She isn’t even sure of her father’s first name? But she truly doesn’t seem bothered by this.
“Bruce and Harley were married by then. My grandma, Harley’s wife, died of cancer when my mom was ten. Bruce was always around anyway and then Harley and Bruce got married three years later. Bruce helped raise my mom and my aunt Bebe.” Nora is watching the road again. “My mom is super smart. She wanted to be a doctor. An oncologist, because of her mom. So, she finished her freshman year in Georgia, had me that summer, then went back to school and I stayed with Bruce and Harley.”
I frown. Her mom left her with her grandfathers?
“Then she got into medical school in California. Then got her choice of residencies and picked Los Angeles and she ended up staying there.” Nora looks back at me now. “She’s done amazing research and work in new surgeries for cancer. And she met her husband there. They have two boys.”
She’s quiet for several long moments, so I finally ask, “So you have a step-dad and half-siblings?”
“Yes.”
“But they live in California and you live here?”
“Yes. My mom is more like an…aunt, I guess. And the boys are like distant cousins. I’ve only met them a handful of times. When she comes back to Louisiana to visit, which is maybe once a year, they’re often busy with school or sports or other things. I’ve only met my step-dad three or four times.
“I know my aunt Bebe, Thea’s mom, a lot better. She’s more like a mom to me. She was there with Bruce and Harley when I was sick, she came to school programs, celebrated birthdays and holidays. And Thea is like a sister. Harley and Bruce are basically my dads. The whole town has helped raise me. Thisis my family and home. She’s…not.” Nora shrugs. “It’s weird, I know. Especially for a guy like you. I know you’re close to your mom and dad and your sisters.”
She seems fine. She really does. She’s never really known her mom. But I still want to hug her.
“I am close to them,” I agree. “But I also live in a different country from one of my sisters and from my parents,” I remind her. “And I have since I was eighteen.”
“But you know them well. And you grew up with them. Bonded with them. And you go home to visit and they come here.”
She’s clearly read about me. Or Ruth has filled her in.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Anyway, that’s why I’m so attached to Rebel,” she says. “Why the people mean so much to me. They’re literally my family. They’ve always been there for me. They took care of me when my mom…couldn’t. So I take care of them now.”
I think about that. She says her momcouldn’ttake care of her, but is that true? Maybe. It’s possible her mom wasn’t equipped to be a young, single mom. But maybe she justwouldn’t. She had other plans. Dreams. And Harley and Bruce helped those happen. They also took care of and loved Nora. It seems everyone turned out great.
Nora definitely takes care of them right back. Her job is literally making the whole town happy. Entertaining them. Keeping them together as a community.
Does she worry what would happen if she didn’t do that? If people didn’t come together for community activities and celebrations? Does she feel like she’s keeping her family together?
“Is that why you only date guys from Rebel?”
“Yeah. I mean, one wasn’t from Rebel, but I really thought he was going to stay. I intend to stay there, so there’s no pointdating anyone who doesn't want that.” She sighs. “But, honestly, I think I’m over it.”
I glance over again. Dammit, having a conversation where I can’t look at her as much as I want to is frustrating. “Over it? Over wanting to stay in Rebel?”
“No,” she says quickly. “I think I’m over dating.”
I laugh. “Come on.” She’s young, beautiful, full of life, clearly loves having a lot of people in her life. No way is she going to stay single.
“I’m serious. I’ve been in three pretty serious relationships and my one must-have is staying in Rebel. Pretty simple. But none of them have worked out.”
“Why not?” I’m truly curious. Obviously, therearemen who want to live in Rebel.
She shrugs. “The ones I fall for just don’t want to settle down in that little town. I mean, Sean Patrick grew up in Rebel.”
I hate that guy. My hand flexes on the steering wheel.
“He should have known and loved it as much as I did,” she goes on. “We dated for three years. But when we graduated, he wanted to get out, go on to bigger and better things. Broke my heart.”
“But he’s back,” I point out. “And he wants to stay now, right?”
It’s not that I want her with him, but I have no say in that. I’m fucking leaving too. My chest feels tight for some stupid reason.
