Aftershock: A Charity McAdams Novella (3 page)

“High maintenance…” I tease, tsk’ing under my breath. “Ya know, you kind of order like a chick.”

“Hey, gotta keep the moneymaker in shape,” he defends as he pats his abs, which I know (from personal inspection) are not airbrushed onto his movie posters.

“Coming right up,” I say, with a mock salute.

He playfully slaps my backside when I turn to start back towards the doors to the small kitchen.

I return with his sandwich a few minutes later. The combo of the Sauerkraut and dressing smells revolting to me, but it’s one of Brandon’s favorites. I just hope he realizes there will be no kisses until he has had a breath mint. Or better yet, brushes his teeth. There are some things even a breath mint can’t help. Looking at the sandwich I decide this is probably one of them.

I had told Jennifer I would be taking my break so I hoist myself into the seat across from him after setting down his lunch. I pull a bottle of juice out of my apron pocket and pop it open.

“Thanks Cherry, I was starving,” he says, between bites.

“Anything for my favorite customer,” I say with a wink.

“Anything?” He asks with a devilish grin.

I roll my eyes but can’t help but laugh.

“Well, I do have some news that should make you happy,” I segue. “I’ve decided to move to California with you.”

Brandon practically drops his sandwich. “Are you serious?”

I nod, smiling.

“When did you decide all this?”

“Today, when I was jogging with Ashley,” I answer.

“
Ashley
convinced you?” He asks with his eyebrow raised suspiciously.

“She didn’t convince me. She just helped me see that it’s not as scary as I might have made it out to be.”

“Wow, well remind me to buy her a thank you gift!” He says with a laugh. He wipes off his hands and then reaches across the table to take mine. “In all seriousness, I’m happier than you can even imagine and I promise it’s going to be amazing.”

I nod, my eyes starting to tear up, hoping with every fiber of my being that he is right.

Chapter Five

“Cherry, ya almost ready to go?” Brandon calls up the stairs.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Apparently we’re
that
couple now. Guy downstairs, pacing by the front door, waiting impatiently. Girl upstairs, primping in the bathroom, not quite sure if she is ready yet.

I sigh and flick off the lights and stand still in the darkness for a moment. Steadying myself, I take a deep breath before turning to leave and go downstairs. It’s not that I don’t want to see his family, I do. I think my hesitation comes from not wanting to leave this comfortable little bubble we’ve been living in for the past month, where it’s just us and no other…complications.

Brandon lets out an appreciative whistle when I get to the bottom of the stairs. “Worth the wait,” he says, grinning.

I laugh and look down. After a few outfit changes I had decided to wear dark wash jeans with my black boots and a red top that has some sparkly details on the front and side.

“I’m not sure this is really a whistle-worthy outfit, but thank you,” I say with a smile.

“You ready for this?” He asks as he helps me into my jacket.

I nod. “Yep!”

He kisses my forehead. “Thank you so much for doing this,” he says his voice thick with emotion. “It really means a lot to me and to my family.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m sorry I made such a big deal about it before.”

“It’s alright, I understand.” He takes my hand and we head out the front doors.

His parents live just across town so it only takes a few minutes to arrive. As we pull in the driveway a whole wave of emotions wash over me. It’s been years since I was last here but I can still remember everything. It was the night before the wedding. His parents had hosted a big BBQ for everyone in the wedding party and both sides of the family as our casual rehearsal dinner.

The night it all fell apart.

Even though we’re back together again, the memories of the past can still sting. Things are different now and we can never go back and be those people, we can never have the life we were planning back then.

Brandon reaches over and squeezes my hand, as if sensing my unease, or perhaps feeling some of his own. I glace over at him with a small, nervous smile. We look at each other for a long moment, not saying anything.

“It’s going to be okay,” he reassures.

I nod and he gives me a quick kiss before getting out of the car and coming around to open my door. He takes me by the hand and we walk up the driveway together.

We hardly set one foot on the porch before the front door swings open and his mom, Sandy, steps out. “Charity!” She exclaims, before wrapping me into a warm embrace. She feels small in my arms and I can tell she has lost quite a bit of weight since the last time I had seen her. I figure it’s from the cancer or the medication she is taking. “I am so happy you’re here,” she says quietly into my ear.

“I’m happy to be here,” I say as we break apart. I can see tears in her eyes and I feel myself start to tear up too.

She pats my arm gives me one last look before she turns to Brandon and reaches up to hug him. I watch his face as he holds her for a moment. He is holding her like she’s made of glass. And although he is smiling, I can see the hurt in his eyes. He’s more worried about her than he’s letting on. I can tell that watching her fight off the cancer and push through her recovery has taken an emotional toll on him.

Sandy ushers us into the house and as I stand in the living room, I have another group of memories flash through my mind. I soak it all in for a few moments and remind myself to breathe.

“Where’s Dad?” Brandon asks as we follow Sandy through the living room and into the kitchen. She has a few pots on the stove and starts to check something in the oven.

“Oh, he ran to the store for some milk. I thought I had put it on the list when he went the other day but I guess I forgot,” she says. “Can’t seem to remember the littlest things these days.”

“You’ve had a lot to deal with, Mom, give yourself a break,” Brandon says.

She nods. “I suppose. Anyways, I made my famous chocolate cake for dessert, so milk is not optional! Charity, you remember that one, don’t you?”

I smile. “How could I forget? It’s my favorite!”

It’s the cake she makes for all special occasions, birthdays, graduation parties, and their family reunion every year. It truly is delicious. I hold that cake solely responsible for many of my “diet starts tomorrow” moments over the years.

“I know! I made it special for you.” She smiles at me.

“Thank you. That’s very sweet,” I answer, returning her warm smile. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Oh no, sweetie, I have everything under control,” she waves me off and busies herself at the stove. “I’m feeling pretty good today.”

Brandon comes over and wraps an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to the top of my head. He’s practically beaming and I let myself relax into him. Truthfully, I do feel much better than I had expected. In some ways, standing here, it doesn’t feel like any time has passed at all.

“Brandon!” A boy, whom I instantly recognize as Brandon’s youngest brother, Marky, races into the room and flings himself at Brandon. He looks the same as I remember, just about a foot taller.

“Hey!” Brandon calls back. Somehow their embrace turns into a wrestling match. I burst out laughing as Brandon lets himself get tackled to the floor by Marky.

Boys…

Steve, Brandon’s other brother, enters the kitchen a few minutes, looking more like Brandon’s carbon copy than ever before. They are almost the same height and have the same build and the same green eyes.

“Hey Charity,” he greets when he sees me.

“Hi! It’s good to see you,” I say.

He nods as he goes to the fridge. He pulls out a pitcher and pours himself a glass of iced tea before plopping into a seat at the breakfast nook table. He pulls out his phone and starts texting a mile a minute, not paying any attention to the rest of us.

There is a groan from the floor and I turn to see Brandon writhing. Apparently Marky landed a kick in the wrong place…oops. I smother a laugh as he gives me his best “pity me” face. The wrestling match is called off and I haul Brandon off the floor.

Marky looks incredibly guilty, but Brandon messes with his hair and calls him “champ” which seems to help.

A few minutes later, Brandon’s dad, Rick, arrives home with the stray groceries.

“Charity! So glad you could make it!” He says. He sets down the bags on the counter before coming over to give me a hug and a quick peck on the cheek.

“Thanks for having me.”

“Anytime. Mi casa, your casa. Or whatever that saying is,” he laughs.

Brandon rolls his eyes at his dad’s terrible Spanish.

“Alright, boys, go wash up. Dinner is just about ready,” Sandy says, turning to Steve and Marky who are both engrossed with their cellphones at the small kitchen table. After a long pause, they both get up and stash their phones before heading off in the direction of the bathroom down the hall.

“Why don’t you guys go get comfortable, there’s some wine on the table, help yourselves,” she says, turning back to us.

Fifteen minutes everyone is seated around the formal dining room table and the dishes are being passed around. Rick asks about my job and I feel a little embarrassed to admit I’m working at a café after all this time but no one seems to think it’s odd.

“How is your family? Are your mom and dad still over on Hillcrest?” Sandy asks.

I nod and swallow my bite. “Yeah. My Dad is still working at the school and my mom has been doing some wedding planning on the side, to keep busy.”

Brandon and I share a secret smile, remembering the night I ran into him at the airport when waiting to pick up a groomsman on one of the “favors” I was doing for my mom. If not for that night, I’m not sure any of this would be happening.

“What about Valerie?”

“Valerie recently got married and is about five months pregnant with their first baby. She’s due in October,” I answer. “It’s a girl.”

“Oh! How exciting!” Sandy cheers. “I bet your mom is so excited to be having a grandbaby!”

“Yeah, she is,” I answer, trying to force myself to smile. I’m happy for my sister, but I just get so tired of hearing about “baby this, baby that” whenever I’m around either my Mom or sister. “I’m actually helping to plan the baby shower in a couple months.”

“That’s great! What a sweet thing to do,” she gushes. Sandy is the type of person that if she wasn’t 100% genuine, she would probably come across as borderline annoying because she’s always happy and bubbly. It seems that even cancer has not taken away her enthusiastic spirit.

We fall into an easy conversation as we eat. I keep pretty quiet and watch the interactions around me. No one brings up the past or asks any awkward questions. I guess I figured the evening would have an “elephant in the room” vibe, but it seems to be quite the opposite, very comfortable and natural.

When dinner is done, Brandon insists his mom stay seated as he and his brothers clear the dishes. I reach to gather up a few of the serving bowls to help them, but Sandy grabs my hand. “Let’s go to the den and catch up, let the men do the cleaning?” She suggests with a wink.

I nod and try to smile, but inwardly, I feel like one of the contestants on the show The Bachelor, being dragged off to “have a little chat” with the parents of their would-be boyfriend.

Chapter Six

I follow Sandy to the den and we get settled on an overstuffed love seat. She tucks her feet under her and pulls a blanket over her legs before taking my hands. She holds them in hers and just stares at me for a moment, smiling. “My dear Charity, you have no idea how happy I am that you are back in Brandon’s life,” she says.

I’m not sure how to respond for a moment. “Thank you for saying that. It still doesn’t feel like this is all really happening. It’s certainly not something I ever imagined,” I confess.

“I can’t say that I knew this would happen, but I hoped. You have no idea how miserable he was when he left,” she says. She looks down at our hands. “He had some pretty dark times. Of course, I’m sure you did too.”

I nod, trying not to let those emotions overcome me. “Did you know he was going to break it off?” I’m not sure it’s truly appropriate to ask, but the question is suddenly blaring at me and I can’t ignore it.

“No, honey, not until afterwards. He stayed with friends for the weeks after the wedding was called off, before he moved to California. I didn’t see him much. I think he thought we were mad at him, or disappointed. Which I guess we were, in some ways. I certainly wish he had handled things differently, for your sake and his own.”

She pauses, looking uncertain for a moment. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Were you upset, with Rick and me?” She looks nervous. “I just mean, did you feel like we took sides?”

I shake my head, surprised by her question. “No, not at all.”

She sighs. “We always loved you like a daughter and when everything happened, well, I’m afraid we didn’t handle it the best way we could. Rick and I have both felt guilty over the years, it felt like we abandoned you. For that, we are both truly sorry.”

A tear escapes and I lower my head.

Sandy leans forward and pulls me into a hug.

“I don’t even know why I’m crying,” I say, muffled into her sweater. “It’s all in the past now. It shouldn’t matter anymore.”

“It’s ok, sweetie. You’ve gone through a lot, both of you, it’s going to take some time,” she reassures me, patting my back before letting me go.

I wipe away the tears and give myself a little shake. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, with all the crying, but I am happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long, long time,” I say with a smile.

“Oh, you don’t have to tell me that, I already know! The way you two look at each other, it’s just like before. Does a mama’s heart good,” she smiles and gives my hands a squeeze. “What do you say we go get some cake before the boys eat it all?”