Chapter 37

"Wait, what?"

   I hadn't talked to my dad that week. It had been crazy at school, getting ready for the long weekend off. Before that, I'd talked to him weekly. Usually we talked about what we had going on that week or my classes.

   "He really want us to go, Elena. I think we should. Mom even said -" Paige went on, like this was no big deal. She hadn't seen him in years.

   "I don't think I can," I told her, shaking my head.

   She looked confused, if only slightly. "I thought you and dad were good?"

   "We are. And Jenna is really great. It's just..."

   Paige was waiting for something big, and I just couldn't tell her. She had no idea about what I'd done with Mateo. She didn't know much about that week in South Haven, or the weeks after. I had kept it all from her, my sister, and now I felt terrible about that.

   "I'm supposed to have dinner at Tess' tomorrow," I said, instead.

   Paige blinked a few times but looked more confused than ever. "You literally see her every day."

   "I know."

   "So, why don't you actually want to go to dad's?"

   I had to decide on the spot whether or tell her now, or now, and I decided on the latter. Shrugging, I tried to make this seem like not a big deal at all.

   "It's fine, actually. We can go."

   "Awesome. I'll call him back to confirm," Paige finished, smiling at like as if I'd done the right thing.

   The problem was, it didn't feel the right thing at all.

   Keegan got home from work a couple hours later, and Paige and I were ready to go for dinner. She'd already shown me the baby's room - Keegan had painted the walls of the spare room purple. The crib was set up and the closet was filled with tiny, girly outfits.

   I left their apartment was Keegan was in the shower, and driving back towards my childhood house felt strange, now. I'd lived there my whole life, besides the weekend I'd spent at dad's apartment before he moved away. I knew the neighbourhood like the back of my hand, yet now it felt a bit unfamiliar. I'd been away at college only three months, but things were different now.

   My mom's car was in the driveway, along with Karl's blue truck. As I went inside, my stomach growled. I hadn't eaten lunch and the house smelled amazing.

   "Oh, Elena!" my mom shouted, coming towards me. She looked at me as if she hadn't seen me in months. It had been only a few weeks. "How are you, honey?"

   I could tell she was drinking. She hugged me tightly and laughed happily as she pulled away.  Her cheeks were a bit flushed.

   "I'm good," I told her, stepping back. "Happy Thanksgiving."

   "Yes, of course, to you too!" she said, too loudly. "Are Paige and Keegan on their way?"

   "Soon, yes," I nodded, finally dropping my bag by the stairs.

   I didn't even get a chance to walk through to the kitchen before she was talking again.

   "I heard you're going to South Haven tomorrow, with Paige?"

   I spun around to face her again, wondering if she knew anything about Mateo and I. Would my dad have told her? Trying to read her expression, I nodded.

   "It was nice that dad invited us."

   "It sure was. You haven't been there since... the wedding? Have you?" she asked, now looking even more skeptical at me.

   I shook my head. "It's been awhile."

   "Well, it's been longer for Paige. I'm glad you're both going. I do hope your dad will get to have a relationship with his granddaughter." My mom now seemed like she was deep in thought.

   "I am sure he would love that," I said anyway.

   Thanksgiving dinner number one was great, and I was glad that Keegan was there, to buffer any and all awkwardness. He could diffuse any situation. Keegan was the type of guy who liked everyone, even if they didn't deserve it. Karl was nice, it seemed. But I never knew with my mom. They'd been together about as long as I'd been gone to college. There was a good chance she was just trying to fill the void I'd left behind. Dinner was delicious and the conversation consisted mostly of baby talk, which I was glad about. She was due right after Christmas, so it was going to be an exciting holiday season for this family.

   Keegan had to work again the next day, so Paige and I were on our own. I'd hoped he would come, actually, so I hid my disappointed the next morning when Paige told me that it was just her and I. I'd called Tess to tell her what was happening, when I woke up in my childhood bed, the next day.

   "So, you're going to your dad's house for dinner? With Paige?" Tess was as surprised as I'd been.

   "Yeah. As far as I know it's just my dad and his wife, Paige and I. I mean, it's Thanksgiving and they invited us..."

   "It's great that you're going. You and Paige will get some time together, too," Tess went on. "It's a lot of driving. You're going there and coming back today?"

   It would be a lot of driving, I'd already thought of that.

   "Yeah, we're just going for dinner. So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

   "Yeah, let's hang out before we go back to school?" she suggested. "I hope today goes well!"

   "Thanks... how's things there? Do your parents like Ty?" I wanted to know.

   I was just picking out my clothes for the day, and getting what I needed together. My stomach was nervous, because not only did I have to face my dad and Jenna - who now knew about Mateo and I - but Paige, who didn't know, would be there.

   "Things are good. I think they like him. He's being really sweet and polite," she giggled.

   "He's always sweet and polite," I told her. "Alright, I have to get ready. I'll call you later."

   "Okay, love ya."

   "You too."

   I drove to Paige's apartment to pick her up around noon, knowing we'd have to stop at least once on the way, for Paige to use the bathroom somewhere and get snacks. I didn't want her to have to drive that long, so I made the decision to drive. Dad had sent me the details - mostly what time to show up and what we were having for dinner - along with a quick text, that morning.

   Can't wait to see you. Thanks for coming.

   The drive went smoothly and after one stop, we arrived in South Haven a bit after 4P.M. When I pulled up to the house, though, so many memories came flooding back to me. I'd spent a week there, with Mateo as the only thing I knew to be real. They path that he came down - where he kissed me, that morning that Tess had picked me up - wasn't just a path. It was a landmark. If I felt like this just looking at the outside of the house, how was I going to feel inside?

   I must have been off in my own world, because Paige squeezed my arm. "Elena? Let's go in."

   "I... have to tell you something," I spat out, my voice shaky.

   Now, though, she didn't seem surprised at all. "About Mateo?"

   "Um, what?"

   "I was wondering how long it would take before you finally told me." She was smiling.

   "What do you mean?" I asked, eyes wide. What was happening?

   "Elena, dad called and told mom about Mateo... and you. It was weeks ago. She told me. But you never brought up it. Why?"

   I swallowed hard. "Well, I've been at college."

   "Yeah, but..."

   "I can't believe you knew."

   "Dad told mom, only so she wouldn't be surprised... if something happened."

   I shook my head, looking at my dad's house. I didn't know what to say now.

   "What happened? I mean... mom said you and Mateo were close? But you never mentioned him to me." Now Paige just looked disappointed.

   "Paige, I don't want to do this, now."

   "You brought it up."

   "Right. Well, we thought everyone would think it was weird, if we were dating... or whatever. So we kept it quiet. We got close, that week I was in South Haven for the wedding. When I had the accident, he was there for me. And when I went home, we kept in touch. But... it got weird because we were this far apart and he was going to college, further away... and then he got mad and drunk and told dad and Jenna about us... without me." I said most of that without taking a breath, and then I shut my eyes, surprised I'd told her all of that. "I got mad at him, for tell them. And I ended it."

   "Well... for starters, it's not weird. You're not related to him, and you didn't even know each other before July, right?" she began. I shook my head. "And.. I get that he messed up. But you broke up with him because of that?"

   "Yeah."

   "Wow. I can't believe you never told me any of that."

   I looked at her, letting out a breath. "Paige, you're not helping. Dad's house just... brings up a lot of things for me."

   She squeezed my arm again, then patted it. "Well, you're a big girl. Suck it up, and let's go."

   She grinned at me, and then go out of the car. I wasn't ready, but I followed her anyway.