It's Complicated

Chapter 53: I Just Don't Know

*Mary's POV*

Waiting for Kim & Dan at the airport is giving me serious anxiety. Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy to see her but there's still so much I need to talk to her about.

Time passes & their arrival is getting closer & closer, my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my chest. As I lean against my car in the pickup line at the airport I hear feet pitter-pattering towards me, quickly. I look up & it's her, it's Kim. I run towards her with open arms & we run into each other, squeezing one another as tight as we possibly can. She kisses my cheek & smiles, "I missed you! I missed you! I missed you! God, it kind of feels good to be back!" Her smile soon fades as she remembers the reason she's even back in Maryland.

"What about me? Am I chopped liver?" Dan says jokingly. I give him a hug & welcome them back to Maryland. "Y'all ready for lunch or is that just me?" I say as I laugh. "That's definitely just you Mare. But uh, can you drop me off at the house? I kind of just wanna relax for a bit before we go over to Annie's." I can see it in his face, he's worried. He's crushed. He loves that kid as if she were his own. I know it's killing him inside.
"Not a problem, Dan the man! Let me just pop the trunk open & I'll drop you off. You still down for lunch Kimmy?" She nods her head & I kind of couldn't be more relieved.

We make the drive to Kim's house & as I pull into the driveway, I couldn't be more emotional. It's been months since I've been here. Months since I've even driven down this road. I fight back my tears & get off the car to help Dan bring their luggage into the house. "You alright?" Kim says before I exit the car. I suck it up & nod my head, I can't be emotional over this, not now. I head into the house with Kim's suitcase when I see Dan unpacking his bag. "Is everything alright?" He doesn't answer, but his face is red & his eyes are puffy. My heart breaks for him. "Well, um, I'll see ya later!" I say as I slowly walk out of the house & shut the door.

I take moment before getting back into the car, just a little breather to gather my thoughts. The moment I begin to approach the car, I see Kim leaning over to honk my car horn. I immediately begin to haul ass, I quickly open the door & yell, "I'm too quick for you!" She throws herself down & sighs before she begins to laugh uncontrollably. She then sits up & says "Hey, can we go to Olive Garden? I'm like totally down for endless soup & salad with ya know, some wine!" I roll my eyes & laugh at her, "Of course Kimmy. I mean, I was already prepared for this lunch request!"

I turn the volume up on my radio, Kim has set it to some random Pandora station & we begin the drive to lunch. I'm excited but also slightly terrified to tell Kim the truth about the way things went down before she left for Utah. Traffic is busy of course, we're basically in bumper to bumper traffic but it isn't too bad. I sit here listening to Kim sing as I clutch my steering wheel far too tightly. "Calm down there She-Hulk. Your knuckles are turning white!" She says jokingly. I give a half smile back & continue to act as if everything is okay. This traffic seems like it's never going to move.

We finally make it to the restaurant & of course we're seated right next to the wine bottles. Kim gleams with happiness for a brief second. "What can I get you all to drink?" Our waitress says in the squeakiest & softest voice. She couldn't have been more than 18 years old. Actually, she reminded me a lot of Kimmy. But,  that's besides the point. Really, I'm just stalling because I'm nervous to tell Kim the things she needs to know.

I drift off into space & before I realize it, she's shaking my arm,  "Can we please get wine? I seriously need to de-stress right now." I'm not one for day drinking, but this was a special occasion, well sort of. I nod my head & zone back out into my own world. I stare at Kim & I can see her talking but I'm too nervous & preoccupied to realize or even notice what she's saying.