‘I’m just the brute strength, you’re the brains.’
‘Mind over matter,’ Alice muttered, working the hinge open. ‘Distract yourself, so you don’t think about your arms hurting. Talk about something.’
‘Okay, um…’ She pictured him closing his eyes, focusing. ‘Harper refuses to acknowledge her parents’ disapproval of our relationship. And I don’t know how to talk to her about it, because I’m technically not supposed to know.’ He paused. ‘And our venue coordinator called me last week and told me the final check, the one her parents were supposed to write, hasn’t arrived.’
‘Woah, okay,’ Alice said, as she finally managed to get the hinge tight enough. ‘You can let go of it now. It should stay in place.’
‘I just wish she’d tell me. The wedding’s in a few months. If we’re finding a new venue, she needs my help.’
Alice stood and brushed off her pants. ‘Noah, your parents are the best.’
Noah looked confused. ‘Yeah?’
‘Harper’s parents are assholes, and you don’t understand what that’s like. Which is amazing, but sometimes limiting.’ She paused, and he looked at her like he was realizing something. She continued quickly, ‘Admitting that your parents don’t care about your happiness… it feels like a personal failing. Surely, if you were good enough, if you were lovable, then they would love you, right?’
She thought she’d said it unemotionally, logically explaining human psychology. Based on his expression, Noah didn’t seem to feel that way.
‘Oh, Alice,’ he said softly.
‘This is about Harper,’ she insisted. ‘You have to be patient with her. This isn’t about you, or how much she trusts you. It’s about how she feels about herself.’
Noah nodded. ‘Thanks for telling me that,’ he said seriously, and Alice felt like she was going to cry for the millionth time that week.
Just then, Harper walked through the front door. ‘Hey, guys,’ she said. ‘FYI, there’s a case of scabies going around. So that’s fun.’
Alice shuddered ‘How’s Briar coping?’
‘Oh, fine,’ Harper said. ‘She said anything’s better than lice.’
‘Shewasscratching her head for weeks.’
‘I think she’s in better spirits now too,’ Harper said, coming over to give Noah a kiss on the cheek. ‘Might have you to thank for that, Alice.’
‘Would it be pushing your gratitude to ask you to learn plumbing?’ Alice asked.
‘Most definitely.’
She sighed. ‘Noah?’
‘On it!’ he said, retreating to the kitchen. ‘Bringing out the big guns: dudes on YouTube who refuse to spend money on handymen.’
‘I have another task for you,’ Alice said, looking at Harper. ‘I need your help with a group text.’
‘What are you so scared of?’
‘I don’t know,’ Alice said drily, ‘that people might be mad that I’ve ghosted them for a decade?’
‘Everyone will be happy to see Briar. Just focus on that.’
Alice showed the text to Harper for approval.
Hey all! Alice here. Sorry for the long time, no text. Noah, Harper& I are planning a party down at Briar’s mom’s house in Virginia forher birthday on 8/3 @ 3 p.m. There will be food & booze. Hope youcan make it!
Alice pressed send. Before she could worry that no one would respond, a ping sounded.
‘See?’ Harper said, when Alice showed her. ‘Keep expectations of your behavior low, and you’ll always meet them.’
But Alice worried that she didn’t want to keep expectations of her behavior low anymore, that she now wanted the impossible. To be known as someone who showed up, who was a loyal friend, and who fought for her relationships instead of letting them go as soon as they became difficult. And she knew she couldn’t be that person. In two weeks, she would once again be the girl who left.
