I Never Expected You (I Never 2)

“Well, then I’m definitely not eating them.” I grab a strawberry from the bowl on the counter and shove it in my mouth.

Ky punches me in the arm and mumbles, “Asshole.”

“Kyler! Language, please,” my mother scolds.

I throw back my head in laughter and stick my tongue out at him.

My mom hands me a plate of food to carry out to the dining room. “Go make yourself useful, Zachary. Shoo, get out of my kitchen.”

She swats me with a dish towel, and I race out of the kitchen.

“Damn, dude, these are delicious,” I tell Kyler as I pluck my second cinnamon roll from the plate and shove it in my mouth. I haven’t even finished chewing before I shout at him across the table. “I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me with your skills in the kitchen all these years.”

Damn, if I knew he cooked this good, we wouldn’t have ordered so much takeout over the years.

“Zachary Brian Jacobs, I know I taught you better manners than to talk with your mouth full,” my mother scolds.

I look down at my lap as Dani and Haylee say, “Ooooooooooo,” at the same time followed by their typical giggling. I find myself smiling at how easy we all have fit back together; it’s as if no time has passed.

“Nice to see you girls back to your ways,” my dad adds.

Kyler grins at me. “Nah, man, I just had a good teacher.” He then turns toward Dani, wearing that same grin. “Dani even told me that next time she would teach me how to make that amazing veggie lasagna.”

“Oh, now that sounds delicious.” Brian leans back in his chair across the table.

“It’s no chicken parmesan that Ms. Natalie makes, but it’s definitely a top contender,” Dani adds before taking a sip of her drink.

Natalie leans over with her elbows on the table. “Dani, we’re all adults now—I think we are old enough that you can drop the Ms. and just call me Natalie.”

I used to think my sister made me look bad with all these manners, but once officially an adult, I got the same talk from her. Hopefully one day, I will just call her Ma as my mother-in-law. I push those thoughts aside. Today is not about that; it’s about my sister finally having the strength to come home, and everything feels as though it is back to normal, although one major piece is missing.

“Okay,” Dani responds shyly down at her hands.

Is it weird to realize that we’re all adults now?

“I’m happy to hear you’re still creating in the kitchen though.” Natalie wears a proud expression on her face. My sister was the only one who picked up their talent for cooking and baking.

“Of course, it’s my happy place. I found myself spending hours in my apartment creating new recipes and perfecting the ones you taught me over the years. I even used to make baked goods for two local coffee shops back in New Hampshire while I was waitressing.”

“I would love to see these new recipes you’ve been working on.” My mom sits up straight in her chair, wiping her mouth with her napkin.

“Maybe next time you guys can come to visit us, and I’ll make something.”

Look at that—my sister is already discussing the next time she wants to see my parents. I would say that’s progress.

“I’d love that.” Mom reaches over and grabs Dani’s hand.

I can’t believe that neither my parents or the Hankses had driven to the house and barged through. If I were them, I’m pretty sure I would have.

As small talk continues throughout the table, we are all back in our groove until in a flash my sister has pushed her chair back, knocking it over and rushing right out the back door onto the deck. What the fuck just happened? We all look around, unsure what to do. Kyler goes to get up, but my mom rises and puts her hand on his arm and smiles.

“I’ve got this.” Placing her napkin down on her plate, she gets up and follows Dani.

Quiet and awkwardness take over the room. Haylee reaches over and squeezes my thigh, giving me a reassuring smile.

My dad is the first to chime in. “Why don’t we finish up here and you guys go relax on the couches while we clean up.”

Ky, Haylee, and I look at each other before nodding. I try to focus on what’s going on outside, but I see that my mom and Dani have made their way down off the deck, I assume either for a walk or to sit down by the pool.