Page 15 of Will & Patrick's Endless Honeymoon
Chapter Four
“So, you’re allpacked up, Caity-bug,” Will murmurs, kicking at the suitcases by his sister’s feet.
It’s a beautiful late summer day with a cool breeze, and they’re standing in the driveway with the dark gray clapboard and stone two-story house they grew up in looming behind them. It’s the place where they lived through their mom’s endless relationship dramas, where they grieved the loss of Caitlin’s father, Roger, and from which both of them have always been eager to escape.
Will admires his sister in the crisp afternoon light. She’s beautiful, with buttery hair that’s styled loose and free, falling down either side of her shoulders to frame her buxom chest. Her flower-patterned sundress is topped with a light sweater, and she’s wearing cowboy boots. Like their mom.
She’s always been soft and rounded, and as she’s grown up that hasn’t changed. But now she’s woman where a little girl used to be, and Will can’t believe how beautiful she looks.
“It took forever to whittle it down to just these suitcases, but I think I have everything I really need.” She smiles tremulously at him with the blue sky reflected in her eyes. It’s just the two of them since Olivia and Connor are at school, having already told Caitlin goodbye over breakfast.
“We can ship anything you’ve forgotten. Or you can buy what you need out there. Don’t worry about money.”
She slips her arm around his waist and half-hugs him. “Thanks. You and Nonna are being really good to me. Mom’s being…” She rolls her eyes. “Mom.”
He doesn’t point out that while their mother is a mess, Caitlin doesn’t make it any easier when she blocks Kimberly from her life the way she tends to do. He doesn’t say it because Patrick tells him that kind of comment “enables the abuser”—wherein the abuser is Kimberly—and that Will needs to stop defending his mother when she’s being indefensible. It’s a thing he’s working on.
“Yeah. I know how she can be. Feeling scared?”
“Not so muchscared, but…”
“Not exactly ready to go out in the big wide world all alone, either?”
Caitlin’s lower lip wobbles, and she throws herself into his arms. “I’m so ready to get away from here. Mom makes me crazy,” she whispers, her voice clogged with tears. “So why am I crying? It’s not like I’mscaredto leave home, but…but it’s still my home, you know?”
Will hugs her for a long time, smoothing his hand through her hair, breathing in her scent. He remembers when his mom brought her home from the hospital. She’d smelled so fresh and new. Now she smells like fruity perfume.
“You’ve worked hard for this. You’re going to be great out there. I’m proud of you and you don’t need to worry about anything going on here at home. Mom, Uncle Kevin, Patrick, and I can hold down the fort.”
“I know you can, but I feel so guilty dumping the kids on you.” She pulls free of his arms and wipes at her eyes. Her mascara smudges, but she gets it on the next pass. “You took care of me all these years, and I know I’m skipping out on paying you back.”
“Oh, Caity-bug, no. I didn’t take care of you so you’d eventually do the same for Olivia and Connor. I want you to grow into your best self, and if that means going to Colorado for school, then that’s all I want for you.”
Will can’t blame Caitlin for choosing to go so far away from their crazy family, but he reallyisgoing to miss her. Olivia and Connor will miss her too. And not just for her chauffeuring and babysitting skills. He knows she’s been the one keeping the household together since he and Patrick married.
He’ll do his best to keep things sane for them. In the end, it’ll likely be Olivia’s turn to step up and help care for Connor until she flees the nest too.
“Really? You’re not mad? Even a little?” The breeze whips at them. He smells a hint of rain coming in.
“Not even a little.” He tucks her hair behind her ear. “How are Olivia and Connor taking things?”
“Olivia says she’s happy I’m leaving so she can get my room.”
“That’s a lie. She’s going to miss you.”
“I know. And Connor is angry.” Her lips twist. “I know he’s just nine, but…”
“Remember how angry Olivia was with me when I went to school?”
Caitlin laughs. “I remember. She got all the socks that you’d left behind, doused them in lighter fluid, and burned them in a giant pile out here on the driveway. You can still see the scorch marks.” She points at a blackened area near the basketball net.
“But she got over it.”
“Eventually.” Caitlin eyes him pensively.
“What?”
“It’s just strange remembering that time. Back when you were with Ryan.”
