Page 34 of We're One

“Surprise, Aunt Eileen,” Sasha says with a grin, and leans down to hug her aunt before moving over and hugging Vivian and Martha.

“Oh, we see you all the time,” Eileen says with a grin as she stands. “I want some sugar from these two beautiful ladies.” She hugs me then Nikki. “It’s been far too long since you’ve been home. Shame on you.” It may be an admonishment, but the love is clear to see.

“I ran into Sasha last night. I had no idea she was in Seattle, so we hopped a ride with her to come home for the weekend,” I say, beaming from ear to ear. It’s so good to be back home. All of my worries instantly faded and that says a lot, considering I just took a two-hour jet ride with Zach next to me, trying to act like I didn’t care.

“I’m happy you’re both here. Your mamas will be very happy. You better not linger here too long because you know how the gossip mill works. If she finds out you’re in town before you get to your house, both of you will be toast,” Eileen says.

Sasha, Nikki, and I laugh. “That’s very true, but we’re starving so we’ll slam down some food first.” The breakfast on the jet was simply an appetizer.

Our favorite waitress, Amelia, comes over quickly and hugs us before taking our orders as we sit at the table right beside the terrible threesome. “It’s on the house girls. Maybe some incentive for you to come home a little more often,” Amelia says. She rushes away. It’s a packed house, normal for this place.

“Okay, Aunt Eileen, it’s been forever since these two have been home so you better catch them up on what’s been happening in town,” Sasha says. I hide my smile. Sasha certainly knows how to get her auntie excited. I have to admit I’m not against hearing the latest and greatest of what’s going on in town. Instead of it annoying me like it used to, it will be soothing for my soul.

Eileen leans in with a big smile. “Well, since you asked so nicely I guess it’s my duty,” she says.

“This town wouldn’t know what to do if it weren’t for you,” Martha says. I laugh at this because Martha gossips as much as Eileen and Vivian. They’re called troublemakers for a reason. They love their drama.

“Mrs. Hadworth is still at the dentist office every other week. Rumor is though, that she’s doing this on purpose to keep herself in the gossip mill, not because she has some illicit affair going on with the suave new dentist,” Eileen says in what she thinks is a conspiratorial whisper, but is loud enough for the entire café to hear.

“Her hubby is also up for the next mayoral election and all anyone in town is talking about is the two of them, so she might be doing it for that reason too. He’s sure to win because people feel sorry for the poor man whose wife is the flirt of the town,” Martha says before taking a bite of her fries.

“But it makes her sound like a homewrecker,” Nikki says.

“Ah, darling when you get to be our age, you want people to think you’re a floozy. That’s the difference between twenty-five and seventy-five, not that I’m close to that number,” Eileen quickly says, making us all laugh with a bit of horror mixed in.

“Hey, I hope to have half the energy you three have when I’m fifty,” Nikki says, earning her beaming smiles from the trio whose ages are a well-guarded secret.

“Oh, Mike from the surf shop is officially exclusive with Sarah from the bookstore now. They tried to hide their budding romance for a while, but we all know how small this town is. They were caught more than once in the back of the bookstore, trying to reenact some steamy scenes from those smut books,” Martha says with a chuckle and a blush.

“Smut books, my butt. You read at least four of those romance books every week,” Vivian quickly says, making Martha blush even more.

“You can’t prove anything,” Martha says.

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with romance. I like a little spanking in my romance books,” Aunt Eileen says, saying it loud and proud. Sasha chokes on her Oreo milkshake at her aunt’s salacious words.

“Aunt Eileen!” she gasps.

“Oh, don’t be so shocked, my darling niece. I live by the philosophy that women are ladies in public, and naughty in the bedroom. You gotta keep your man happy so his eyes don’t wander. Missionary is so seventies. I’m thinking of hiring a nice cabana boy to prance around in a pair of speedos.”

Sasha chokes again and Nikki and I burst out laughing. “You go, Aunt Eileen,” I tell her. I might be blushing too, but damn do I want to have this woman’s confidence when I’m older. I don’t care if she’s putting on a show or not, it’s damn funny and impressive.

“How is Dale doing?” Sasha gasps, desperately trying to change the subject. I can see why she doesn’t want to hear about her aunt’s sex life. I’d probably be horrified if it was my mom giving this speech. Scratch that, I’d definitely be horrified.

Eileen waves a hand in the air. “That man is absolutely insufferable. He’s still spinning tales about the Sea Mistress and all of his fishing adventures. The way he talks you’d think he’s fought off pirates single handedly and caught the biggest fish in the sea. I see him in here eating far too much to believe he’s catching any fish at all.”

“He does have that finger he carries around in his pocket to prove he’s been out to sea,” Nikki points out. I shudder, remembering my first introduction to Dale. He’s known to scare kids and visitors alike pulling out that old, withered finger he always carries around. I don’t think it’s legal, but no one has tried to stop him.

There’s a commotion at the door when Emily and Jess push their way inside. They let out a squeal when they see the three of us and rush through the restaurant. We all exchange hugs. They’ve been besties with Sasha forever, just as Nikki and I are, but all of us have been lifelong friends. When we all come together, trouble is sure to follow. We immediately lose ten years as we jump up and down, excited to have the gang back together for the first time in nearly a decade. Why do we let so much time pass by when we know where we belong? It won’t happen again. I’m too happy to not come home more often.

I know the moment Zach and Callan arrive at the café. They take a table on the other side of the room from us to give us privacy, but this place is too small to not be aware of what they’re doing and the conversations they’re having.

I keep up with the conversation at my table while also sending sideways glances Zach’s way. It’s so odd to be back in my hometown where our romance began. It reminds me of all the fun we had together, of the many late nights. It also reminds me of him leaving and how devastated I was. I’m filled with mixed emotions, and don’t know how to deal with them.

Callan’s getting a lot of good-natured teasing at the moment, and Zach’s leaning back, clearly enjoying every moment of his brother being schooled. When Callan first came to this town he wasn’t really welcomed. But he’s done a fabulous job with his resort, and he’s now embraced, a part of the community, something that isn’t easy for people to do in this tight-knit town.

I see grumbly old Mr. Carter enter the café, and he immediately spots Callan and makes a beeline straight for his table. Mom has filled me in on all of the gossip, so I listen in as Mr. Carter glares at Callan. “I’m still not convinced about that resort, Callan,” he says.

Callan gives Mr. Carter a big grin, not at all put off by the man. “One of these days I’m going to win you over, Mr. Carter. Then you’ll be sitting at the table with me, laughing and eating pie.”

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