Page 32 of Shimmering Emeralds
A tear bridged my eyelid and trailed down my cheek as Claire snuggled the tattered stuffed animal into the crook of Harper’s neck. It was barely recognizable as a giraffe anymore because it had been Hannah’s non-stop companion for years. For the little girl to hand it over to her cousin was a huge, thoughtful gesture.
Claire and I shared a watery-eyed smile at each other as I heard Levi emerge from the bathroom.
Feeling like a self-consumed heel for not checking sooner, I asked, “How is your baby doing?”
“She’s tiny, but she comes from tough stock.” My sister gave me a warm smile before continuing. “We were thinking about naming her Harley. That way she can be part of the ‘H’ name club with Hannah and Harper, plus it’s a tribute to her Aunt Meg’s favorite mode of transportation.”
Levi stiffened at my back. “Hold on. You don’t actually have a motorcycle, do you? Those things are dangerous death traps.”
His outraged tone grated on my nerves. Turning my head to the side, I said, “Of course I do. I’ve always wanted a motorcycle. You know that.”
Claire’s eyebrows shot up nearly to her hairline. I had always downplayed my relationship with Levi as if it was super casual and geared more toward light friendship. It had been fun when we were young to sneak around and find secret places to talk about our deepest thoughts and make love. Besides, we hadn’t wanted the pressure of being the next perfect, Alex and Claire type of ‘it’ couple.
Quickly amending my statement in an attempt to stifle Claire’s curiosity, I said to Levi, “My love of motorcycles and the feeling of freedom they provide is something I’m sure I mentioned to you back when we were friends. Perhaps you’ve just forgotten.”
By the glare Levi was aiming in my direction, it was obvious that he hadn’t forgotten anything and that he wholeheartedly disagreed with my decision to ride a motorcycle.
Lifting my chin, I glared right back at him, silently letting him know that he didn’t have any right to chime in with his opinions on what I did or didn’t do in my free time. I would never let a man tell me what to do, but he had lost the right to even weigh in on my decisions when he left me for a bigger, better life in Nashville.
Alex shifted his weight to the other foot, seeming to sense the tension crackling between us. Stepping in, he suggested, “Levi, how about if we go find these ladies some coffee?”
Levi nodded his agreement as Claire instructed Alex, “Decaf for me.”
“A slow and painful death will greet anyone who tries to present me with decaf,” I groused, making both men chuckle on their way out.
Once the door closed behind them, I tried to shift the conversation to a safe topic by saying, “Harley is an absolutely adorable name. I can’t wait to meet her.”
Claire nodded, gave me a knowing smile, and said, “Nice try. What is the scoop on you and Levi?”
“Nothing,” I said, but my voice betrayed me by sounding squeaky.
I had to look away from my sister’s unwavering gaze. Staring at the floor, I wondered if there was still anything real between me and Levi––or if there ever had been. Considering the way my heart was hammering in my chest, it was obvious that, at least on some levels, I desperately wanted there to be something legitimate.So much for playing it cool.
28
Levi
I’d been meaning to speak with Alex man-to-man since my return to Brunswick Bay Harbor. Even though I’d seen him at the scene of the bus accident, that hadn’t been the appropriate time to bring up what I had to say.
As he waited for the cafeteria’s automatic coffee machine to fill Claire’s paper cup with decaf, I said, “Hey, man. I know you went through a really rough year while Claire was gone. I hope my parents and extended family didn’t make it any harder on you.”
Even though I wasn’t particularly close to my family, I did feel like their actions in some way represented me. My parents weren’t ones to think logically or veer away from the pack. Much like the livestock on their farm, they followed the herd mentality. I knew from my few conversations with them while I was away that they had immediately tried and found Alex to be guilty of harming Claire in the judgmental courts of their own minds.
I just hoped they didn’t verbalize those assumptions to him or get involved in any of the ridiculous bullying antics that Alex was forced to endure during that horrific time in his life.
Alex gave me a long, steady stare. His eyes were guarded now. The carefree look of a winner, who believed his life was charmed, which Alex had always emitted, had been replaced by wary somberness.
I had always looked up to Alex in school. Everyone did. It was a shame that he had been through what he had, and it was obvious that he hadn’t emerged from it unscathed.
Finally, his expression brightened a tad. “It was a tough year, and your family didn’t help at all.”
I winced at his words, but forced myself to hold his gaze as he continued. “But very few people stepped up and had my back. Even my own parents were embarrassed by the scandal. They never actually insinuated that they believed me to be guilty, but they didn’t proclaim my innocence from the rooftops either.”
Alex put a plastic lid on the full cup of coffee and added, “Going through something like that really tells you who your true friends are. I was surprised to find out how few I had.”
“Sorry I wasn’t here to stick up for you.” Alex and I had never been close friends, but I liked to think that I would have given him the benefit of the doubt, rather than making assumptions about his guilt and treating him like a pariah because of it.
“It’s not your fault.” He gave me a half-hearted smile before nudging my shoulder and saying, “I’m just glad that god-awful year is over. I was miserable without Claire, and the realization that some people thought I was behind her disappearance was gut-wrenching.”
