She shrugs my jacket on and pulls it tight against her before she turns towards me. “Thanks,” she says, her voice hoarse from crying.
“You’re welcome,” I answer back softly. “I know it’s stupid to ask if you’re alright, so I won’t. But I’m here if you want to talk about it.” I raise my hands in the air, like I’m offering up a peace treaty between us. “I promise no fighting, no questions, and I’ll only offer advice if you want me to. You can just let this be an old fashioned bitch-session.”
She huffs out a shaky laugh and wipes at her eyes again. “You must talk to my dad a lot,” she replies. “Because he is the only person I’ve ever met that uses the term ‘old fashion bitch-session’.” She lets out another small laugh and then smiles at me.
Her smile is brighter than the Christmas lights hanging above us, and infinitely more stunning. I wish I could spend the rest of my life keeping that smile on her face.
“Honestly, I feel stupid for crying,” she utters. “I guess I just forgot how much I missed being home. Five years ago I couldn’t wait to escape this damn town, and get as far away from my family as possible.” She pulls my coat tighter around herself before she continues. “And I know how selfish that must sound, because my family is amazing. Like truly, the best family I could’ve ever asked for. But I couldn’t wait to put this life behind me.”
It takes every ounce of restraint not to scoot closer to her and put my arm around her as she starts crying again. I know exactly how she feels, because I’ve done the whole run away from home thing, and when I came back I realized how stupid I had been. I moved back home two weeks after I graduated with my teaching degree and I haven’t regretted that for a second.
She wipes angrily at her face this time. “I didn’t think that I had missed being here so much until we pulled up to the house and I saw that stupid cat in my bedroom window. It doesn’t even feel like my bedroom window anymore! I’ve been so wrapped up in trying to force myself to be happy in the big city, that I’ve missed everything going on back home. I didn’t even know Phillip moved out until about an hour ago, because I never asked. I’ve been avoiding my family for years. And for what? What type of person just gets up and leaves home and then never calls to check on anyone?” She throws her head into her hands and lets out a gut-wrenching sob.
This time I can’t stop myself from scooting closer and pulling her into my arms. I don’t care if she hates me. I can’t stand the idea of her hurting this badly on the inside and being left alone to suffer through these feelings. She cries huge, body-wracking sobs into my chest and I hold her tighter. She may feel like she’s falling apart, but I’ll do whatever I can to keep her from fully breaking.
“It makes you human, Phoebe. I don’t know a single kid who can’t wait to fly away from the nest when it’s time,” I tell her while rubbing soft circles on her back. “Well, except maybe Austin and Phil. They were forced to fly. And they didn't get very far.”
“What do you mean?”
“They are rooming together in the apartments across the street from the community college. They just moved last week, so it doesn’t make you a bad sister for not knowing that. Austin didn’t even tell me until yesterday,” I chuckle. “You know those two live in a world of their own.”
I feel her body shake with laughter. “And my dad got a cat that fast?” she asks.
“Well sort of, but not really.” She pulls back and furrows her brows in confusion as she looks over at me. “Okay so that cat has been hanging out on this street for a couple of months. He just mosied from house to house until someone let him in. Your dad just happened to be that someone. And it was more like an accidental adoption. Word has it, that cat had been hiding in your house for a few days before your mom found him taking a dump in the bathtub.”
“No she didn’t!” Phoebe shouts out while covering her mouth.
“Yep. Linda tried to kick the cat out. She even called my mom to come help. But your dad came home as they were trying to wrestle him into a box, and that demon cat jumped out and climbed right up Ed’s leg. He claimed that cat was his and named him Enrique after some kickboxer from way back in the day. Said he had the heart of a fighter and he could stay.”
“This sounds like something Dad would totally do. I wish I was here to see the expression on Mom’s face when she caught that cat in the tub.” She pulls away from me to where we are sitting side by side, but keeps her body pressed against mine. “Thank you. Again,” she says as she brushes away a loose strand of red hair that’s fallen in front of her eyes. “For the jacket, and for letting me get all of that out.”
“You’re welcome, Phoebe.”
We’re both silent for a few minutes before the door opens loudly behind us, causing Phoebe to literally jump off of the step and move as far away from me as she can. My pride takes a small offense to that, but I’m also basking in happiness. She didn’t push me away when I first came out to check on her. And she let me comfort her. Never in the last few years did I imagine a moment like this with her. That blossom of hope swells in my stomach.
“Hey, Phil. What’s up?” Phoebe says with a cool and calm demeanor. Nobody would believe me if I told them she had been crying in my arms sixty-seconds ago. It’s both awe-inspiring and a little terrifying that she can just flip a switch that fast.
Phillip looks back and forth at us, and I swear he gets a little mischievous twinkle in his eyes like he’s planning one of his stupid pranks. I glare at him and shake my head in a firm ‘no’. I don’t know what he’s planning, but he better leave his sister alone for the time being. The little shit smirks at me before focusing on Phoebe.
“Family meeting time. The rents want to talk to all of us,” he tells her.
She starts to follow him inside, and I take that as my cue to leave. I start heading to my parents house, which is conveniently right across the street when Phillip calls out to me.
“You too, Larson. It’s a multi-family meeting.”
Phoebe turns around and looks at me with a confused expression that I’m sure matches my own. We haven’t had a multi-family meeting in years. I shrug my shoulders at her before following her inside. Might as well see what all the fuss is about.
Chapter Seven
Phoebe
I’mmortifiedasSpencerfollows me into the house. I can’t believe I let any of that just happen. But what’s worse is that I can’t believe I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m obviously still attracted to the man. How could I not be when he grew up to look like, well, an even sexier Clark Kent. Minus the wide rimmed glasses. Though he’d probably look sexy as hell in those too…
“Pheebs, hunny. Come sit here next to me. I feel like I’ve hardly had a moment with you since you got here,” Mom says and pats the unoccupied chair next to her. I graciously take her up on her offer and as soon as I’m seated she wraps her arms around me and gives me a kiss on my forehead.
“I missed you, Mama. Thanks for having me at the last minute.”
“Oh hush. You know this house will forever be your home. We are so happy you were able to make it. I know your life is busy up there in the big city, but I’m so happy you came home for Christmas this year.” I hug her back tightly and we both share teary smiles. I don’t know how I’m going to leave here to go back to New York. I could stay wrapped in my mom’s arms for the rest of my life and be totally content.
