SIENNA
I opened the door to the car, got out, and walked up the driveway. I felt out of place without Vince, but I didn’t feel that I was doing anything wrong, it just seemed odd. As I stepped onto the porch, the front door opened.
She stepped onto the porch, wiped her hands on her pants, and opened her arms.
“Come here, Honey,” she said. “Come give me a hug.”
I rushed to her and wrapped my arms around her. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything, just let me hold you,” she said.
After a long moment of standing there in her embrace, she released me, took a step back, and studied me. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
I grinned and wiped the tears from my eyes. “You know, I never used to cry.”
“Neither did I,” she said. “But I’ve learned those things change over time.”
I nodded my head and tried to force another smile, but ended up beginning to cry again. Seeing her was just too much. I should have just stayed home.
“So what happened?” she asked as she turned toward the door.
I wiped my hands on my shorts, and shook my head. “I probably shouldn’t come in, he might…”
She paused in the doorway and turned around. “He might what?”
I shrugged. “Come over.”
“Honey, he hasn’t been here since the night you missed dinner. I haven’t spoken to him. This is what he does, he shuts down. Especially when he’s embarrassed or hurt,” she said.
I was shocked. From what Vince had said, he came to his mother’s house every Sunday for dinner. It had been three months since we were apart, and to think I played a part in him severing his relationship and routines with his mother was difficult to accept.
“Come on,” she said as she walked into the living room.
With some reluctance, I followed her inside. Feeling nervous and slightly guilty, I sat down on the couch and crossed my legs. She sat down beside me a few feet away, straightened the wrinkles from her pants, and turned toward me. As I stared down at my sneakers, she cleared her throat and began to speak.
“So, that night, what happened?” she asked.
“I reviewed a few books, drank too much wine, and fell asleep until the next morning. When I woke up, I thought it was Sunday night, but after I looked at my phone, I found out it wasn’t, it was Monday,” I said, turning to face her as I finished speaking.
“That’s it? That is what happened?” she asked.
I nodded my head and shifted my eyes to the floor. “Yeah, that’s it.”
“I knew it was something, but I didn’t know what. He left that night to go looking for you, and he called me later and said it was over between you two. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t have it. He never went into detail, and that night was the last I saw of him. He needs his hind end kicked,” she said.
I shifted my eyes toward her and narrowed my gaze. “I can’t believe he hasn’t been back,” I said.
“I can. It’s Stephen,” she said. “The most stubborn human being on God’s little green earth.”
“I just wanted to see you. I miss you,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare apologize,” she said. “Would you like some tea?”
I glanced at my watch as if I had something else to do.
“No, I really need to go,” I said as I stood.
“So soon?” she asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I uhhm. I have to get home, I have some things I need to get done.”
“I understand. Come back any time,” she said.
I tried my best to smile, but only managed a crooked grin.
“I will,” I said.
But I knew I wouldn’t.
Not without Vince.