Page 150 of Surprisingly Us

Colette

Our lake house is far smaller than the Cartwrights’ and Spencers’. Nestled along the western side of Lake George, it’s a charming white house with navy blue shutters. Or at least, it was. I mean it still is, but as I stand out in front of it, I’m wondering if the new owners will paint the shutters or if they’ll have young kids that will use the tire swing still hanging from the large maple tree on the side of the house.

Finally, I give up and let myself into the house.

My mom, being an interior designer, has impeccable taste. The décor is rustic, yet modern, white shiplap walls and ceilings, with a large wooden beam separating the sitting room and kitchen. Cream-colored couch with navy blue anchor pillows. Even the throw I love to wrap up in and sit on the porch when the night turns cool is draped over the back of the couch. Everything inside looks the same, yet the feeling I have walking into the house is completely different. I can’t get the magic back. The happy memories made here are just that. Memories.

A moment later I hear footfalls on the stairs. I turn to find my mom dressed in navy chinos and a white short-sleeved blouse.

“Oh, there’s my girl.” My mom wraps her arms around me and kisses my temple.

“Hi, Mom.” I return her embrace, forcing myself to swallow past the lump in my throat.

“I didn’t realize you’d arrived. I was upstairs packing.”

“I just walked in.”

She pulls back to study me, a soft smile on her face.

“I’m so glad you came.”

“Me, too.” I’d thought about not coming, letting my parents pack everything up and pretend the loss of this place didn’t matter, but the idea of never setting foot in this house again only made me feel worse.

She takes in my leather weekend bag by the door. “Is it just you?”

“Yeah.” I understood why Rhys said no. Coming here would be hard for him. And with the added stress of my parents’ situation, it’s not exactly a fun weekend getaway.

“Your father will be here tomorrow. I thought we could do a little packing, then relax on the porch and watch the sunset with a glass of wine.”

“Sure.” I walk toward the large living room windows overlooking the lake, and she follows.

“Hey,” she squeezes my hand, “I know change is hard. You’ve never been a fan. But it’s progress toward something amazing.”

Deep down, I know she’s right. And I do want my parents to be happy, but I also want them together. I wish those two things weren’t mutually exclusive.

I give her a tight smile, it’s the only one I can muster, then follow her upstairs.

In my room, I take in the comfort of the wallpaper with light blue grass design, and the white curtains with blue dots. The heart and unicorn stickers my mom was upset I stuck onto my gold-trimmed vanity’s mirror, but my dad insisted gave it character. On a hanging shelf are framed photos from danceacademy over the years, as well as one of me, Hannah, Hunter, and Rhys together on the Spencers’ boat.

Sitting on top of the blue and white comforter is Whiskers, the stuffed cat Rhys gave me after his failed attempt at rehoming the Jenkins’ cat. I pick up the fuzzy gray cat and hug it to my chest.

My room looks exactly how it always has, with the addition of a pile of deconstructed moving boxes leaning against the wall.

I’m not ready for any of this. I don’t even know where to start, but it’s not in this room, so I set Whiskers back into place, then leave my room, shutting the door behind me, so I can keep everything how it is for a little bit longer.

After a few hours of packing up the kitchen, my mom and I enjoy a quiet dinner on the small screened-in porch, then go down to the dock with our glasses of wine to soak our feet in the lake while we watch the sunset.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you like I should.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I’ve been so caught up with everything happening between me and your father, that I haven’t been very involved with what is going on in your life. You and Rhys are engaged, yet we haven’t talked much about your relationship.”

When I meet her eyes, I see the guilt there. She takes a sip of her wine and I clear my throat.

“Don’t feel bad, everything between us has happened pretty fast.”

Suddenly, I want to tell her everything about me and Rhys. I want her guidance and advice.

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