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She finally says, “Anyway, I know Van seems nice, but I also know you didn’t want a guy roommate, so now you have this place to hunker down in when you need to get away.”
“All those nights you didn’t come home, this is where you really were?” I’d inquire where she was spending the night and she’d make up lame excuses like saying she was at her parents’.
She nods and takes another piece of pizza.
“Huh. Did you change anything?” I look around the small space again.
“No. Rylan mentioned clearing the path to the lake. There’s a great view down there, but we never got around to it.”
I look around some more at all the pictures of my great-grandma and great-grandpa when they were young and in love. The cottage needs a redo, but it’s charming in an odd, nostalgic way. Eventually I venture into the only bedroom and sit on the edge of the bed. It squeaks and groans under my weight and feels as if it’s about to break.
Calista comes in a minute later. “Yeah, not very reliable when it comes to sex. But!” Her eyes light up and she rushes over to the closet. “Check this out.”
Inside are a bunch of foam presentation boards that remind me of something you see on TV when a detective is trying to link all the puzzle pieces of a case together. Only these have pictures of our aunts and uncles and parents when they were around our age.
“Are these what I think they are?” I smile.
Calista nods and pulls out the board for my parents. Written on it is Get Savannah to stay at Liam’s with a bunch of other stuff written underneath.
“And they gave me hell for moving in with Sawyer before we got married.” A soft chuckle leaves my lips as I study it. “These are too funny.” I shake my head since these confirm what we’ve been told all these years—that Great-Grandma Dori and her best friend, Ethel, did indeed have their hands in all our parents getting together.
“I know, right?”
We sit for a while and look through all of the boards and how intricate they are. You’d think Aunt Juno, who is the actual matchmaker in our family, would’ve been involved, but even she has a board. All the instructions are there to get her to see her best friend Colton as more than a friend.
I’m a mix of emotions when we return the boards to the closet and go back to the table. Being here makes me miss my great-grandma, but at the same time, I know how lucky I was to have her in my life for as long as I did. That gives me a sense of peace.
Calista picks up another piece of pizza and eyes me as she chews.
“I appreciate this, but I’m not sure how often I’ll use this place. I mean, the area spooks me and living with Van hasn’t been horrible. He actually cooks a lot, and he’s cleaner than I am. Just yesterday, he organized my junk drawer.”
“That’s great! If you don’t need this place, that’s fine, but know it’s here for you. I’d like all of our cousins to find refuge here. I wasn’t going to keep it all to myself.” She takes another bite of pizza. “Don’t give me that look. The baby is hungry, okay?”
I hold up my hands, laughing. “I’m not saying a thing.”
We finish the pizza and she takes the box home with us so she doesn’t have to come back here to put out the garbage. Once we’re back in the car, I look at the cabin again.
“Thanks, Calista,” I say.
She tilts her head and studies me, probably trying to figure out what I’m thinking. “Anytime. I’m always here for you. No matter where I live.”
I squeeze her hand. “Best cousin award goes to you.”
She drops me off at the office, and I anxiously ride the elevator up to my floor, then shut my office door as soon as I’m inside. I’m opening the letter from Great-Grandma Dori before I even sit in my chair.
Eight
Van
For someone with such an anal ad, this girl is anything but neat. I take out the trash since it’s filled to the brim. Then I empty the dishwasher and put the dishes away before I make dinner. It’s my night off and I’m looking forward to just eating in front of the television and vegging out, so I’m making my chicken fried rice with teriyaki sauce. It’s easy to make and perfect to eat in front of the television.
The apartment door opens and Brinley walks in, smiling at me in the kitchen. “You’re like a woman’s dream. You’re always in the kitchen.” She slips off her high heels and hooks them in her fingers before walking to her room.
“Are you in tonight?” I ask before she disappears into her room.
“I’m pretty much always in.” She laughs and her bedroom door shuts a second later.
I put the rice in the wok pan I found in the cabinet. She has a lot of kitchen stuff I wouldn’t think someone her age would have. I was prepared to use a skillet.
