I try not to let her words sting. “Okay. When are you moving?”
“I’ve got a real estate agent who’s going to help me sell this trailer. His name is Scott Wills.” She pauses, giving a significant smile. Tori and I glance at one another. “I won’t get much for it, of course, but it is paid off, so it will be a little…enough for a small down payment for the condo I’m looking at.”
“Is it in Wabash?” Matthew asks.
“Nope. Panama City.”
Tori and I lift our eyebrows at one another.
“Is it on the beach?” he asks.
“I’m not the hospital administrator,” my mom says with a smile. “It’s off Highway 98.”
“That sounds wonderful, Melody,” Tori says.
“It does, Mom,” I say. “Let me know when this will all go down. Matthew and I will get you moved.”
“Thanks, hon. I’ll keep you posted.”
As we finish cleaning up the dishes, my mom says, “I think I’m gonna go to bed early if y’all don’t mind.”
Tori and I both give our hugs and goodbyes and then head out.
Once we’re on the highway, Tori says, “Your mom seems to be doing well, considering.”
“She’s being strong for me and Matthew. She knows how guilty we both feel.”
“Possibly. But even so, she’s doing okay. Did you see the look in her eye when she said the name of that real estate agent?”
I roll my eyes. “I saw it.”
“He might be a decent guy.”
“If history repeats…”
“She’s different now. She’s better. It’s pretty clear. I’ve had a bird’s-eye view all these Sundays we’ve been over here since the funeral. I’ve felt okay about leaving these past few weeks, especially if she’s got someone to occupy her time.”
“I can’t think about that. It’ll just give me something else to worry about.”
“Well, maybe you don’t need to worry so much.”
I eye her. “Do you know something about this guy?”
“He was a patient at the hospital. She checked his blood pressure and the rest is history.”
“How do you know that?”
“Do you think your mom and I only talk when you’re around?”
I shift in my seat, feeling left out, but also grateful that my mom has a woman to talk to.
“He’s got a clean record. No arrests,” she says.
“How in the hell did you find that out?”
“Will you give me some credit? I grew up reading the A to Z Mysteries.”
I think about the trail of losers who have come in and out of her life over the years. “I guess that’s as good of a start as she’s ever had. He’s not in AA, is he?”
“And it’d be a problem if he was?”
I take it all in.
“You know, it sounds stupid and cliché, but love heals a lot of wounds.” I can tell by the look she’s giving me that she’s not talking about my mom anymore. I turn the radio up and we ride in silence the rest of the way home.
33
Brett
Tori and I walk to Family Day at the Circle together. I know Robert has good intentions with this day, but it can’t be easy on Tori. Her dad is a piece of shit, and she hasn’t spoken to her mom in years. I texted her little brother to see if he was coming, but he just made up a flimsy excuse.
I try to understand things from his perspective, but it’s tough. He left home when he was fourteen and moved in with his girlfriend’s family, where he’s lived ever since. He’s not looked back, even to check on Tori. I don’t care if she’s seven years older. She needs checking on. I guess he thinks that’s what I’m here for.
“Looks like we’re fashionably late,” Tori says as we approach the swarm of people at the pavilion. I text my mom to see if she and Matthew are here yet, and she texts back.
Parking.
An unease bubbles in my stomach as I pocket my phone.
“You okay?” Tori asks.
“Of course I’m okay. Why would I not be?”
“Just keep an open mind, okay?”
My mom is bringing her boyfriend. I’m happy for her if she’s happy. I just want to make sure he’s not an asshole. But I don’t tell Tori that’s not what’s bugging me.
I scour the lawn, looking for Kylie. It’s been eight weeks since I’ve seen her. I know she’ll be here, and I just want to put my eyes on her so that I’m not taken off guard, but I can’t find her anywhere.
“She’s working the family photo booth,” Tori says.
I look down at her. “What are you talking about?”
“Kylie. Isn’t that who you’re looking for?”
I shuffle my feet. “No, I was not looking for her.”
Tori just gives me that stupid smile like she knows everything on the damn earth.
“How do you know that, anyway?” I ask.
“She helped plan this whole event with Janelle and Bailey.”
I think about Kylie telling me how she planned parties at her dad’s company. “Mmm,” I utter, keeping my mouth shut.
“There’s your mom,” she says.
My mom and Matthew walk our way with a man who looks about a decade older than my mom.
“Hey, honey,” my mom says, giving me a hug.
“Hey,” I say, pulling away from her and eyeballing the guy.
He holds his hand out to me. “Scott Wills.”
“Brett,” I say.
“It’s certainly nice to meet you,” he says with a smile that seems sincere, but we’ll see.
I look at Matthew. “What’s up?”
Matthew just shrugs, glancing around. I don’t know why my mom made him come. He hates being around people like this. I know she’s trying to be supportive of me, but I don’t like that it means punishing Matthew in the process.
We make small talk about what Scott Mills does and what I do and what this resort is about and blah blah blah. At least he doesn’t seem like an asshole.
“Matthew!” I turn around and find Robert beaming from ear to ear as he comes toward my brother. “How in the hell are you?” he asks as he grabs my
