Abby draws in a deep breath and stares at the floor for a moment before she responds. “How long is a while?”
My heart stutters a bit then pounds wildly. “As long as you want,” I reply quickly. “Stay a few hours. Stay the night. Stay—”
“Stay for the summer,” Claire interjects and Abby looks up from the floor, her beautiful brown eyes wide with shock.
“The summer?”
I almost want to be angry with Claire for suggesting something so crazy, but the look on Abby’s face is telling me that this might not be as crazy an idea as I thought.
“Yes, the summer,” Claire continues. “We’re headed to our beach house in Wrightsville soon and we’d love for you to spend some time with us there… before you go to college. I mean, if that’s what you’re planning to do. I’m not trying to be presumptuous.”
The corner of Abby’s mouth curls up again and she shrugs. “Yeah, I guess you can say I’m going to college.”
I tilt my head, trying to figure out what she means by this, but I don’t want to pry. “Abby—you don’t mind if I call you Abby, do you?”
She shakes her head. “That’s what everybody calls me.”
I already know this, from our dealings with the Jensens, but I don’t mention it to Abby. “Well, Abby, if you don’t mind, I’d like to call your parents and see how they feel about you being here before we decide to make plans for the summer.”
Claire’s head whips around and she glares at me. “She’s eighteen years old. I think she’s capable of making decisions on her own.”
I bite back a retort about how she’s still Brian and Lynette’s child, and I turn to Abby. “Do your parents know you’re here?”
She looks down at the floor again as she replies. “No, they don’t know where I am. I had an argument with them this morning, which sort of led me here.”
I want to ask what they argued about, but it’s none of my business. I just hope it wasn’t an argument about coming here to meet us.
“So, is it okay if we call your parents to tell them you’re here?”
Claire’s face is turned away from me, toward the front door. She’s probably cursing me in her head for potentially ruining this visit. But if we want to have any hope of spending time with Abby this summer, her parents have to be brought into the loop. They have cared for her, and her heart, for the past eighteen years. It only makes sense that their approval or disapproval will greatly influence her decision to stay. If she knows we’re willing to cooperate with her parents’ wishes, she’ll know we’re willing to do anything to keep her here.
Abby looks up at Caleb and he cocks an eyebrow at her. “Don’t ask me. You know I always tell you to be honest with your parents.”
Her shoulders slump a bit at Caleb’s implication, then she turns to me. “Okay, but…” She bites her lip as she digs for the courage to finish this sentence. “Can you talk to my parents for me? They… my dad said something very hurtful to me this morning and I don’t know if I can talk to him right now. Especially after everything I’ve learned here today.”
I clench my jaw tightly shut to keep from asking what Brian said to her. It’s best that I don’t know. The possibility of an extended stay hangs on my ability to reason with the Jensens. I don’t know if I can let Abby stay here knowing she’s going against her parents’ wishes.
Abby slides her phone out of her pocket and dials the Jensens’ phone number. She looks a bit apprehensive as she holds the phone out to me, but I take it without hesitation. I cast a warm smile in her direction as I bring the phone to my ear.
“Abby!” Lynette shrieks into the phone.
“Lynette, this is Chris Knight. Abby is here with us.”
“What the hell is going on? Tell her she needs to come home immediately! I cannot believe this! Get Abby on the phone!”
Abby’s brow is furrowed as if she were in pain, her gaze pointed at the floor. I could not be more angry with Lynette and Brian Jensen, but I have to remain calm.
“Lynette, Abby is right here, but she’s still a little upset over this morning’s argument.”
“That’s none of your business!” Her words are so shrill, my ear starts ringing. “How dare you call me? How dare you talk about her? She’s my daughter. Not yours!”
I grit my teeth as a surge of emotion overcomes me. I know Abby is not mine to claim. I know it’s not my responsibility to protect her from sorrow. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel like she’s mine.
“Please listen to me, Lynette. It’s not my intention to step on yours or Brian’s toes. Abby is… yours. But I think she’s old enough to decide if she wants to know us.”
Lynette’s sniffling makes my stomach writhe. There’s some shuffling on the phone, then silence, then…
“Hello?” Brian’s voice is deep and lumbering, just the way he looks.
“Brian, this is Chris Knight.”
“I know who this is. Where’s Abby? Put her on the phone.”
I put my hand over the cell-phone speaker and hold it out to Abby. “Your dad wants to speak to you.”
Abby shakes her head adamantly. “I don’t want to speak to him right now.”
I bring the phone to my ear again. “I’m sorry, Brian, but Abby’s a little upset right now. We told her she could stay here for a few hours or longer if she needs some time to let things mellow out.”
“A few hours or longer? What does that mean? Are you trying to convince her to stay with you? Is that what’s going on here?”
“No, that’s not at all what’s happening. She’s the one who came here. We’re just offering her a place to cool down.”
“To cool down? Did she tell you why she left in a huff this morning? Because Lynette and I refused to let her move in with her boyfriend this summer. Do you still think we’re the big, bad, villainous parents now?”
I squint my eyes as I look back and forth between Abby and Caleb. I have no idea how long they’ve been together. I don’t know what kind of guy Caleb is or how he treats her. But I can understand Brian’s trepidation. I understand his desire to not let go. I wouldn’t want Jimi moving in with her boyfriend after she turns eighteen in a year and a few months. But I highly doubt I could stop Jimi if that was what she wanted to do. And something tells me Abby is just as headstrong as her sister.
“Look, Brian. I don’t pretend to know the intricacies of your relationship with Abby or her relationship with Caleb. All I know is that she’s upset right now. And she came here to meet us. I think, after all she’s been through, that she deserves the chance to decide whether she wants to go home right away.”
Brian lets out a puff of laughter. “I knew when she went running, you’d welcome her in.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“I’m not going to waste my time arguing with you about what’s good or bad for my daughter.”
“You’re right. I apologize for that comment. But you have to know how important it is for Abby to know that you trust her. You’ve done… you’ve obviously done an excellent job raising her. Why not give her the benefit of the doubt that you’ve raised her well enough to make her own decisions?”
I look up at Abby and she smiles. I don’t know if it’s because she thinks I made a good point or because she’s thankful that I agreed to speak on her behalf. And, truthfully, I don’t care. Because that’s the moment I realize I’ll do anything to keep that smile on her face.
There’s nothing but silence on the other end of the line for a moment before Brian finally replies. “If she’s too upset to talk right now, tell her to call me when she’s not upset. Is Caleb with her?”
“Yeah, he’s right here.”
“Tell him to make sure she takes her medication. And tell him… to bring her home as soon as she’s ready.”
My chest puffs up as it floods with warmth. “I’ll tell him. Thank you, Brian.”
He hangs up without saying good-bye. As amazingly happy and hopeful as I feel right now, I can only imag
ine that Brian must be feeling the opposite of those emotions. I wish I could feel more sympathy for him, but I’m actually more grateful. I’m grateful that he raised Abby to be the kind of person who would seek us out.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I LEAN AGAINST the counter in the kitchen, the sunlight pouring through the windows, illuminating this moment, burning it into my memory. Abby and Caleb sit at the breakfast bar, watching Chris cook. Ryder is grabbing a heavy cast-iron skillet out of a drawer. Junior is somewhere upstairs, probably on the phone with his girlfriend, Livvy.
“Do you need some help with that skillet?” Chris says as Ryder attempts to lift it onto the cooktop on the island.
“Nope,” Ryder grunts. He heaves the pan onto the burner, then Chris high-fives him.
“Nice job, sous chef.”
“What’s next?” Ryder asks.
Chris launches into his best Julia Child impression and my heart swells when I hear Ryder and Abby laughing together. They even sound alike.
As Chris continues entertaining our guests by pretending to host a cooking show, I slip out of the kitchen and head to the study to call Jimi. Her best friend, Sydney, and Sydney’s brother Eric picked her up today to go to a creativity conference where they hope to network with some filmmakers. Eric is studying filmmaking at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. He’s home for the summer, so Jimi, who plans to pursue an acting career, sees this conference as an opportunity to see how the industry works.
The conference began at nine a.m. and Jimi said she’d be back by noon at the latest. It’s ten minutes to noon and I’m getting a bit antsy for her to meet Abby. I dial her number and she picks up on the third ring.
“Hi, Mom.”
I can hear a lot of noise and talking in the background. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything at the conference.”
“Nope. We were just leaving. Do you need us to pick up anything on the way home?”
“No, thank you. I just need you to come home quickly.”
“Why?”
I’m silent for a moment as I try to maintain my composure, but I’m so overjoyed just thinking the words. It’s impossible to say them aloud and not feel overwhelmed.
“She’s here, baby… Abby came.”
Jimi’s silent except for the occasional loud sniff.
“Jimi?”
“I’m here,” she whispers, and I can hear her better now that the noise from the conference has faded away.
“Are you okay?”
Another loud sniff, then she clears her throat and responds. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just… really happy for you.”
“For me? What about you, honey? You finally get to meet your sister.”
“Hold on, Mom. I have another call coming in.”
She clicks onto the other line before I can respond, then she comes back a minute later. She sounds composed now. No more sniffing or thickness in her throat.
“Mom, that was Jenna. She wants me to help her with her UNC app before we go to the beach house. I have to go.”
“Wait a minute. Did you not hear what I just told you? Abby is here and she wants to meet you.”
“I can’t, Mom. I promised Jenna I would help her with the application before I go to the beach house. Dad told me we’re leaving tomorrow. Am I just supposed to let one of my best friends screw up her college application?”
“You said Jenna was getting on your nerves and you were glad she doesn’t drive so she can’t visit you at the beach house. Those were your words!”
“Mom, I don’t have time to argue about this. I promise I’ll try to finish up quickly.”
I shake my head in dismay. “If you miss this opportunity to meet Abby to help Jenna, you will always regret it, Jimi.”
“I’ll be home as soon as I can. Bye, Mom.”
I end the call feeling confused and angry. She seemed overwhelmed with emotion when I told her Abby was here. Then she answered that call and everything changed. It’s as if she spoke to someone who convinced her that meeting Abby was a bad idea. My chest hurts at the thought that someone else could have that sort of influence over Jimi.
She’s always been a bit of a daddy’s girl, but she’s also fiercely independent. She got her driver’s license two days after her sixteenth birthday because she was desperate for more freedom. And she completed her college applications all on her own, getting accepted into both NC State and UNC along with a few other universities, like her top pick USC. All she has to do is submit her fall-semester grades to each university this coming January, and she’ll have her pick of seven different college campuses.
So, naturally, all of her friends have been asking for her help with their college applications. But I never expected she would choose to put off seeing Abby to help Jenna, a girl who supposedly flirted with Jimi’s boyfriend before they broke up three months ago. It makes no sense.
I head back to the kitchen in time to find Chris teaching Abby how to truss a chicken. Ryder is showing Caleb how to work the computer touchscreen on the wall by the breakfast bar. Of course, Ryder shows him how to work the TV function by putting on the Disney Channel.
I sidle up next to Chris and nudge his shoulder with mine. “Jimi’s not coming until later.”
Both he and Abby turn their heads to gape at me. “Why?” he asks.
“She’s helping Jenna with her UNC application and she doesn’t want to be a bad friend and ditch her.”
Abby’s dark-blonde eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. “Is she uncomfortable with me being here?”
“What? No, of course not. She’s just become the go-to girl for all her friends who are rushing to get their college applications submitted. It’s… unfortunate, but she seems to think we’re leaving for the beach house tomorrow. Did you tell her that, honey?”
Chris grabs the salt and pepper off the counter behind us and sets them down in front of Abby. She follows his lead and begins sprinkling the seasoning all over the chicken.
“I may have mentioned that we would be going to the beach house tomorrow, but that was only if… if we had nothing going on. Abby is here now. We’re staying here as long as we need to.”
Abby holds up her hands and Chris points her to the sink where she can wash the chicken juices and seasoning off her fingers. “You don’t have to stay here on my account. Caleb and I have really enjoyed meeting you all, but we don’t want to ruin your plans.”
“You’re not ruining our plans,” Chris insists. “You are the plans. The reason we were going tomorrow night instead of tonight is because we decided last weekend that we would wait one more week to see if you would show up.”
“Aw, that’s why, Dad? You lied. You told me it was ’cause of the storm.”
Ryder never forgets anything we tell him.
“I didn’t lie,” Chris says with a grin. “There was a storm… in Florida.”
Abby smiles as she dries her hands on a kitchen towel, but her smile is barely hiding her disappointment. “Well, maybe Caleb and I should get going so you all can pack and get ready to go to the beach.”
“No, you don’t have to go,” I reply hastily. “In fact, why don’t you stay the night and you can go with us to the beach house for a few days?”
Chris narrows his eyes at me then turns back to Abby. “We don’t want you to feel pressured or obligated to stay. But, of course, you are welcome to stay as long as you want.”
“You should come with us to the beach house!” Ryder’s eyes are wide with excitement. “The beach is right there and last year there was a shark in the water and everyone was taking pictures of it with their phones and this one lady screamed and everyone thought she was bit, but she wasn’t.”
“I… I don’t know. I mean, I don’t want to impose.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re not imposing,” I insist.
“But I don’t think I’d feel comfortable without Caleb.”
“He can come,” I reply.
“Yeah!” Ryder agrees.
“Why are you so happy?” Junior says, walking into the kitchen with his nose buried in a text conversation.
“Abby and Caleb are coming with us to the beach house!” Ryder replies.
“Settle down, Ry. Nothing is decided yet,” Chris says, taking the remote away from him so he can turn off the TV.
Ryder crosses his arms and glares at Chris, but Chris glares right back at him. After a moment, Ryder smiles. “Thanks for turning the TV off, Dad. It was rotting my brain.”
Chris shakes his head. “Go upstairs and take a shower. Now.”
“You guys are coming to the beach house? Sweet!” Junior says, taking a seat on the stool next to Caleb at the breakfast bar. “Maybe you can give me a driving lesson in your car?”
Caleb chuckles. “You got a permit?”
Junior waves off the question. “A mere technicality.”
Abby stands across the breakfast bar from Caleb, their eyes locked, and I can feel them silently communicating, gauging the other’s reaction. He nods slightly and she nods back.
“Well, I guess as long as I have my meds and my parents know where I am, it should be okay for a few days,” Abby begins, turning away from Caleb to face Chris and me. “I mean, neither of us have been to the beach in a long time.”
“Do you like the beach?” I ask.
She smiles at this simple question that still seems to say so much about how desperate I am to know her. “Yeah, I love it, but because of my heart condition, it’s not good for me to engage in a lot of physical activity. My parents used to take me swimming at the aquatic center all the time, but they thought the waves and currents of the ocean were too unpredictable to be safe.”