Page 30 of Behind the Cascades
Twenty-two feels good. Like a new chapter to put behind the old one. I’ve got Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ album jamming on my stereo, fueling my sass as I clean my house. Olivia is renting it to me for basically nothing, saying it’s a perk to being her employee. Really, it’s because she has a heart of gold and it was the first house available to get me out of the apartment I was in before.
The house is small but cute. Two bedrooms, with the master being much bigger than the other. It has a jack-and-jill bathroom between the two bedrooms. The living room and kitchen are connected into one big, outdated space. Thankfully, Olivia is giving me free range to do whatever I want with it.
I’ve taken my time going through each room, trying to get each one perfectly set up for my new life. The master bedroom has a spacious walk-in closet that has an attic door cut into the ceiling. I threw all my ‘Hayes memories’ up there and, metaphorically speaking, locked them away. It was really just a box of all the things he’s given me or I’ve saved over the years. Idon’t have the heart to get rid of it, but I don’t want to look at it every day either. So, into the creepy attic it goes. Where it can stay until he gets his shit together.
Dan and Levi helped bring my second-hand furniture over from my apartment the other day and it surprisingly fits well. I’ve been thrifting and stopping at every garage I’ve seen for months. A small thing to keep my mind busy, but searching for the perfect pieces has brought me so much joy. It’s turned this little house into a little home, and I’m here for it.
Tonight, they’ve insisted on throwing me a “Turner-approved” birthday party at Olivia and Dan’s. Well, Dan insisted. He’s all about a party—really, any excuse to be social—and he’s happy about it. Knowing him, he invited half the town and it’s going to be a full house. The party that they threw when he became lieutenant last fall would have put a frat house to shame.
I’m nearly the last to arrive at the party, but only because everyone in this town is always early. They still live in the home that they bought when they first got married. It’s a touch bigger than mine but completely updated. Olivia spent months working on it when they bought it, making every inch personal to them. If she wasn’t so emotionally attached to it, I’m sure she’d already be in a bigger one by now.Lord knows they could afford the biggest house in Central Oregon.
I open the door and walk into a chorus of “Happy birthday!”
My grin widens as I do a shoulder shimmy and then shout, “Woohoo!” I’ve never been the girl who’s embarrassed by stuff like this. Not that I need to be the center of attention all the time, but I do like when I get a little of it. Right now, there’s a whole lot of people here to celebrate me and I’m relishing in it.
Olivia hugs me first, then Dan. Both of them are sporting cheshire grins that are starting to make me nervous.
“Welcome to a redo of your 21st birthday! Liv mentioned that your birthday last year was low-key. No one should have a 21st that they remember.”
I glance around the room, now noticing all the party decorations say 21st birthday party. My eyes instantly go a little cloudy at the gesture. Last year, I was cut off from most of my best friends and barely made it to a birthday dinner with Connie. This year, an entire town showed up to celebrate my birthday.
Zeke, Dan’s dad, hugs me next. He’s the silver-fox version of Dan and Levi. He’s got the charming yet authoritative vibe down to a t. “Happy birthday, Charlie! I’m taking the kids home with me after dessert so that you can party until sunrise.”
“Not sure I’ll make it that long, but I’ll do my best!” I say, with a wink.
He chuckles back and then gets a serious look. “Whatever time it is, just make sure you don’t drive. My contribution to the party is a hired driver. Anyone who drinks gets a ride home.”
“Thanks, Zeke! That’s so nice of you!” I give him another hug and he smiles bashfully before excusing himself to go play with the kids.
Outside on the patio, I spot Levi making drinks for Luke, Dan’s partner and Luke’s girlfriend, Madelyn. Luke and Madelyn couldn't be more opposite, from appearance to personality. Luke is all cowboy—gruff and rugged—while Madelyn is all city—perky and chic.
With an internal groan, I make my way out there to grab a drink and say hi. I've honestly never had a problem with Luke; it's Maddy who is the loose cannon. The more she drinks, the harder it is to be around her.
“CHARLIE! My third favorite girl! Happy birthday!” Levi shouts as soon as I step out of the sliding glass door. He’s beencalling me his third favorite girl since Ellie’s birth. Ellie first, Olivia second, and me third.
I chuckle as I walk to stand by Luke and Madelyn. “Hey, y’all!”
Luke greets me with a head nod and gruffly says, “Happy birthday.” Madelyn throws on her sweetest fake smile and high-pitched voice. “Happy birthday, Charlie! You look gorgeous!” If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear I just saw both LeviandLuke cringe simultaneously.
“So do you! Thanks for coming!”
She smiles back and then asks, “What are you drinking? Levi is our bartender tonight and he makes the best cocktails!”
Levi rolls his eyes and shakes his head, ignoring her comment. He finishes shaking the mixer and pours the contents into two glasses before silently handing them to Luke and Madelyn.Awkward.
“Think I’ll just have a beer for now. ” I say as I turn to grab a beer from the cooler off to the side. “I should get back in there and say hey to everyone I missed.”
Levi looks at me with pleading eyes, trying to silently tell me to stay but there’s no way I’m getting into the middle of whatever I just walked out to. My guess is that Madelyn is a little too tipsy and a little too flirty. It’s happened before and Levi always looks like he wishes a giant hole would appear to swallow him up. Meanwhile, Luke shuts down and tries to ignore it.
Back inside, I go back to greeting everyone and thanking them for coming. It takes nearly thirty minutes but finally I get to the last person, Maisie.
She owns our favorite coffee hut in town. Olivia and I will drive across Three Sisters, bypassing every other drive-thru, to get her coffee. She’s delicately setting out desserts from a box that she must have brought.
“Please tell me you made all those.” I ask with drool practically dripping out of my mouth.
She grins, her bubbly personality coming out. “I did! All your favorites—cream cheese brownies, danishes, and red velvet cupcakes.”
“Eek! I love you so much! Thanks, Mais!”
