A Baumgartner reunion

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he apologized and I found myself looking down at his shoes-those black tennis shoes with the orange stripes and laces. Unmistakable.

The words were out of my mouth before I’d even thought about it. “Did you tell them you knew Liz had a tattoo of some Chinese character on her left butt cheek?”

He stared at me for a moment, the slight widening of his eyes the only indication he gave of registering what I’d said.

“What about the angel wings on her shoulder?” I prompted him, raising my eyebrows, waiting. “Did you tell them about those?”

“Liz knows about Janie,” Brian said with a shrug, leaning against the door frame. “She doesn’t care.”

“But Janie obviously doesn’t know about Liz,” I snapped.

He shrugged again. “So?”

“Well, it looks like Liz has turned her interest elsewhere anyway.” I gave him a smug smile.

“That little moron?” Brian snorted. “She’s just stringing him along.

Probably trying to make me jealous. Whatever.”

“What if I tell Janie?” I asked, glaring at him. “What then?”

“So what if you do?” Brian rolled his eyes. “You think she’ll break up with me over that? Please. She’ll forgive me in a heartbeat, and I’ll be banging her again inside two weeks, bet me on it. Girls like her…it’s too easy.” Girls like her… what did that mean?

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever, lady.”

“Do you really care so little about her?”

He shrugged. “She’s all right, I guess. Gives good head.” I wanted to hit him. I might have, if Henry hadn’t hauled him into the hallway and punched him in the face. It all happened so fast I barely had time to catch my breath. Henry was yelling and swinging, Brian was yelling and swinging back, although more half-heartedly, since he hadn’t expected the attack. Doc came roaring up the stairs to break it up, pushing each of them against an opposite wall with the heel of each hand.

“What the hell is going on here?”

“Ask Brian.” Henry spat, wiping blood from his lower lip and glowering. “Or Ronnie can tell you. Tell them, Ronnie.”

“I…don’t…” I stood there with my mouth open, paralyzed, my heart sinking when I saw Janie standing at the top of the stairs with Liz beside her, Gretchen and Carrie crowding in behind them.

“Well, whatever it is…” Doc frowned, looking between the two still struggling boys and then back to me. “I think we should call it a night.”

Janie howled, turning to her mother and sobbing. “This is all her fault! Why did you ask her to come back? I hate her!”

I winced at her words, shrinking back against the bathroom door. She glared at me, her eyes flashing, as she hissed, “I hate you! I hate you!” before running to her room.

Brian shook Doc off, heading toward the stairs, mumbling a quick good night, and before I could register what had happened, both he and Liz were gone, Henry had locked himself in his room, and Doc, Carrie and Gretchen had settled back downstairs on the couch. The TV was on, and Carrie had invited me to join them, but I gave her a shaky “No thanks” reply. The couch bed was technically my bedroom, but I didn’t want to hang out there, so I went to Gretchen’s room-my old bedroom-stretched out on the bed, and cried myself to sleep.

Chapter Eight

The water was so warm and buoyant I could have floated forever, the sun bright behind my eyes as the waves gently rocked me. I was, strangely, more relaxed than I’d been since I arrived. Just being out in the water reminded me of what I’d termed the “raft therapy session” I’d had with Doc the night before, and the memory made me feel warm from the inside out. Something had broken open in me then, and I had no more qualms about being here. TJ was due to fly in soon-just a few more days-but I wasn’t worried anymore. Things would work out.

I’d decided that was going to be my mantra for the rest of this little vacation. Things would work out. Whatever was going on with Janie…well, it would work itself out. If Brian was cheating on Janie, well…it would work itself out. If Henry was interested in the girl Brian had been cheating with, well…that would work itself out, too. Somehow.

I opened my eyes and started swimming toward shore, my sudden hunger outweighing my craving for sun. I grabbed my towel off the sand and went into the house, shivering at the sudden cold-the air conditioning was running full blast against the incredible heat of the day. I grabbed a banana off the counter and ate it on my way up the stairs, heading for the shower.