Family Ties

by Debi V. Smith

  “Sure,” Andrew says.

  Jason wraps his arms around me from behind as I wash the last of the breakfast dishes. I set the dish and sponge in the sink and turn around in his arms. My hands come to rest on his biceps, and I gaze into his eyes that search mine. “I met Victoria’s social worker this morning.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “Rose and Andrew talked to her last night while we were still out. She wanted to hear what happened from me and Arissa, so we told her and I showed her my bruise. Then, she tried to get me to empathize with Victoria because she ‘hasn’t had it easy.’”

  “Easy? What kind of bullshit is that?”

  “The kind when they don’t have the whole story. So, I stood up for myself.”

  “I would’ve loved to have seen that,” he says, bringing the left corner of his mouth up into a half smirk.

  “Yeah, well. I really wanted to slap her. I came in here and called you instead. I’m sorry I woke you.”

  “Your first thought was to call me?” he asks, forming a full smile.

  “Yes.” Heat flushes my cheeks.

  “I call that progress, Parker.” He presses his lips to my forehead. “How’s your arm?” he asks, breaking away and taking my left arm with both hands.

  “Sore, but not too bad.” It’s nothing compared to what my father used to do to me.

  “I still can’t believe you tried to stop the putter instead of ducking or moving away.” He inspects the bruise then skims his lips over the splotch of purple.

  “Maybe I’m a little braver now.”

  “You’ve always been brave,” he says as if it is fact, not opinion. He sets my arm at my side and moves me away from the sink. He finishes washing the abandoned dish and places it on the dish rack. “So what shall it be today?” he asks, drying his hands with the towel hanging on the oven door handle.

  “I thought we’re going to a movie with Damian and Arissa this afternoon.”

  “We’ll still do that. But I mean you and me. Before the movie.”

  “Oh.” I shift on my feet. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that.” I pause, then change the subject. “You got here fast. Did you eat breakfast?”

  “No. I brushed my teeth and put on clean clothes before rushing over.”

  “Rose made extra pancakes. Do you want some?” I open the fridge.

  “Since Rose made them, the answer is yes.” He sits on a stool at the island.

  I start the microwave with a covered plate inside and set the butter and syrup out, along with silverware and a cloth napkin. The microwave beeps and when I turn around with the pancakes, the napkin is tucked into his shirt and the knife and fork are standing on end in his fists.

  I double over laughing.

  “Hey, be careful. That’s my breakfast,” he quips. He sets the silverware down and lays the napkin in his lap.

  I hand him the plate, then sit and watch as he butters his pancakes and pours syrup over them. “Thank you for the laugh. I needed that.”

  He caresses my back and winks as he chews a mouthful of pancakes.

  “Do you want anything to drink?”

  “Coffee.”

  I frown at him and slide off the stool.

  “You woke me up,” he points out.

  I sigh because he’s right. I pour out the rest of the coffee from the pot and set it before him. “Cream or sugar?”

  “Black.” He grins with a mischievious glint in his eye. “I have an idea,” he says, cutting himself another bite from the stack. “Come home with me to meet my mom.” He inserts the forkful of pancake into his mouth and chews while I stare at him dumbfounded.

  “J, I…“ My mouth hangs open in the pause. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

  His steady gaze remains on me. “She asks about you. She wants to meet you.”

  “She wants to meet me?” I ask. Knowing someone wants to meet me is new.

  “Yeah. She wants to meet the girl I chased for two years.” He grins.

  “You…ha…you…“ I blunder. “You talk to your mom about me?”

  “You’ve known the Jerichos for years. Arissa talks to her parents. You don’t think I talk to mine?”

  “I just never thought about it before,” I admit.

  “My parents know all about you. They knew about you before we started dating.”

  “What?”

  “It was my mom who pointed out that you were right about what I was doing,” he says, enlightening me. “She told me I had to think about what I really wanted and make a choice.”

  “I just thought you were being incredibly mature after you broke up with Becky.”

  “Parker, I’m a guy,” he says. “I happen to have a mom who takes an interest and doesn’t let me keep acting like a dumbass when she finds out what I’m up to.”

  “Isn’t she at work?”

  “No. Today is her day off.”

  “Oh.” I can do this. I just stood up for myself with Shannon. “If you really want me to meet her, I will.”

  “I really do.”

  “Finish your pancakes and I’ll tell Rose.”

  Jason pulls his car into the left side of his driveway and gets out. I hesitate a moment before opening my door. He wants this. He’s done more for me than I’ve done for him. I can do this. I take a deep breath and climb out.

  He leads me along the paved walkway to the front porch. A set of two white Adirondack chairs is placed on either side of a small, matching white table on the left side of the porch and a natural stained porch swing hangs on the right.

  His mother looks relaxed, lounging barefoot across the swing and engrossed in a book. A yellow cotton dress with cap sleeves drapes over her lithe body. Her hair, the same dark sienna as Jason’s, is cut short and spiked.

  “Mom.”

  She startles and tips her head up, then smiles. “Jason!” She rises out of the swing and lays her book down. “You must be Sara,” she says warmly, enfolding me in her arms.

  Her embrace takes me by surprise. “Hi, Mrs. Waters.” I return her hug with my free arm. Jason tries to let go of my hand, but I hold on tight.

  “Call me Alana,” she says, stepping back. “I’m so glad we’re finally meeting. Honey, take her around back and I’ll bring out some lemonade.” She retreats inside as Jason leads me through the gate into the backyard.

  A small garden takes up the right side and a pond with ornate landscaping decorates the left. We sit at a wooden picnic table on the patio.

  “Why haven’t you brought me here before?” I know I never asked, but I never thought to.

  “I didn’t want you to feel like I was pressuring you into meeting my parents.” He brings our hands up to his mouth and kisses the back of mine.

  Alana joins us with a tray, placing it in the middle of the table and passing us the drinks.

  “Thank you,” I say, taking a drink. I pucker at the tartness of the fresh lemons. “That’s really good lemonade.”

  “Why, thank you.” She cradles her head in her hand. “Jason tells me you’ve known each other quite a while now.”

  “First day of ninth grade.” In full sun, I notice Jason has her eyes.

  “You two are so cute together,” she says, grinning.

  “Aren’t we, though?” Jason boasts and cocks his head to touch mine.

  I smile shyly. “Jason mentioned today is your day off,” I say, attempting to shake off embarrassment. Or maybe it’s anxiety. Or both. “What do you do?”

  “I’m a psychiatric nurse.”

  “That must be interesting.”

  “Never a dull moment and no day is ever the same.” She sips her lemonade. “Jason tells me you live with your best friend and her family.”

  My gut reaction is to tell him he had no right to tell her. It’s my life, not his.

  But I made the choice to have him a part of it.

  “Her parents have guardianship of me.” I take a deep breath and squeeze his hand. Hard. He could’ve at
least warned me. I want to crawl out of my skin and rock myself to sleep while in the fetal position. “They intervened last year when they witnessed my father beating me outside.”

  “And your parents are going to trial soon?”

  I nod. To Jason’s credit, he gives no indication that I have his hand in a death grip. I should be nicer, but it’s keeping me from reverting to old coping skills in front of his mom.

  “I understand you were in foster care.”

  “CPS didn’t think I was safe living across the street from my parents, even though I had been safe there for months.”

  “I see that a lot in my line of work.” A small chime sounds from Alana’s watch. She stands without glancing at her watch. “I’m sorry, Sara. I need to check on Jason’s dad. I’m so glad you came over.”

  “It was nice meeting you, Alana.”

  I forget that Jason told his mom about my parents and ask the more immediate question. “What’s wrong with your dad?”

  He strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. “He has prostate cancer.”

  “What? Why didn’t I know this before?” I ask.

  “You had enough to worry about, Parker. I didn’t want to burden you.”

  “Jason, you’re always there for me. You came running when I called this morning and your dad is here. With cancer.”

  He straddles the bench. “He survived once, but whatever happens, we’re better prepared because we went through this before. Trust me. When I’m not with you or at school, I’m with him.”

  “Is that why you brought me around the house instead of through?”

  He nods.

  “Can I meet your dad?”

  “Today?”

  “No. It’s been an eventful day already and it isn’t even noon.”

  The crooked grin spreads into a full smile, lighting up his face. He leans in and our lips meet, a twenty-foot wave cresting inside me.

  I return his kiss with the ferocity of the wave crashing through my body. He guides my arms around his waist then cups my face with both of his hands as we continue a long tangle of lips and tongues. Jason is always cautious, never pushing for more than I give.

  I imagine this is the thrill surfers have in the barrel. Water roaring and rushing over them, salt water spray pelting their face, open air in sight, fingers trailing in the water, riding it out until they emerge victorious.

  He pulls away. “Parker,” he says, breathless, touching his forehead to mine. My face still in his hands. “That was just…”

  I take slow breaths to steady myself. Even imaginary waves can knock you off balance. “Yeah.”

  His head draws back and his eyes pierce mine. “I love you, Parker.”

  They aren’t just words he feels he should say. He truly loves me and needs to tell me so. “I love you too,” I whisper.

  A wisp of a smile crosses his lips and we unwrap ourselves from each other to get up. Jason interlaces our fingers and strolls to the sliding door, opening it a crack.

  “Mom, we’re heading back to Sara’s,” he calls inside.

  “Okay, honey! Have fun today!” she calls back.

  Arissa drags me away from Jason and into her room as soon as we walk through the front door.

  “How did it go?” she asks, plopping us both onto her bed.

  “A little awkward, but she’s nice.”

  “Awkward how?”

  I grab a pillow and play with the edges. “He told her about my parents.”

  “He did?” She crosses her legs under her.

  “Yeah. But, like he told me this morning, he talks to his parents like you talk to yours.”

  “Makes sense I guess.”

  “Are you going to talk to Damian?” I pinch a corner and roll it under.

  Her expression turns grim. “I know I need to. I just don’t know what to say.”

  “Say what you feel, like you always do.”

  “No, I always say what I think. There’s a difference.”

  “No, you always say what you feel, whether you realize it or not.”

  She pauses a moment. “Maybe.”

  “What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. He breaks up with me?” She throws herself back on the bed.

  “Don’t be so dramatic.” I hit her with the pillow.

  “What the hell, Sara?”

  A wide grin spreads across my face. She grabs the other pillow and hits me back.

  “Talk to him when he gets here. We can always see a later movie,” I say, climbing off the bed and throwing the pillow at her.

  She catches it and drops it next to her.

  Arissa whisks Damian into the TV room when he arrives and I take Jason out back.

  “What’s that all about?” he asks, sitting next to me on the grass.

  “She’s having the talk with him.” I plant my hands behind me.

  “Parker, I think it’s a little late to have ‘the talk,’” he says like I’m being ridiculous.

  “Not the sex talk. The relationship talk.”

  “Oh.” His eyes widen. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. She finally admitted her feelings last night after I called her out.”

  He grins.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Let’s just say we won’t be the only happy couple today.”

  “I knew it!”

  His mouth captures mine swiftly, catching me by surprise. After he pulls away, he moves behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

  “I love how I feel when you kiss me like that,” he whispers in my ear.

  “How do you feel?” I hook my hands over his arms.

  “Like you’re finally breaking down the last of the walls you had up for so long.”

  “I just know I can trust you because you love me.”

  His cheek tightens in a smile against the side of my head. “I have for a long time.”

  The sliding door zips open. “Break it up, you two!” Damian bellows.

  I flip him off without looking back and he laughs. I peer over my shoulder. An ear-to-ear grin is plastered on Arissa’s face. “I take it your talk went well.”

  “You could say that,” she says, blushing.

  “Are you guys ready to go, then?”

  “Sure thing,” Damian says, draping his arm over Arissa.

  Two. Two happy couples.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  We slap white cards on Hunter’s dining room table, laughing raucously at the Cards Against Humanity answers with Skillet playing in the background. It was the easiest game we could think of for five people because Hunter and I guessed correctly: no one else showed up.

  Arissa and Damian took to Hunter quickly. No surprise, since he’s charming and they make friends with almost everyone they meet.

  Someone pounds on the front door and Hunter leaves to get it.

  “Where is he?” she yells.

  Hunter keeps his voice low so we can’t hear his reply. We glance at each other, then leave our seats at the same time, poking our heads through the doorway.

  “I know he’s here, asshole!” Nicole screams.

  Jason joins Hunter at the door and I shake my head. Nothing ever goes well when Nicole or Becky is involved.

  “What is your problem?” Jason asks.

  “Your skank girlfriend,” she answers, glowering. “She did nothing but cause trouble for three months, Jason.”

  “That’s a fucking lie and you know it,” Hunter says.

  Arissa nudges me and gives me her what-gives look.

  “Becky’s sister,” I whisper.

  “Are you calling me a liar?” Nicole asks.

  “Yes,” Hunter answers.

  “I never-”

  “Always.”

  She glares at Hunter, then turns her attention back to Jason. “You owe Becky.”

  “I owe her nothing,” Jason says. “It’s been a year and a half. Both of you need to get over it.”

  “You left her for that smelly cun
t!”

  I grip the doorjamb harder. I’m back with the Jerichos and a specter of Foster Hell won’t leave me alone.

  He steps closer to her. “Watch how you fucking talk about my girlfriend. I know what you did while she was at La Costa. You were the one causing trouble. Not her.”

  Her face morphs into an ugly sneer. “Didn’t you hear? She’s not the little innocent princess you think she is, Jason.”

  “I never thought she was. Unlike you and Becky who need constant attention because you’re both insecure, she’s strong and independent and doesn’t need to be doted upon.”

  I’m strong because I learned how to stand up for myself, mostly through therapy. The rest I learned from watching Arissa be tough as nails. Friends can be good role models whether they know it or not.

  “Jesus, Nic,” He continues. “You attacked her after meeting her. Who does that?”

  “Because she stole you from Becky!”

  “I’m not a belonging. I can’t be stolen. I broke up with Becky. I was the asshole who left her at the game. Got it?”

  “You’re a fucking asshole!”

  “Yeah, he just said that,” Hunter says.

  She storms off in a huff.

  “Sorry ‘bout that, guys,” Hunter says when they return. “Where were we?”

  Jason slips his arms around me and draws me close, kissing my head.

  “In the middle of an insane shit storm,” Arissa answers.

  Hunter laughs. “You’re good people, Arissa.”

  We play a few more rounds of Uno, then decide to watch a movie. Hunter and I pop popcorn while Jason, Damian, and Arissa choose the movie.

  “Thanks for bringing them with you,” Hunter says.

  “I know we would’ve had fun, just the two of us, but we did a lot of that the last few weeks. It feels more like a party now.” I grin.

  He pulls me into a lingering hug, just like the many hugs he gave knowing I missed the affection I got from the Jerichos and Jason. He was my boon in the desert.

  A throat clears and we break apart. Arissa’s scrutinizing gaze shifts between us. Hunter grabs the popcorn and heads to the living room.

  “What are you doing?” she asks, hushed.

  “What are you talking about?” I answer, keeping my voice low.

  She tips her head towards the living room. “You and Hunter.”