“Good morning, Prescott siblings!”Collin announces with way too much energy.“Love is in the air.I can smell it.”
“That’s bacon,” I say, refastening my ponytail.
“Same thing.”
Jonathan smiles at me from the doorway.I’m in his arms as soon as I can reach him.“My stupid brother is home.”
“I can see that.What’s up, Gavin?”
“Reeves,” Gavin grumbles.“You’re a permanent fixture, I see.”
“I am,” Jonathan says with a smile in his voice.
“Good morning, everyone,” my mother greets us.She’s relaxed her rigid need to control everything lately.We’ve spent the past month preparing for her launch.We even hung a countdown clock in the kitchen.Fourteen days, three hours, twelve minutesand winding down seconds.I’ve never worked with my mother before.She’s in charge of more than I could’ve ever imagined.I see her differently somehow.I admire her.
Magda sets a platter of waffles on the dining table.“Enjoy.”
I give her a kiss on the cheek.“Thank you.”
“Where’s Dad?”Gavin asks.I try not to react.I’ve been avoiding him.He’s asked to talk several times.But I’m not ready.My mother may have forgiven him.But I haven’t reached that place.He shattered something inside me.The part that thought he was so much more than he is.And I just can’t face him yet.I’m still too torn and raw.
“He went into the office early,” Mom tells him.“Are we meeting your mothers there, or are they coming here first?They were still deciding last we spoke.”
“There,” Collin answers.“Will we all fit in your car?Or should we take the truck too?”
“I can seat four.”
Collin looks to Gavin.“You’re not coming?”
“No,” I answer when he asks, “Where?”
“Senior Skip Day at the cliffs.”
“I’m coming,” my brother replies like he’s been waiting to be asked.
“You are not,” I say loudly.“Mom!”
“Sadie, it is family day.And whether you like to admit it or not, he is your brother.Trust me.Forty hours of labor pain.No denying he’s related as much as you wish he weren’t.Let him come.”
I roll my eyes; Jonathan laughs at me.
“Forty hours?”Collin raises his brows.“Dude, you better treat your mom like a queen.”
“I do.”Gavin sounds defensive.
My mother and I stare at him.
“Will.I will.”
Late May in upstate New Yorkcan be any temperature any given year.Itsnowedfive years ago.I don’t know why I live here.Except I love it.It’s so confusing.
I was prepared to wear a sweater and bring a blanket.Just because we’re at the cliffs, it doesn’t mean we’ll swim.The water is absolutely freezing.It’s literally melted snow.
But today is unseasonably warm.Nearly summer-warm.Which means I’m wearing my new bathing suit beneath my beach dress.Mom took me swimsuit shopping this week and helped pick it out.It’s more flattering than any of my one-piece suits from past summers.
I help Mom spread the blanket on the rock next to ours while the guys lug a picnic basket—the size of a carry-on suitcase—onto the blanket and plop the cooler down beside it.Gavin unfolds low beach chairs for the moms and tries to snag one for himself.Mom makes sure he knows that’s not happening.
Jaz, Darcy and Danika arrive together, their moms and Darcy’s dad in tow.He’s the only father of the group today.It’s kind of funny, seeing him sitting among the women.
