My mother hasn’t mentioned the note that I left beside her bed, so I don’t bring up the fact that I know she is keeping something from me. Angering her before her surgery is not something I feel comfortable doing.
Sophie and I have settled into a sort of daily routine of school, dinner, and a few sleepovers when Aunt Anna allows them. Every day that passes, I wait for the rug to be pulled out from underneath me, the lie to be exposed, but it hasn’t come yet. The secret still remains out there.
I’ve convinced myself that it must not be that big of a deal, otherwise she would have told me by now. I’ve moved on, so Sophie can feel special while she’s with me. I try not worry about the stupid things running around pounding inside of me occasionally. Some days I find it hard to be next to my mother, knowing there is something she knows, but never speaks of. The kind of secret that will change my entire life. If it’s so drastic, I am sure she will most certainly tell me.
I’m on my way to pick up Sophie in my mum’s car, so that we can gather Valerie from the airport. Sophie can barely contain herself with sheer happiness that everything is starting today. Her plans to set up Pete, the trip to Paris, trips to Harrods, trips to everything, and anything Valerie will be willing to see with her.
Pete is nervous. I seriously have no idea how she expects to fit her entire list in a week’s period. I finally broke down, and told him all about Sophie’s wish to see the two of them together, like the four of us will live happily ever after, like some fairytale she read when she was younger. She literally lights up at the mere thought, and when she speaks of it, you can’t help but wonder yourself, if all of it can be possible.
I want to give her that fairytale more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life, but with each passing day, I know her happy ending isn’t going to come true. My mother means too much to me to watch her walk out of my life. My dad dying was so unexpected, that I fear if she goes back, I will never see her again, just like him. Going home is becoming more of a reality every day. I lie awake at night, panicking at the thought of receiving another phone call to find out she’s gone, just like my dad.
We barely have to wait for Valerie before she comes bouncing out of Heathrow covered head to toe in blue. The only thing that stands out from her blue jeans, and denim shirt is a big brown belt looped around her torso. I have to stifle a laugh, but Sophie picks up on it, and smacks me in my arm anyway. “Don’t say anything,” she warns, but she lets out a small smile, one that lets me know she’s thinking the same thing.
Sophie jumps out of the car waving her hands frantically in the air, while I step out to grab Val’s bag. She gives me a weird lingering hug before she pulls
Sophie in some deep conversation about a guy at school. The entire drive back she prattles on about what Sophie is missing back home, the games, dances, etc... I eventually tune her out, and turn on the radio. Anything to stop me from thinking about the things Sophie has already given up to be with me.
“So, we’re going to drop off your bags at Aunt Anna’s, and then we’ll head to Ethan and Peter’s. If you need to nap or anything, just say so.”
“Are you kidding? I slept on the plane. I’m ready to have some major fun.” She places her chin on my headrest while I drive. I can feel her eyes boring into the back of my head, and her hot breath. “So, Ethan do you know any hot British boys that you can hook me up with?”
My eyes find her smiling through the rearview mirror. “You haven’t changed a bit, Valerie. Sophie here already has plans for you, but don’t get your feelings hurt if he turns you down. He’s just come off a bad breakup.”
Sophie huffs at me before turning to look at Val. “He’s totally over her. It’s been over a month already.”
I just shake my head picturing Val and Pete together. The mere thought is amusing. How can you fight this argument? But, it makes me feel slightly better that she believes it only takes a month to get over someone. Maybe ripping that Band- aid off won’t sting too bad after all.
We make it to the flat in record time. Traffic surprisingly light for this early in the morning. While I lead Valerie up to our flat, Sophie runs out to get coffee for everyone. Leaving the three of us alone, technically Pete’s still sleeping, so it’s just the two of us.
“You seem different, Ethan. Nervous or something, it’s just little old me,” she says eyeing me up, and speaking in a weird voice. Her comment floors me. How does she pick up on it so fast? I’m not nervous because she’s here, but nervous what she’ll do to me if she gets wind of what is going to go down before June. What if she gets Pete alone, drunk, and he spills everything? Over the course of the last few days, I have decided to stay until Sophie leaves, but the night before she goes home, I’ll do something to convince her it’s for the best that she forgets about me.
“It’s just early, haven’t had my coffee yet. Why don’t you have a seat? I’m going to go wake Pete up.”
As I walk toward Pete’s room, Val crosses over to the window, staring down to the street. She taps on the window, waving below. I step into Pete’s room quietly and begin to close the door, before realizing he isn’t alone. I start to turn, but stop in my tracks when my eyes see a chunk of red hair peeking out from under the blanket. My hand runs over my face, I am momentarily frozen in place. Backing up slowly, my foot bangs against the door, causing him to stir.
He sits up, running his hands through his hair. “Hey, mate. What are you doing up so early?”
“Pete...you didn’t. Claire? What were you thinking?” My voice is quiet, but harsh at the same time.
His face turns toward hers. “Don’t worry, it’s not Claire. It’s a look alike. I thought if I got with someone who looked like Claire maybe it would help.” The way he talks out loud, I can tell he couldn’t care less if this lass even hears him.
So I follow suit, talking in my normal voice. “Did it?” He shakes his head, looking defeated. “Sophie’s getting coffee, and her friend is outside waiting to meet you.” I remind him. Actually, I’m a little surprised he’s forgotten. It’s all Sophie has been able to talk about.
Pete falls back onto his pillow. “Christ, is that today?”
“It is. Get your sorry arse out of bed, get rid of whoever that is, and we’ll be down at Italia. Meet us in fifteen minutes.”
He nods. “Yeah.”
Val and Sophie are already planning some attack on Pete to wake him up when I step out of his room. I got out of there just in time to stop them from barreling in.
“Pete needs to take a shower, he said he’ll meet us in a few. Let’s go for a walk.”
Sophie pushes past me, but my hand reaches hers fast twisting her around. “But, I have coffee for him,” She flicks my hand off laughing, but I grab hers back.
“Leave it. He’ll find it. Let’s go,” I say, ushering the pair down the stairs, and outside. Sophie stops to wrap the scarf I bought her around her neck. We had been out walking on a cold night last week, so we popped into a shop still open, and I bought it to keep her warm. It’s green with swirls of gold throughout that make her eyes more beautiful than ever.
Pete strolls toward us about a half hour later, looking like hell. “Rough night, mate?” I ask, trying to get him going.
“It was a top night,” he responds, smiling. He pushes past me to Sophie and Val. He leans down to kiss Sophie on both cheeks then stops to notice Valerie. He extends his hand. “You must be the infamous Valerie that I’ve heard so much about.”
One look at Valerie’s face screams he has just won her over. The doe eyes, the smile, the long exasperated sigh. He can probably take her back to the flat, and shag her without question. Part of me wants to go smack her out of her little fantasy world, but Sophie sees it too, and stops it.
“Val, this is Peter.” As she introduces them, it’s in a friendly, but firm tone. Sophie tugs on Val’s arm. “This is Peter,” she repeats.
Val shakes her head back and forth several times. “Wow! Peter, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard about you over the years, it’s great to finally meet you. I almost didn’t think you existed.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Really, why is that?”
Valerie fumbles with her coffee, and places it down a moment later on the table. “Well, no one can be that perfect. You’re not right, I mean that perfect?”
He lets out a small laugh before he briefly looks at me. “Trust me, love. I’m far from perfect.”
Valerie’s in full swoon. If Sophie doesn’t reign her in, I will. It’s the first day. Christ, it’s the first hour, and she already looks like she’s fallen in love with Pete.
“Val, I was thinking we could spend the day together. You know do some touristy things, then meet up with the guys later.” Sophie turns to me. “If that’s okay with you?”
“Of course it is,” I agree, before pressing my lips to her forehead. “I could use some time with my mum.”
Sophie smiles before kissing me softly on the lips. “Tell her I said hello.”
As she steps around the corner with Val looking over her shoulder at Pete, I yell out, “Always.”