Page 54 of Told You So
They both peer around the entry, into the living room, and up at the landing. “This is a beautiful house,” Bethany starts. “But where are we exactly?” The hesitance in her voice tells me she has a good guess already.
“This,” my mom says from the kitchen, “would be Nick’s childhood home.” She steps out of the kitchen to join us. “And you must be Bethany.” She hurries over. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, sweetie.” She wraps her arms around Bethany’s shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug.
Bethany’s eyes meet mine, and I can tell she’s contemplating fight or flight.
“I’m Leslie or Mom, you can call me whichever you like.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you.” Bethany takes a step back from her and smooths out her t-shirt.
“And you, young man...” my mom continues, and bends slightly to Jesse’s level. I’ve told her about his Autism, so she doesn’t expect him to look at her, but she treats him as she would any kid all the same. “You’re a handsome one. Look at those pretty blue eyes.” My mom’s voice is soft and affectionate, reminding me of when I was younger.
“Do you want to introduce yourself to Nick’s mom?” Bethany urges.
“Hi,” he says, distracted as he processes all the new things in the house. “I’m Jesse.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Jesse. Now,” she straightens. “Before we get down to business, why don’t we snag a chocolate chip cookie? I made them fresh this morning.”
Jesse nods, more emphatically than I’ve ever seen before, and follows my mom into the kitchen without a second thought.
Bethany grabs hold of my arm. “What am I doing here, Nick? At your parents’ house, really?”
“Remember I told you my mom’s in the psych field? She’s a retired professor, she’s offered to help you study for the GRE.”
“What?” she whisper-shouts. “Nick, you didn’t have to do this. Why—” she shakes her head, and I know where her mind is going. I know she’s spiraling back to before, to the mess we created and probably the residual embarrassment of it all. Not only does Bethany not like asking for help, she’s a private person.
“Hey,” I say, resting my hand on her shoulder. “I know it’s hard for you to accept help unless your brother is missing,” I say, hoping the playful jab will loosen her up. “But my mom wants to. She needs something to do anyway. Trust me, you’re doing her the favor.” I shrug. “Besides, who better to help you study than someone who’s taken it before, albeit a hundred years ago.”
“I heard that, Nicholas.”
Bethany’s face reddens. “I can’t believe this,” she whispers, and I can tell she’s torn.
“Leave if you want, but I had a fun day planned for me and Jesse, so you’d be screwing him and my mom over by leaving.”
She glowers at me.
With a wink, I nod to the kitchen. “Come on. Have a cookie, it will make you feel better.”
Taking her hand, I lead her into the kitchen. Jesse and my mom are sitting in the nook, macking on giant chocolate chip cookies, each with a glass of milk. “I hope you didn’t eat them all, Jesse,” I say. “These are my favorite, you know?”
“I didn’t eat them all ...yet.”
I laugh. “Oh, funny guy. I better hurry then.” I grab one off the plate. “Are they any good?”
“They’rereallygood,” he says with a mouthful. He looks at his sister. “They’re even better than peanut butter.”
I pull out a chair for Bethany to sit beside him. “I’m not sure about that,” she mutters and sits down, taking her first bite.
“She likes the peanut butter cookies best, huh?” I ask, taking the opportunity to learn a bit more about her. I sit down beside my mom, the four of us enjoying a cookie around the card table. “What else does your sister like?”
“She likes the Amazing Race,” he tells me. “She yells at the TV all the time when she’s watching it. And she threw a pillow at a hockey game once.”
I glance at Bethany in time to see her blush. I’m not sure if it’s the purity of her light skin, but her flushed cheeks are the first thing I notice whenever she’s embarrassed.
“It was a bad call,” she mutters.
“Yeah? Note to self—don’t watch sports with Bethany. Or, at least wear a helmet.” I look at Jesse, eager. “What else?”
“She sings Britney Spears in the shower.”
