“How was your day, sweetheart?” my grandmother asks. She looks away from the pot of spaghetti in front of her and up at me. We both know what she’s really asking, and rather than lie to woman who has a built in bullshit detector, I tell the truth.
“Long, but I’m okay today, Gama. I wish you wouldn’t worry about me so much though.”
Her forehead wrinkles a little more as her brows dip into a half grown half scowl. “I will never stop worrying about you, Hayley. Never. You’ve had a rough time lately, and I will keep asking you how are until I can tell for sure you’re not lying about being okay.”
Sighing, I lean my hip against the counter and look my grandmother in the eye. “I’m really okay today, Gama. I promise. In fact, it’s been one of the best days I’ve had in a while.”
Her mouth curves into a sad smile. “I love you baby girl, and it hurts me to see you hurting. I wish I could it away from you, but this is one of life’s lessons that you have to experience for yourself in order to learn from it.”
“I know, Gama. One day at a time, right?”
Her hand cups my cheek. “That’s my girl.”
Gama goes back to making some meatballs and I stand beside her in a comfortable silence, with Ari in my arms. She takes strands of my hair and plays with it, talking happily to no one but herself. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect child, I tell myself. My heart beats for this little person in my arms, and she’s the reason I wake up every morning ready to try again. I didn’t know the meaning of the term selfless, until I experienced the impossible kind of love that just happened after I held her in my arms for the first time. I might’ve lost Cameron, but maybe some day I’ll find a man who is capable of the kind of love that Ari and I need.
“Are you sure you girls will be okay on your own tonight?”
I smile at my grandmother. “Yes, Gama, we’ll be fine. I’m just bummed we’ll miss your delicious spaghetti and meatballs.”
“I’ll make it again sweetheart. The old folks at the retirement home have been looking forward to a decent home cooked meal for weeks, and I promised I’d make my spaghetti and meatballs.”
“Are you sure you don’t have a boy toy there, Gama?” I tease, arching a brow. She swats me with a dishcloth and I laugh. It’s a strange sensation, but most welcome.
“Don’t be silly! I’ve told you before, those men are too old and hopped up on Viagra. No thanks.”
“Viagra!” Ari repeats. “Viagra! Viagra! Viagra!”
My grandmother and I look at each other for a moment before being overcome with a fit of laughter. My eyes water and I feel the tension from the last few weeks leave my body. It feels good, to laugh and to smile, and I can’t help by think that everything will be ok.
My grandmother wipes her tears, and shakes her head playfully at Ari. “So, what are you girls going to do for dinner?” she asks, wiping her hands and taking off her apron. She takes the spaghetti of the stove and strains it before checking on the meatballs. The kitchen is swarming with a delicious scent and the mention of dinner makes my belly grumble. Ari giggles and I pinch her nose.
“Uh,” I look back at my grandmother. “I think I’ll grab us some take out from Joe’s.”
“I shouldn’t be home late.”
“Oh don’t come home early on our account,” I wink. “Your boy toy deserves a little more time with you.”
My grandmother tsk’s and shakes her head again, her mouth dipping into a small smile. “Let me get this food into some dishes before I’m tempted to whack you with my dishcloth again.”
Ari yawns, resting her head on my shoulder. “Okay, Gama. I’m going to take a nap with Ari for a while. See you later?”
She nods and kisses both Ari and me on the cheek before I make my way up to my room. I lay Ari down, pulling her as close to me as I can and listen to her breathing change. My eyelids flutter closed and soon I’m dreaming. About nothing. About everything.
“Are you ready to go, monkey pants?” I look at Ari, standing in the entryway with her thick pink jacket on. She looks like a marshmallow. Her brown curls bounce as she nods and she takes my hand so that we can walk to the car. I strap her into her high chair and take a drive to Joe’s diner. It’s busy for a Thursday night and I recognize quite a few people from some of my classes. I pick Ari up and walk in, not paying much attention to who fills the tables. I’m looking at a menu when Ari catches sight of something over my shoulder and starts squirming in my arms. Not thinking much of it, I place her back on her feet and go back to perusing the menu. When she takes off running and yells, “Cam!” I feel my heart stutter and stop. I turn around slowly, but just in time to see Cameron catch Ari. He’s sitting at a booth, and I see Hannah’s eyes grow wide when I spot her. Her expression is panicked, and I don’t understand why until my gaze travels over the other faces at their table.
Please, no….no no no no no.
The floor drops out from under my feet and the contents of my stomach bubbles up into my throat, cutting off my air. This isn’t happening, I chant. This can’t happen. I recognize the tightening of my chest and the inability to inhale a full breath as panic. Sheer panic. I stand still, as if time itself has slowed around me. All the sounds around me are distant, except one.
“Hi, princess,” Cameron says, pulling Ari onto his lap. He smiles down at her and it’s a real, genuine smile.
Everything seems fine, since no one else around the table has taken notice of me, but then Cameron looks up to find me and everyone follows suit.
Kyle’s eyes find me next, growing wide with shock, followed by Kimber’s and Rachel’s. Kyle’s dirty blonde hair still hangs in his eyes, and he looks broader, more muscular then he was in high school. Kimber’s hair is still over-dyed, just like Rachel’s, and she too looks much the same as she did when we last saw each other.
“Hayley?” Kimber’s voice screeches, all nasally and exactly how I remember it.
“You know each other?” Cameron asks, looking between us.
I don’t answer him. I can’t. The bad feeling I have is crippling, and has wrapped itself around my vocal cords.
Kimber answers, “We went to high school together.”
I look at Hannah, silently pleading her to help me get out of here unharmed, even when I know any effort to do so will be futile.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding,” Kimber says. The tone of her voice makes every hair on the back of my neck stand up. She takes a look at Ari, and sneers. “And I see it didn’t take long for you to get knocked up. Always knew those one-night stands would catch up to you.” I should’ve known it wouldn’t take her long to start. Simply looking at me was enough provocation for her and clearly that hasn’t changed.
I suck in a breath, cursing my stupid lungs when they just won’t work. My eyes dart to Cameron, only to find him staring at me. In fact, every pair of eyes are on me, except Kyle’s. He’s observing Ari, studying her face and the eyes she inherited from him. Shit.
Deciding now’s the best time to leave, I move closer. “Ari, baby, let’s go.”
“No mommy,” Ari protests, grabbing hold of Cameron’s long sleeve navy shirt. “I stay wif Cam.”