Page 10 of Holiday at Home
One look at Violet’s face says she had no idea I was going to be here this evening.
Well, hell…
I had no intention of crashing her party twice in one day. Nora was supposed to talk to her about it, gauge how she felt, and if there was a problem, shoot Robbie a text so I could politely back out. He checked his phone after we bought sandwiches from the Dana’s Diner booth. No message from Nora, so we strolled our happy asses right back over.
And, honestly, I was thrilled at the prospect.
It’d be nice, right? The four of us together again after all these years?
The look on Violet’s face says otherwise.
I should apologize and bow out.
But then Robbie’s pouncing on Nora with all the commitment of a cartoon villain, scaring the crap out of his little boy. Hands fly up, chaos erupts, someone screams, half of Stillwater Bay stops and stares.
“Oh, my goodness gracious! Robert Kincaid! Why in the world would you do something like that?” Nora asks as the little guy hops off her lap and runs into Robbie’s arms.
“Daddy!” he screams. “Did you bring the dinners? I’m so hungry! So so so so hungry that Mama told Aunt Violet and then called me a monster man, and now you acted like a monster man!”
Robbie laughs, picking the boy up and holding him close while my brain click-click-clicks everything into place. When I left for college, Nora had just discovered she was pregnant. And now here’s this kid.Theirkid. He’s six and this is the first time I’ve seen him in person.
Some best friend I’ve been.
“I have no idea what he just said,” Robbie says to Nora, “but it sounds like maybe you guys are having a good time?”
“We were until you scared the ever living everything out of me.” Nora glances at Violet, and the look of betrayal on her face has my heart sinking.
This will not be the happy reunion I hoped it would be.
“You guys weren’t gone very long. I didn’t have a chance to talk to her.” Nora takes Violet’s hand. “I’m sorry, Vi. We didn’t mean to drop this in your lap. I was supposed to talk to you about Simon hanging out with us tonight, see how you felt, then text them if you’d rather tell him to pound sand.”
Robbie grimaces, and I hold up my hands in surrender, backing up slightly. “If this is no good, I can find somewhere else to be. The last thing I want is to make it awkward.”
“It’s fine,” Violet replies, sighing deeply and burrowing deeper into her jacket. Her russet hair shines in the evening light, and those storm-grey eyes hit mine with a look that’s honestly confusing. They say she’s both fine and not fine all at once, and I’m suddenly struck with how strange it is to see her and notknowher.
“You sure?” I ask as the moment steeps in awkwardness. “Because I could just, you know—” I wave my hands in a magician’s flourish as if to suggest I could disappear on the spot, which is exactly what I wish I could do right now.
Violet sips her drink, probably apple cider, her favorite, and shakes her head. “No, no, it’s fine. Everything’s fine. This will be good, right? The four of us together again, like you said. It’s great.”
We all fall quiet, bobbing our heads like agreeable chickens. Robbie’s little boy looks at each of us in turn, trying to decipher what the heck is going on. Then Nora throws up her hands with a funny little laugh.
“You know what? All of thisisgreat. We used to have so much fun together and Lord knows, Violet is in need of some fun.” She pats her sister’s knee, then shifts to face me. “Simon, I’d like to officially introduce you to my son, Nash.”
The little guy extends his hand, obviously imitating someone he’s seen. “I’m Nash Kincaid, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. I met Santa today. He said he wasn’t Santa, but I shook his hand and I…” he lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “I know who I met.”
Laughing, I crouch to shake his hand, looking to Robbie for clarification, who appears just as baffled as I feel.
“Roger Clementine,” Violet says, chuckling. “He met Roger Clementine today.”
“Yeah, that’s what he said, but I don’t believe him.” Nash shakes his head and reaches for the bag in Robbie’s hand. “Can we eat, Daddy? I’m starved.”
As Robbie passes out sandwiches and fries, music swells over Stillwater Bay Town Square. The live band takes over for the high schoolers with a rousing version of “Jingle Bell Rock.” People laugh and cheer—some heading to the dance floor, othersstill milling about and checking out the market stalls. I perch on a bench beside Violet, looking for ways to break the ice.
“Let me guess,” I say, smiling despite the nerves in my belly. “It’s apple cider, right?”
“You know it.” Vi holds up the mug and takes a sip, smiling weakly, looking everywhere but directly at me.
“Remember when we were what? Sixteen? Seventeen? And tried to sneak the rum-soaked cider?” Robbie asks, grinning mischievously as Nora laughs.
