Page 84 of Embracing Trust

I set my coffee on the countertop. Mom and Dad lead the way to the basement. Dad wants help moving an old buffet outside to the garage. The buffet used to belong to my grandmother, and Mom will refinish it to eventually go into their dining room. At least this doesn’t have anything to do with rearranging the house for Aubree.

Dad and I grab a corner of the heavy buffet and work our way up the stairs. Mom stays nearby as she emphasizes her concern over scratched woodwork, damage to walls and, nearby furniture. You’d think with having raised six rowdy hellions under this very roof that she wouldn’t worry about the state of such things. My brothers and I damaged some of this stuff when we were growing up. After we moved out of our parents’ house, Dad did put time and money into repairs. New drywall for the bedroom wall where Sean and Aidan got carried away with a wrestling match, new carpet to replace the thread barren brown stuff in the family room, and a new coat of finish for the scuffed upstairs oak hallway. We were wild, but it was all in the name of fun. Mostly. My parents never got mad about the carpet or the woodwork. I think they knew with raising six boys, things weren’t going to stay neat. Of course, there were times they told us to settle down and we didn’t have free rein to trash the house.

Although we were a bunch of crude, unrestrained, mischief-making boys, Mom still did all the great things that mothers of boys do. She went to our sporting events—even when the weather was crappy—volunteered at our school, was a member of the PTA and she helped us earn our badges from our days in scouts. She loved gardening and from my earliest days, I can remember her working in her flowerbed while we played in the yard. As we got older, she taught us to tend to some of the flowers and vegetables. We loved that time with her, and we especially loved getting our hands dirty. When it was time to go inside, Mom cleaned us off with the hose.

I can’t imagine Aubree wanting to spend any time in the garden—especially with sons. She wouldn’t like getting dirty. Julia, on the other hand, I could picture it. She’s never been one to turn up her nose at anything dirty or rugged. She was the girl who hauled my ass tent camping and fishing—the only girlfriend I ever had who could not only bait her own hook but take the fish off too.

We head back to the kitchen. Aubree is where we left her—at the kitchen table with a glass of orange juice and a slice of toast.

“And you’re still planning on dinner tonight, right?” Mom asks as she picks up her coffee cup.

“Yep. I’ll be here around six.”

***

“I hope everything goes well for you tonight and we’ll talk about it next week, Ryan,” the therapist says as he follows me to his office door. “Just remember to use your coping strategies if it gets difficult.”

“Thank you, sir. See you Monday,” I reply as I leave his office.

The doctor was able to free up a few minutes to talk to me before the big event at Mom and Dad’s tonight.

My stomach rumbles like a thunderstorm as I drive to my parent’s house. I didn’t eat much lunch. I need to get this over with. I’m going to set everything straight—use the coping strategies that the therapist taught me.

I can do this.

I’m going to focus on reaching my main goals—telling my parents I’m not going to be with Aubree and being with the woman I do love. The woman I’ve always loved.

Four hours from now, I’ll be on my way to Julia’s house to tell her about Aubree and hope she still wants to be with me.

Relax. One step at a time.

I pull up along the curb outside my parent’s house. As I walk to the driveway, I see a car parked there. Julia.

Chapter Thirty-six

Julia

I park on the driveway of the McCormick’s and when I step out of my car, I straighten my skirt, take a deep breath, and walk up the front porch.

My heart kicks up a notch. I shouldn’t be this nervous. I’ve been to this house a lot and Ryan’s parents have always treated me well. I’m just surprised by the way Ryan has decided to go about telling his parents we’re back together. He never talked about it much the last few times we were together, and this morning’s text came as a surprise. I won’t worry though. I’m sure he has a plan.

I scratched my head when I got the odd text. He sounded like he’s in a hurry and I had no idea we’d be having dinner with his parents. He never mentioned it last night. He must be ready to tell them we’re back together.

I look down to my phone once more before getting out of my car, rereading the promising but slightly confusing text.

Ryan: Morning. Want to invite you to my parents’ house for dinner tonight. Just be there a little before six. Busy day. Talk later. No need to answer. Working with saws. See you then.

The house hasn’t changed much over the years. The porch swing moves with the breeze and the familiar squeak makes me grin.

A lot happened on that swing.

I knock and Kate opens the front door. Her eyes widen and she takes a step back. “Julia.”

“Hi, Kate. It’s good to see you.” I smile and bite my lip. The butterflies in my stomach feel more like bats. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.

“Julia, what brings—"

“Hey, mom,” a voice calls from inside the house. Ryan’s youngest brother Finn charges out the front door and practically knocks me over.

---