Page 49 of Overachiever
Like my Dad did to us. Like both my parents did to my sister when she came home to tell us she was pregnant at seventeen.
“Let’s talk about happier things,” Mom says, changing the subject. “What classes did you take this summer?”
“I couldn’t get a summer class. I spent the summer volunteering with a charity, building houses.” No way I’m telling her I walked away from it. And because of a man.
“That sounds like it’d be good for your resume. Did you learn a lot?”
“I learned I suck at construction.”
She points her fork at me. “You never were the builder type. Remember when you tried to make a birdhouse? It fell apart when the first bird landed on it.”
“Maybe it was a fat bird.”
We laugh, and the atmosphere lightens a bit. As exhausting and set in her ways as she can be, I love my mom, and it’s good to spend time with her again. After we eat, we move out to sit on the porch, and spend a couple of hours catching up. It isn’t until I’m getting ready to leave, that she drops a bomb on me.
“Rachel is back in town.”
“What? Where? Did you talk to her? Is she okay?” It’s been almost five years since I’ve heard from my twin sister. We were never really close. She was my opposite. The partier who shirked responsibilities, cut school, and ran with the wrong people.
“She’s working at Gerald’s Buffet. I ran into her when I was picking up a takeout. She would only talk to me for a few minutes.” I can’t blame her. When Mom found out she was pregnant, she kicked her out, told her to go live with the boyfriend’s family. Dad was only in our lives financially by then, but once he found out, he cancelled her college fund and washed his hands of her too.
These were the life lessons I focused on. When Mom lost her job, Dad got pissed and left. When my sister got pregnant, everyone disowned her. One mistake can cost you everyone and everything.
“Is she okay? What about the baby?” Of course, he wouldn’t be a baby anymore.
Mom shrugs her shoulders. “As okay as you can be working a low income job as a single parent, I suppose. I really messed up with her.”
I can’t listen to this again. It isn’t something she’ll ever change her mind on, but I’m not that judgmental. I want to see my sister. “Do you have her number or her address?”
“No.”
“Mom, don’t you want her back? Don’t you want to know your grandchild?”
Her face hardens. “She made her choices.”
It’s her worst quality, her inability to admit she’s wrong even when it leaves her alone. Her unwillingness to forgive. Before I can speak again, she gets to her feet. “I have to get ready for work. Be good, Remee.”
Be good, Remee. Words I’ve heard my entire life, but I realize now we have different ideas of good.
Chapter Seventeen
Owen
It’s my last day at the job, and I haven’t been worth a shit all day. All I can think about is getting back to Remee. I’ve only gotten one text from her since she left, asking for some space and time so we can “successfully transition back to friend territory.”
I’ve given her time, but not because I intend for that to happen. These weeks away from her have shown me what we had was real, and if she hasn’t realized the same thing, I’m damn well going to try to make her see it.
Colin and I sit on the edge of the roof, watching the activity below. They’re breaking ground across the street for an additional house, and the heavy equipment has been brought in.
“Are you ready to go home?” Colin asks. He’s here as a volunteer for the grant too, but he lives nearby.
“And leave all this?” I reply, waving my hand toward the ground where Trevor is bitching loudly about something.
“I’m having a party this weekend if you want to stay a few extra days.”
I’m sure the offer would be tempting to most. Who wants to leave the sun and ocean to return to southern Indiana, the land of corn? There’s not a trace of me that considers it. “Thanks, but I need to get back.”
Meyer walks around the corner and looks up at us. “Get your lazy asses down here!”