My Blue River (36 page)

When we arrived in Blue River, my pulse quickened. I knew it was inevitable I would see Jack. I felt like a little girl again and really wished Harrison hadn’t intruded on my trip home.
Home? Did I really just say that?
I found myself wishing Harrison made me feel that way, instead, I was plagued with how strange and clingy—almost possessive—he’d been lately.

As we approached our property, I couldn’t help but look down the road to the Cooper’s house. We turned into our driveway. I could tell my Dad had been continuing his improvement on the property even without Jack’s help.

“Looks good, Dad. You’ve been busy,” I said.

“Thanks, princess. Jaaa—uh, yeah, I’ve been busy,” replied Dad. He almost uttered Jack’s name, but thankfully stopped himself. Just then I wondered why he would even mention Jack if he didn’t work for him anymore.

I never told Harrison about Jack. Once I found that jealous bone, I walked on egg shells. I knew if he met Jack, he needed to believe he had just been another friend I had made during my year at Blue River High School. Jack needed to be a friend I kept in touch with in order to explain his number in my phone.

We got settled into our rooms. Mom had already prepared the guest room for him.
How nice that she planned this…not!
As I looked around my room, I was reminded that I had come to love this house. I needed to appreciate the happy memories that had been created in just one short year. I looked out the window. I forgot the beauty of the vast yard. Each tree and bush was beginning to show signs of new life, with small amounts of green in the lawn and flowers beginning to bud. Spring came a little later in Montana and March could tend to still be cold, but I couldn’t help but appreciate all of my dad’s hard work. The once fairly unattractive property had become something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Once we met up downstairs, I offered, “Let me show you the yard, Harrison.”

“Great!” he replied.

As we walked, he grabbed my hand and held it. It felt extremely strange to be here with another guy but I somehow managed to act normal. I told the story about the condition the property had once been in. He seemed genuinely interested. Just to cover my bases, I managed to talk about how my dad had hired a handyman named, Jack, who turned out to be a kid from my high school who had become my friend. I left it at that and he didn’t seem curious about knowing anything more, which made me wonder if he had gone through my call list and noticed it had been months since there had been a call to Jack’s number. He seemed content with everything I told him.

I reminded him about the whole reason for the move to Montana and how my parents were concerned about how to handle Aaron’s substance abuse, but how Aaron seemed to be doing better although I knew he’d recently been drunk. I expressed how much I loved my brother and how I worried everyday I’d get a phone call that something bad had happened. He gave me a huge hug and said he was already attached to my family.

********

That evening my mom fed us a wonderful meal that Harrison excessively complimented. Harrison asked what plans we had for the break. What I really wanted to say was, “Well, you’ve screwed my plans so I have no idea.” But that wouldn’t be right so I announced that for starters, we’d be going to The Barn tonight. I kept telling him it was a bit dumpy and he should keep his expectations low.

Once we finished dinner, he and I washed the dishes, which completely impressed my mother. My dad wasn’t saying very much. I think Dad had a certain sense about Harrison because he seemed to avoid mentioning Jack. Aaron was in his usual position on the sofa, attached to his iPod. It was amazing what hadn’t changed with him. I still wanted to get the full details on Jack’s whereabouts but there never seemed to be a moment to ask. I even wanted to know the last time he’d used drugs but again, there never seemed to be the right moment.

I excused myself to touch-up my hair and makeup. Harrison said he wanted to change clothes. When we met up again downstairs, I couldn’t help but notice how much Harrison would stick out like a sore thumb. He wore a pink Polo shirt, and khakis that fit more like skinny jeans. He had them rolled up to his ankles and was wearing boat shoes without socks. Just as I was noticing him, he was noticing me and my toned down attire, looking much more like someone who lived here. I hadn’t planned on seeing Harrison this entire break so I was certain my casual clothes didn’t fit the ideal image he had of me, which was confirmed when he scanned me from head-to-toe, ending with a slight look of disgust.

“I’ll be right back,” I announced, leaving Harrison by the front door to go find Aaron. “Hey, twerp. Are you going with us?” I asked Aaron after I yanked his headphones out of his ears.

“To where?” asked Aaron.

“To The Barn, remember. I mentioned it at dinner.”

“Oh…
OH!
” Aaron’s eyebrows shot up and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Dude, I totally forgot to tell you that Jack plans to be there tonight. He knows you’re coming home. Dad told him. I think Claire did, too,” he whispered, a little too loudly to truly fall into the definition of a whisper.

My mouth fell open as I smacked him upside the head. “Crap! Aaron! How did you forget? Crap, crap, crap,” I huffed as I paced back and forth.

“What’s the big deal? Just go, introduce them and be done with it. Why do you care anyway, Addy?”

I knew why I cared. I was still totally and completely in love with Jack but all that love would never matter. We would always be thirteen hundred miles apart for nine months out of the year. Not only that, I had no plans of returning to Montana for a career, ever, so it would never work for us. We would just have to suffer through the pain of a love lost.

“Aaron, you said everything was good at the airport! I thought you knew exactly where Jack was so when I mentioned going to The Barn with Harrison, and you didn’t stop me, I assumed you knew Jack wouldn’t be there, you idiot!”

“You’re an idiot! I’m not the one who came home with another dude,” he retorted.

“I didn’t! Mom set that up! Crap!”

He let out a sinful laugh. “Oh, that’s right. You should have heard Mom and Dad fight about that one!” His eyes drifted off as he recalled the argument. “When you asked if everything was good I thought you meant something else.”

“Something else? What else could I have possibly meant?”

“Like maybe how I was doing? Like maybe you actually cared if I was good or not?”

Oh, snap. That sucks. I’m so selfish!

“Aaron, I do care. I’m sorry. I just hope we don’t run into Jack tonight.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ll see Jack tonight.”

My heart was torn between excitement and anguish.

I heard approaching footsteps. “Excuse me for interrupting but I would like to know if you are ready, Adelaide,” inquired Harrison.

I had come to know he would never call me Addy. He thought it sounded like a little girl’s name. He had other quirks, too, like often telling me how I should dress. He preferred that I dress more upscale so what I was wearing tonight had to be killing him. I dismissed it as harmless but right now, his presence bugged me. I suddenly struck me that he and I were incompatible.

“Uh, yeah. Let’s get going,” I tried to recompose myself, forcing excitement into my voice, “I can’t wait for you to meet my friends.” I turned back to Aaron. “Are you coming?” I asked one last time.

“I’m going with Jeff and Troy. I’ll see ya down there later…after the storm calms,” he snickered. I shot him a nasty look and turned to leave with Harrison.

“Are we expecting a storm?” asked Harrison, who was completely clueless.

********

As we arrived at The Barn, my eyes scanned the parking lot for that familiar Jeep Wrangler—the Jeep that just over a year ago, the mere sight of would make me tingle. The Jeep that made my heart lurch each time I saw it because its driver was so incredibly wonderful. I shook my head to dismiss romantic thoughts of Jack.
Focus on Harrison, Addy. Focus.

Harrison cracked a few jokes about never seeing so many trucks with gun racks in one place at one time. He asked if he should worry about his safety. I offered a nervous laugh. As we entered The Barn, I held my breath. I had to prepare myself for the possibility Jack would be here. I heard a scream from my left and turned to find Claire flying toward me with her arms wide open.

“Addy!” she exclaimed.

“Claire!” I exclaimed.

I ran to her and we hugged and jumped up and down like little girls.

“I have missed you so much!” she exclaimed.

“I’ve missed you, too. Being a mom must be keeping you busy. I hardly hear from you. I’m glad you could come tonight.” I stepped back and pulled Harrison forward.
I may as well get this introduction over with.

I began, “Claire, this is Harrison. Harrison, this is Claire.” They shook hands. Harrison as usual responded with his upper class-flare. It was lost on Claire. She didn’t care. She shot me a glance that said, “He’s no Jack.”

“I um…didn’t know you were bringing a friend with you,” she said.

“I didn’t either. Harrison and my mom thought it would be fun to surprise me.” Something about my odd sing-song voice and the way I opened my eyes wide told her I wasn’t very happy with this surprise either.

“Dear Clarise, I do believe you meant to say,
boyfriend
. You didn’t know she was bringing her boyfriend with her,” Harrison corrected.

This time Claire’s eyes opened wide. “Um…I do believe you meant to call me by my name,
Claire
…not
Clarise
.”

“My apologies.” His apology didn’t seem sincere.

It was awkward, but we managed to make small talk for a while then worked the room, finding Zeek and Sallie. Since Zeek and Sallie were at the same college and both majoring in education, they saw each other often. Zeek was beaming as he told me that he ran into Sallie all the time on their campus and in their co-ed dorm. I could tell that he believed the future held incredible possibilities.
I envy his optimism
. We greeted more people and I made introductions. Mimi was there, floating her cute little body through the room. Cosmetology school had taught her how to properly apply her makeup and style her hair. The 80s look she once had in high school was now in her past. I had to admit, she looked really pretty. There was no way Harrison didn’t find her attractive, but if he stole any glances at her backside, he concealed it well. I never caught him looking. I almost wished I had.

Zeek was attempting to have a conversation with Harrison when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around. There he was—Jack. His wavy, sandy blond hair was lying in every direction. His chocolate brown eyes were looking intently into mine. My heart skipped a beat. Thank God Zeek was demanding Harrison’s attention. I felt my face flush as Jack flashed me that smile that brought out his dimples. We gave each other an awkward hug, and I tried to pull away before Harrison could turn around and see us. Even though I had already told Harrison I had a friend named Jack, I couldn’t help but think if he saw us embracing, the chemistry would be palpable and who knew how awkward it might be after that.

“Hey, Addy,” Jack nearly whispered my name.

“Hey, Jack,” I equally whispered back.

“I’m sorry we haven’t talked,” He pulled me away from the crowd of people behind me.

Jack went on, “I…I…wondered if you’d be here. Your dad said you were coming…home…I mean
back
. I know how you hate it when people call Montana your home.”

“It’s okay. My family is here so I guess this could be my second home. So…um…I need to tell you something…”

“I need to tell you something, too,” he quickly interjected; his voice sounded urgent.

We were interrupted by Harrison. “Hello, Adelaide. May I ask who your friend is?” He was at my side, wrapping his arm around my waist, examining Jack from head-to-toe. I tried to step to the side but Harrison pulled me closer.