Page 2 of Say Something
“You look great, Darce,” I told Danny’s younger sister. She was always very quiet around us, and probably would have preferred to have been anywhere but there, but she was family so she was right where she belonged, whether she realized it or not.
“Thanks,” she mumbled. At least I thought that’s what she said.
“Are you nervous?” Melissa asked.
“Are you excited?” Karla elbowed Melissa.
I laughed. I’d missed those two while I was away at school. “I’m not nervous at all,” I answered, turning to them after Mrs. T had finished adjusting my veil. “It feels so right.”
“Aww,” they said together.
“You guys are the perfect couple,” Melissa added.
“You make my son so happy, Jessica,” Mrs. T told me.
“He makes me so happy.”
Mrs. T went into her purse and pulled out a small jewelry box. “If you haven’t already picked out earrings for today, I’d love it if you’d wear these. They were my mother’s. She wore them on her wedding day, I wore them on mine, and I’d love it if you’d wear them on yours.”
I opened the box and nestled in a little cloud of cotton were a simple pair of diamond stud earrings. They were more beautiful than anything I had in my jewelry box. “I’d love to wear them.”
“I had them cleaned,” she said, removing them from the box and handing them to me.
I put the studs in my ears and looked at my reflection. Mrs. T appeared behind me and placed her hand on my shoulder. “They’re gorgeous,” I said.
“You’re gorgeous. I already considered you a part of our family, but after today it will be official.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I placed my hand over hers. This moment was so special to me. I smiled at our reflection and took a deep breath. In just a short while, I’d officially be a Thompson.
My life couldn’t possibly get any better.
***
“Did mom tell you?” my sister, Melissa, asked later that night.
It turned out I had nothing to worry about. The entire Price brood had welcomed me back into their lives and their hearts with open arms. My younger brother Michael had been a little standoffish, but overall, I’d call my first family dinner in several years a success. The kids asked me all sorts of questions about living in the city. I even fielded a few questions from my nephews about whether I’d ever met any superheroes. Sadly the answer to that question was no, even though I could have used a little Captain America in my life. Or the actor who played him. Or Thor. Really, I wasn’t picky. Any of the Avengers would have done just fine.
“Tell me what?” I asked, handing her a dripping wet dish to dry. I picked up another dirty plate to scrub.
“Danny’s back.”
I dropped the dish I was holding. It bounced off the edge of the counter, narrowly missing the sink, and crashed to the floor, shattering to pieces at our bare feet. The room went deathly silent, save for the ringing in my ears and the echo of the broken plate.
Danny’s back.
“Don’t move,” my father said from the doorway, setting down the casserole dish he was carrying in from the dining room. He moved to grab the broom and dustpan from the mudroom off the kitchen and returned to the kitchen to start sweeping.
“Everything okay?” my mother asked, walking into the kitchen. “I heard something break.” Bryan and Karla had left with the kids about thirty minutes before, and Dad and Michael were clearing the table while Melissa and I washed the dishes. Mom had been relaxing in the living room, sticking to the motto thatthe cook never cleans.
“Just a plate, dear,” my father answered, still sweeping up the mess.
I hadn’t moved, still frozen in place over the sink, staring blankly out the window into the backyard. Melissa looked at me with a concerned expression. “You okay?” she whispered.
I snapped out of my fog, nodding. I even offered her a poor attempt at a smile, but she could read right through it. It’s one of the reasons I had stayed away over the years. I was so transparent. My family could always see right through me. There would have been no hiding my torment. My sorrow. And I didn’t want the pity...I couldn’t handle the pity.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sprung it on you like that.”
“It’s okay,” I said, placing my hand on her arm and stopping her from saying anything else. “Just caught me by surprise.”
