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“Enough,” she stated, “to know that I wouldn’t want to come between you and the bond you have with your sons.”
“Drea, please just let me explain,” he implored.
There… he called her Drea again. Her heartbeat picked up its pace, and she waited for him to speak.
“Trey is wary of anyone he doesn’t truly know. He always has been, and with the death of his mom, it compacted the issue,” he explained. “He just needs some time to get to know you, and I know he would change his mind.”
“What makes you so sure he would?” she asked skeptically.
“Because he would be seeing the vibrant, quirky, loyal, and beautiful person that stands before me with a heart of gold,” he stated.
Andrea looked at him, startled by his comment. Her fingernails dug into her palms as her breathing became rattled. She needed to get a grip on her emotions. Averting her eyes, she willed the resolve back.
“I understand what you’re saying, but for now, we can’t be friends, more like associates. I have my own relationship with my daughter that I need to work out, and that has to take priority above everything else right now. I can’t be worrying whether or not one of your sons likes me. I just can’t.”
“Okay,” Donny replied, holding up his hands in acceptance.
On the drive to the supermarket, Andrea failed at keeping her thoughts off Donny, at the hurt reflected in his blue eyes after she told him they couldn’t be friends. She knew she made the right decision, but why did it feel as if she’d lost an important part of her person. Shaking the feeling, she continued on her journey.
On the day of the barbecue, Andrea sat comfortably in one of the bamboo chairs on the patio, holding the orange cushion to her chest as her laughter shook her whole frame.
Her cousin Brian had made it to the barbecue along with Kirsten and their two children, Mitch and Nikki. He was telling her how an old lady had driven him down to cuss him out for littering the road when in fact, all he had done was put out one of the roadwork signs to alert passengers that they would have to take a detour because that section of the road was being fixed.
“I kid you not. She was like, young man—”
Andrea bellowed at the high-pitched, squeaky voice her cousin was imitating.
“—don’t you know it is a crime to litter the streets with your garbage? I should report you to the local authorities, but I’ll just let you off with a warning. Don’t. Ever. Do. It. Again.”
Andrea nearly slid off the chair, and her mirth brought tears to her eyes. Rory, who sat to her left, held her hand and squeezed as the laughter became too much for her. She ended up wheezing as she tried to catch her breath.
“Brian, this is too hilarious. Please, no more right now. Let me catch my breath first,” Andrea begged, even as her body shook with the tremors of her dying laughter.
“All right, Drea, but I’m telling you, the things I witness working for the city makes me treasure my crazy family even more. There are some real crazy people out there that can make you question what percentage of the population is actually sane.”
“The food’s ready!” Uncle Luke called loudly enough for those out by the picnic table and wandering about could hear.
“Yes!” Josh, Ben’s son, cheered.
Soon everyone was lining up at the grill to choose from the varying meat choices available. Music played in the background while the family sat and ate and talked.
“Jo!” Andrea heard Kerry call out.
She looked toward the porch to see her sister coming down the stairs toward the gathering. Her heart soared with happiness. This day could not get any better.
Andrea got up and walked over to her sister, who was being tightly embraced by Kerry. After they separated, Andrea pulled her sister to her in a crushing hug.
“I’m happy you’re here, Jo Jo,” she spoke excitedly.
“Me too, Drea,” her sister reciprocated.
Cora was the next one to greet Josephine, and Andrea was satisfied by their interaction. She could see that Josephine was making an effort to move past the resentment she once felt toward their older sister.
After the others greeted Josephine, they finally got the chance to sit and continue enjoying the barbecue.
The family didn’t leave until late in the evening. Andrea and Rory sat on the porch swing in comfort, listening to the sounds of the night. Andrea took a sip from the glass of merlot she held in her hand. She relished the peace and tranquility of just sitting with her daughter with no words being exchanged, but she knew that was about to come to an end with what she needed to say next.
“Aurora.”
