not letting the tears form.

  “Good. Now, come over here and give me another hug,” she commanded. My sister stood behind her, arms crossed. I ignored the smirk on her face, but when she stuck her tongue out at me, I wanted to strangle her. “I love you, Brielle.”

  “I love you, too, Grandma.” And I did. Honestly, if Aidan was the only reason I lived so far away, I’d move home in a heartbeat. What did that tell me? Even more concerning was the fact I hadn’t thought of him all day.

  As more relatives arrived, the more guilt trips I endured. If someone told me Lex had arranged the entire situation, I’d have definitely believed it. She witnessed everything they all said and seemed to genuinely enjoy herself. How nice of me to provide the hostess with a little amusement. Once the majority of our aunts, uncles, and cousins settled into the backyard, things calmed down and people stopped picking on me. Mom and I returned to helping Lex with the party, and Dad was dismissed to keep his brothers entertained. As the food sat ready to be devoured, Lex lugged me outside to make sure everyone had a drink. There were coolers filled with plenty of beer, soda, and juice for the kids. Was it really that hard for people to get their own?

  “Here,” she said, handing me more bottles than I could hold at once. “Pass these out.” She stuck the bottle opener in the pocket of my shorts and sent me on my way, Maddie following.

  “Do they think driving me insane is the way to get me to come home?” I asked the dog. She pranced happily by my side for a few steps, then took off running ahead. I glanced up to see Joey and some blonde coming through the back door.

  Out of nowhere, the air thickened, making it difficult to breathe. It felt like the middle of August, not May. Hot, humid, stifling. As he pushed the door closed behind her, I couldn’t help but look. She wasn’t as pretty as I thought she’d be. There wasn’t a hair out of place on her head, and her boobs were too big. Fake. Her painted on makeup was heavier than most models and, while I didn’t doubt they were expensive, the clothes she wore left little to the imagination. Although if you paid to enhance some part of your body, showing it off had to be a requirement. The heels of her sandals added a few inches to her short stature. The girl screamed for attention. She was nothing like I had imagined. Before I got the chance to consider it, I knew why. She was the exact opposite of me.

  It appeared as if she was in the middle of saying something to Joey when he spotted me, a small smile forming on his perfect face. He put his hand on the small of her back, which I felt the need to smack, and directed her toward me. Not even the tiniest part of me wanted to be introduced to her, but I was stuck with no place to go. Fabulous. Maddie barked playfully, making him notice her. I didn’t miss the way his girlfriend rolled her eyes when Joey stopped to pet his puppy. That made me hate her guts even more.

  Unfortunately, Maddie didn’t distract him long enough for me to slip away. The stinker took off running as he continued in my direction. “Hey, Joey. Thank goodness you’re back,” I said as he got closer. “I’m guessing you knew how much of a monster my sister has become.”

  He chuckled, spotting my hands full of beer bottles. “Yup. I’ve been dealing with her shit for months. Now it’s your turn.”

  “Thanks a lot. Next time you take off, I’m going with you.” I held out a bottle to him. “Opene
r’s in my pocket. I’d get the damn thing, but it’s kind of impossible.” He reached for it, brushing his hand along my hip as he removed it. Once an arrogant bastard, always an arrogant bastard.

  “Aren’t you going to tell her no one’s allowed to call you ‘Joey’?” For just a minute, I had forgotten about the bimbo standing beside him.

  Without turning her way, he said, “She’s why nobody’s allowed to call me that. It’s her thing. Always has been.” People used to call him that. Of course, they didn’t start until after I did, but he never had a problem with it before. “This is BC… Brielle,” he corrected himself. “Alexa’s sister.”

  “Ah, the infamous sister who ran away has returned.” By nature, I wasn’t a violent person. Right then, however, I wanted to punch her square in the face. While she chewed her gum with her mouth open, more vicious thoughts flashed through my mind. “Wait… BC? Like your tattoo?”

  “Something like that,” he mumbled, blowing her off.

  “Whatever,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’ll take one of those.” The bitch stuck her hand out for me to give her a beer.

  The closing of the back door caught my attention. The handsome man walking through it lit up when we made eye contact. “Babycakes!” he shouted.

  I shoved all the bottles at Shannon and left her holding them so I could run to someone much more pleasant. Jack was the only person who got away with using anything even close to the nickname Joey had given me. I suspected it was either because he loved when Jack treated me like family, or he knew Jack had the potential of putting up a good fight. If anyone else called me BC or used the initials in any other manner, he’d quickly set straight whomever it was. One of his baseball coaches jokingly called me BC after a game and Joey threatened to quit the team. It was funny after the fact, but not then. He couldn’t have been more serious.

  “Jack!” I said as he lifted me up and spun me around. He set me back on my feet with a kiss on my cheek, but didn’t let me go.

  “How the hell is it possible that you’ve gotten even more beautiful?”