Chapter Twenty-Seven
Thankfully, Hannah lets me off early on Friday so I have time to run home and meet Pete before we go together to pick up Jade from school. This will be the first weekend that I won’t be with her and as much as I can’t wait to spend it with Reed being an adult and doing only adult things, I’m going to miss her.
“I don’t want to see him,” my mom says as I run around the house, trying to clean it up.
“You don’t have a choice. I wasn’t going to drop her off at his parents.”
I pick up all the handicap bathroom stuff I bought to have installed and throw it into my room. Another day.
“Your aunt wants to meet Reed,” she changes the topic again.
“She will when things are a little farther down the road.”
She sits in her chair, People magazine half opened, her reading glasses on the tip of her nose. “She lives in Montana, and she’s coming to visit this weekend. She won’t see Jade until Sunday. The least you can do is have Reed come to dinner, too.”
“Mom,” I sigh. “Can we talk about this after?” I straighten all her magazines and books into neat piles on the bookcase. The woman refuses to read on a digital device. Claims it’s not the same as holding the words in your hands.
“Sure, but I’m not sure I want Pete to set foot in this house.”
“Do it for Jade.”
“Jade should know what an ass her father is. She’s going to find out when she’s older and it’s going to break her heart.” She flips the page of her magazine.
“So, your advice is for me to break her heart now?”
She peeks over the edge of her magazine and blows out a breath. “I suppose you’re right, I just hate all the pain he’s caused you. It’s going to be all I can do not to kick him in the nuts.”
“Mom!”
She closes the magazine and throws it on the table I just organized. “I hope Reed kicks his ass.”
“No one’s kicking anyone’s ass.”
The doorbell rings and my mom slides to the edge of the recliner, ready to answer it.
“I got it.” I wave her off.
She rolls her eyes, grabs the magazine again and buries her head behind it. Great, this should be wonderful.
I open the door to find Pete in his relaxed look. Gray jeans, white t-shirt with a black coat slung over the top and open. For a second, I remember how excited I used to be when he’d show up at my parents’ house to pick me up. How I thought he was the best guy ever and I’d love him forever.
“Pete,” I say, trying to keep the disdain from my tone.
“Vic.” He steps over the threshold before I actually invite him in. Typical. “Where’s Jade?” He looks around and spots my mom in the recliner. “Diane, nice to see you.”
She peels back the corner of her magazine. “Jackass,” she regards him, and he glances at me, annoyed.
I shrug.
“It’s been two years, Diane.”
“Not long enough,” she singsongs, hiding once again behind the magazine.
I move to put on my coat. “I figured we’d walk down there to pick her up together. I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“If you changed your mind about this weekend, I don’t want to hear it. I haven’t seen her in months. My family is expecting her—”
I cut him off with my hand. “That’s not it.”
“Cool your jets, Rico Suave,” my mom chimes in from behind her magazine.
Pete sets those brown eyes my way, asking what the fuck?
“Okay, Mom, you’ve made your point,” I say.
She shuts the magazine a second time. “I’m not sure I have. If Pete has a few hours, I’m sure we can rehash all the reasons why I think he’s a piece of shit.”
“Mom,” I sigh.
“I’m not sure what you want from me, Diane.” Pete has his hands splayed out at his sides.
“I could send you an email detailing all your faults and suggestions on how to fix them.”
“Great, can I do the same?” he snips.
I swivel Pete’s shoulders so he’s facing the door and ease him toward it. “We’re going to get Jade.”
“Uh-huh. Be careful, Chicago drivers aren’t so great. If Pete stumbles off the sidewalk, don’t go being a hero, Victoria.”
My shoulders fall, and I stare at my mom from behind Pete’s back with a look that suggests she lose the attitude.
“Always a pleasure, Diane.” Pete nods and opens the door.
“How very polite of you. Winnetka can teach you how to talk to people but seems to have failed on teaching you how to treat people.”
I shut the door and turn to find Pete already lighting a cigarette.
“Nope, not around Jade.”
He inhales. “After dealing with your mother, I deserve one.”
“Just don’t when you’re around her, okay?”
He exhales, and a puff of white smoke follows. “Sure. Whatever.” He shrugs.
He’s probably lying, but it’s not like he has her all the time.
“How far to school?” he asks.
“Just down the road. A couple blocks.”
We step inline, him taking the street side of the sidewalk.
“So, what do you have to talk to me about? Not enough money to cover expenses?” He takes another drag of his cigarette and gestures to the neighborhood as if asking how that would even be possible.
“Don’t be like that.”
He swings his arm around my shoulder and squeezes me closer to him. “Oh, Vic, that’s our relationship. We go back and forth. Married or divorced, that won’t change.”
I roll my eyes and push him off of me.
“Besides, I’m kidding. You know I don’t mind paying for Jade.”
I half smile, not sure where this man emerged from.
“I wanted to let you know that… I met an old friend of ours recently.” I hear the hesitation in my voice and I’m sure he must pick up on it because he stops walking and turns to look at me.
“Who?” He takes another drag of his cigarette and exhales smoke in my direction. My stomach rolls from the smell.
“Reed Warner,” I say his name like I’m not even sure if that’s his name, which of course I am. I may have actually written Mrs. Warner on a scrap paper like a teenage girl this week, ripped it up and threw it away.
Looking nonplussed Pete starts walking again. “Reed? I think he’s more an old friend of mine than yours, right?” The way he asks the question is almost accusatory.
“Yeah, but he stood up in our wedding.”
He purses his lips staring up at the sky like he didn’t remember. “Oh yeah.”
“He was your best man,” I remind him.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
He so didn’t remember. This is Pete, somewhere after ‘I do’ and ‘It’s a girl,’ I lost him. I lost him to success.
“Well, it turns out he’s a Big Brother to a boy that Jade is friends with.”
“Wait.” He holds his hand up. “The boy trying to be a man thing?”