“Oh.”
That word. It’s Trevor’s way of acknowledging everything we say. It kills me every time he says it. Because what I really think it means is that nothing we’re telling him means anything to him.
Hudson McQuaid takes his turn. “I’m a physician as well,” he says.
“Hudson is an OB/GYN,” I say. “Well, not mine, because that would be way too weird.”
I stiffen because I just realized Iwillhave to visit my doctor, and soon.
Several people around us laugh. But not Trevor.
“Oh,” is all he says.
Jaxon Calloway edges Hudson aside. “Good to see you, buddy. We were all so torn up.” He glances at me. “Especially your lovely bride. Glad to have you back.” He eyes his old friend up and down. “And in a T-shirt?”
Jaxon looks at me. I give him a slight shake of my head. Now is probably not the time to tell Trevor he never would have been caught dead in a T-shirt at a party, or even out in public unless he was running the trails. Button downs and khakis were his attire of choice. Or, at the very least, collared polo shirts.
There’s an awkward silence when Trevor has no idea who Jaxon is. Jaxon laughs and holds out his hand. “Jaxon Calloway.”
“Calloway?” Trevor looks at me then back to Jaxon. “As in Calloway Creek?”
Jaxon briefly explains how the town bears the name of his family, but that’s the extent of it, and there’s no ownership involved.
“And we’re… friends?” Trev asks.
“Went to high school together,” Jaxon says. “I work there now, teaching math and science. And I coach football.”
Patrick clasps Jaxon’s shoulder. “This guy led the Cavaliers to the state championship.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
There’s near silence in the room. I think most people just don’t know what to say. My friends mostly hang back and let the others introduce themselves. I suppose they’re simply reading the room and giving Trevor the space he seems to need right now.
When the last person pulls away, Trevor runs a hand through his hair. He looks frustrated. At them? At himself? At me for allowing this?
He addresses everyone. “It’s nice to meet… see… um…” His jaw clenches. “Fuck, I don’t know how this is supposed to go.”
I don’t miss how many brows are raised at his choice of words. Glances are exchanged, but nobody says anything.
Dawn motions to the large banquet table set up with food. “Please everyone, help yourselves.”
That seems to break the tension and people start chatting amongst themselves, bringing the volume up to a healthy level of noise one might expect from a social gathering.
Chuck and Dawn invite Trevor to see his old room, and as soon as the three of them are down the hallway, my friends swarm around me.
“My god, he looks so different,” Regan says. “I’ve never seen him with as much as a five o’clock shadow.”
“I think it makes him look roguish,” Maddie says. “It’s a good look on him.”
“Yeah, but he’s so…” Regan glances down the hall, unable to say what we’re all thinking.
Maddie’s arm comes around my shoulder when tears start to flood my eyes. I swallow hard. “He looks at me like I’m a stranger. I finally have him home after all these years, but he’s a million miles away.”
“Maybe being here and seeing everyone will jog his memory,” Regan says.
I nod. “I hope so, because this is killing me.”
A few minutes later, the trio return from Trevor’s room. I look at Dawn expectantly, but she shakes her head sadly.
