Love Me Back (4 page)

“I can assure you this is not my mother, she must have hired someone.  She has always been partial to a country theme.”  I respond still in awe over the house.  Every aspect has been redone.  Even the pictures from when Jack and I were little have been reframed into modern holdings.

“Whoever did it, it’s really nice.”  He says.

I put Ian in Jack’s old room, which has actually stayed close to the same.  His football trophies line the bookshelves with ribbons hanging below.  The only difference I notice is the twin size bed has been replaced with a queen.  I am surprised the bedding has been washed and ready for Ian.  I assumed I would be taking care of that when I got here.  We drag his bags up there and I show him the Jack and Jill bathroom we will share.

I am happy to see my room has been redone.  My daybed is gone replaced by a queen as well.  The walls went from purple to a lighter blue with a circled design bedspread.  All my furniture is gone with white furniture now in its place.  I throw myself on the bed closing my eyes.  Even with all new furniture when I close my eyes I feel the fear.  My nostrils fill with the smell and I am warped back to that night.  I open them quickly not wanting to remember.

Peeking in on Ian, I see him unpacking so I head downstairs.  The kitchen is remodeled as well with the most up to date stainless steel appliances.  The nice black bar top table sits in the corner with a bowl full of fruit in it.  If there weren’t pictures of Jack and I on the walls I would think I was in someone else’s house.  I open the fridge for a bottle of water and it is filled with food so I open the freezer, the same full of food.  I don’t know who is responsible for all this but I wish they could have been around when I was younger.

Just as I grab a bottle of water I hear the door open.

“Maddy” she yells.  “I assume that’s your blue car in the driveway.”

I walk out to the foyer and I am struck again.  My mom is wearing a navy blue pants suit and heels.  Her chestnut brown hair is cut short and chic.  Her make-up is subtle and complimentary.  She looks beautiful just like the house. 

“Yeah I will go ahead and move it right now.”  I walk over to get the keys from my purse.

“That’s ok, I just parked behind it.”  She says.

Ok who is she and where is my mom? 

“Um…Ok” I hesitate.  Before I can think to give her a hug or not she is embracing me.

“It’s so good to see you Maddy.  I missed you so much.”  Her hug is tight.  I don’t respond.  I have never hugged my mom like this before.

“Hi Mom.”  Is all I can say?  She pulls back grabbing my hands looking at me.  I see the anguish in her eyes.  Another reason I have stayed away.  I don’t want sympathy either.

“You are beautiful honey.  New York agrees with you.”  She smiles at me and I wish I had this mom when I was growing up.  “So, where is this guy you brought home?”

“He is upstairs unpacking in Jack’s old room.”  I answer opening my water bottle.

“I don’t need to tell you bringing a guy to the wedding is just going to complicate the situation Maddy.”  Her heels click on the dark hardwood floors as she goes into the kitchen.

There’s my mom.  Oh how I missed her for those five minutes.

“It’s not like that mom, he is a friend.”  I follow behind her.

“I’ve heard that before.”  She smirks at me over her shoulder.

“Mom, let’s just say.  I am not his type.”

“Oh Maddy, you are everyone’s type.”  She compliments me. 
Ok, I like this new mom.

“Believe me, not Ian’s.” 

“Did I hear my name?”  Ian enters the room.  He changed his clothes to plaid shorts, a tight v-neck shirt with a pair of converse shoes. 
Did he restyle his hair?

“Yes, I was just telling my mom I am not your type.”  I smile at him.

“Don’t get me wrong Mrs. Jennings, I love your daughter but I do prefer a more shall I say bigger body.”  He holds both his hands up at his chest.

My mom looks at me raising both her eyebrows and turns back to Ian.

“Maybe you would have preferred her brother?”  My mom laughs.

“After looking at the pictures, I am a little disappointed he plays for the opposing team.”  He joins laughing with my mom.

“Oh Mrs. Jennings, we are going to get along fabulously.”  Ian says taking a swig of my water bottle.  I look at him from the corner of my eyes telling him he is a traitor.

“Please, call me Barb.”  She says. 

“Barb?”  I question.

“Yes Barb, that is my name.”  She looks at me knowing what I am implying.  I decide to let it go for now.  “I am making a stir fry for dinner, will you two be sticking around?”

“You’re cooking?”  I question her again.

She ignores my question starting to cut up the chicken.  “Your brother and Lindsey are coming by.”  She has her back to me.

“We can stay, I don’t have many other plans anyway.  I think Ian saw most of the town from the Bassos to here.”  Before I can take the words back my mom is swinging around.  Her lips went from the casual smile to a straight tense line. 

“Why would you be at the Bassos?”  Her tone curt.

“We ran into Gabe at the airport, that’s his rental car outside.  We are sharing it for the week.”  I ramble it out so fast.

“How is Gabe?”  She voice turns pleasant and turns back around focusing on the chicken again. 
What was that?  Is she suffering from multiple personalities since I left?

By this time Ian is squinting his eyes at me confused as what is going on.  I am just as confused at her responses.

“Fine I guess.”  I shrug my shoulders at Ian.

“He always had a good head on his shoulders.”  She continues.  “Handsome too.  Too bad Ian, I don’t think he plays on your team either.”  She looks at him sympathetically.

“Oh Barb, I am pretty sure he prefers the pencil sharpener versus the pencil.”  Ian says taking a swig of my water bottle again.

My mom bends over in a fit of laughter.  “Ian, I love you already.”  She says.

I smile at him.  He always wins people over.

It is close to six when Jack and Lindsey come in.  Jack looks the same, dark hair mixed with his warm brown eyes.  He is over six foot and maintained his muscle toned football body pretty well.  Lindsey’s curly blond hair has gotten longer.  She barely wears any make-up but her natural good looks shine through.  She is cute and adorable.  They make a great couple and I am happy that my brother found the perfect partner to live his life with.

“Hi everyone,” Lindsey gives Ian and me a hug.  Her and Jack had met Ian last winter when they came out to New York.  “It’s good to see you guys.”

“You too Lindsey.  You look relaxed considering you’re promising yourself to this guy in a week.”  Laughing, I put my thumb in Jack’s direction.

“That’s why I am so relaxed, your brother has magic hands you know?”  She walks over to Jack snuggling into his arms.

“You tell her baby.”  He kisses her head.

“Barb, let me help you.”  Lindsey walks over to my mom grabbing the vegetables to start cutting up.

“Thank you Lindsey.”  My mom puts her arm around her shoulders.

Lindsey looks up to my mom and smiles back at her. 

“So, are you guys ready for the week?  This is no vacation.”  Jack takes a big gulp of his water.

“What is the plan brother?”  I ask.

He looks at Lindsey they smile at each other and he turns back to us.  “Softball game tonight, dress fitting tomorrow, Great Adventures on Wednesday, BBQ and B-ball on Thursday, Bachelor and Bachelorette parties Friday and Wedding Saturday.”  He smirks at me.

“Jesus Jack.  Do I have to go to everything?”

“Yes, you are a bridesmaid.”  He turns to Ian “you are expected to be there too.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”  Ian turns up his lips into a huge smile and I stick my tongue out to him.  “It will be fun Maddy.”

I raise my eyebrows and sulk down into my seat.  “Who is all involved in these plans?”  I ask Jack.  He knows specifically who I want to know.

“All the groomsman and bridesmaids along with a couple others…” he pauses because he doesn’t want to tell me.

“For heaven’s sakes Jack just say it.”  I yell at him.

“Trent got in last week Maddy.”  He looks guilt stricken.

My heart jumps in my throat.

Chapter 5 – 15 years old

I never heard from Bryan again after my move, Trent and I wrote a few letters back and forth and Mackenna and I wrote every day and called every week.  Soon the letters and calls got further apart and eventually stopped all together.  I made new friends in Michigan and I assumed a new girl took my spot.   When Jack would come home he would fill me on tidbits he heard from their Bigs but other than that Bryan, Trent and Mackenna were out of my life.

My parent’s marriage was great right after the move.  We all drove Jack up to college and my mom and dad seemed to bond over sending their oldest off to college.  They started having date nights and my dad stopped traveling as much.  When my dad traveled my mom didn’t go out like she used to.  That didn’t change the fact that she never made me dinner and I had a list of responsibilities around the house to finish every night.  Just knowing that my parents were happy and staying together was enough for me.

I missed Jack so much and was always eager to spend time with him when he would return home for holidays.  I cried when I found out he decided to go down to Florida for his spring break this year instead of coming home. 

Not that I blamed him but that seemed to be when our parents relationship took another turn for the worst.  My mom started drinking more and going out.  My dad was rarely home during the week and made excuses to go out on the weekend.  This left me alone most of the time which I started to prefer.

The last straw was when Jack announced he wasn’t coming home for the summer.  He was going to stay at the Basso’s and work at some dairy farm in the town next to Belcrest.  My mom lost it and my dad exploded.  Unfortunately, Jack was an adult and since he had a scholarship to State my parents had nothing to hold over his head to make him come home. 

After I finished my freshman year my parents sat me down and told me they were getting a divorce.  I can’t say I was surprised they couldn’t make it work.  It was hard when both of them were probably seeing other people.  I was surprised when my mom told me I would be moving with her back to Belcrest while my dad stayed in Michigan.  They assured me I would see him often and we would still get together for holidays.  I still missed my friends in Belcrest but I was nervous to go back after three years.  I had changed so much and I was sure they did too.  Thanks to my full fledge hormones in bloom, I was dying to see how Trent looked.

Two months later my mom and I pull up to a small three bedroom ranch a few blocks from downtown Belcrest.  The outside looks like it’s been here since the town originated.  The grass is overgrown with patches of dandelions.  The shrubs are so long they cover the walkway.  Paint is chipped on the side and the brick seems stained.  I can’t imagine what the inside looks like or why we are going to live here.

“I know it looks a little rough on the outside but just wait.”  My mother says while pushing a branch to the side walking to the front door.

I look around the neighborhood, the other houses are kept up really nice.  Their yards are all mowed and the landscape looks nice.  I wish it was one of ours.  Before I have time to think about it or go inside.

“Maddy!”  I hear a girl’s voice screaming down the street.

I turn and the red head is hanging out a window of some black truck.  When it stops in front of my house she hops out running towards me.

“Maddy, I am so happy your back.”  Her arms wrap around me.  She pulls away putting her hands on my shoulders.  “Why didn’t you call me or write me?  Why did I have to find out from Trent, who found out from Gabe who found out from Doug?”  She exclaims.

Trent knows I am back.

“Hey Mackenna!  I see some things don’t change.”  I nod my head towards the guy in the black truck.

Mackenna has grown up to a gorgeous teenage girl, not like I ever thought she wouldn’t.  Her red hair is long and wavy making her green eyes pop out.  She is slim and petite and her breasts have gotten bigger if that was possible.

“Oh yeah.  Do you remember Billy Cummings?”  She waves at him in the truck and he waves back. 

“Didn’t he used to be…awkward and play that wizards card game?”  I question skeptically.

“Oh Mad, the boys you remember have turned into men, just wait.” 

I can’t help but picture Trent.  I wonder how tall he is, how his chest looks, his eyes, his hair.

“I am sure everyone is different than what I remember.”  I add in.

“Just wait.  So, I will meet you outside the office tomorrow morning before first class, ok?”  She is already walking back to Billy’s truck.

“Um…Ok” I yell towards her.

“Just wait Maddy, we are going to have so much fun.  I’m never letting you leave me again, ok?”  She climbs into the truck and it speeds away with her waving out the window.

The next morning my mom drops me off at Belcrest High School.  I wore a yellow sundress with a pair of flip flops.  I didn’t want to look too underdressed or overdressed.  I haven’t been through these halls since Jack’s graduation.  I am nervous because I don’t know this school.  I stop at the main office to pick up my schedule and am thankful the town is so small.

“Hi Maddie Jennings.  I haven’t seen you in years.  Welcome back to Belcrest.”  The lady behind the desk hands me my schedule.   I know I know her from somewhere but I can’t remember her name.  “Oh there’s Mackenna Ross waiting for you.  You two were always together.”

“Thank you Miss.”  I say.

“Ms. Gilbert.  Peter’s mother.”  She fills in for me.

“Yes, thank you Ms. Gilbert.” 

“Have a good day dear.”

The door shuts behind me and my ears fill with sounds of noisy kids in the hallway.  Mackenna is dressed in a pair of plaid shorts with a cute tank top and flats.  She looks adorable like always. 

“I love the dress.”  She hugs me tight.  “Sorry, I still can’t believe you’re back.”