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My cell phone buzzed as I drove into Somerville. It was Sienna.
“Is everything all right?” She never called, and I certainly didn’t expect to hear from her on her honeymoon.
“Yes. Can you hear me?” The connection was choppy. “We’re on the yacht, so I might drop you!”
“I can hear you. Are you having fun?”
“We are having the best time!” Even with the bad service, the joy rang clear in Sienna’s voice. “It’s the best trip either of us have ever taken. We’re so relaxed. Being married is great!”
My eyes filled with tears. My sister and I had never had much in common, but I loved her and wanted her to be happy. “I’m so glad to hear that. Tim’s a great guy. You two are perfect for each other.”
“That’s why I’m calling,” she said.
I frowned, confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Tim and I both think Bob’s a great guy. You should date him. You should bring him home for Thanksgiving.”
“She should give him golf lessons for Christmas!” Tim yelled in the background.
“Seriously, Maddy. Bob can hang. It would be so fun for the four of us to go on trips and have the holidays together. I didn’t think you could ever like anyone so normal—you should go for it.”
“That’s really nice of you to say. It means…it means a lot to me.” I pulled over to the side of the road, right before Bob’s block. “And I want to make it work, but I’m worried I blew it.”
“You didn’t.” The wind must’ve picked up because I barely made out Sienna’s next words: “I know I don’t say it much, but you’re a total catch. Youre brilliant and a babe. Any guy would be lucky to have you.”
The call disconnected and I sat there, gobsmacked by Sienna’s words. She liked Bob—she and Tim both did. A future I’d never even considered, one in which I was close with my sister, our husbands were friends, and our someday-children would grow up together, flashed before me. Any guy would be lucky to have you.
That was the nicest thing my sister had ever said to me.
I cradled my phone in my hands. Thank you, I thought at my sister. Thank you so much. I never would’ve guessed that both my father and my sister’s opinions would matter so much to me, but they did. It was actually a nice feeling. I’d spent my whole life distancing myself from my family, but for what? Yes, they were crazy. Yes, they had issues.
But who didn’t?
My father and Sienna had both reached out to me because they cared. They cared about what happened with Bob. They wanted me to be happy. They both had my back. Since they could forgive me for being so standoffish all these years, perhaps I could forgive them for being crazy sometimes.
My dad had been right. People deserved more than one chance.
I decided to be brave. I put the car in drive and parked outside of Bob’s building, and then I rang the buzzer. No answer. I could wait, or I could call him, or…
I had an idea. I jumped back into my car and sped back toward the city, praying that Bob would give me a second chance.
BOB
Madison’s office was empty and locked, which I should’ve expected for a Saturday. I didn’t have my phone, so I couldn’t call her. I decided to go to her house--I couldn’t stand the idea of waiting. With no wallet, I had to run the two miles to Acorn Street. I was breathing hard by the time I made it to Maddy’s neighborhood. Mrs. Lindenmeyer was walking her dog. “Good afternoon,” I panted.
“Hello, young man.” She nodded at me primly as her little dog peed on a cobblestone. “You’re looking quite red.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. Long run.” Even though I was already sweating, I ran the rest of the way down to Maddy’s house. I rang the buzzer, but there was no answer. Crud. I waited for a second, trying to catch my breath.
“Are you looking for the Delaney girl?” Mrs. Lindenmeyer asked.
“Yeah.”
“She just went that way.” She pointed to the top of the hill, heading toward Boston Common.
“Thanks.” I nodded, feeling a spark of hope. I wanted to see her so badly…
I sprinted up the hill.
