Page 61 of All Your Fault

Mrs. Chatham, Christina, says, “Since when?”

Hagan doesn’t balk, not even for a second. “Since I met her.” Which isn’t exactly true. He’s had a beer or two but never more. “If she doesn’t drink, neither do I.” His mom looks like she’s going to explode with joy and pride, and I don’t blame her. She raised a fantastic son—and it looks like three times over, his brothers included.

We start out with Pictionary, not the new version but old school style with the big dry erase board in the center. We divide into teams by alphabet so Hagan, Harper, and I are on the same team. Hagan has his arm around me while Harper draws. She squiggles a black line, horizontally across the surface, and Hagan yells, “Creek!” in two seconds. I shout “Snake” right after.

Harper points at Hagan, and he jumps up and I watch them clap hands and dance around as they say, “It’s good to be a twin. Take that.” Pure joy is plastered across their faces. The love and happiness in their eyes is overwhelming in the best way.

The Hagan/Harper combo proves unbeatable, but when he isn’t drawing or celebrating, he’s kissing my cheek or rubbing my back.

When it’s my turn to draw, the word isstorm. It takes time to sketch, as I’m detailed. Mr. Chatham rapidly shouts random words in succession. Then Hagan says, “Dad, give her a chance.” His dad continues but finally says the word. I do a standing back tuck in the middle of the living room. Both teams cheer as I take a bow. His dad, George, rushes over, hip bumping me as we attempt to dance like Hagan and Harper.

“Take that,” he says, grinning from ear to ear.

Hagan pushes to his feet, pulling me into his arms, “She’s mine. Babe, you need to be careful on the knee. I want to cheer my girl on at her gymnastics meets.” Then he puckers up, giving me a chaste kiss.

The other team consisting of Megan, Sarah Jane, Lorenzo, Reggie and Opal, all make it known that they want to come to my meets, too.

I’ve never had this kind of support from my small family. Emotions get the best of me and I can’t hold it in. “Excuse me.” I quickly walk into the nearest bathroom, hoping they don’t notice, I’m getting ready to break.

There’s a knock on the door and I fully expect it to be Hagan but it’s his mom. “Adalee.”

I splash water on my face, drying it with the fingertip towel before opening the door. Mrs. Chatham’s arms swing wide, embracing me. “I know we’re too much. We’re not good at restraining our feelings.”

“You have a wonderful family. My dad pays for my stuff, but I can’t remember the last time he came to a gymnastics meet. Encouragement is something I haven’t had from my family in a decade. This family is perfect.”

She scoffs, throwing her head back. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. But we love each other fiercely.”

Mrs. Chatham insists I call her Christina and asks me to help in the kitchen before we continue playing games. She made cookies decorated with the movies we’re going to act out. She places the cookies bottom side up onto the tray. I saw one and she tapped my hand. “No cheating. Since you’ve seen it, let’s eat this one.”

She breaks it half, handing me half. My mom would love Mrs. Chatham. IfParentingmagazine was doing an article on how to raise successful, competitive, loving children, she should be on the cover.

“Adalee. I’ve never heard Hagan any happier than he is right now. There’s a musical quality to his voice like he’s singing your name all the time.”

I blush, embarrassed. This type of openness is new to me. “He’s a great guy. If I would have talked to him that first night, I may not have torn my ACL. Maybe he would have given me a ride home,” I say as I carry in one of the aluminum baking sheets filled with green and yellow Oreo balls.

She ducks into one of the cabinets, coming out with a ceramic tray that saysgame nighton it. We begin to organize sweets on the dish as we talk.

“Now that you’re together, you need to let him help carry your burdens. Don’t make him guess. He told Archer and Harper that your mom passed away. I’m sorry.” The click of a camera shuttering catches my attention and I notice Sarah Jane is taking pics. “Megan lost both her parents when she was nine. Hagan will listen but if you want someone that has been through something similar, Megan is strong like you are. I think my boys are attracted to strong women.”

Wow, having the matriarch of this family call me strong has me reeling with confidence. I’ve never considered myself strong, at least not internally. I just like to portray it on the outside. But it’s true. I am strong.

ChapterThirty-Four

Hagan

After Harperand I run upstairs to check on our nieces and nephews, we have a heart to heart in the nursery. She lets loose of what she’s been holding in. I knew something was gnawing in her gut because something was wrong with mine. When she’s emptied her thoughts I ask, “So?”

The one person I need on my side is Harper and she knows it. We rock in the two gliders, our voices a trace above a whisper.

She says, “I like her more now. The back flip thing really sealed the deal.”

More?

I raise one brow, questioning her.

“You’re my twin. I want you to be happy,” she says as she bites her lip which is my sister’s tell that she’s struggling to be honest. Hap is a tough cookie. She didn’t like Julia, and maybe it was because Julia took my attention away from her, but Adalee isn’t taking anything away from Harper. We don’t go to the same school. and I talk to her every day, definitely more than when I was with Julia.

Frustrated, I push off the chair and look at her over my shoulder. “Is anyone ever going to be good enough?”

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