Sometime In July (2024 edition)

Chapter Eight

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Seth made his way from the bedroom, through the living room, and into the kitchen. It was just after five in the morning, and Jeanne was already seated at the dining table, sipping her coffee. The radio played softly in the background, the DJ chatting with an early morning caller. Elisha was in the shower, and Jeanne was preparing to take her to school. Seth poured himself a cup from the coffee maker and sat down next to Jeanne, feeling the quiet peace of the morning.

"How was your date last Friday?" Jeanne asked casually, leaning over her cup with an easy smile.

"Nothing much happened," Seth replied, shrugging. "We went to the mall, talked for a few hours, and then I took her home."

Jeanne left the table briefly to help Elisha finish her shower, making sure she was dry before heading upstairs to get dressed. When she returned, she sat back down, her eyes curious.

"Well, that seems like a bit of a waste, don't you think?"

Seth raised his eyebrows, surprised by her bluntness. "No, Ate, it wasn't a waste. I had a good time. She's always easy to talk to, and I enjoyed her company."

"But you're not planning to see her again?" Jeanne pressed, raising the question with a hint of challenge in her tone.

Seth took a sip of his coffee and shrugged again, a little more uncertain this time. "Maybe, maybe not. I've been thinking about it."

Jeanne shook her head, unimpressed. "That's not good enough. Why are you just thinking about it? If you're interested, you should act on it."

"I just want to be sure, that's all. And why are you so invested in this, anyway? It was just a simple meeting between two people. I wouldn't even call it a date. There's not much more to say," Seth replied, his voice casual but edged with defensiveness.

Jeanne added another spoonful of powdered cream to her coffee, stirring slowly. "Sure there is."

Seth leaned back in his chair, eyeing her. "Like what?"

"Like whether you enjoyed it enough to start seeing other people again," she said, her gaze steady.

Seth stirred his coffee, thinking. So that's what this was about. Over the years, he'd grown accustomed to Jeanne's subtle interrogations, but this morning, he wasn't in the mood for it. "It wasn't a date," he repeated firmly.

Jeanne smirked, raising an eyebrow. "If you say so."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Jeanne broke it. "So, how do you feel about her?"

As she asked the question, Coldplay's Yellow began playing on the radio. The familiar melody hit Seth in a way he hadn't expected, stirring something inside him. The song always reminded him of Yssa—of her smile, her laugh, and the warmth she carried wherever she went.

He thought about it for a long moment before finally speaking. "Yssabelle? She's... she's wonderful. Attractive, smart, and funny in her own way. She's got this charm about her."

Jeanne watched him closely, taking in every word, the way his voice softened as he spoke. She leaned over her coffee again, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You like her, don't you?"

Seth met his sister's gaze, knowing he couldn't hide the truth. "Yeah. I do. But, like I said, I'm still thinking about it."

Jeanne stayed quiet for a moment as if choosing her next words carefully. "But do you think she could be... the one?"

Seth glanced away, not ready to answer. Jeanne reached across the table, placing a firm hand on his arm. Though her touch was gentle, there was strength in it—a reminder that she wouldn't let him shy away from this conversation.