My Blue River (35 page)

“Shhhh! Mom will hear you!”

“Yeah, let me tell ya, you do not want to piss off this Warden. She’s on some kind of rampage lately.”

“I know, right?! She keeps getting in my business and I’m kinda dating this guy who is so opposite from Jack she’s ready for me to get engaged.”

“Another guy, huh? You’re not bringing him home, right?”

“Hell, no! I kinda like him, but he’s been acting a little clingy. I’m not that into him.”

“And Jack? You into him? I bet you want him to be into you! Get it? INTO you?” his voice rang with raucous laughter.

“Aaron, stop it! Focus! And don’t act like you care.” I let out a heavy sigh. This was going nowhere. “I need to go. I just wondered if you’d help me.”

“Only if you admit you’re dying to see Jack face-to-face.”

I paused, considering my next words. “Aaron, be honest. Is he seeing someone?”

“Yes.”

My heart sunk.
He didn’t even hesitate answering. Where’s the compassion?

I couldn’t resist asking, “Who is she? Is she pretty?”

“Well, I think she has the potential to be pretty one day, but for now, I’d say she’s cute. Her hair is blond and really curly. She has killer blue eyes. He definitely has a type.”

Oh no! I don’t think I can hear anymore!

Aaron continued, “She is really, really short, but I think it’s normal for now. There’s something weird about the way she talks, too.”

“Normal for now? What’s that mean? What’s up with the way she talks? Who is he seeing?” I nearly screamed my questions.

Aaron laughed almost manically. “Dude, he hangs out with Claire and Samantha a lot. He babysits so Claire can go on dates. He takes Samantha to the river and teaches her how to skip rocks, takes her to the elementary school so she can play on the swing set, you know, crap like that. I hate admitting this to you, but I don’t think Jack will ever date anyone else. I have no idea why, but he’s still got it bad for you.”

I let out a huge sigh of relief
. Oh, thank God!

Aaron erupted into a story he thought I needed to hear, “Jack is the best. One night, I was totally hammered. He didn’t even tell Mom and Dad he just got me home and into my room.”

What an idiot! He just confessed something else to me.
I now had something else I could use as blackmail material. I would rat him out in a heartbeat for my own personal gain. I then made a mental note to cuss Jack out for covering for Aaron. I was tired of Aaron’s lack of concern for not only himself, but for the concern everyone had for him.

“He should have ratted you out, but that’s another conversation,” I said.

“Ah, man, you’re not gonna tell, right? I swear, I’ll spy on Jack for ya,” promised Aaron. He pleaded with me like a child.

“Glad we’re on the same page.”

“So…now…why are you playing games with Jack?” asked Aaron.

“What? No. I’m not playing games.”

“You just want to stalk him.”

“Yeah, I mean no, I just want to know where he’ll be, who he’s with and what he’s up to these days.”

Once again Aaron laughed hysterically. “You should have thought of that before you broke it off with him!”

“Don’t be an idiot, Aaron. Long distance relationships don’t work and besides, it was a mutual break up.”

“Well, whatever. I’ll check it out. Can I go now? I’ve got a pizza pocket in the microwave.”

“Yeah. Don’t forget, okay? I’ll be there in a couple of days.”

“Sure. Got it.”

“One last thing, Aaron.”

“Yeah?”

“We’re going to have a talk when I get home. I can tell you’re stoned.”

“Whatever. Later, Addy.”

“Aaron.”

“Dude! My pizza pocket! Gotta go!”

“Tell Mom and Dad bye again for me.”

“Yeah. Sure. Bye.”

“Bye.”

********

One week later, I departed for Montana. My heart palpitations grew stronger the closer I got to Montana, knowing I might run into Jack.

Several hours later I arrived at the Middleburg Airport. Waiting near the luggage claim were Dad, Mom, and Aaron. I couldn’t wait to get Aaron alone and ask if he had found out Jack’s whereabouts.

“Honey! I’m so glad to see you! You look so good!” declared Mom.

“Hi, princess. Glad you’re home,” said Dad. He shockingly seemed very glum about my arrival.
That’s odd.

As we embraced I heard, “There’s my California girl.”

My heart stopped. It wasn’t Jack, but I knew the voice well. I wasn’t sure what was more confusing—hearing his voice or the beaming expression on Mom’s face. It did, however, explain my dad’s somber mood.

I turned ever so slowly to face him, wishing this was one of my crazy dreams.

“Well? Aren’t you going to come running into my arms, sweet pea?”

“Harrison,” I muttered.

“Well, I for one need a formal introduction,” declared Dad with a slight irritation in his voice.

I repeatedly blinked my eyes, but when I stopped. He was still standing there with his arms open, waiting for me to respond.
Nope, it’s not a dream.

I finally joined the present moment, “Mom, Dad, Aaron, this is Harrison Winthorpe. Harrison, this is my father, Bill, my mother, Maggie, and my brother, Aaron.” Everyone shook hands and offered the usual pleasantries.

Mom was in Heaven. I could tell he fit her image of the perfect man for me. My dad offered a smile and a handshake. Despite his sadness, William Davis was exceptionally polite.

“Mr. and Dr. Davis—the pleasure is all mine. I must tell you, you have a terrific daughter. I have truly enjoyed her company. She’s amazing,” Harrison declared. He always sounded like the perfect politician. He was a well-mannered son of an upper-class family and it showed.

I’m still confused. How is Harrison not only in Montana, but he’s with my family?

Mom placed her hand over her heart, “Oh, thank you, Harrison. We’re just delighted to have you here for a visit,” She was overdoing it so much her voice sounded fake. Her exaggerated smile bugged the crap out of me.

This moment caused me to recall something. There was a time Jack put a rose in my hair and I caught my mom looking at us. Her smile back then had been so authentic that it almost made me cry and today, she seemed like everything she did and said was just for show—just to impress Harrison who meant very little to me.

I glanced at my dad who wasn’t saying much. I could tell he was very nearly heartbroken that I had someone new in my life. I couldn’t resist putting an end to this madness.

“Okay! Hold up! Harrison, how and why are you here? How did this happen?” I asked, trying to not sound angry.

“Oh, just a little something I worked out with your mother,” he jested as he winked at Mom.

My head snapped in her direction. She still wore that fake, irritating smile. I looked at Dad whose lips were pursed. He looked angry as he glared at Mom in a way that said,
“I told you Addy wouldn’t be happy about this.”
Mom ignored him.

“By the way, thank you for your help, Dr. Davis,” said Harrison.

“Oh, please, call me Maggie and it was my pleasure to help you. Who doesn’t love a surprise visit from their boyfriend? Right, Addy?”

Ho…ly…shit. Mom went behind my back and helped Harrison plan this “surprise.” She just returned to the top of my list and believe me, you don’t want to be at the top of that list.

“Umm…yeah, can I ask how you connected with my mom?”

“Oh, it was easy. I just looked through the contact list in your cell phone until I found the number that was named
Mom
.” He said it like it was no big deal that he had invaded my privacy.
We are in no way close enough that he should feel it appropriate to look through my cell phone! Oh crap! That means he saw a number named, Jack!”

Aaron walked near me and muttered, “Is it just me or is that messed up?”

I muttered back, “Totally messed up.”

Harrison’s smiled faded; in fact, his eyes looked dark and scary.

“I take it you are not pleased that I’ve shown up to share spring break with you.” He stated. I felt like he was holding back a completely different tone to his voice as I saw his jaw clench.

“I—I just wanted to know, I mean, this is amazing! I was just curious how you pulled it off.” I feigned excitement.

Harrison simply stood staring at me so Mom jumped in an attempt to complete the mystery and somehow make it a magical love story. “And as soon as he called and said he wanted to surprise you, I just hopped right on board with his plan.”

“Oh, um…what about our family plans, Mom?”

Harrison interjected, “Hey, I thought I am the one who is a pre-law major. What’s with this line of questioning?” He walked over and wrapped his arms around me. I shivered at his touch, which he misunderstood. “It’s okay, babe. I’m here now,” he assured.

Gag.
I was infuriated by his deception and even though it had been a lie, I made it clear we had family plans. There wasn’t room for Harrison Winthorpe and instead of accepting my “story,” he went behind my back and plotted a spring break arrival.

Mom and Harrison seemed to be the only ones oblivious to the uncomfortable feeling that hung in the air. My body visibly tensed. Harrison wasn’t much taller than me; I peeked over his shoulder and saw Aaron sticking one finger in his mouth, pretending to gag himself.

Dad decided to rescue us all, especially saving me from Harrison’s incredibly long hug. He cleared his throat and addressed my so-called boyfriend. “So, Harrison, what was that you said? You’re pre-law?”

“Yes, sir. I am. It is a long tradition in my family. My grandfather and father went to law school in…” His words became inaudible as he and my dad walked away with our luggage.

I threw my arm around Aaron and asked, “Everything
good?
” He knew what I meant, or so I thought. I was referring to the conversation we had where I asked him to find out what was happening with Jack. I initially wanted to know in hopes of running into him, now I needed to know in order to avoid him seeing me with Harrison. Aaron’s completely and utterly blank expression made me nervous until he said, “Yeah. It’s all good.”

Whew.
I let out my breath. I wanted to ask him more but just then, Mom interrupted by pulling me aside, “Oh, Addy, Harrison is simply perfect. I can tell he’s the perfect match for you. I am so pleased with your decision.” She began to ramble on about the positive qualities she saw in Harrison until the buzz of her voice put me in a coma.

I had so many questions that I knew couldn’t get answered until later, especially how he knew the password to my phone. Until then, I was left with trying to seem completely at ease with his surprise visit. We managed to find various topics of conversations on our forty-minute drive to Blue River. My dad told Harrison about the complexities of irrigation lines and divulged what land belonged to whom. I couldn’t tell if Harrison was actually interested, but it didn’t matter. His impeccable manners regardless of any situation would allow him to seem interested. He was twenty-one and seemed more mature than most his age or most likely, it was a result of his upbringing.