“That she is.” My dad leans back in his chair. “I’m so happy I finally got to meet you, Avalon. Elise has done nothing but talk about you since she met you. And every time you guys went down to see her, it just made her day.”
“Yeah, Avalon’s been to the hospital more in the last few weeks than you’ve been in years.” I don’t mean for the words to come out… they just do.
Avalon’s eyes widen as if she doesn’t know what to do in this situation. She doesn’t know if she should just carry on with the conversation or say nothing at all.
“Zeke,” my mom whispers, “not tonight.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“I feel like I’m the one you should be apologizing to,” My dad interrupts. “And your girlfriend, too. We were having a nice dinner before you let your attitude get the best of you.”
“Darryl!” My mom’s eyes dart in his direction. “You’re not helping the situation.”
“I’m sorry,Darryl.” I throw my napkin onto the table. “I didn’t realize sharing a fact with the group was me letting my attitude get the best of me. Honestly, I’m surprised you even had time to be here since you’ve always been too busy at the office to come to one of Mom’s appointments. Or sit with her during treatment. Or just keep her company when she feels like the world is caving in.”
“How do you think those appointments and treatments get paid for, Zeke?” he asks. “You think I’m growing money on the trees in the backyard.”
“No, Dad, I think you’re a coward,” I continue. “I think you’ve been one since the day we found out mom was sick and that work is the only excuse you can give people so they don’t think you’re a coward, too.”
“Zeke.” My mom sighs, resting her head in her hands.
“No, Mom. He needs to hear this. She needed you, Dad. We both did. But you ran into a corner and hid. You let your sixteen-year-old son carry this burden so you didn’t haveto.”
“That’s not fair,” he mumbles. “I sat in that hospital room with your mom when she was first diagnosed. I held her in that room as she sobbed over how we were going to tell you and—”
“And then you disappeared. I thought you were buying this house so you could be closer to Mom during her treatments, but every weekend I drove down here, you were nowhere to be seen. You threw yourself so far into your work that you forgot what was really important. She gave up everything for you, Dad. Besides me, you’re all she has left, but instead of giving up anything for her, you gave up on her. And I know someday you’re going to regret it.” I stand up. “I’m happy you’re home, Mom. It’s the greatest thing that’s happened to our family in years. I’m sorry it took you finally getting better for Dad to actually care.”
“Zeke.” His voice is stern. I can’t tell if he’s ready to make this an even bigger argument, but my mom reaches for his hand and shakes her head.
“I’ll call you when we get back home, okay?” I look at my mom, who has a sad smile.
“Okay.”
“Thank you so much for dinner.” Avalon stands, glancing down at her half-full plate. “Everything was fantastic. Elise, I’ll call you tomorrow. You can tell me all aboutGeneral Hospital.”
“Goodnight, Avalon. Get home safe,” she replies. I walk around the table and place a kiss on her cheek before Avalon gives her a hug.
And then we’re out the door and on our way home.
I’ve seen Avalon’s family at their worst. I guess it was only fair that she mine at theirs.
forty-four
Avalon
April
You should go talk to her.” I roll over on my bed to look at Zeke, who just got out of the shower.
“I’ve tried to talk to her. I’ve been calling her since she stormed out of our place,” Zeke argues. “I honestly think she blocked my number.”
“Then go to her place. You said it yourself, Ember’s like a sister to you, and I’ve seen the two of you interact; that’s not a relationship you just give up on.”
“I’m not giving up, Avalon. But you should’ve seen her. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen her so angry.”
“She had every right to be angry. I don’t care what Declan’s reasoning was in terms of keeping the truth from her, and I don’t care, but the second they started getting serious, he should’ve said something.”
He drops his towel and pulls on his boxers, “Trust me, he knows. He regrets not saying anything to Ember sooner, but he felt likeby the time he was ready, they were already so far into their relationship and—”