Page 29 of Question Everything

After pickingup Mia and Sarah and humoring Sibby as she gave him all sorts of directions on opening the family’s house on the Cape, he put them on the road toward the grocery store. After stocking up with more food than they needed, they headed back to the condo to rest before the trip that night.

“There seems to be a lot to know about your family’s house on the Cape. Did you understand everything Sibby said?” Mia asked as he made his way through the building rush hour traffic.

“My family has owned that house since before I was born. I know exactly what to do. Sibby just feels better if she thinks she’s in charge. We all let her have that, you know. But honestly, if I was heading off to war, I’d take my sister as my commander in chief anytime. She always has a plan.”

“Is the Cape like Boston?” Mia asked, looking out the window at the bustling streets.

“No. It’s the opposite. It’s magical,” he said. It’s on the National Seashore, the beaches are federally protected. The sand is fine and white, and the ocean is the deepest blue you’ve ever seen. We spent our summers there as kids. It was so great. No rules other than be home for dinner. We would swim and surf and ride our bikes all over town. It was such a feeling of freedom, you know? Now we make it a point to take two weeks each summer and congregate there. Sibby takes the kids up for the entire summer, just like my mom did. Geoff comes up on weekends.”

“The house must be big if you all stay there at once,” she remarked.

“It is, but it didn’t start out that way. My grandfather bought an old fishing shack after he got back from fighting in Vietnam. I think he was looking for some peace and quiet. Anyway, he put his kids to work with him. My dad and his brothers built additions onto the original one-bedroom structure. The place has evolved since my grandfather’s time though. We all chippedin for a major kitchen renovation last year. It’s top of the line now.”

“How many bedrooms does it have?”

“If you count the office, seven. Lots of rooms with bunk beds. We all seem to find a place to crash. It’s a lot of togetherness, but it’s a lot of fun, too.”

“Hmm,” she replied as she turned her head away from him.

“What? You don’t think my big, loud, messy family could be fun?”

“I didn’t say that.”

He watched her as she looked out the window and it dawned on him that she was probably wondering about her own family, if she had one, and if they were looking for her. Her next words made him wonder if she was able to read his thoughts.

“I don’t know why, but I just feel like there is someone out there, someone looking for me. Not a husband, not a boyfriend, but someone. A brother, maybe?”

“We’ll find them, Mia. We’ll find your people. I promise.”

PART II

CHAPTER 15

It was dark when Kyle turned the SUV off Route 6, down Long Pond Road until the dead end and then made a right onto Cahoon Hollow Road. He drove past “The Beachcomber,” infamous for its indie rock concerts and rowdy beach bar. It was the place where he’d had his first beer and lost his virginity, all in the same raucous night when he was seventeen years old, both events made even more exciting because he was underage. Back then he and his brothers would walk to “The ‘Comber” from the house, sneaking out after their parents fell asleep in front of the old console that housed a television set and a turntable. He loved those days and sometimes longed for them still; no responsibilities, no place to be, just pure fun fueled by ill-acquired alcohol.

Mia had fallen asleep about an hour before, somewhere along 495 South before the bridge, and he put his hand onto her leg to gently shake her awake. She sat upright and looked around, startled.

“Don’t worry, Mia, you’re okay. Sarah’s asleep in her car seat. We’re here.” He pulled down a long, gravel-filled driveway and stopped at the garage outside the house. He turned to her. “Stay in the car where it’s warm. I’ll go inside and turn on the heat.It might take a minute for the house to warm up. No one’s been here for a while.”

She nodded and he stepped outside. It was much colder here than it had been in Boston. The wind off the ocean felt icy already and it was only the beginning of November. He could hear the surf pounding against the beach as he ran up to the front door and unlocked it, then turned off the house alarm and quickly went to the thermostat on the wall near the kitchen and turned the temperature up. He heard the boiler kick on and felt relieved. The old machine was finicky and was never a sure thing, but luck was on his side tonight. He went into the kitchen and switched on the pendant lights that hung over the counter, then turned around to go back outside for his passengers and their luggage, grabbing a heavy knit blanket off the couch as he passed by. Once at the car, he opened the rear door and threw the cover over the baby. “I’ve got her, Mia. Let’s go inside.”

He waited for Mia to step out and then he unclipped the car seat from the base, hurrying them into the house. He put the sleeping baby, still in her seat on the couch and Mia sat down next to her daughter.

“You weren’t kidding. It’s freezing in here,” she said, not removing her sweatshirt.

“Hang on,” he said. Kyle walked over to the fireplace and opened the flue. Then he went back through the kitchen to the mudroom where he knew he’d find some firewood stacked outside the back door. Once he had enough to get a good blaze going, he relocked that door and went back to where Mia sat. “This will help,” he said as he quickly set the wood into the teepee shape his father had taught him as a boy, lit some kindling and watched it catch, small flames licking against the logs. “Sit tight,” he told Mia. I’m going to grab our stuff. I’ll be as fast as possible.”

She nodded at him, and he watched as she tucked the blanket in around her daughter, leaving only the child’s face visible. Then he went outside and began to ferry in their suitcases and the multiple bags of groceries. Finally finished, he locked the front door behind him and went to stand in front of the fire to warm himself up for a bit.

“I’m going to put the perishables in the refrigerator. The rest of the food can wait until tomorrow to be stored away. Then I’ll show you the bedrooms and you can pick one to sleep in. There’s a crib in one of the rooms already, so you don’t need to sleep with Sarah while we’re here. There’s a lot of room for us to spread out.”

“Kyle,” she began, walking over to where was. “I know I keep saying ‘thank you’ but I really mean it. You’ve done so much for me and for Sarah. I want you to know that we both appreciate everything. And again, I’m so sorry I crashed into your life like this. You have enough on your plate without my sad story.”

He could have just let her words go, he could have done as he’d originally planned, put the food away and then shown her to a bedroom where she could have gone to sleep. But he didn’t. He couldn’t. It might have been the way the light from the fireplace made her skin appear to almost glow; it may have been the chill in the air of the unused house or the familiar, safe feel of his family home. “Your story isn’t sad, Mia. It’s just different. Besides, the ending isn’t written yet.” He looked at her, into the warmth reflected in her eyes from the now blazing fire and despite knowing her shouldn’t do it, he reached for her. Then he tilted her head back and kissed her, slowly at first and then with a passion that surprised him. He wanted this woman. He wanted her naked, in his bed, calling out his name.

He ran his hands down her back underneath her sweatshirt, pressing her closer to him, knowing that she would feel exactly how much he wanted her, never breaking contact, continuingto explore her mouth with his tongue, feeling her match his movements with her own. He could have gone on like this forever; her in his arms, the heat of their bodies warming the room.

“What is it that you want, Mia?” he asked, searching her eyes for a clue before hearing her answer.

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