Page 41 of Mark Us Little Bear
“It’s okay, let it all out.”
I have no idea if she’s referring to him or me because I’m about to let it all out myself.
I hand her the bottle and gulp the thickness in my throat.
“This is the last time, I think, I’ll be fine in a few minutes,” Ronnie says in a groggy voice, splashing some water on his face.
“We’re two minutes away,” Amber encourages and I nod in agreement, “Want to walk the rest on foot? Bradley can drive there.”
“Yeah, sounds like a great idea.”
Shutting their doors, I hop into the driver’s seat and cruise into our neighborhood. Trees line the street of this beautifully manicured block. Two-level colonial-style houses with greenlawns and cozy porches roll one after the other until I pull into the open driveway of the creamy house at the end of the street as Amber instructed me earlier.
My family lives a couple of blocks away from here and I can already imagine what this week will look like. Lots of sneaking around, fun times with family, the best barbeques, and these two by my side.
I missed the smell of the ocean in the air and the false sense of quiet because inside these houses are probably the bubbliest people we’ll ever meet. No one can duplicate it it’s a feeling I only get when I’m around here.
Shutting down the engine, I push the door open and pull Teddy with me as I exit the car. I leave our bags inside the trunk for now. “Are you ready to meet her family?” He had a good nap while Ronnie painted Staten Island sidewalks with his puke.
Now it makes me laugh a little.
“We’re here!”
Ronnie and Amber stride behind me, looking much better than a few minutes ago.
With Teddy in my hands, I turn to meet them. “You okay?” I kiss his cheek when he inches closer and pets Teddy’s head.
“I’m good.” He grins softly, staring directly into my eyes. The light returned to his face.
I plant another kiss on his cheek. “Sorry, I got confused between you and Teddy.” I do it again. “I’m so confused.”
He shakes his head but can’t hold his smile any longer.
“Let’s go you two.” Amber smiles widely at us but my eyes trail down to where her leg is fidgeting nonstop—a war is waging within her, it was more evident the moment we left our apartment when she tried to calm herself down the entire ride over.
“Let’s go,” I repeat, striding forward and interlacing our hands. “Who’s making you nervous?” I whisper.
Looking down, she draws out a sigh. “My mom.”
Amber
Mixed emotions are flooding me about visiting, especially the gnawing feeling in my stomach about facing my mom.
With a deep inhale and Bradley’s hand in mine, I twist the handle and open the front door. I already smell Dad’s famous pecan pie baking in the oven and as we turn right to the wide living room Mom’s eyes peer up at us from a book she’s reading.
She wasn’t the first person I wanted to see.
“Amber,” her voice is full of surprise, “I didn’t know you were coming.” She places the book on the two-tier side table and lifts herself off her modern rocking chair with a padded seat.
Dad and I kept it a secret for a few days because we knew she tends to spiral when it comes to me. We didn’t want to burden her mentally.
Her judgy eyes veer left and right. The furrow in her brow becomes more pronounced. And I can hear the disdain in her voice before she even opens her mouth.
“I barely heard from you in a year and now you show up with two men. They’re wearing rings and bracelets and have a milliontattoos. And you brought a dog, who will clean all his hair when it falls around.”
“They’re my roommates and friends,wewill clean Teddy’s hair,“ I reply dryly.
“Your… room—roommates.” There is that mocking tone that always resurfaces when she speaks to me.
