Page 3 of The Road Sometimes Taken

I join the rest of the party in the living room. Everyone’s casually sitting, talking to each other about nothing and everything at the same time. The doorbell rings and we all look, knowing quite well that not many people would ring the bell when our family is hosting. We’re more of a ‘welcome everyone in at any given moment’ family.

Four people walk in. Two I know but forgot their names from back in high school and two I’ve never seen before. Ahuge dude covered in tattoos and anI-might-kill-youstare holds the door open for everyone else. Before anyone can introduce them, the tiny, tatted pixie blonde says, “What’s up, everyone? I’m Roe, this is Saint, and this is Natalie and Nick.” Cara all but hops off her seat and runs to tackle both girls.

Natalie and Nick.I remember Natalie from school. Pretty redhead who was always glued to Nick’s hip, the team’s linebacker. She’s still gorgeous but something in her eyes makes her seem… I don’t know, tired, maybe? I offer my hand to both of them and to Saint. I wish I could say the same for Roe, but she disappears into the kitchen with Cara in tow.

“How come they don’t get any shit about being late?” I ask Allie. She scoffs as she passes me with utensils in her hand and shakes her head, ignoring my comment and carrying on setting the table.

“Do you need help?” Mom asks.

“No, dinner’s ready and everyone’s here. Let’s eat,” Allie answers her, tapping her fingers gently on top of the wooden table.

The rustic dark brown table is set with chairs for all of us, with a variety of dishes in the middle. This looks like a good combination of Southern and Dominican food. There’s arepitas, locrio de chuleta, collard greens, and creamed corn. The table is huge, and it takes up most of the space in the large dining room. Everyone sits after Allie and Jake hover behind the chairs they’re sitting in and before I know it, there’s only one chair left, directly across from Cara.

Cara and my sister have been friends all their lives. Our moms are best friends and even though we moved to a different town when we were kids, they’ve always been inseparable. Cara has a little sister too, Nellie, but we don’t hang out with her much since she’s like eight years younger. She might be with her dad, since neither are here.

You’d think that growing up with Cara always being around, I wouldn’t be plagued by the thoughts racing through my mind right now. But I’ve always found myself wondering about the possibilities with her. There’s something almost magical about her—her incredible figure and the way she moves with such confidence, so unapologetically herself. I remember when her hair was light brown, but she’s been rocking blonde silky waves since high school. Regardless of the change, she remains absolutely stunning. Her mossy green eyes, flecked with glimmers of gold, seem to connect with me every time and I find myself lost in them more than I should. No matter where she is in the room, my eyes always gravitate toward her. It’s both a blessing and a curse.

“Do I have something on my teeth?” she asks, snapping me out of it.

“What? No, no I was just looking at your face proportions.” I wink at her and she rolls her eyes. I love getting a rise out of her. She’s always keeping everyone else on their toes so when I get to do the same to her, it always feels good.

“So, Gus, what are you doing the rest of the weekend? God knows that Manny will be working the whole time he’s not in this house. Have you ever considered telling your brother that he can chill a little?” Allie asks, ignoring the fact I’m sitting right here as she throws jabs my way.

“Going to Savannah to spend the week the minute this weekend is over,” he replies with a mischievous look on his face, and to that Allie sticks her tongue out at him.

“Oh, my sister will be in Savannah too, celebrating her twenty-first birthday,” Cara adds and I’m shocked, to say the least. I still remember little Nellie running around terrorizing all of us but suddenly she’s old enough to drink. Where has the time gone?

“Maybe she has a friend she’d like me to meet. You knowI’ve gotta let some of this energy out,” Gus teases, pretending like he’s fucking under the table.

“Por Dios, Augusto. ¿Cuándo vas a madurar, muchacho??3” Mom asks while Allie smacks him on the shoulder. I don’t think he’ll ever grow up, but people can say the same about me. Yes, I spend a lot of time at work, and I don’t play around with my business; but when I go out to dinner or bars, I act like a twenty-one-year-old. And sometimes even worse. It’s the best way to get out—what was it that Gus called it?Energy.

“Cara,” my mom says, changing the topic of this conversation. “Your mom was telling me you’re moving back. That makes me so happy, sweetie.”

“Yeah, I just need to sort out the details,” she replies, her voice trailing off into a thoughtful murmur. Cara stares at the table, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the table. “Even if it means selling her.” Her gaze remains distant, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

“Even if I have to fly to get you, Cara, you’re both coming,” Allie insists, and Cara brings her hand to her lip, blowing her a kiss.

“Who isshe?” I ask, confused by the conversation. “Do you have a puppy or something?”

Cara smirks and shoves a piece of biscuit into her mouth. She doesn’t answer my question and just continues eating her food.

I look at Allie, trying to get answers, and she explains, “It’s her van. She won’t drive it on the highway, especially not towing a trailer full of her stuff, but she also doesn’t want to sell it.”

“Because it’s my baby,” Cara whines. “Irefuse to leave her behind, but I also don’t want to drive it for endless hours by myself. So I have to figure something out.”

“What about that boyfriend of yours you always keep around?” I ask, thinking of the same guy she’s been with since high school. Every time I see her, he’s there, staring at every man who comes near them as competition. But every girl that passes gets ogled like they’re dessert, no matter that the most beautiful girl in the world is by his side.

As soon as the words leave my mouth, the room falls into an uneasy silence. Heads turn, but everyone avoids my gaze. The only person who doesn’t look away is Cara, and she’s staring at me with wide eyes as if she’s just seen a ghost.

“What?” I add, breaking the heavy silence.

Natalie, of all people, is the first to speak up. “Let’s just change the topic, okay?” she suggests, her tone firm but tinged with discomfort.

“It was just a question,” I say, raising my hands in a gesture of surrender. Yet, despite my better judgment, I press on. “But really, Cara, if the van’s important to you, shouldn’t he be helping out?”

“Enough,” Mom interjects, her voice sharp and uncharacteristically stern. “Stop pushing it, Manuel. I raised you better than this. Show some manners and eat your dinner.”

Everyone quickly turns their attention to their plates, resuming their meals with a quiet intensity. The conversation is buried, but Cara’s sudden shift in demeanor makes it clear that the topic hasn’t been forgotten.

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