“They still suck, but unfortunately, no. My dad’s been calling lately. Five times in the past week.”
“What does he want?” D-Low asks.
“That is the million-dollar question.” I shrug. “I don’t know. And I don’t care. He can call as much as he wants. I’d sooner rip off my own ears than talk to him.”
Shep and D-Low are giving me matching, sympathetic smiles.
“That’s tough. I’m sorry, man.” D-Low tips his beer to me.
“You aren’t even a little curious what he wants to say?” Shep asks.
“No,” I say automatically, then relent. “It doesn’t matter. There’s nothing he could say that would change things between us.”
I believe those words. At least I think I do. As Shep nods, the skepticism in his expression has me questioning myself. Of course there’s a part of me that’s curious but I’ve given them plenty of chances. What’s that saying about when someone shows you who they are, believe them. They’ve shown me who they are plenty of times and there’s no fixing it. But…fuck. What if I’m wrong?
Maybe I’m the problem. Everyone around me has these great relationships with their families. And then there’s me. Is my stubbornness and ability to hold a grudge keeping me from having that too?
I’m still wondering when Hannah reappears. She’s clutching her phone in both hands. “Wren got accepted into the study abroad program in Italy next summer.”
“No way.” I move so I can see the younger Walsh sister on the video call. “Congrats! That’s amazing news.”
“Thanks.” Wren beams, then her expression shifts slightly like she’s trying to contain her excitement. “I’m not going for sure. They won’t announce scholarships for a few weeks and if I don’t get one, then I can’t go.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Hannah tells her. “I’m so proud of you! Complimenti!”
Wren snorts. “Your Italian is terrible.”
“I have plenty of time to practice before I come visit you and eat all the pasta.”
“Oh, me too. Count me in for a visit,” I tell Wren.
Wren’s smile is one of pleased indifference, like she doesn’t quite want to admit how much she’d enjoy that too. “I have to go. I’m meeting some friends at a party.”
“Will there be boys at this party?” I ask in my best imitation of a concerned big brother voice. It turns out, I’m pretty good at it.
“If there isn’t, I’m going to be very disappointed.”
“Be careful,” Hannah says, then. “I love you.”
“Love you too.” She waves and then the call ends.
“They grow up so fast,” D-Low says from where he’s still standing across the kitchen.
Hannah places the phone to her chest and sticks out her bottom lip. “They really do. I can’t believe she got into the study abroad program. What will I do with her so far away?”
My chest tightens as I pull her into a hug. The way she loves her sister and Wren loves her is such a special thing.
“You’ll visit and text.”
“You’ll come with me to visit her?” she asks.
“Of course.”
Some of the sadness on her face slips away. “Thanks for being so good to her. And me.”
“Happy wife. Happy life.” I hold her chin between my thumb and pointer finger and place a chaste kiss on her mouth.
“You know what would make me really happy?” she murmurs against my lips.
