Page 110 of If the Stars Align
I do a quick check to make sure my deodorant’s working, then step out of my car and walk slowly up the front steps to ring the doorbell.
After several seconds, the door swings open, but before I can say a word, Mia hands me a very happy baby wearing footie pajamas.
“Hold this!” she says, and darts back into her parents’ house yelling after Avery, who’s giggling so loudly I can hear her from the porch.
“Well, you must be James,” I say to the six-month-old smiling at me. “Nice to meet you. I’m Sunny.”
James laughs as though I’d just told the funniest joke in the world, and my heart swells to at least twice its size. Then Mia comes back outside with two-year-old Avery on her hip. She’s covered head-to-toe in what I imagine is fingerpaint.
“I’m so sorry, Sunny!” she says, nodding toward her daughter. “If I turn my back for one second, this one starts doing something sheknowsshe shouldn’t. But I can give her a bath later. Come on in! I see you’ve made friends with James!”
“He’s been smiling at me nonstop,” I say. “I even made him laugh.”
“He’ssucha flirt,” Mia jokes, giving him a kiss on his big bald head. James squeals with delight and starts kicking his feet.
I follow her into her parents’ home, which looks as cozy and inviting as I remember it. Not much has changed in the decade since I’ve been here—with the exception of Avery and James’s toys strewn about the living room. When we get to the kitchen, she puts Avery down on the floor to play with blocks, then moves her son from my arms into a bouncer.
“They’re both precious, Mia,” I tell her. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks! It’s sheer chaos most of the time…especially since I got promoted. I work longer hours, and I’m not getting nearly enough sleep. And this little guy’s been teething and keeping us up all night!” she says, pointing to a beaming, bouncing James. “That’s why Evan’s napping upstairs. But as crazy as our life is, I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” she says with a grin.
Then she moves a tray to the center of the table. “My mom made us strawberry lemonade. She remembers how much you used to love it. She and my dad just left for the grocery store, but they’ll be back in a bit.”
“That’s really thoughtful,” I say as Mia pours me a glass. “Thank you. And thanks for coming to Beachwood to see me. I know it’s not as short a trip now that you guys are back in Columbus.”
She shakes her head. “Are you kidding? It’s barely two hours! Well, maybe a little longer—I drivewayslower with the kids in the car.” She laughs. “Either way, it’s no problem at all. We were going to be here this weekend anyway, for?—”
She stops herself.
“For my wedding,” I say, nodding. “It’s okay, Mia. We can talk about it.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “How are you doing?” she asks.
I sigh. “Honestly…I’m fine. And I mean it, this time. I really dodged a bullet. I would have been miserable if I’d married Jeremy. I’m sure we would have ended up divorced anyway. And what if we had children? It would have been a mess. I think he spared me a lot of pain by showing me what an asshole he isnowrather than later.”
Mia’s hazel eyes are teary. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Sunny. But I’m proud of you for leaving. That must have been hard. Has he tried contacting you?”
I roll my eyes. “He called and texted me for weeks afterward,even though I never answered. And his messages were as hot and cold as he was. First he would tell me how much he cherishes me and how incredible I am; then an hour later he’d say that I’ll never find another man to love me. I eventually blocked his number.”
“That’s awful. Where did you stay after you broke up with him?”
“I found an apartment to sublet for a few months. I could have come back here, but I decided to work at the firm until summer so I could make more money to put toward school.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to be a writer,” she says with a smile. “I don’t usually read romance novels, but you better believe I’m going to read yours.” When Mia pauses, her grin starts to fade. “Until you told me you were switching careers, I had no idea you considered getting an MFA instead of going to law school.”
I look down at the table before I meet her gaze. “That’s actually part of why I’m here. I mean, I wanted to see you and finally meet your beautiful kids, of course. But…I also came to apologize.
“I wasn’t always the greatest friend. I kept so much of myself hidden, because I was afraid to show you who I really was. Not only you—most people. I had this notion in my head that I had to be this perfect lawyer, with a perfect house, and a perfect family. But if I’ve learned anything in the past ten years, it’s that nothing’s perfect.No one’sperfect. And I don’t want to spend my life trying to please others. The best I can do is stay true to myself and the people I love.” I look at her through tears. “I love you, Mia. And I’m sorry.”
Tears roll down her cheeks. “I love you too, Sunny. And I’m so glad you don’t feel like you have to hide anymore. The real you seems pretty wonderful.”
We lean forward in our chairs and hug, both of us crying. When we pull apart, Avery and James are staring up at us with curious looks on their faces.
“I hope they’re not worried about us,” I say with a frown.
Mia shakes her head as she wipes her eyes. “They’re fine. I try not to hide my emotions from them too much. I want them to know we’re all human—even grownups—and it’s okay to have feelings.”
I nod, still sniffling. “Well, they may not know it now, but they aresolucky to have you as their mom. And if they ever forget when they’re older…Aunt Sunny will remind them.”
