Summer Away

Chapter Ten

Levi knocks on the door, even though it's already opened. He's wearing a suit with a blue tie matching Maddie's dress. Today's the wedding.

"Hey, Leena." He says.

"Hey." I wait until he sits next to me, "I really don't want to see him. Or his wife. And I hope she doesn't have kids already."

Levi nods. "Me too. I couldn't stand it if he abandoned us then chose a new family." He sighs, "But it'll be okay. We'll get to see dad again."

"I don't know if I want to see him again, Levi. I asked him for help so much and he just brushed me off. I asked him to let us live with him- to not leave us alone- and he ignored me. He gave mom full custody knowing she planned to go to California. He just wanted to write the check and leave us."

"Think about when we were little, Leena. He gave you that guitar. He taught you how to play golf. We learned how to sail with him. Remember him when things were good."

I only nod. It might be easy for Levi to remember dad in a good way, but I can't forget about the divorce. He abandoned us. Even now, he didn't even invite me to the wedding. He just told Levi about it. I haven't gotten a single call or text since he left. I know Levi has.

Levi and I head downstairs where Jameson and Maddie are already waiting. Jameson's tie matches my dress. I wish I didn't invite him to come. I've been trying to avoid him the past few days. For some reason I thought he might like me- more than as a friend. But clearly he doesn't. Not when he left me with some half-excuse so he could go make out with some girl. I should have asked Kayden or Jackie instead.

It's about an two hour drive from the house to the wedding venue. Maddie and Levi are in the front, Jameson and I in the back. Jameson and Maddie talk some, but Levi and I are nearly silent.

The wedding is at some sort of botanical garden. The actual ceremony is in a courtyard while the reception is in a mansion on the grounds. Dad's new wife must be quite the decorator. Everything here is beautiful. Small bouquets of pink roses adorn each aisle seat. The aisle is covered by an ivory-pink cloth. Each chair is draped with light pink cloth, the same color as the roses.

Levi looks at a board that's meant to direct everyone to their seats. I didn't realize ceremony seats were usually assigned. We're seated towards the back in the center of a row. By the time we sit the chairs around us are completely filled. I'm sitting between Levi and Jameson. Maddie's by Levi.

An older woman sitting next to Jameson looks at us with a large smile, "Hello! How do you know the couple?"

Levi clears his throat, "Ah, Um, I'm Mark's son. This is my sister." He points to me, "And these are our friends." He gestures to Maddie and Jameson.

"Oh! Wonderful to meet you guys. I didn't know Mark had children." Levi and I both flinch a bit, "I'm one of Mandy's great aunts."

Will his new wife even know he has kids? Has he shown her photos of us? Does he even have photos of us? Her family doesn't seem to know we exist.

A violinist plays and the wedding party begins their descent down the aisle. First my father. Then the wedding party. Then- my breath catches- the young flower girl, maybe four years old, tossing pink petals. When the bride follows I look between their two faces, just to see if there's any resemblance. There definitely is- but also something else. I glance a Levi and see his frozen expression. We're thinking the same thing.

I zone out for the rest of the wedding, only snapping out of it when Jameson grabs my hand to lead me away from the ceremony. It's over now. Most everyone is headed towards the mansion. Levi and Maddie are waiting a few hundred feet ahead of us.