Chapter Twenty
“Alright, B,” I called down the hall. “I’m going to help Fin with his big poker game.”
She poked her head out into the hall and threw me a sly smile, “Is that what the kids call it these days? You didn’t tell me Fin had abigpoker game.”
“Oh my gosh,” I laughed. “I’m telling Beckett to start texting you again.” I threatened on my way to the door.
“Don’t you dare!” she squealed and then ducked back into her room. “Ijustgot him to stop!”
I laughed at her, wondering how my brother was really handling rejection for the first time in his life. Probably not well.
Oh well.
I pulled on the door and came to a screaming halt. Literally. Tara was standing on the other side of the door with her hand poised to knock.
“Sorry,” I breathed when I finally stopped screeching. “You scared me.”
“I could tell,” she intoned dryly. She looked pretty much the same, her wild faded pink dreads a mess in a ponytail on the top of her head. Her light blue eyes were bloodshot and dull but clearer than I’d seen them in the past and her skin had just a touch more sun to it than the last I’d seen of her.
It had only been six weeks since we’d said goodbye in this very place, but it felt like a lifetime. I was a different person now, but I highly doubted she was.
“What do you want, Tara?” I asked with little patience.
She suddenly seemed on edge, like she was meeting me for the first time and she wasnervous. “I just came by to talk, Ellie.”
“Oh.” That kind of threw me; I guess I wasn’t expecting that. “Well, I’m on my way out actually,to dinner.” I mentioned dinner as a reminder of the last time we’d talked, but by her blank expression I didn’t think she remembered saying that phrase to me moments before my whole life fell apart.
“I’ll be quick.” She gave me a sheepish smile and I felt my resolve cracking just a little.
“Ok, I guess.”
“Did you get my note?” she asked casually and I almost laughed.
“The one on the back of my Biology notes?”
“Um, no,” she shook her head emphatically. “The one that explained my addiction?”
She was serious.“Oh, right. That one.”
She broke into a relieved smile, “Ok, good. Well, I just got out.” When I made no expression or move to say something, she continued, “Of rehab and I’m here as part of my…. um, steps. I’m here to apologize. To make amends.” She announced this with a flourish as if I should start getting excited.
“Did you bring back all my furniture?” I asked slowly, even though it didn’t matter anymore. I came clean to my parents and my brothers. I told them all about my roommate problems and how she stole all my money and furniture. I even introduced them to Fin at Beckett’s last home game. They immediately adored him.
I couldn’t help feeling shocked. And when they invited us both up to the house for a weekend I accepted. I was working on this whole family thing. And Fin was more than eager to encourage me.
“Uh, no, that’s been gone for a….” she cleared her throat nervously, “A while. Didn’t I explain that in the note? I thought I put in something about that.” She cleared her throat again.
“No, you didn’t. You explained you have a gambling addiction but you failed to mention why you needed to stealallof my furniture.”
After one more throat clear and in a very small voice she said, “Ellie, I really am sorry. I screwed up, I know that. And you suffered because of it. My actions hurt you. Please forgive me. I wasn’t myself at the time.”
I wanted to stay angry at her, especially when I could blame her for so many things. But at the same time because of her some really, really good things happened too. And if my parents could let go of all the missing furniture with a shrug and a careless, “Oh well, they were on their way to Goodwill anyway. I’m sure your Aunt Trudy will have more for you when she redoes her great room.” Then so could I.
I hesitated though and Tara asked again in a broken voice, “I really am sorry, Ellie. I probably hurt you the most. Please forgive me?”
I nodded. “Ok, Tara. I forgive you. I don’t understand why you did what you did, but I hope that you’re better now. And I’m over it, so no more worries.”
Relief broke out across her face and she immediately rocked back on her heels like a physical weight had been taken off of her. “Great, that’s really, really great.”
