"Do you remember the name of that mountain resort Mum used to take us to? Back when I was small. The one in New Hampshire?"
"The Red Jacket." As Becky utters the name, she recalls memories of winter vacations, when she was a tween and Kenny barely speaking in full sentences. Horse-drawn carriages, roasting marshmallows, eating dinner while enjoying mountain views. Simpler times.
"Great, thanks," he says, taking a sip of his coffee, and jotting the name down on the top of the pile of assignments he'd been grading as a part of his TA work. "Been trying to plan a trip with Elena. Might try to sweep her up there for the last bit of April break."
"Things are going well?"
"Yeah." The mere fact that Kenny is able to look Becky in the eye as he answers, without turning beet red, is a testament to how comfortable he feels in the relationship.
"Hey." Becky says. "Not to get all sappy on you, but it's my job as your big sister. Since you're with Elena, you're the happiest I've ever seen you."
"She's pretty great," Kenny says, finally blushing.
"I'm happy for you." For once, Becky is able to say it without a molecule of bitterness, without a shred of envy.
"Speaking of nothing," Kenny says, as he shuffles the papers into a neat stack, "When are you coming back home?"
"I don't know," Becky mutters, fidgeting with her empty coffee cup. "Never?"
"You can't stay with Bill forever," Kenny says. "He's trying to start a family!"
"I'm not staying with Bill," Becky says, a defensive edge to her tone.
Kenny frowns, then understanding dawns over his face. "I should've guessed."
"Thanks for reminding me, though," Becky says. "I need to give Bill a heads up."
Becky pulls out her phone, and types a message to Bill: if anyone in my family asks, I'm staying with you again, okay?
Seconds later, his reply: How charitable of me to allow that!
Becky smiles and types: I'll buy you a fictional bottle of wine. Or a real one. Give Keiko my best.
"Are you really going to hide out at Freen's forever?" Kenny asks.
"I'm not hiding."
"What else would you prefer I call it?" Kenny says. "You're certainly going out of your way to avoid Mum, even more than usual."
"God, it wasn't even a big deal. We fought. Like we do."
"I hope you're able to do your non-apology thing soon," Kenny says. "I don't like being a go-between."
"I'm not asking you to," Becky says. "If she wants to talk to me, she can come directly." Not that Becky expects for even a second that Carolyn will do so.
After pivoting to some lighter subjects, like "how about those Patriots?", Becky hugs Kenny goodbye and sends him off to finish grading his papers. It's nice to see him like this, to hang out like adults. Two adults whose lives are going quite smoothly. He's got his PhD; Becky's got her new job. He has Elena; Becky has Freen. If Becky simply ignores the fact that her relationship comes with a predestined deadline, that she's currently lying to her family about where she's staying, and that she's not speaking to her mother (what else is new?), then for the first time in months, she can pretend like she's doing rather well in life.
She is enjoying her current situation – mostly. Staying with Freen comes with its share of pros and cons.
Pros: shorter commute.
YOU ARE READING
And Our Parents
RomanceBecky, we are all adults here." "It's hard to take that seriously when you have your hand in my pants. The chemistry between Becky and Freen is obvious and immediate, so it's awkward when they find out their parents are getting married. This is a co...
