Page 22 of Here in My Heart (Here Together #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Steph balanced on a rickety chair, stringing up the last of the fairy lights against the dormer window. “How about that?” She turned on the garland of bud-shaped bulbs, and it cast an incandescent glow in the hollowed-out frame.

Ade squinted at the lights blurring into one another. She loved the ambience they’d created in her tiny home. “I think it works.”

The intercom buzzed from the street level, and Ade jumped. She hadn’t yet shaken the fear that came from her uninvited houseguest. But this time, she knew exactly who was waiting at the foot of her stairwell.

“Come on up,” Steph hollered down, hanging over the iron railing and stretching to catch a first glimpse of their fathers.

Their heavy footsteps made slow progress up the five stories and by the time they reached the top, they were panting.

“Come here, you two.” Their pops set down his bags and grabbed Ade and Steph in his arms, lifting them slightly off the ground. “Have you grown? You seem taller.”

It was an old joke, but Steph giggled like a small child, and Ade wriggled out of his reach to bask in his love from a distance. She hugged her dad and kissed him gently on the cheek.

“Hey, you. Missed your little face.” He grinned and tapped her on the cheeks. “Now, let me in so I can catch my breath. I need a cardio exam after that stairwell.”

“I warned you, Dad. These buildings don’t have elevators,” said Ade, leading them into her living space.

“I know, honey. But jeez, I had no idea they’d be so tall and skinny. It’s like living on the top of Rapunzel’s tower in here.” Their dad moved toward the dormer to admire the starry sky and the backlit rooftops. “Pretty though, hey?”

“It sure is.” Their pops put his strong arm around the shoulder of their dad.

Ade melted a little inside, reminded of the strength of their bond.

“I’m surprised a burglar made it all the way up to this floor.” Their dad scrutinized the lock on the front door.

“I would’ve kicked him all the way back down if I’d been here.” Pops’ face hardened. “No troubles since though?”

“Nope,” Ade said.

“Good thing too, otherwise I’d be bundling you into my suitcase and taking you all the way back to California with me.” He poked her playfully in the ribs.

“Now, girls. We got the supplies you asked for, but it sure was tricky to find everything.” Her dad placed a heavy bag on her small kitchenette table.

Ade twiddled the ring on her finger.

“Don’t fret, honey. Your dad is being dramatic. We got your canned pumpkin.” Her pops punched his husband lightly in the arm. “Don’t wind her up, Nate. You know, we talked about this.” A look passed between them.

Steph bounced on the spot. “So you can see we’re working in a really tight kitchen here. But I’ve cooked the ham already, and I’ve made something with the green beans on the stove top.” She gestured with a flourish that suggested a meal far grander than the one they’d actually managed to prepare.

“Ham? No turkey?” Her dad’s lips downturned.

“No can do. It’s just not in season here yet.” Steph put her hands to her cheeks. “We didn’t think you’d be able to fly with a turkey in your carry-on.”

Laughter rippled between them.

“It’s so good to see you both, truly. We’ve been rattling around like two old folks without you, haven’t we, Nate? ”

“Absolutely,” their dad said. “Mrs. Steiner was asking about you both just last week.”

“She was?” Steph sprinkled salt into a pot. “I miss our chats.”

“Her daughter just moved to San Francisco for work. I think she’s feeling pretty lonely too.”

Ade closed her eyes and pictured Mrs. Steiner’s house, just down from theirs. She imagined she was there right now, strolling along the coast and watching a paddle boarder out in the bay.

“What else has been going on?” Steph asked.

“Your dad has been playing more golf than is really necessary.” Their pops laughed.

“Not entirely true, Samuel. And I didn’t hear you complaining when you had time to finish that model railway of yours in the attic.

” They bumped shoulders. “Pops has finally completed the money pit of a hobby he started when you girls were three years old. If you’re still interested in seeing steam trains rush through fictional villages, then you have a real treat waiting for you at home. ”

“I can’t wait.” Steph giggled. “Should we have a grand opening?”

“Oh sure, with a big fancy ribbon?” Pops asked.

“That would all be very well, Stephanie, if we had any idea when you were coming home from your little adventure over here.” Dad pursed his lips.

“Don’t start with that. I told you, I’ll come home when I’ve finished my itinerary. I still have a few more places to check off.”

“Care to share this itinerary?” Dad scratched his head. “From where I’m sitting it looks like you’re making it up as you’re going along.”

“And what’s wrong with that? I’m young, and I’m enjoying myself before I have to settle down to forty years of work.” Steph said, rubbing flour from her forehead. “You want to help me with this, or just enjoy eating it?”

“Come, sit with me.” Taking Ade’s arm, Pops led the way to the sofa. “Tell me about what you’ve been up to here.”

She embraced his bulky frame and let go of all the tension holding her upright. “It’s been a fast few weeks. I can’t quite believe you’re here already.”

“It’s crept along so slowly for us. The house is empty without you two filling it with your antics.” He bopped her on the nose. “Have you made any friends?”

“She’s made a special friend, haven’t you Ady-baby?” Steph asked from her makeshift chef’s station.

“Oh, yeah? Anyone we should hear about or something casual?” Dad asked.

“Ignore her. She’s making a big deal is all.” Ade stiffened in protest.

“Oh, sure. You’ve done nothing but talk about Sylvie since I arrived, and I’m the one making something of nothing.”

“Sylvie, huh?” Pops nudged her gently in the ribs, his eyes creasing.

“She’s a friend. A colleague, really. But she’s become a friend.

” Ade wanted to say that she’d become the best friend she’d ever had.

She yearned to describe the easiness they shared together, the fact that she didn’t feel all zipped up and tense when she was around.

She almost compared the feeling she had with Sylvie to the safety net that her parents provided: that she couldn’t fall, however much she stumbled on life’s ups and downs.

But that would have all been too much to tell them in the little room they were all cooped up in. Her body ached, and she flapped her hands to expel the awkwardness trapped inside.

“I’d like to meet your friend. Is she coming out to dinner while we’re here?” Pops asked.

“Actually, she is. I already invited her.”

“Wonderful. And anyone else we should meet?” asked Dad.

She shrugged. There wasn’t anyone else special enough to introduce to her parents. “No one, really.”

“How’s the actual job going?” Dad took a seat opposite her.

Ade breathed deep into her lungs, steadying herself. “It was a little tricky to begin with, but I’ve been given free rein at the center, so it’s all good.”

“What center?”

“At the marine center. You know, lab time: shifts to take care of the animals.”

“Nate, we talked about this.” Pops’ warning tone made Ade sit up straight.

“I know we talked, but I’m interested in the progress our daughter is making. We didn’t send her all the way across the world to sit with more animals and not make something of this opportunity.”

“Dad, do we really have to get into all this right now?” Steph poked her head above a steaming tray. “It’s Thanksgiving. We could be thankful for what we have this year.”

“I’m plenty thankful, Stephanie. I just want to make sure your sister is grateful for the chances she’s getting. Most people would give their right arm to get a job at a university in Europe.”

“I am thankful, Dad,” Ade whispered, not certain how he needed her to demonstrate her gratitude.

“Sounds like you’ve slipped into the same routines as back home: plenty of solo lab time and no time to carve out a career.”

“Actually, I’ve caught the eye of the center director, and he’s been pretty impressed with me.”

“That’s great, honey,” Pops said, squeezing her arm. “Tell us more.” He glared at their dad.

“He said I was a natural, and there might be a job opening later in the year.”

Their dad sat taller, raising his eyebrow. “Anything specific?”

Ade froze, familiar with his pattern of questioning: she’d fail to come up with the answer he wanted, and he’d get frustrated. Then Pops would get in the middle of them, and everyone would end up upset.

“Ade? Has the guy said what this opportunity might be?”

Steph stepped forward. “Dad?—”

“Stephanie, I’m catching up with your sister. You don’t need to get involved.”

Steph pulled a face, and Ade stifled her laughter. “He said something about maternity cover. I don’t know. I need to talk to him more about it.”

“You need a plan, Adelaide. You can’t keep floating around like this and expecting to get paid for staring at marine life. You want to work in a pet store, be my guest, but don’t expect me to keep bank-rolling your PhD.”

“Nate, that’s enough.” Pops stood in between them. “Your father’s still jet lagged, honey.”

“No, Sam. The girls need some home truths. We’ve already spent several thousand dollars on this gap year. Stephanie should be making her way home to start her nursing internship, and Adelaide should be a whole lot clearer than she is about what she’s going to do when this year’s out.”

“Oh, now I’m involved?” Steph put her hands on her hips. “I’ll make my way back home soon enough. That internship is open for me when I’m ready to take it.”

Ade blew a big breath, thankful for Steph taking the heat of the interrogation.

“Let’s change the subject,” Pops said, running his hand over the table decorations they’d laid out earlier that day. “Did you make these, girls?”

“We did.” Ade smiled, recalling the calming motion of folding the paper into shapes. “I’m glad you’re here, Pops.”

“Me too, baby.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, just like he’d done every day since she could remember.

Both her parents worried about her in different ways.

Her dad fretted for her future and what she’d make of it.

Her pops wanted her to be comfortable in her own skin, getting through the day with the least amount of friction with the world.

He bumped along at her side through every awkward interaction. It had been that way forever .

With her fathers in the room, it was like Ade had the bumpers on at the bowling alley. Safe to err from the path, knowing they’d guide her back on track today, tomorrow and for the days to come.

She just hoped that one day she could be her own guide rails.

That she could make her own way. Because right now, that wasn’t certain.

If this year abroad had already shown her one thing, it was that being alone wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

But sitting in the closeness of her fathers and sister, she couldn’t imagine a future where she didn’t depend on them.