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After dinner, Mom zonks out on the chaise lounge watching some sitcom and Dad signals for me to come outside with him. He pulls out two cigars and hands me one. We light them and I wait patiently for my dad to say whatever he has to say.
“I wake up every morning and the first thing I do is make sure she’s breathing. How am I supposed to go on without her?” I don’t respond because I don’t have the answer. “I’ve been with your mom since I was eighteen years old. The minute I laid eyes on her I knew she was it for me.” Neither of us says anything for a long time.
Dad finally says, “Thank you for coming over tonight.” I nod because my response is stuck in my throat. I take a puff of my cigar and blow smoke rings. My dad turns to me. “Your mom says you made a big sale today.”
“Yeah, a horse farm. I sold it for two million nine.”
“That’s great, son. I’m so proud of you. It took you a while to find your path, but I’m glad you did.”
We puff our cigars and take in the night. I can’t remember the last time my dad told me he was proud of me, but I’ll take it.
Haddie
I close my psychiatric-mental health nursing textbook and shove it in my backpack along with my notebook. I stand up and stretch. Putting my backpack on, I step out into the hall. This course has been hard on me—maybe because of what happened with my sister.
To this day I remember what it was like to sit in that room across from Abby and have to tell her what it felt like to find her on her floor. To have to call 9-1-1 and watch them load her onto the gurney.
The mental trauma took a long time to go away, but she worked hard to overcome it. We all did.
I shake off those thoughts and head down the hall toward the doors.
“Hey you.” I turn to find a guy walking toward me. I’ve never seen him before because he’s so hot that I’m sure I’d remember him. His dark hair is back in one of those man buns and he’s got the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Yes?” He keeps walking until he’s a foot away from me. “Did you need something?”
“I’m Graham. I haven’t seen you around here before.”
Oh God, is this guy for real? I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I’m not interested.” I start heading toward the door. His footsteps sound behind me, but I keep moving. “Why are you following me?” I say, not even looking behind me.
“Why won’t you stop and talk to me?” He catches up to me. I sigh and stop, looking at him. “I don’t mean any harm, seriously. You’re just so pretty and I can’t believe I haven’t seen you before.” He looks at me closely. “Fuck, I can tell I’m weirding you out. I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “It’s okay. I’m Haddie.”
He smiles at me and he’s got a great one; perfect straight, pearly whites. “Nice to meet you, Haddie. What are you studying?”
“I’m studying to be a nurse. How about you?” God, I suck at small talk.
“I’m doing the transfer program before going into criminal justice. I want to be a police officer.”
“My brother and brother-in-law are both cops, and my cousin’s husband is a detective.” I can’t help but smile because I’m so proud of them and all the good work they do. “My brother was actually shot while on duty, but he’s doing so much better now.”
We walk side by side toward the parking lot. I have no experience in this department whatsoever. I just keep watching him out of the corner of my eye. We reach my car, and I don’t miss the appreciative look he gives it.
“Nice ride.”
“Thanks. My brother-in-law found it for me. One of his friends was selling it.” I grab my phone out of my pocket and see that I need to get going. “I’m meeting my parents for lunch, but it was nice meeting you, Graham.”
“Nice meeting you too, Haddie.” He stays on the sidewalk while I pull out of my space.
Ten minutes later I turn into the parking lot of The Waterfront, a restaurant my family has frequented for as long as I can remember. I park next to my dad’s truck and climb out of my car. Inside, I spot my parents sitting in front of the window. My dad sees me first and smiles widely before standing up.
“There’s my girl.” I step into his open arms. He kisses the top of my head before letting me go so I can hug my mom
The family joke is that I was switched at birth—it’s the family joke because I look like none of my siblings or my parents. My mom is five foot two or three, like my sister. They’re both blonde with cornflower blue eyes and have curves.
My dad is six three with dark hair and deep blue eyes. Joe could be his younger twin. My brother, Parker, is tall and leaner built. His hair is a lighter brown and has the same eye color as Mom.
I’m five feet ten with curly strawberry blonde hair. I’m what people call willowy, or as I like to call it, built like a boy. The only similarities I have are blue eyes like my mom’s and have a tiny gap between my two front teeth like she does.
