Our Beloved Summer | A TSITP Story

Chapter 33

We drove through town, by all the old places, the mini golf course, the crab shack, and Jeremiah drove as fast he could, whistling. I wished he would slow down, make the drive last forever. But it wouldn't, of course. We were almost there.

I reached into my bag and pulled out my New York ball cap. I put it on and wiggled it back and forth until it sat right. I messed with the hair around my ears, tucking it behind and pushing it back in front. I could see Jeremiah watching me without turning my head. He was probably wondering why I had become so manic about my appearance all of a sudden. It wasn't what I did, I was always sure of myself. Except for now. I couldn't just walk in and face Conrad looking like I let him defeat me.

When I saw his car in the driveway, I could feel my heart constrict. He was in there. Like a shot, Jeremiah was out of the car and bounding toward the house. I didn't have time to ask if I should stay in the car. He took the porch stairs two at a time, and I trailed after him.

I walked through the front door slowly. It was strange, smelling the familiar house smell. I expected it to be different without Susannah. But it wasn't. I half expected to see her floating around in one of her house dresses, waiting for us in the kitchen. Instead, she hung on the wall above the stairs in the painting I made. I thought they would keep her in Boston, but seeing her up there with the rest of our portraits - it was perfect. Susannah in her house, next to her kids, where she always wanted to be.

I took my time stepping towards Jere who was yelling at Conrad for not picking up his calls. I had just made it to the other side of the living room wall when Jere yelled, "Dani, can you just come in here?"

I stepped around the wall, not looking at Conrad for a moment, trying to catch my breath that suddenly left my body. I felt dazed even though it had only been two months, it was like seeing a ghost. His eyes flickered on me for about one second before rounding on Jeremiah. "What is she doing here?" he asked him.

"I asked her to come help me find your sorry ass." Jere said, and I could tell he was trying hard to sound cool against his big brother. "I mean, what could be so important that you're willing to miss finals."

"Jere, the house has been put up for sale." Conrad said, defeated.

"What do you mean, the house is for sale?"

"We're going to lose this house. Mom's house."

"Why would dad sell this house?" Jere asked, growing more nervous by the second.

"He's not. Aunt Julia is."

"Susannah's sister?" I asked, trying to fill in the gaps in my own mind.

"Half sister. Apparently, the house belonged to the both of them. And then when Mom... Now Aunt Julia owns the whole thing, so..."

"Okay, we'll just call Dad and figure something out." Jere looked at me, as if searching for support of his bright idea.

"You think I haven't already done that? He says legally the house is hers." Conrad reputed.

"Okay, then he'll buy it."

"He doesn't have the money to buy it. Between Brown and the medical bills and the..." Conrad didn't get to finish his sentence before Jere spoke again, "Yeah, I know how much the medical bills cost because I was there. How long did you know about this and not tell me?"

"Jere, this was all happening so fast. I was going to tell you after I'd taken care of it."
Jere chuckled before saying, "And this is you taking care of it? Going AWOL, ditching school, not talking to us."

"Fսck school! I don't care!" Conrad yelled with this little boy look. One like he was throwing a tantrum.

"Connie, you have to go back or you'll fail your class." Conrad looked like he'd been caught red handed. "Yeah. We went to Brown to check on your ass. You know what? I didn't think you'd pull this shit again. But you don't give a shit about anyone but yourself." Jere walked away without listening for Conrad's comeback, or my plea for him to stay. Conrad moved to hold himself up by his arms on the fireplace mantle.