“And donuts.” I poke a finger toward the pink box sitting in front of Sadie.
Everett stalks into the kitchen and eyes me. I’d almost forgotten he was here. Almost.
“The Amazon guy just dropped this off,” he announces, placing a small package envelope in front of my mom.
“Oh, thank you,” my mom says sweetly. “Have some donuts while you wait for Josh to get here. Everett can have a coffee, right?” she asks, turning to face me.
“Actually, one was for Dad.”
“He doesn’t need it.” She slides the coffee toward Everett and scoots a few packages of sugar and cream in his direction as well.
“Thank you,” he says to me in a low voice.
“I didn’t get it for you, so?—”
“Teeny,” my mom chastises. “Don’t be rude.” I roll my eyes as my mom asks Everett, “Have you gone to your old house next door?”
“No I haven’t,” he says, cupping his hand to the back of his neck. Something somber and nostalgic flashes through his eyes. “I didn’t want to bother some strangers just to check out the place.”
“Nonsense,” my mom responds, waving a hand in his direction. “Mr. Tran is really nice. He’d let you check it out. I’m sure your mom would love to hear about how different it all looks now. I’ll walk over with you and introduce you.”
Everett smiles politely and nods. “Thanks, Mrs. Cohen.”
“How are your parents?” My mom reaches into the fridge for another Yakult as Sadie finishes her second one. I throw a wary look in her direction, warning her that that’s enough sugar. Of course, my mom ignores it.
“She’s doing well,” he answers, his eyes watching me. “She remarried five years ago and moved to Seattle. My dad’s still up in Sacramento.”
My mom smiles a genuine smile. “Oh, that’s nice.” She takes a quick sip of her coffee before adding, “Tell them we said hi.”
“I will.”
There’s a short moment of silence, bits and pieces of my past left unsaid while my mom presents herself with politeness for an old friend she’s lost touch with. She fills the awkwardness by busying herself with the package in her hand, ripping it open and peering inside. “That’s what this is.” She looks up at me. “Your dad’s been waiting on these cable ties. I’ll be right back.”
My mom leaves, disappearing up the stairs with Sadie close at her heels, ripping open the foil seal on her drink.
“I want to say hi to Grandpa!” Sadie exclaims, the third person in that little pod she and my mom share.
And it’s only Everett and me in the kitchen.
“Teeny—”
“Look,” I say sharply, interrupting him. “I get that you’re here for my brother’s wedding. I can’t change that but please, can we get through this without doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Acting like we can be civil with each other.”
“We can’t?”
I scoff. “Everett, we can. With alotof effort, we can. But I really don’t want to. And I think if we just avoid each other, it’ll make things easier. I really?—”
“Then don’t.”
I scowl at him. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t be civil with me.”
My scowl deepens, and I almost want to take him up on his offer. Maybe swing the big frying pan sitting on the stove into the side of his head. Or grab the hot coffee from his hand and splash it all over his perfectly pressed polo shirt and chinos.
