When Luci placed her hand on Olivia’s heart, Olivia’s own skipped. It was the first time all week she was sure of anything Luci was trying to say.
“Okay,ma chérie. Let’s go get him and bring him home.”
Later, when the three of them pulled into the driveway, Ben was puttering outside the barn.Stalling, she thought to herself. Hisshow was coming up, and one thing she’d learned was what a terrible procrastinator he became before a show.
He came around to the side of the car, a grim look on his face.
Jake’s seat was already set as far back as it would go to accommodate his cast. Ben came around to the passenger side and held the door ajar. “Looking good for a broken man,” he said, as Jake eased himself out of the car.
Jake held a hand out to Ben. “Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it.” But Ben didn’t take it.
He glanced at Olivia over the roof of the car. “It’s what Olivia wanted. We’ll make do.”
The screen door squeaked on the front porch, and Marge sailed down the steps with Buster. But her greeting was also somewhat chilly. “You’re here,” she said. “Well, let’s get you settled.” Olivia glanced uneasily at Jake. This was not what she’d expected. When she’d asked them about Jake coming to stay, they’d seemed fine with it. Gracious, even. But this was not at all like them.
Ben grabbed Jake’s duffel bag from the backseat of the car. “Oh, please let me get that,” Olivia said, hurrying after him. But he was already tottering down the stone pathway to her cottage. Marge motioned for them to follow. Unsure what else to do, Olivia took Luci’s hand and gestured for Jake to go ahead on his crutches.
As soon as they all arrived at the front stoop, Marge and Ben halted, blocking the door. “Say, we were wondering, could we borrow Luci for dinner?” Ben asked.
Luci, who seemed unsurprised by this, let go of Olivia’s hand and ducked beside Marge.
Olivia eyed the three of them, suspiciously. “Now?”
Ben nodded. “We got some fresh watermelon from the farmer’s market today.”
Olivia didn’t know what to make of the invitation. Margeand Ben were acting strangely, and this transition with Jake was already filled with uncertainty enough. But Luci seemed eager to go with them. “We’ll bring her back after dessert,” Marge added.
Before Olivia could object, Ben set the duffel bag down and the three of them turned back down the path toward the big house.
“What was that all about?” Jake whispered.
When she opened the door, Olivia understood. From inside the cottage came the glow of candlelight. She held the screen door ajar for Jake, and a waft of summer hydrangea met them on the threshold. The table by the big window was set with a vintage blue-and-white tablecloth Olivia recognized from one of Marge’s dinner parties, and bright red cloth napkins. Candles flickered on the hearth of the fireplace, and on the small kitchen island. “Those liars.”
She followed Jake inside and spun around, taking it all in.
The candlesticks. The bowl of salad, the fresh corn. The still-steaming platter of barbecued chicken in the center of the table.
“Baby, this is something else.” Jake made his way over to her on his crutches and stopped, his nose just shy of hers. As she met his eyes, Perry’s words came back to her: “He will disappoint you.”
Olivia pushed the memory away, and pressed her forehead to Jake’s. “Welcome home,” she said.
Emma
The morning of Amanda Hastings’s party, Emma’s mother thought it would be a good idea if they went to visit Luci and Olivia. Normally Emma would’ve agreed. Olivia was cool. Cool in a way that none of the adults she knew could ever be, even Uncle Jake. Olivia had lived in the city. She was an artist. But more than that, she understood teenagers. Even though they hadn’t spent a ton of time together, Emma could tell. Like when Olivia asked about her friends, and Emma confided in her about Alicia being clingy but how she felt bound to her from their long childhood friendship. Olivia didn’t judge or tell her to be patient with Alicia, like her mother did. Or remind her that Alicia was an honors student and a good influence, like her father did. Olivia nodded quietly and said, “Yeah, I had a few friends like that. What you need is to surround yourself with people who give back the energy you give to them. You know, the good stuff.” Like Sully McMahon. When she was near Sully, Emma felt alive. When he tipped his head back and laughed at something stupid she said, it did something to her. It’s like for the first time since high school started, she wasn’t invisible anymore. Sully saw her.
When they turned into Olivia’s driveway, Emma realized she’d been bracing herself. The whole ride there she’d felt carsick. But as soon as they pulled up to the big white farmhouse and the red barn, her spirits lifted a little. The barn door slid open and there stood Olivia, in a clay-stained apron with her hair pulled back in a red bandana.
Olivia’s hands were wet and sticky, but she held her arms out wide. “You’re here! Come in!” Then, “Yikes, don’t let me get you all messy.” But Emma was suddenly so happy, she stepped into her arms anyway.
Emma’s heart sank a bit when Olivia told them Jake wasn’t there. “He’s at rehab, and Jane won’t be driving him home for another hour or so. He’ll be sorry you missed him!” Emma hadn’t thought about that detail. Poor Uncle Jake; he couldn’t even drive himself around.
“That’s all right,” Amelia said. “We really came to see you and Luci.”
Emma sensed that her mother was somehow relieved. Did she blame Jake for the accident, like her father did?
Emma hadn’t heard a thing from her uncle since the text in the hospital, and she was aching to see him. Not just to see how he was, but to let him know it was all right. Thatshewas all right, and he needn’t worry.
“Let me give you a tour,” Olivia offered.
