Page 94 of Between Now and Always

One week later.

“All of this feels a little like overkill. We didn’t need a marching band to send us off to the airport,” I grumble to my mother when I manage to squeeze past the crowd of people in my living room to where she’s holding court in the kitchen.

My mother glares at me and then returns her focus back to pouring the champagne in to the dozens of crystal flutes she and Nadia hauled up to my apartment.

“I don’t know how you live with just plastic and paper,” she mutters.

“Again. Overkill.”

She tsks her disapproval and puts the bottle down and looks up a patient smile that on anyone else might be called patient. But on Penn Bosh, it means she’s thinking. “I can’t believe your basic ass needs to hear this.”

“This is an important trip Carter. We just want to make sure you feel the wind at your back.”

Phil sticks his head into the kitchen. “Our car will be here in twenty minutes, you almost ready?” her glare fades when she turns to looks at him.

“We’ll be right out, darling. Go make sure everyone’s gathered round.” He flushes at the term of endearment before he disappears to go and do her bidding.

Phil came up to spend a week with me. He said he needed a change of scenery and left his precious restaurant in the hands of his staff. It’s been fun, and my family loves him. Even Jack.

And tonight we’re leaving for Texas. Our meeting with Susan Kendicott is in two days.

“You know he’s half in love with you right?” I say to Penn as she puts more food on the tray.

“No he’s not. He’s just enjoying having someone mother him.” She smiles indulgently. “Now pick up this tray and come suffer through my embarrassing speech like the good son that you are.” She bumps my hip with hers on her way out. I heft the very heavy tray onto my shoulder and follow her out into the living room.

Jack, Beth, Porsha, Joe, Phil, Nadia, Ryan, Hetal, Dean, and his wife Milly all gather round in the small living room of my apartment with their glasses in hand and turn to watch my mother. I grab two glasses and walk to stand with Beth by the window. She takes it from me with a radiant smile and tucks her arm through mine. I’m going to miss her.

It’s just four days I’ll be away, but it’s the longest we’ve been apart since the night of Upwards gala and it feels like an eternity.

“I want to say a few words,” Penn calls and clinks her glass with the handle of the small spoon in her hand.

“Life doesn’t make any mistakes. All of us know that truth with sometimes uncomfortable intimacy,” she squeezes Joe’s hand and they share an intimate smile before she continues.

“We’re here by choice…and maybe some grand design. Besides Nadia and Jack, none of us share a drop of blood between us. The roads we traveled intersected the way they do with thousand of other people. But, when our paths crossedsomethingmade us stop and pay attention. We’ve defied lots of odds to becomes this composition of souls who call themselves family.” She smiles fondly around the room. “ I asked everyone to come tonight so that we could give our intrepid boys a proper send off.” She nods at Phil and me.

“We’ll be here when you get back, too. Not because we’re bound by blood or by law. That is what a family is.Thisis what a family does.”

Beth squeezes my hand and I smile down to find her swiping the knuckles of her free hand across her cheeks.

“Phil and Carter, please thank Susan Kendicott for me. Without her tremendous sacrifice, my heart wouldn’t be whole. Because even before we found each other, you were written in my stars. You were meant to be mine and I would haveknownsomething was missing if I hadn’t had you. I hope you get everything you need out of this trip. And that she does, too.” She lifts her glass and everyone follows suit.

Jack clears his throat. “I want to say a few words,” too.

We all look at him, surprised and worried.

“Well, it was nice while it lasted,” Nadia mumbles.

He scowls at all of us.

“Don’t fucking worry. I was just going to say that I’m glad you got your DNA shit worked out. Everyone knew it was only a matter of before you said “fuck it” and started boning again. And - tell Susan, I hope like hell she’s not guilty. ‘Cause I want that piece of shit asshole who can’t win an election, to get the fucking needle for everything he’s put you through.”

“Jack,” Penn groans and she elbows a laughing Joe.

“I’m always honest, mom.” He lifts his glass and nods at us. “I love you guys. You, too Beth. Even though you have terrible taste in female friends.”

Everyone laughs and takes a sip of their champagne. He shoots Porsha a downright evil grin and she flips him the finger but she’s smiling from ear to ear.

I exchange a glance with Beth. “They’re fucking.” She mouths and I frown at her.

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