Page 39 of Sweet Escape at Bayside
They said their goodbyes, and as they walked out the doors Violet said, “Mr. Patterson? What was the prank?”
“He was a patient, this old guy who liked to drop his drawers. David finagled it so I did his intake physical, and when I walked into the room, the guy was wearing the gown open in the front, and he was buck naked beneath.” Andre chuckled. “More importantly, why didn’t you tell me you volunteered here?”
“I didn’t?”
“No. You said you still worked with kids, and you were working on a sculpture, and working with Joni, but you never mentioned the hospital.”
“Oh, well, that’s all true. What were you doing there?”
He took her hand as they crossed the parking lot toward her bike. “Visiting with David. He’s a family friend. I’ve known him forever. By the way, you’re having lunch with me and my parents next weekend. Don’t you know how proud I am to have you as my girlfriend? Had I known you were volunteering here, I would have invited you to come along to meet him.”
“Wait…what? I’m meeting yourparents?”
“Yeah, next weekend for lunch. We’ll take the ferry into Boston and—”
“Maybe you shouldaskme to meet them?”
“Why? So you can make up an excuse not to? It’s easier this way, babe. Trust me. But can I ask you something else?”
“Apparently it’s easier not to ask me anything.” She smiled and said, “Go for it.”
“This morning when the girls said something about yourmysteriousoutings, why didn’t you just say you were coming here to volunteer?” He had a feeling she was keeping this a secret like she kept the coffeehouse, her other group of friends, and her sculpting secret.
“It’s none of their business.”
“Do theyknowyou volunteer at the hospital?”
She stopped by her bike and crossed her arms. “Why so many questions? Does it bother you that I volunteer, or are you so possessive that you need to know where I am twenty-four-seven?”
“That’s hardly fair. You know I don’t need that. I’m thrilled you’re still working with kids, but I’m curious whether your friends know. Does Desiree? Justin?”
Her jaw tightened. After a long stretch of tense silence, she said, “I don’t volunteer so I can go out and brag about it. I do it because I enjoy it, and I like helping children. What’s the big deal?”
“I’m just trying to understand why you have to appear so mysterious to everyone. You’re doing something wonderful, and it sounded like you’re doing good things with Joni, too. But you have friends who love you and who don’t know about either of those things.”
She looked away.
“Babe, sharing what you do with the people who love you most, sharing the goodandthe bad parts of your life, is what relationships are all about. It isn’t bragging; it’s letting themin.” He stepped closer, unfolded her arms, and held her hands. “You deserve toshine, babe. To be proud of what you do and let others be proud of you, too.”
“Iamproud of it, but I don’t needthemto be.”
His heart hurt for her, because he had a feeling he knew why she was doing it. What he was going to say next might upset her, but he didn’t know how else to get his point across. “Babe, we all do what we’re taught, what weknow. I think you might have learned from Lizza to hide the best parts of yourself. This might sound harsh, but in Lizza’s case, I think she’d rather let you and Desiree believe she’sselfishwhen maybe she’s not. I don’t know, babe. Maybe you like your sister and friends thinking you’re up to rebellious things? It just seems like you might be patterning yourself after Lizza, which isn’t necessarily bad.”
She yanked her hands free and said, “No way. I amnotlike her.”
“Vi, please hear me out. I could be way off base, but just listen to why I’m asking. Lizza told you she was leaving early so Desiree could go on her honeymoon. But she told Desiree it was so you and I could finally find the answers we’ve been searching for.”
Violet blinked several times, shaking her head. “What…?”
“I know it sounds bizarre, but it’s true. And think about it. You and Desiree hadn’t had a real relationship until she tricked you both into coming here—and gave you reasons to stay.”
“Lizza hurts people,” she said angrily. “I don’tevertry to hurt people unless they deserve it.”
“I know you don’t. I don’t think Lizzatriesto hurt you or Desiree, either. It seems like she’s trying to make amends the only way she knows how. Or maybe the only way she’s able to handle doing it, by taking the goodness out of the equation. She takes the focus off what she’s offering, or trying to facilitate, and in doing so, she hurts yours and Desiree’s feelings. But the end result is that she opened doors for you two to be happy evenwithouther.”
“What are you saying? We should bethankfulto her after she dragged me halfway around the world, away from the only family I’d ever known?”
“No, babe. I’m showing you the way she does things and saying thatmaybeby keeping your sister, and your friends, in the dark about these other parts of your life,goodparts,happyparts, you might be unintentionally hurting them. Theyknowyou have other things you do, but it’s all a big secret, which might make them feel like they’re not worthy of being included.”
