Page 82 of Pictures in Blue
I squeeze Ethan’s hand again before letting go. “Thank you for lending me your hand.”
“I’m really sorry,” he says, looking down at his feet. “I didn’t know you were afraid.”
I squat down until my eyes reach his level. I tip his chin up meeting his gaze, misted over with unshed tears. “You didn’t know. And it’s okay. But next time, let’s have Hudson be the one to go through the massive web, okay?”
He laughs and my heart warms at the sound. “Deal.”
And just like that, he bounces back and is off running to grab a forgotten tennis ball to throw for the dog that must have come to investigate the commotion.
A strong hand pulls me up to standing and doesn’t leave the small of my back. Isabelle appears in front of me with a glass of water in one hand and a pastry in the other. She reaches them out with a soft smile.
“Here,” a quiet, kind voice. She nods her head toward the table on the patio where Sky is now sitting. Suddenly, I feel a wave of embarrassment swirl through me at the idea that all of these people just saw me have a complete meltdown.
“Thank you,” I give her a sheepish smile. Grabbing the contents from her hands, I take her direction and sit across from Sky. I feel a light pressure on my knee and I notice Hudson’s hand never leaves me. It goes from my back, guiding me to the patio, to my knee, concealed from view underneath the table, his thumb tracing slow, comforting circles in between reassuring squeezes. The intimacy of the touch rushes through me and my body seizes for completely different reasons. I drain half the water in the glass before I start to pick at the blueberry pastry Isabelle gave me. She is already back inside finishing up the cookies. George seems to teleport from the table inside to this one. He is positioned exactly as he was before, paper spread out and pencil in hand contemplating the next crossword clue.
Sky is watching Ethan play with the dog and looking around the yard like she hasn’t seen it in years. From what I have heard over the past few days, she hasn’t, but I’m not here to pry even though I really want to.
I like Sky. She’s the complete opposite of Charlotte in the sense that Charlotte is colorful and loud where Skylar is darker shades with a more subdued personality. But she’s not afraid to tell you how she feels and doesn’t hold things back. Skylar is not a people pleaser and I find myself wondering what that is like.
“So,” Hudson’s voice pierces the air, his eyes fixed on Sky. “You came.”
Sky quickly glances at their dad before throwing a sly look between the two of us. “So did Avery, I’d imagine,” she says just loud enough for only us to hear and my cheeks are on fire. I want to dive headfirst into their pool and sink to the bottom. Let me stay there for the rest of the afternoon hidden underneath the water. I’ll find a way to grow gills if it means I don’t have to navigate my way through this conversation.
Hudson’s hand stalls on my knee and I can feel him stiffen beside me. I expect him to take his hand away and distance himself from me, but he doesn’t. His hand stays and he bypasses Sky’s comment.
“Glad you’re finally around again,” the words hit where they are supposed to and Sky turns her head away back to Ethan.
“Yeah, it’s good to have you back, Sky. With you here, maybe your dad has a chance at beating us in volleyball.” Elias comes around the table and sits next to her. She punches his arm softly, a sister messing with a brother.
When Elias sits, George finally sets down his pencil and removes his glasses. “Hey, just because you’re on a winning streak doesn’t mean anything.” He points at Elias with his glasses in hand, “Just you wait, boy. You’re going down.” And he turns back to his paper. “Now, what is the answer to ‘the disease in plants caused by excessive standing water’ that has seven letters?”
“George, really,” comes an exasperated voice from behind him. Isabelle sets the box of pastries down on the table along with a plate of what looks like lemon bars. She winks at me when she notices me staring at them. “Heard they were a favorite of yours.”
If I had any energy left in my body, I might cry. Over lemon bars. I’m not used to this level of affection or kindness from a motherly figure and to receive it from someone I just met a few moments ago is baffling.
“C’mon, Bumblebee, you know the answer!” says George, playfully. “Tell me, I’m begging you.”
She bends to wrap her arm around her husband and flashes him a loving smile. She sighs, giving in. “What would you do without me?”
“Without you?” He asks, returning her touch and pulling her in for a kiss. “Life wouldn’t be worth living.” His lips meet hers and I am waiting for Hudson or Sky to fake a gag or proclaim their disgust at seeing their parents being affectionate in front of them, but they do neither. They look at them fondly and even Elias’ expression seems to soften.
There is so much love at this table between these people, I almost feel suffocated by it. It’s easy to see how Hudson grew into the person he is with this family.
“Fine, the answer is root rot. But you have to finish the rest yourself,” Isabelle tells George. “Ethan, come eat!” she calls and he runs to the table with the dog on his heels from across the yard.
“Is this dog named after an elf too?” I ask Hudson, putting my hand near the ground for the dog to come sniff.
“No, because we aren’t psychopaths,” Sky chimes in.
“Hey, just because you are a Grinch doesn’t mean the rest of us have to be,” he claps back.
“Ugh, you’re annoying. And Christmas is overrated,” she looks my way. “Avery,pleasesay you think Christmas is overrated. Agree with me, I’m begging you.” Her elbows go to the table showing off the tattoos that cover her left wrist and disappear into her short sleeved, dark blue shirt, her store’s logo embroidered in the corner. Hands ruffle through her dark, cropped hair letting it show how much she takes this conversation seriously.
“Sorry, Sky. I am a sucker for anything Christmas related,” I admit.
Her eyes go to Hudson who is focusing way too hard on the coffee in front of him. “Stick around then, Ave, and you’ll fall in love…with the town.”
She’s good.
