Page 156 of Before We're More Than Friends
“I’m just tired,” Arielle wailed. “I feel like I’m her parent when I need her to be mine. But I don’t have any.” She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. “Everything I’ve worried about has happened.”
I stared at my lap. Maybe our thoughts had caused this to happen. Maybe hoping against hope had been for nothing—negativity always won.
“I wish there were something I could do,” Nonno said as he rubbed her arm. “But I’m staying here for as long as you need me to.” He nodded to his suitcases. “I have everything I need. Including your dad’s home gym.”
My insides clenched as I thought about how much Dad had loved working out in his home gym. When he’d been under house arrest, he used to spend hours in there. Until he’d lost motivation. Until he’d known he’d lose his legal battle.
Another wave of tears surged through me, and Arielle hugged me.
“Aw, girls,” Nonno said as he joined the hug. “I know you miss him.”
“I do miss him,” Arielle said, and I nearly coughed at her words. She’d finally said it. It’d taken nearly losing our mom forher to admit the painful truth. “I’m still mad at him, but I don’t care. I just want him home. I want Mom home.”
“I miss him, too,” I croaked. “I want our family back.”
“I know, girls,” Nonno said as tears filled his own eyes again. “Let it out.”
After hours of talking to Nonno, we decided to give Francesca a day off and make dinner together. Nonno taught us how to make one of his favorite pizza recipes and gnocchi. We had just started eating our delicious food when someone rang the doorbell.
“I’ll get that.” Nonno got up from his chair and left the kitchen. A few moments later, I heard a female voice coming from the foyer, but I couldn’t detect who it belonged to. Nonno came back into the kitchen. “One of Patsy’s friends is at the door. She brought flowers.”
Arielle and I exchanged a confused look.
“Did you tell any of her friends?” I asked her, though I doubted she had. How the heck would they have found out what had happened to Mom?
She shook her head. “I only called her work to tell them what happened. Maybe it got around.”
“Maybe.” Stuff at Naysmith Law Firm—and basically anything that involved the wealthy community of April Springs—spread like wildfire.
Arielle got out of her seat, and I followed her into the foyer. But then we stopped in our tracks like a deer in headlights.
Standing at the door, holding a bouquet of daisies and a pink card, was none other than Jennifer Naysmith. She was dressed in her work clothes, wearing a designer navy blue suit and skirt.
“Mrs. Naysmith?” Arielle spat out for me, her eyes widening. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d stop by,” Mrs. Naysmith said as she handed her the flowers and card. “Gracelynn told me about what happened this morning, and I bought these after I got out of the office.” She looked at us with a heaviness in her hazel-brown eyes. “I’m so sorry, girls.”
The anger that had built up in me finally tipped over. “Sonowyou want to be there for her?” I snapped. “Things have to go this far for you to care?”
“Raina,” Arielle hissed. “Not now.”
“No.” I kept my focus on Mrs. Naysmith, whose face had fallen. “Why didn’t you try to fix things with her sooner? When she freaking needed you the most?”
“I thought we needed space from each other,” Mrs. Naysmith said, and I could tell that she was trying to keep her voice level. “She was mad at me, too.”
“You both asked about each other but never got the guts to make up,” I said, my voice still high. “You didn’t say a word to her unless it was for work. You didn’t invite her to any of the country club events. You didnothing.” I huffed. “She needed you, Jennifer.”
“It’s Mrs. Naysmith,” she barked, her brows furrowed and nose scrunching. “I wouldn’t have come if I knew I was going to be disrespected like this.” She straightened her posture, still frowning. Ah, yes, the woman I’d known my entire life was back. “I wish your family well. Please let me know when Patsy gets out of the hospital, Arielle.”
“I’m so sorry,” Arielle said as she put the flowers and card on the entryway table. “Thank you for coming. I know our mom would appreciate it.” She shot a glare at me, her gaze cold and icy.
“Thank you, Arielle.” Mrs. Naysmith gave her a tight smile before turning to the door.
“I still meant what I said,” I said as she strutted away with her clacking heels.
Mrs. Naysmith didn’t give me a reaction as she open and shut the door.
As soon as Arielle locked the door and waited for Mrs. Naysmith to leave the porch, her icy glare returned to me. “Couldn’t you hold yourself together for those few seconds?”
