Page 40 of Give In To Love
“You can be honest, kiddo. It’s a lot of peopling, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but that’s okay.” I shrugged, not wanting to be rude.
“Come on, you two. Let’s find a seat. I’ve spent too much time on my feet today.”
We followed her into the house, where she led us past the folks gathered in the kitchen and into the living room, where we sat and made ourselves comfortable.
“Now then, tell me how you and my grandson met.”
“Oh, um, we’re roommates.”
“Well, isn’t that convenient?” Her tone was full of innuendo, and I flushed from my neck all the way up to my ears. I could feel the heat radiating off my skin like a sunburn. Olivia let out a snort as I sputtered.
“We actually met the first time about five years ago down at the creek. It was summer, and my mom had…” I trailed off, not really wanting to go into the details with TJ’s grandma. I didn’t like to talk about it, and I wasn’t sure if she realized she’d been our landlady.
Olivia must have figured it out because her eyes filled with sympathy. “That was quite an eventful summer for you boys.”
“Now, how do you two know each other?”
“Jimmy’s brother dated my Will. You remember Sammy Clark?”
“Oh yes, that sweet boy had it rough. But wait.” She turned to look at me. “Sammy’s your brother?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, honey. I wish I’d known that bitch was neglecting you boys. I wanted to call child protective services, but Olivia talked me out of it.”
My eyes shot to Olivia’s. “What?”
“I was afraid you boys would get split up. And you needed each other.”
“I don’t know how I would have survived without him.” My voice was nearly a whisper.
“He needed you just as much as you needed him. The need to do right by you was the fuel that kept him going when he wanted to give up.”
“You think so?” I’d always felt like I held him back. He’d never told me why he broke up with Will that summer, but I’d always suspected it had something to do with me. Will had been heading off for school at Purdue that fall, and I’d often wondered if Sammy would have gone with him if he hadn’t felt responsible for me.
“Oh, honey. Yeah, I really do think so.”
“But he could have been with Will. They could have been happy.”
“Maybe.” A shadow crossed over her face, there and gone in a flash. “They were also young, and the love they had for each other burned fast and bright. Sometimes, I think it was more than they could contain. Maybe they would have made it, or maybe they would have burned through it until there was nothing left but ash. Either way, it wasn’t your fault they broke up. Sammy loves you, honey. I seriously doubt he regrets the choices he made.”
The way her words released the guilt I’d been holding on to for years had a wave of relief rolling through me. It wasn’t something I often thought about, but I’d carried the burden of it with me nonetheless. It had been an ever-present weight that was no longer necessary to carry.
I was saved from responding when Mr. Johnson came in, looking for Olivia, offering her the can of pop she’d sent him in search of. Conversation flowed around me, but I wasn’t really paying attention, lost in my thoughts.
TJ came in, leaning over to ask me quietly, “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“Ma wants me to run into town to get some more buns. You want to come with, or are you good staying here?”
“I’m actually good here, I think.” It was comfortable in the house with Olivia and Mrs. McGee. It was nice.
“Yeah?” A slow smile bloomed. “That’s great. I won’t be gone long.” He kissed my forehead and then headed out the front door, my eyes trailing him as he went.
“He’s pretty smitten with you, I think.” I turned back to Mrs. McGee, unable to stop my smile at her word choice. Had it been just this morning that he’d told me the same thing? “You know, you’re the first boy he’s brought here to visit.”
