Page 3 of A Little Too Forward

And that’s the last thing I want. Today is supposed to be about her and dad.

Playing with one of the piercings on my ear, I eye the house. I do want to be here to support and celebrate with my family…but it’s also the last place I want to be too. The street is already lined with cars and people making their way into the house.

And that means mingling. Making small talk for hours on end.

I don’t have the patience or the mental strength to endure that today. I’m still reeling from quitting my job with no backup plan.

Mom being mom made sure that the street parking in front of the house was reserved for me and my siblings. There is literally a handmade “Reserved. Parking for Sabrina Sutton Only” sign sticking out of the lawn.

The lunacy of it finally brings a genuine grin to my face.

I probably have five minutes more of hanging out in my car before one of my parents or siblings spots me and drags me inside. Suzanne especially will not suffer in silence. She may be the oldest sibling, but she is the most dramatic.

My eyes drift from my childhood house to the house next door. A hot, tingly sensation begins to dance in my chest as I stare at the pretty house. How can one place hold so many good memories but also be the origin of evil?

“You’ve been sitting here for over seven minutes and staring at the Daws house like a damn creeper. Get out here, Bean.”

My sister’s voice jolts me out of my memories. My fingers dig into the material of my shirt, clutching my racing heart.

“Jesus, Suzie. You almost scared me to death.” I blow out a long breath.

“Good. You look like you need some colour on your cheeks. Why do you look like the walking dead?”

“Charming,” I bite back. Annoyed at being caught and having my looks insulted, I rush to get out of the car, fumbling at every stage. When I’m finally standing tall and fixing my outfit, I tilt my head up and notice Suzanne eyeing me.

“Stop looking at me.”

“Where the hell else am I supposed to look?”

“Anywhere else.”

“But you’re right in front of me. I can’t.”

Our childish banter breaks me out of my earlier funk. If anyone could make me forget that my life has now gone to shit—even for a little while—it’s Suzie.

“There you go. Now you have some colour on your face. You may be able to fool Mom for an additional half hour. Maybe even a full hour if you work the room right and keep your distance.”

“As if Mom would allow that,” I huff, linking my arm through hers, and we slowly make our way across the lawn.

“Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you? I could sneak a bottle of wine down to the basement, and we can hide together.”

“Who are you hiding from? Isn’t your husband here to run interference?”

“No, he’s stuck for another hour at a work thing. And I was cornered by Cousin Aaron. He keeps trying to show me his vacation photos. The first one he shoved in my face was him in a Speedo. No, thank you.” She gives my arm a squeeze, making sure my attention is on her. “Stop trying to distract me with our annoying family. Do you want to talk about”—she waves her free arm in the air—“whatever?”

Stopping, I turn into Suzie. Wrapping both arms around her, I give her a tight, long hug.

“Thanks for asking, but no. I don’t want to talk about it. I need time to process. To stew in the mess I’ve made and go through all the stages of anger or whatever,thenhave a mid-life crisis about how I’ve ruined everything. Maybe after all that, we can talk. And drink.” I give a huff of laughter.

“I know as your older sister I’m supposed to tell you that everything is going to be okay and all that other crap. But honestly, if you need to feel your feelings, do that. Life can sometimes be a real bitch. I’ll be around when you need me.”

“Thanks, Suz. Right now, I need to get my butt in this house before Mom and Dad send out a search party.”

“Wouldn’t that be a highlight of their retirement party? Add some flavour?”

“No. They would never let me live it down, and we’d hear the story at every family gathering until the end of time.”

“Oh. Fair. Yeah, let’s get you inside.”

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