Page 75 of Fighting the Tide
“You don’t have to come home,” she rushes out.“I’m sorry I even sent you that stupid thing.I was just so excited and I wanted you here so badly that I didn’t think about anything else.Don’t come home, Nolan.I won’t hate you for it.We’ll come see you in a few weeks and celebrate in New York.”Emotion is thick in her words as she holds back the tears I can hear in her voice.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I reply and hang up before she can continue.The phone rings again, but there’s no need to pick up since I’m pulling onto Avery’s street.Which also happens to be Brooke’s old street.Thankfully, Avery is at the opposite end so I feel nothing more than a sharp pang.
Monica is a doctor at the local hospital and Avery has been selling her photos to a few magazines and newspapers, making her the stay-at-home parent of the two.They’re both doing very well, as is apparent in the house they’re living in.
I turn into the driveway and pass the open gates, watching as the house appears over the hill.It’s odd coming to terms with the fact that my Avery is now living in a mansion in Chatham.When we were kids, we would’ve never fathomed this.I circle around the fountain in front of the house and park in front of the large, ornate double doors.Then I press my palm on the horn and beep it twice before getting out.
The front door opens and all I hear is a squealing child screaming, “Uncle Nolan!”
“Is that my favorite nephew?”I call out as I get tackled in front of my vehicle, Elijah’s little body wrapping around mine as I pick him up.Just the feel and smell of him brings a smile to my face, despite being here in Chatham.
“I’m your only nephew, silly!”he squeals some more and buries his face into my neck.I ruffle his thick, blond hair and kiss his cheek as Avery and Monica show up at the front door, both wearing shocked expressions.I don’t know why.They fucking conspired to get me here.
“I have a surprise for you in the back of the car,” I whisper in his ear.I set his squirming body down as he laughs and runs to the back of the Rover while I finally look his traitorous parents in the eyes.
“Look at you, all grown up,” Monica purrs as she steps down from the stoop.“Come, give me a kiss and stop pouting.”I open my arms as she steps into them, her head tucking under my chin.I kiss the top of her auburn head, but my eyes are on Avery, who looks apprehensive about my presence.Monica and I have come a long way in our relationship, and she worked hard to prove her love for Avery.
“How scared is she right now?”I mumble low enough for only Monica to hear.
“Considering you guys haven’t gone this long without talking since high school?She’s a fucking wreck.”She steps back and tips her head up to look at me, her light gray eyes peering into my soul.“Thank you, Nolan, for doing this.We know how hard it must’ve been to come, but it’ll mean so damn much to us.Toherespecially.”
“Ma and Mom!!”Elijah comes running out from behind the vehicle with a drumstick in his hand and a wolfish grin along his mouth.“Uncle Nolan got me a drum set!”
“I know you fucking didn’t!”Monica growls and snaps her head back to look at me, her eyes filled with anger.
“Still happy I’m here?”I coo as I step around her and head toward my best friend.Avery is wringing her hands together as her eyes grow wider with every step I take.“You got me here,”—I hold out my arms—“now what are you going to do with me?”
She steps down from the stoop and into my arms, wrapping hers around my waist.“Do you hate me, Nolan?”she asks, her voice wavering.I squeeze her tight as I breathe her in.No matter how mad I was, howscaredI was to come back here, I missed my best friend, the only family I have left.
“I didn’t hate you when you said I was becoming my father in high school.How could I hate you now?A heads-up would’ve been nice, but I wouldn’t be here now if you did it any other way.”She sniffs into my shirt as I run my hand down her long, brown hair.“It’s just for a week,” I murmur, more for myself than for her, but she nods anyway.
“Just a week,” she repeats and pulls back.“Let me give you a tour of the house.It’s fucking beautiful, Nolan.Darren renovated it for us.”
“Come see my room first, Uncle Nolan!”Elijah calls out as he runs between us, grabbing my hand and hauling me forward.“I have a sailboat bed!”
“No way!”I shout as I let the little guy drag me into the large foyer.The main floor is one large open concept with the front doorway giving a straight view of the sliding door leading to the backyard.To the left is a living area with large sectional couches and a fireplace with a TV mounted over it, then a dining area with a large oak table and chairs set.The kitchen is in the back with large white cabinets and dark granite countertops.Then to the right is an enormous staircase, the wood of the balusters matching the table.
“C’mon, Uncle Nolan!”Elijah pulls me to the stairs.“My room is upstairs!”I hear Avery and Monica chuckle behind us as we take the stairs, his little hand gripping two of my fingers.“I have a new Lego sailboat too!”
The second level is high-ceilinged and spacious with multiple bedrooms.Elijah leads me to his and kicks open the door with gusto, his excitement contagious.“Wow!Look at this place!”I exclaim in awe.“Do you have a hidden bar in here too?”I do a dramatic circle on the spot as I take in his blue sailor-themed walls and carpet.
“No.”His little shoulders deflate.“Mom and Ma say I’m notlegalyet.”The way he huffs and rolls his eyes reminds me so much of Avery, and I laugh loudly.She may not have contributed to his creation, but she sure has given a piece of herself in raising him.
“Bummer.”I chuckle and sit on his bed as he points out all the things in his room.Monica and Avery come to stand in the doorway, both of them watching their son with obvious affection.They truly have made their very own perfect little family, and I’m thankful to have even the smallest slice of their happiness.
“I should go and get settled in at the cottage.Did you guys get all the drum pieces out of the car?”Avery shoots me an exasperated look as Monica glares, both of them making me bite into my cheek to stop my laughter.“Consider us even now.”I get up from Elijah’s bed as he whines about me leaving, his cute little pout pulling on my heartstrings.“Hey, little man.I’ll come by tomorrow and we can practice some songs to play at your mom and ma’s party this weekend.What do you think?”
Elijah screams, “Yeah!”at the same time his parents scream, “No!”
Avery slaps my arm as I pass her in the doorway, then follows me downstairs as Monica stays in the room with Elijah.“Are you going straight to the cottage?”she asks as I look at her with my brow raised in question.
“I was going to stop and get some food since I have none.”
She bites her lip, a sign of her nervousness, and then gives me a nod.“Come straight over in the morning.You and I need to have a talk, okay?”
“What’s going on?”I stop and face her at the front door, alarm bells ringing in my ears.There’s nothing here in Chatham that could surprise or hurt me anymore.Avery and her family are all good, and mine are all dead.
“I wanted to speak to you over the last month about things, but you weren’t picking up my calls, and then you just show up here without a heads-up—”
