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SEAN: Not cool, Andie. What is it you tell me, you suck?
SEAN: Yeah, you suck.
Nora jumps out of her chair to hug me. “Andie, this is so amazing. Jonesy is blowing up my phone. This is incredible.”
My eyes burn, and my throat suddenly feels dry. I can’t even believe it. I’m going to sing my songs at The FlyOver.How is this even real?
“Just wait until you tell Gem and Sean. They both have to be there.”
I hug her, knowing I absolutely want Sean to be there, but I also know that depending on things, he may not be able to be. He may not even be living here then, and that thought tames my excitement. So many times in my life, I’ve had to do big things on my own, and I don’t want this to be another one.
“Yeah. I think I’ll save this news for Gem’s big day.”
Nora gives me a look. “She’s going to be pissed you didn’t tell her right away.”
“Too bad. She’s the one throwing this party, so she’s just going to have to wait.” And I’m going to have to wait and hope that Sean will be able to be there because I really want him to be.
Chapter 43
ANDIE
“Give me that young man.”
We just set foot inside Gem’s large entryway, and she’s tugging Ax out of my arms. This grand house is as familiar to me as my own. It’s where I felt most at home as a child. Tonight, I should be comforted by the familiarity and memories, but the stirring of worry inside me is overriding it all.
“Happy Birthday.” I lean in to hug her and then shrug out of my coat.
“Thank you, sweet girl. Where’s the other handsome fellow whose attendance I require?”
I squint at her. “So, were you going to tell me you invited him or just let it be a surprise?” She kisses Ax’s cheek, ignoring me. “I can invite anyone I want to my party. I was hoping he’d be coming with you.”
“I don’t need you meddling,” I say sweetly.
She raises an eyebrow, giving me a look that makes my cheeks heat. “So I heard.”
“He’s coming. He had a meeting.”
I wish he was here. I’ve been on edge all day and just need this night to be over. The cold, crisp air outside matches the icy layers of my inner turmoil, and I’d so much rather be home, warm and hanging out on my couch, but here I am.
We move into the dining room, where the table is set, and Ax’s highchair is at the far corner of the table. As I move around, I feel like there should be background music playing soft and low where you know that any moment the foretold catastrophe will strike.
“Who’s all coming?”
“Oh, you know, your parents, Gerald and his wife, Bev, and John–”
I stop her. “You invited Bev and John?” Brice’s grandparents have been family friends forever. They’re nice people, but somehow, Brice turned out to be an egotistical prick.
“Yes, but don’t worry. I wouldn’t invite that little slime bucket to eat with the dogs.”
I run a hand over the corner of the table to smooth the white linen tablecloth. “You know that you can’t fix things with Mom and Dad. It just is what it is. I can’t and won’t ever be what she wants. Until she accepts that there’s no point in trying.”
Gem hands Ax back to me and then grabs my face with both hands. They're warm and soft and only mildly comforting tonight.
“I know they aren’t easy, and your mother pushes tolerance boundaries like it’s her job. Her ideas and plans for you are absurd, but baby girl, we only get one family if we’re lucky.” She releases my face and reaches for her drink on the table.
“You know she’s going to be terrible to Sean.” My mother can’t see anything beyond the circle she’s formed around her.
Gem pats my arm. “I strongly suspect he can take care of himself.”
