Page 55 of Resilient Rhythms
“Well, that’s honest.”
“I’m always that.”
Sabrina drops off our margaritas and Mav and I order a ridiculous number of appetizers.
“Think of it like a sampler,” Mav explains to a befuddled Sabrina.
Once she leaves, he holds up his glass.
“To you, my beautiful wife.”
I clink my glass against his. “To us, Mav.”
“To us,” he repeats.
Then, we take a sip of our drinks, our eyes catching over the rims, and I finally know, deep down, that everything is going to be okay.
THIRTEEN
MAV
“If you could live anywherein the world, where would you live?” Mckenna asks as she slices her fork through a piece of cheesecake, breaking off a delectable bite.
I consider her question. Our conversation flowed effortlessly all evening and the relief that snakes through my limbs is telling of how badly I want this with her. “Boston,” I admit after a long pause.
Her eyes widen, the fork hovering between the plate and her mouth. “Seriously? After everywhere you’ve been, you would pick…here?” Her brows furrow as she gazes around the restaurant, as if studying the patrons.
“I would.” I nod for emphasis. “I may have traveled to a hundred different places, but I haven’t really spent time in them. When we’re on tour, it’s a different city every night. I like California and being near the beach but it’s too easy to get swept up in a lifestyle I don’t want.” I give her a knowing look. I could find a party anywhere, but in Southern California, it’s too easy. “I absolutely love Costa Rica,” I continue, “but if I lived there, full time, I’d worry some of the charm and ease of life I enjoy when I’m there would change.”
“That makes sense.”
“Yeah.” I pause to grin at her. “Eat your cake.”
She laughs but takes the bite of cheesecake.
“So, I’d stay here,” I tack on. “I love where I’m from. I love this city. It gave me everything I have now. I guess if I had to pick a different place, I’d choose Brooklyn, but I’m a Boston boy through and through. What about you?”
“I think here too,” she admits quietly. “Or New York. LA is an easy choice for me because of college but now, I think I’d prefer the East Coast.” She shrugs. “My dad’s here. I didn’t think that would ever be important to me, but now that our relationship has improved, and I’ve gotten to know Jeannie…I like living close to them.”
“That’s fair. Have you heard from your mom?” I ask after a beat.
Mckenna rolls her eyes. “She’s at some wellness retreat in the middle of Arizona.”
“Oh.”
Mckenna snorts. “Oh.” She takes another bite of cheesecake. “I think our relationship will always be somewhat adjacent to each other. And I’m okay with that.”
I quirk an eyebrow, questioning. “Are you?”
She nods slowly. “After everything that happened with Bran, after how clueless my mom has continued to be about my life…” She shrugs. “I don’t want to carry around anger and hurt when I can let it go and accept that what we have is all there’s going to be. I’d rather focus my energy and efforts on the people and the relationships that show up for me. You, my dad, Allegra, Ivy, Nova. I’m a lucky girl, Mav.”
“Yeah, but it’s still tough to admit. Maybe your mom will change.”
“Maybe,” she says slowly. “But I’m done hoping for it or thinking about it.”
I nod in understanding.
She drags the tines of her fork through the cheesecake again. “Did you ever tell your brother the truth about your, his, dad?” Her eyes flicker to mine and hold. Curiosity burns in their depths along with something akin to hope. Trust. Empathy, care, and love.
